Photo: Subaru
2018 is the final model year for the previous generation of the Forester, and Subaru still hasn’t sorted all the safety issues affecting the compact crossover. Recall number 19V701000 covers no fewer than 366,282 examples of the breed equipped with heated front seats from the 2015 to 2018 model years over an electrical connection prone to loosen over time.
So let’s recap. More than 366,000 units affected from four model years, and the electrical connection in question would disable the front passenger airbag even though the seat is occupied. This condition increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash, which is why Subaru had to recall so many vehicles in the United States. For all the potentially affected Foresters, the Japanese automaker will inspect and replace the ODS sensor mat harness.
Until the owner notifications roll out towards the end of November 2019, customers can identify the problem if the airbag warning light and passenger airbag off indicators are illuminated. It’s a simple fix, and 10 percent of the population is expected to need the replacement part.
Going through the sales figures for the 2015 to 2018 Forester in the United States, more than half of the vehicles sold in this period and part of the world are under recall. For a company as small as Subaru, that’s quite a headache given the Japanese automaker’s limited budget.
The Forester was redesigned from the ground up in 2018 on the Subaru Global Platform, the fifth generation since the nameplate entered the scene in 1995 at the Tokyo Motor Show. Larger than its predecessor and a lot smarter, the compact crossover is available with 2.0- and 2.5-liter boxer engines as well as a 2.0-liter hybrid e-boxer powertrain option in Japan.
Regardless of the suck-squeeze-bang-blow, the Lineartronic CVT comes standard along with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and variable torque distribution. The Premium trim level sweetens the deal with X-Mode to further control wheelspin while Sport, Limited, and Touring grades level up to Dual Function X-Mode for snow, dirt, deep snow, and mud settings.
For the 2020 model year, retail pricing starts at $24,495 excluding freight.
Until the owner notifications roll out towards the end of November 2019, customers can identify the problem if the airbag warning light and passenger airbag off indicators are illuminated. It’s a simple fix, and 10 percent of the population is expected to need the replacement part.
Going through the sales figures for the 2015 to 2018 Forester in the United States, more than half of the vehicles sold in this period and part of the world are under recall. For a company as small as Subaru, that’s quite a headache given the Japanese automaker’s limited budget.
The Forester was redesigned from the ground up in 2018 on the Subaru Global Platform, the fifth generation since the nameplate entered the scene in 1995 at the Tokyo Motor Show. Larger than its predecessor and a lot smarter, the compact crossover is available with 2.0- and 2.5-liter boxer engines as well as a 2.0-liter hybrid e-boxer powertrain option in Japan.
Regardless of the suck-squeeze-bang-blow, the Lineartronic CVT comes standard along with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and variable torque distribution. The Premium trim level sweetens the deal with X-Mode to further control wheelspin while Sport, Limited, and Touring grades level up to Dual Function X-Mode for snow, dirt, deep snow, and mud settings.
For the 2020 model year, retail pricing starts at $24,495 excluding freight.
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