Its a weight sensor in the seat anyone under 100lbs and is moving around is going to make it hard for the sensor to pick up the right weight. Nearly every auto maker has found this to be very hard to do. I think they moved to sensors vs manual switches due to people not reading their owners manual and having a small kid blasted by an activated air bag given they did not manually turn it off and vice versa an adult not get protected by an airbag because it was deactivated manually and wasn't activated for the adult.

 

Not sure, what the weight limit it, something like 40 lbs maybe. But basically if there is nobody there or someone smaller than 40 lbs it turns off the airbag for safety reasons. over 40 lbs it should be on. The weight may be off a little, but you should be able to find the exact weight in your manual. Now if someone is shifting their weight around as in not sitting on the seat fully that can mess with it too as it constantly senses for weight. I carry a back pack in my front seat often and sometimes depending on how close it is to the weight limit it will trigger the sensor intermittently when going over slight bumps ect. I only know this because sometimes i forget to buckle my bag up and if it triggers the airbag to on it sounds the seatbelt alarm as well.

 

Look at pages 1-46 through 1-49 of your owner's manual. All of the information you need is in there. If it's not operating how described in the manual, mention to your service department.

 

O.K. I'll read it again. Don't know why but when I read it the first time I was confused as to what it was saying. So, if < 80 pounds (or 100) it should illuminate 'OFF'. Over that wieght it should illuminate 'ON'. Is that right? Or do I have it backwards?

 

Correct. Little child in the front? Off. Adult? On.

 

2011 Passenger airbag switch

I've been to the dealer twice and just talked to Subaru.
According to them the weight mandated by the Feds is 80#.
Maybe that weight is correct for the airbag being used, but if it is I would think that indicates bad engineering on the airbag system.
If it is that brainless that it poses a hazard for a large part of the population who would be riding in that seat (adults, not children), then this is negligent.
Subaru sells many cars in Japan. Do you think that they have a problem with systems that endanger small people?

Subaru is obviously not going to do anything for my problem.
But the rep I just talked to stated that he had just taken a class on the airbag system and was well prepared for the question.
This tells me there are a LOT of complaints.
Although I'd rather just have it work, how does one go about filing a class action?

 

... the rep I just talked to stated that he had just taken a class on the airbag system and was well prepared for the question.
This tells me there are a LOT of complaints.
... how does one go about filing a class action?

Or, it also tells you there are geniuses who place child-seats/boosters and little/light children in the front.
Please applaud them and their lawyers, and another round for more lawyers.

 

Please excuse my ignorance, but what problem exactly are you talking about that deserves a class action suit?

Rick G

 

My lovely wife weighs well over 80 pounds.

We have the same problem with our 2010 Outback: the 'front passenger's frontal airbag OFF indicator' remains illuminated while she rides in this seat. (I.e., the airbag is not armed.) At best, the indicator is intermittent, going on and off while we drive.

She has a routine to try to get the car to recognize she's sitting in it. She may force her hips down into the seat by pushing on the ceiling, etc. Or we stop, she exits the car briefly, then sits back down in an effort to get the sensor to realize there's an adult sitting in the front passenger seat.

We took the car to the dealer, who tested it with a 80 lb. weight and said "Sorry, it's working fine." But it ain't so.

This is a serious safety issue, and Subaru should be working overtime to resolve it.

 

I'm not saying your problem isn't serious, so don't get me wrong here. Please don't name me in your lawsuit for trying to help. :gasp:

Have you considered other causes such as seat covers or something under the seat preventing the full weight from reaching the sensor?

I was surprised to read in the owner's manual that they don't want you putting anything under either front seat, but it makes sense when I think about it a little.

Andrew

 

There are multiple sensors in the seat that read weight. People are not dead weight and are hard to read. If your passenger is 100 pounds but leaning on the center console how dose your car know that. It can only read weight on the seat. If your passenger is reclined they are putting more force on the back of the seat not the seat bottom where the sensors are. Just think of when you get on a scale. You have to stand still to get an accurate reading. Now put that scale under your seat in a moving car. The starting, stopping, and turning. Leaning on the console or door. You are tricking the system.

 

I had that problem in m Accord, the culprit was a sensor that is part of the seat belt.

 

FWIW, the passenger airbag sensor works perfectly in my 06 and in my buddy's 09. It may be a problem in the new model that SOA needs to research. If they find it to be a widespread prob they should issue a recall.

I think you should continue to work with your dealer, and also send a letter to SOA detailing the problem, including evidence of situations that your sensor was not working correctly. Maybe create a poll in the Gen4 forum (I'll bet a mod will sticky it for you, at least temporarily) to see how many other folks on here are having the same problem.

In order to file a class action suit you have multiple parties who have suffered from the same, verified damages or injuries. There need to be so many parties in the "class" that individual lawsuits would be impractical. I haven't heard of anybody actually being damaged by this problem, just annoyed and paranoid. That not a litigious offense.

Again, keep complaining to your dealer, escalate your complaints within the dealership and the SOA corporate offices as needed, use this forum and other avenues to determine how widespread this issue is.

 

Basis for class action and recall

Check the US DOT-NHSTA file for this problem on the 2011 Outback.
As of this week there are eight entries, none with an accident YET, but this IS a safety problem that Subaru needs to step up to and fix before someone is killed.
The millions they will pay out will make any fix cheap.
My Honda and Toyota both default to always "ON' unless I turn it off, Subaru needs to do the same and quit being computer 'cute'.
I have turned my case of this problem over to my lawyer, everyone haveing the same problem should do the same.

 

I had the same issue. My son is 5'9" and weighs 155 and the light reads "ON" all the time when he isin the seat. I weigh 120 and am 5'7". The light reads off when I am in the seat. Dealer put me in 2 different cars and we moved me and the seats around and had on/off flashing like a disco (gross exageration but it sounds funny doesn't it?). I suspect weight and distribution of the weight is part of the issue.
The sensor is to be set at 80 lbs. Tech reset to 70 and moved the sensor from under the seat up higher with less padding on top and that seems to have fixed it, for now at least. When I mentioned my surprise for being the first to have such an issue, the tech told me that at the new design school he went to, it was raised as a potential problem.
I will keep a close watch on this thread and on my dashboard lights!
I have also alerted the 3 other 2011 OB owners I know.

 

And if it comes down to it, as embarrassing as it may be for some people/women, have them put her on a scale (bring one if you must) prove her weight then have her sit in the seat and show them she's not triggering the airbag sensor. I can understand functioning in a static test but it's not functioning in real-world circumstances and should be resolved before you (hopefully don't) need it.

 

My 122 lb. wife sometimes has to move around on the seat to get the airbag light to turn to ON. I brought it to dealer. They said that's the way it is, that it's a weight issue, and that they are not allowed to adjust it per federal regulations. Personally, I thought that was a load of bull, but there was no persuading them to do anything about something that they claim is perfectly normal.

 

My dealer recognized it as an issue and worked with me to readjust the sensor. It is still inconsistent and I will bring it back. I am confident that my dealer will work with me and I will gladly report back. Fortunately, it only seems to be an issue for me as passenger and I am usually the driver. My sons are both heavier than me and the bag is always on for them. I guess they just don't get to drive ;o)

 

Is there a way to just wire it to a switch bypassing the weight sensors?

 

Which wire do I cut? The blue one, the red one, or the yellow one?

Dang! Wrong choice! BOOM!

Just sayin'. There's a reason nobody messes with air bags or their sensors.

Andrew

 

I should be able to sit in any comfortable position and have airbag protection. On a long trip it is unreasonable to expect a passengar to remain upright in a fully locked position for the entire trip! Either the sensors work properly, or they do not. I say, they do not.

 

I have noticed this recently as well. I am (lean) 140lb and the airbag shows that it is OFF which is very disconcerting. After a few more trips to confirm the problem, will take it in to the dealership. I've had other weird electronic 'gremlins' as well which oddly went away. Love the car except for these items.

 

So i was in the shop for my 7500 service and I told them how the airbag light is still off more than on when I am a passenger. Dutiful techs, they checked it out and told me that they tested it with folks in the shop and it worked fine. What are the chances that any of the folks in the shop are 5'7 1/2" and 120 pounds?
Anyone out there having this issue? I'd like a suggestion on what to do next.

 

Just wondering if anyone had this issue resolved yet. Am having the same problem with the air bag light on and off randomly, Im well over 115 lbs +- and sit still and upright like a good girl... the service manager treated me like a dumb ass and went through the same speech about weight, sitting on a pillow?? and anything under the seat. So do I just have to plan my accident accordingly? Is there a place on the forum that is keeping track of the complaints? Thanks in advance for any info.

 

I put a twelve pack of beer in the passenger seat last night and the airbag light said "on".

 

It's a little sad when beer is more important than a person ;0(

 

In case you are misinterpreting what I posted as a joke, tell that to Subaru. I didn't build the seat nor the sensor, but the light indeed said "on" when 12 bottles of beer in a cardboard box were placed on the seat.

 

I must have gotten an advanced model....

The air-bag is off for wife , on for girlfriend .

 

haha



cute... I am the girlfriend and the problem is the same

 

Report It

I reported it to NHSTA, I'd recommend doing the same! It only takes a couple of minutes, and if enough people do then something might actually get done about it!

I don't want to be in the passenger seat when I forgot to wiggle just right to get that light to go on if we get in an accident one day!

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

 

My wife weighs in at about 100-102 depending on if her hair is wet. I noticed that depending on how she sits in the seat will dictate if it is on or not. However, the way that she normally sits the airbag light is off. I realize that they need to do something to prevent younger kinds from being injured if sitting up front, but what about my wife? She is extremely important!

 

I have been watching with concern also. My wife is over 100 lbs (barely) and the light constantly switches from on to off and back again when she is sitting in the passenger seat. Our daughter, much lighter than my wife, the light is always on. Doesn't make sense at all. Haven't been back to the dealer yet, anticipating a day in the shop and the standard "everything working normally" response...