2002 SUBARU FORESTER Air Bags Problems

6/15/2009 I WAS HEADED HOME AT A RATE OF ~20-25 MPH ON PISGAH CHURCH RD AS I WAS APPROACHING WHERE I TURN RIGHT ONTO LAWNDALE AVE AND I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE WHICH WAS PUSHED FORWARD REAR ENDING A 2ND VEHICLE TO THE TUNE OF $16,183.57 ERIE INSURANCE CHARGE (CLAIM # 010910179459) AND 3 NASTY POINTS. I WAS UNINJURED AND CONTACTED THE GREENSBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE ARRIVING OFFICER AND THE GREENSBORO FIRE DEPT BOTH EXPRESSED SURPRISE THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT OPERATE. I'M A NURSE & WAS COMING HOME FROM WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT. THE POLICE OFFICER TOLD ME "I'M NOT GOING TO WRITE YOU A TICKET (A PROFESSIONAL COURTESY, I THINK) BECAUSE YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY IS GOING TO REAM YOU."

Mileage: 35,311

THE AIRBAG THAT IS IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE COVER SECTION UNDER THE THE WORDS SRS AIRBAG IS A WEAK POINT IT DEVELOPS A LARGE CRACK LINE ON THE WEAK SPOT. SHOULD THE AIRBAG BE DEPLOYED WITH THIS CRACK, THE SHARP BROKEN PIECES COULD CAUSE SERIOUS LACERATIONS TO VICTIMS. IF THE BROKEN PIECES WERE TO BECOME AIRBORNE, THEY COULD PUNCTURE THE LARGE BLOOD VESSEL IN THE NECK OR ENTER THE EYES. ALSO, SHOULD ANY CUSTOMERS ATTEMPT TO TAPE OR ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE COVER WITHOUT REPLACING IT, UNKNOWN DAMAGE OR LOSS OF LIFE COULD OCCUR, AS THE AIRBAG COULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE DEPLOYED PROPERLY.

Mileage: 100,000

AIRBAG DASHBOARD LIGHT COMES ON REPEATEDLY. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND FRONT SEAT AIR BAG HARNESS CONNECTOR KIT TWICE (IN 2006 AT 34,000 MILES AND AGAIN IN 2009 AT 63,000 MILES.) AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER. DEALER WILL NOT ADMIT TO ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPEATED FAILURE OF THE SAME PART. *LN

Mileage: 62,788

MY VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED ON THE LEFT SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH. DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE EXTENDED FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT SPUN MY VEHICLE INTO A TREE THAT DAMAGED THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. NEITHER LEFT NOR RIGHT SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004 I NOTIFIED SUBARU OF AMERICA OF THE AIRBAG FAILURE. THEY ASSIGNED CASE #700-407 AND SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE RICK POZNIAK. ON DECEMBER 3, 2004 SUBARU OF AMERICA THROUGH RICK POZNIAK INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE AIR BAG FAILURE.*AK

Mileage: 25,400

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE, HE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A MEDIAN WALL HEAD ON. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *JB *SC

AIRBAG LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND WILL STAY ON DURING THE TIME THE IGNITION IS ON. IT WILL DO THIS FOR DAYS AND THEN IT WILL WORK CORRECTLY FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE REPEATING THE ABOVE BEHAVIOR. *LA

Mileage: 8,700

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 15 MPH AND HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE STRIKING A TRUCK IN THE OPPOSITE LANE.*TS *JB

Mileage: 19,790

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AT ABOUT 45MPH. VEHICLE WENT AIRBORN, THE FRONT VEHICLE AXLE BROKE ON IMPACT. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WITH AN ELK. BOTH DRVR AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT AIR BAGS WERE NOT DESIGNED TO DEPLOY FOR COLLISIONS WITH ANIMALS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 30MPH WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FEEL FREE TO ADD/. *AK