2017 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 586 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 40 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 28 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationOct 3, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Campaign 19V701000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
164 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Mar 1, 2021, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP THE CEMENT BUMPER AND THE BUSHES IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL REVVING WHEN TURNED OFF AND PLACED IN PARK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CREWS SUBARU OF CHARLESTON 8261 RIVERS AVE, NORTH CHARLESTON, SC 29406; (843) 820-4200) WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,050.
Air bags, Jan 28, 2021, crash
MY NAME IS [XXX] ADDRESS: [XXX] E-MAIL: [XXX] CELL: [XXX] I AM THE FIRST AND THE ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR, SUBARU FORESTER PREMIUM, 2017. VIN [XXX] PURCHASED FROM REEDMAN TOLL SUBARU, LANGHORNE, PA, ON 03/2017, AS A BRAND NEW. CURRENT MILEAGE: 63000 MY CAR IS TOTALED, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS SERVICED BY SUBARU REEDMAN THIS SPRING D/T MANUFACTURER RECALL. I WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH ON MAJOR ROAD, HAVING THE RIGHT OF WAY. A DODGE TRUCK CROSSED IN FRONT OF ME, SPEEDING FROM A CROSS ROAD. MY CAR HIT RIGHT FRONT TIRE OF THE TRACK. MY CAR'S FRONT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, FRONT END PUSHED WELL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS WAS A FRONT TO SIDE IMPACT. ALL LIQUIDS LEAKED AWAY ON THE SPOT. BOTH HEAD LITES AND FOG LITES WERE TORN AWAY FROM MY CAR AND THROWN AROUND THE ROAD. BOTH RIGHT DOORS ARE HAVING DENTS, TOO. INSURANCE COMPANY, AAA, DECLARED TOTAL LOSS. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NONE OF THEM. I SUSTAINED A WHIPLASH INJURY REQUIRING MEDICAL ATTENTION AND INVESTING IN REHABILITATION MEASURES..... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Air bags, Seats, Oct 18, 2020
AIRBAG LIGHT FOR PASSENGER SEAT COMES ON WHILE SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY A 200+ LBS PASSENGER.
Air bags, Jul 27, 2020
I AM LOCATING IN VILSECK, GERMANY ON DOD US ARMY MILITARY OFFICIAL ORDER FROM MAY 2018 TO PRESENT. NOW! I AM SCHEDULE TO PCS FROM GERMANY BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. WITH THIS RECALL I WILL HAVE PROBLEM OF SHIPPING MY CAR BACK HOME AND I CAN'T GET IT FIX DUE TO SUBARU, GERMANY IS NOT AVAILABLE TO GET IT DONE DUE TO LACKS OF SERVICE CONTACT WITH SUBARU USA.
Air bags, Jun 3, 2020
SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WITH NO OTHER PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Apr 4, 2020
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT BEGAN DISPLAYING
Air bags, Jan 24, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START UP AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF BEND LOCATED AT BEND 2060 NE HWY 20, BEND, OR 97701, TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V701000 (AIR BAGS) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,199.
Air bags, Jan 15, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN 19V701000 (AIR BAGS) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED FIRST TEAM AUTO MALL DEALER, (6520 PETERS CREEK RD, ROANOKE, VA 24019, (540) 362-4800) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE MANUFACTURER FROM THE DEALER WAS PROVIDED TO THE CONTACT ABOUT THE PART NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECTS.
Air bags, Jan 6, 2020
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CAME ON WITH NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. IT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE VEHICLE STATIONARY OR MOVING. SOMETIMES IT WOULD RESET ON ITS OWN BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS THE COMPLETE AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING HAS COME ON AND WON'T GO AWAY. FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT IT IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SUBARU FORESTER AND THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO PUT TO TASK AS THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT DOING ENOUGH AND ARE PLAYING WITH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE. WHEN I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP (SUBARU OF GRAPEVINE) THEY OUTRIGHT WANTED MONEY FOR DIAGNOSING A PROBLEM THEY KNEW WAS PREEXISTING. THIS CLEARLY REFLECTS THE ATTITUDE OF THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER TOWARDS THIS SERIOUS ISSUE.
Air bags, Dec 30, 2019
2017 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS
Air bags, Dec 5, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER A PASSENGER WAS SEATED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT CALLED DUNNING SUBARU (3771 JACKSON RD, ANN ARBOR, MI 48103) TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT; HOWEVER, IT WAS CANCELLED BECAUSE THE WARNING INDICATOR TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V701000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
Air bags, Dec 5, 2019
RECALL NOTICE VIA US MAIL, ALSO READ ABOUT ANOTHER RECALL THAT WILL BE COMING, I BELIEVE THE BOXER ENGINE.
Air bags, Dec 2, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V701000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED NHTSA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE PENDING AND WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON 01/13/2020. *DL
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 1, 2019, crash
ON OCTOBER 4, 2019 MY CAR WAS PARKED AND THE PASSENGER REAR BUMPER WAS HIT AND DAMAGED BY A SCHOOL BUS. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES TO GET FIXED AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. THE BSD/RCTA SENSORS ARE NOT WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS "FIXED" THIS ISSUE 4 TIMES NOW AND I AM TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A 5TH TIME.
Air bags, Nov 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V701000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED PARKWAY SUBARU OF JACKSONVILLE (910-968-0758, LOCATED AT 2400 N MARINE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, NC 28546) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Nov 7, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A TRACTOR TRAILER COLLIDED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED LEFT HAND AND LEFT LEG AS WELL AS SHOULDER INJURIES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD, RIGHT HAND, AND FACIAL LACERATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *DT *TR*JB
Air bags, Nov 6, 2019
CALLED DEALER ABOUT RECALL. THEY STATED NO FIX WAS AVAILABLE. WHEN I ASKED WHEN IT WOULD BE THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION IN LATE DECEMBER (RECALL DATE WAS OCT 3). AT THAT POINT THE FIX WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE BUT THEY COULD TELL ME IF AND WHEN IT MIGHT BE. THIS DOES NOT SEEM TIMELY FOR A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. NOTE DEALER WAS PROFESSIONAL. MY ISSUE IS WITH SUBARU CORPORATION. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER IS 19V701000. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER IS WUM98. RECALL IS FOR NON FUNCTIONING AIRBAG FOR PASSENGER SIDE.
Air bags, Oct 28, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V701000(AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT IT EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION ON OCTOBER 3, 2019. BILL KOLB JR. SUBARU (252 NY-303, ORANGEBURG, NY 10962, (845) 359-7777) STATED THAT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE, AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Seats, Oct 9, 2019
THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH MY SUBRARU FORESTER 2017 FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) MALFUNCTIONS SAME AS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2016 THROUGH 2018 SUBARU FORESTER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES USE A CAPACITIVE TYPE ODS, WHICH IS INTENDED TO CLASSIFY THE OCCUPANT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AS EITHER FULL-SIZED, SMALL STATURE, A CHILD SEAT OR OTHER OBJECT. THE COMPLAINTS REPORT THE ODS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY, THE SRS (SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND/OR THE ODS INCORRECTLY SUPPRESSED (TURNED OFF) THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY A FULL-SIZED PASSENGER. IN A FRONTAL CRASH SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT DEPLOYMENT, A SUPPRESSED AIR BAG MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT. ODI OPENDED THIS INVESTIGATION TO ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY, AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Air bags, Oct 5, 2019
THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT COMES ON STEADILY.
Air bags, Oct 4, 2019
I UNDERSTAND THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEFECTS IN 2016-2018 SUBARU FORESTERS. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IN OUR 2017 FORESTER IS NOT WORKING ON A CONSISTENT BASIS AND HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR.. MY WIFE NEEDS A SEAT CUSHION FOR HER BAD BACK AND MANY TIMES, WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE SEAT, THE AIR BAG STAYS IN THE "OFF" STATUS. WE ALSO FOUND THAT THE SAME ISSUE COMES UP WHEN SHE DOES NOT USE THE CUSHION. ALSO, WHEN SHE IS WEARING A WINTER COAT AND NOT USING HER CUSHION, THE SENSOR STAYS IN THE "AIRBAG OFF" POSITION. ALSO, WE FIND THAT THE AIR BAG STAYS "OFF" IF THE CAR IS RUNNING BEFORE SHE GETS INTO THE SEAT. IF SHE GETS INTO THE SEAT BEFORE THE CAR IS TURNED ON, WE FIND THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR SEEMS TO WORK (NOT ALWAYS, BUT SOME OF THE TIME). THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES AND CANNOT FIX THE SENSOR. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SENSOR IS IN THE LOWER SEAT BACK AND NOT IN THE FLAT PART OF THE SEAT SO MY WIFE NEEDS TO ADJUST HER SITTING POSTURE FOR 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE THE AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT GOES OFF. MY WIFE DOES NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES WHEN SHE IS DRIVING WITH HER SEAT CUSHION - WE ASSUME THE DRIVERS AIRBAG IS ALWAYS ON. ONCE WE ARE MOVING AND THE "OFF" LIGHT IS GONE, WE HAVE NO ISSUES WHILE DRIVING UNTIL THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS TURNED OFF/ON. AGAIN - SOMETIMES IT WORKS -- SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. NOT SAFE !!! *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. *TR
Air bags, Oct 3, 2019
THE PASSENGER AIR-BAG IS MALFUNCTIONING AS THE GEL LAYER IN THE SEAT IS MALFUNCTIONING.
Air bags, Oct 3, 2019
PURCHASED OUR 2017 SUBARU FORESTER ON 09/24/16. ON 09/05/17 THE WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD CAME ON WARNING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THIS HAPPENED WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE CAR WAS ON A HIGHWAY. THE WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON 40-50 TIMES WHEN THE CAR IS ON THE ROAD AND A PASSENGER IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO DEALER AND I WAS TOLD MULTIPLE TIMES CODES WERE NOT THERE SO NO PROBLEM. WE WERE TOLD DO NOT PLACE ANYTHING ELECTRONIC NEAR THE SEAT. TOLD WE HAD SPILLED LIQUID ON SEAT AND SEAT DIRTY. NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN SPILLED ON THE SEATS. I FIND IT TROUBLING THAT A MAJOR SAFETY SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THE SUBARU IS NOT ACTIVELY TRYING TO FIX THE VEHICLES. I WENT INTO DEALER TODAY ON 3 OCT 2019 TO AGAIN HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CAN ORDER PART. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT SO MANY OTHER SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE ARE LAW GROUPS LINING UP CLASS ACTION SUITS. I WOULD JUST LIKE SUBARU TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM AND FIX THE AIRBAG SYSTEMS BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED.
Air bags, Structure, Oct 1, 2019, crash
INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT WAS WHERE THE SUBARU WAS T-BONED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. BOTH FRONT AND REAR DOOR AND ALL PANELING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. MY VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT 40MPH AND THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME WAS GOING 20-30MPH AND ACCELERATING. *DT *TR
Air bags, Sep 30, 2019
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR DOES NOT ALWAYS KNOW WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WILL REMAIN OFF EVEN WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED WITH THE SEAT BELT ON. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL LIGHT UP ON THE DASH RANDOMLY BUT CLEARS ONCE THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF. THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND IS CONCERNING AS THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH.