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, Sep 30, 2019, crash
2017 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JS
Air bags, Sep 28, 2019
2017 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 45,000 MILES - AIR BAG SENSOR WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY (AS SHOWN BY A RED AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD) AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF THE CAR WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT EVEN WHEN THERE WAS A PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR. LIGHT WOULD INDICATE THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF ON OCCASION AND THEN TURN BACK ON, EVEN WITH NO CHANGE IN WEIGHT ON THE SEAT, INDICATING THAT THE SENSOR WAS FAULTY. NOTHING WAS SPILLED ON THE SEAT WHERE THE SENSOR IS LOCATED NOR SHOULD THERE BE ANY OTHER REASON THAT THE SENSOR SHOULD STOP WORKING AT ONLY 45,000 MILES. THIS WAS PURELY AN EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION.
Air bags, Sep 25, 2019
THIS IS THE SECOND CAR REFERENCED UNDER COMPLAINT 11258187. THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO OCCASIONALLY ALERT AND TURN OFF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES IN BOTH OF OUR 2 YEAR OLD 2017 SUBARU FORESTERS. NOW THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS OFF WHEN JUST ABOUT ANYTHING IS PUT INTO THE FRONT SEAT. THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING WHILE IT IS STATIONARY OR WHEN IT IS IN MOTION. NEITHER CAR HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT/ACCIDENT.
Air bags, Sep 25, 2019
THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO OCCASIONALLY ALERT AND TURN OFF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES IN BOTH OF OUR 2 YEAR OLD 2017 SUBARU FORESTERS. NOW THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS OFF WHEN JUST ABOUT ANYTHING IS PUT INTO THE FRONT SEAT. THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING WHILE IT IS STATIONARY OR WHEN IT IS IN MOTION. NEITHER CAR HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT/ACCIDENT.
Air bags, Sep 25, 2019
MY SUBARU FORRESTER 2017 AIRBAG SENSOR CAME ON FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20 AND 21 WHILE DRIVING AND STATIONERY IN MY DRIVEWAY.TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND NO ONE WAS AVAILABLE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. SCHEDULE THIS MONDAY 23 AND THE SENSOR REQUIRED TO ONE. COST $961.00. CALLED SUBARU HEADQUARTERS AND ASKED ABOUT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND DOES NOT COVER. HOWEVER SINCE THIS WAS NOT MY FAULT, THEY WILL DO THE REPAIRS AT NO CHARGE. AWAITING FOR PARTS TO BE DELIVERED SO THAT I CAN BRING MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS.
Air bags, Sep 25, 2019
MY SMS MANUAL AIRBAG WARNING CAME ON AND TOLD ME TO REFER TO THE MANUAL. I SAW MY PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS NO LONGER ON, EVEN THOUGH I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT BELTED IN. I NOTICED THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE, ONE THAT IS BEING INVESTIGATED. FOR A 2017 VEHICLE, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
Air bags, Seats, Sep 20, 2019
WHILE OPERATING MY SUBARU FORESTER AN ICON APPEARED ON THE DASH INDICATING THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAGS, AT THE SAME TIME THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF EVEN THOUGH MY WIFE WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE CAR EXAMINED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD BUT HAS 52643 MILES ON IT AS I TRAVEL THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND ON BUSINESS, MOST OF THOSE MILES THE PASSENGER SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE HAD PURCHASED WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE BEST WAY TO PAY FOR ANY EXPENSIVE ELECTRICAL REPAIRS THAT MIGHT POP UP. I HAD THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR REPLACED FOR $1.178.50. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE SENSOR WAS IN FACT A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND THE REPLACEMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT NO COST TO ME DUE TO ITS FAILURE TO PERFORM.
Air bags, Sep 19, 2019
RED SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON SOLID ABOVE THE SPEEDOMETER. 'SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED' MESSAGE ON MULTI-FUNCTION SCREEN. AMBER " PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR LIT WHILE AN ADULT PASSENGER IS PRESENT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. HAPPENS RANDOMLY, WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. HAPPENS DURING ROUTINE DRIVING. INDICATORS MAY OR MAY NOT CLEAR NEXT TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED A SEAT CUSHION PAD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PART NOT IN STOCK, DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE MEANTIME. TICKET OPEN AT DEALERSHIP, SO NO HARDCOPY EVIDENCE UNTIL PART IS REPLACED.
Air bags, Seats, Sep 19, 2019
PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON/ GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHT WARNS US THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF DESPITE HAVING A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM SO I WANTED TO LOG OUR ISSUE WITH NHTSA AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER DEPLOYED IT AIRBAGS NOR BEEN IN A FRONT END COLLISION.
Air bags, Sep 18, 2019
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE AUGUST 2019-PRESENT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON REGULARLY WITHOUT CAUSE REGARDLESS OF A PASSENGER BEING PRESENT IN THE CAR.
Air bags, Seats, Sep 18, 2019
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL SWITCH TO OFF. AN ERROR MESSAGE WILL APPEAR INDICATING THAT THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS CHECKED. ISSUES APPEARS TO BE LOCATED WITH THE OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *DT *AS
Electrical system, Air bags, Seats, Sep 17, 2019
USUALLY WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WILL TURN OFF AND PUT AN ERROR CODE OUT THAT SAYS NOT ON EVEN WITH AN ADULT IN THE SEAT. RESETTING THE CODE CAN GET IT TO GO OFF BUT IT RETURNS. HAS TURNED OFF ON ITS OWN BEFORE AND COME BACK. TURNING CAR OFF AND ON DOES NOT RESET IT. *DT *DT *AS
Air bags, Sep 11, 2019
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR INDICATED OFF, WHEN IT SHOULD'VE BEEN ON. THERE WAS AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE INDICATOR WAS ON AFTER STARTING THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO RESET BY TURNING CAR OFF AND TURNING IGNITION BACK ON AND OFF. THE INDICATOR CAME BACK ON. IT TURNED OFF ON SUBSEQUENT STARTING OF AUTOMOBILE. I RECEIVED EMAIL FROM SUBARU STARLINK THE NEXT DAY TOO.
Air bags, Sep 9, 2019
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON STATING THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS MY FAULT DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE SENSOR? NOT SO. ONLY NORMAL USE, NO DAMAGE, RARELY ANYONE SITTING THERE. $850 PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE. SAID WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT DUE TO A SMALL GREASE STAIN ON SEAT.
Air bags, Sep 9, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND AIR BAG ON/OFF WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Air bags, Sep 6, 2019
PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS OFF RANDOMLY.
Air bags, Sep 6, 2019
WITHOUT WARNING, AND WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING. VEHICLE TELEMATICS REPORT NOTHING WRONG WITH ANY SYSTEMS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED. THE LIGHT TURNED ON AFTER STARTING.
Air bags, Aug 27, 2019
PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WITH A PASSENGER SEATING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HER WEIGHT, APPROX. 130 LBS AND THE SEAT WAS DRY. BROUGHT THE CAR TO SUBARU DEALER. TECH FOUND SRS LIGHT ON. TECH SCANNED CODES AND FOUND A OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR MAT SYSTEM FAULT. HAD TO REPLACE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BOTTOM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED WITHOUT THE OWNER HAVING TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT BAD SENSOR.
Air bags, Aug 23, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS ARE INTERMITTENTLY BEING DISABLED WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE SEAT IN A PROPER SEATING POSITION. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS WARNING MESSAGE WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND AIRBAG OFF DISPLAY LIGHT COMES ON. RED SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN THE DRIVER'S CONSOLE ALSO COMES ON. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY DURING LONGER COMMUTES AS I'VE NOTICED THE WARNING LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN DRIVING SHORT DRIVING DISTANCES AND THE WARNING LIGHTS OFTEN DISAPPEAR WHEN CAR GETS TURNED OFF OR AFTER A DAY PASSES. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN JUNE OF 2019. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL SUBARU DEALER ON 06/12/2019. THEY CHECKED FOR STORED CODES AND IT CAME BACK WITH CODE B1760 WAS STORED IN OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM AND CODE B1650 STORED IN AIRBAG CONTROL SYSTEM. THEY CHECKED FOR ANY DAMAGE/LOOSE CONNECTIONS/MOISTURE AS DEALER STATED THOSE THINGS MAY CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO COME ON BUT NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THEY CLEARED THE CODES AND STATED THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG AND THE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON WHILE THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER BUT THEY DIDNT EVEN DRIVE THE CAR WHICH IS WHY THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. I WAS CHARGED $105.95 BY THE DEALER FOR THEIR TIME. I TOLD THEM THAT I RESEARCHED THE MATTER ONLINE AND THAT MANY SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT UNTIL SUBARU ISSUES A RECALL THEY CAN'T HELP ME AND WON'T REIMBURSE ME FOR MY CHARGES.
Air bags, Seats, Aug 22, 2019
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS ARE INTERMITTENTLY BEING DISABLED WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE SEAT. I AM ALERTED TO THIS BY MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF STARTING THE CAR AND IS USUALLY STILL STATIONARY.
Air bags, Aug 21, 2019
PASSENGER AIRBAG INTERMITTENTLY GOES OFF WHEN THERE'S AN ADULT PASSENGER PROPERLY SEATED IN THE SEAT WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LIGHT IN THE CENTER CONSOLE GOES FROM ON TO OFF, AND THE RED SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN THE DRIVER'S CONSOLE COMES ON. THE SRS LIGHT CAN STAY ON FOR A COUPLE DAYS WITH VEHICLE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION, THEN RETURNS TO NORMAL. I'VE NOTIFIED MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER BY EMAIL ON AUG 16, 2019, BUT HAVE NOT YET HAD A REPLY.
Air bags, Aug 16, 2019
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. OFTEN, WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE LIGHT WILL SHOW THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THERE IS ALSO A WARNING LIGHT TELLING US TO GET THE AIRBAG CHECKED. IN CONTRAST, THE SENSOR WILL SAY THAT THE AIRBAG IS ON WHEN THERE IS NO ONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP ON 8.8.19 AND WERE TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE WERE ADVISED TO JUST ASSUME THAT THE AIRBAG WORKS CORRECTLY, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS TELLING US THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Air bags, Aug 13, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SELLERS SUBARU (23651 HALL RD, MCCOMB, MI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Air bags, Aug 13, 2019
MY WIFE HAS BEEN USING A SEAT CUSHION, FOR HER BACK PROBLEM, FOR OVER A MONTH. STARTING 4 DAYS AGO THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATES OFF. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ONLY GOES BACK ON WHEN THE SEAT CUSHION IS REMOVED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO MY SUBARU DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.
Air bags, Aug 13, 2019
THE LIGHTS INDICATING AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. IT APPEARS THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE BOTH OFF. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, AND AT THAT TIME THE LIGHTS DID NOT INDICATE A PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN THIS MORNING INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS.