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: other or unspecified
96 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Aug 14, 2020
ORIGINAL OWNER OF 2017 SUBARU FORESTER WITH EYESIGHT. DRIVING ON OPEN ROAD IN CLEAR WEATHER. NOTICED A SMALL LINE ABOVE REGISTRATION STICKER THAT LOOKED LIKE A BLADE OF GRASS. STOPPED AT OUR DESTINATION AND NOTICED A CRACK THAT TRIPLED IN LENGTH IN THE 30 MINUTES IT SAT PARKED ACROSS THE LEFT LOWER SECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT PROCEEDED TO SPREAD OVER THE NEXT DAY. HAVE NEVER HAD A CHIP OR IMPACT TO THIS WINDSHIELD PREVIOUSLY, BUT IF THERE WAS ANY OBJECT THAT HIT THE CAR IT WAS INCREDIBLY SMALL AS THE CRACK IS ENTIRELY IN THE DRIVER'S EYELINE AND I DID NOT SEE OR HEAR ANYTHING.
Other or unspecified, Jul 21, 2020
AFTER PARKING AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, THE KEY CAN'T BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE KEY WILL ONLY MOVE TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION AND NO FURTHER. EVENTUALLY BY RESTARTING THE ENGINE, DRIVING BACK AND FORTH AND SOMETIMES TURNING THE WHEELS A LITTLE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO A SUBARU SERVICE CENTER AND LEFT IT THERE FOR IT TO BE CHECKED TOMORROW.
Other or unspecified, Jul 6, 2020
AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AND PLACING IT IN "PARK", THE KEY COULD NOT BE EXTRACTED FROM THE IGNITION. PUTTING THE CAR INTO DIFFERENT GEARS WAS OF NO HELP, SOMETIMES ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND THEN EXTRACT THE KEY. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN PAST MONTH. LUCKILY, BY SHIFTING GEARS OR STRAIGHTENING OUT THE WHEEL, OR DRIVING A BIT MORE I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE KEY.BY SLOWLY REMOVING KEY. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE KEY. HOWEVER, AFRAID THAT ONE TIME KEY WONT BE REMOVED USING THESE METHODS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 24, 2020
AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AND PLACING IT IN "PARK", THE KEY COULD NOT BE EXTRACTED FROM THE IGNITION. PUTTING THE CAR INTO DIFFERENT GEARS WAS OF NO HELP. I WAS SOMETIMES ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND THEN EXTRACT THE KEY, BUT NOT EVERY TIME. MY CHOICES WERE TO RETURN HOME OR LEAVE MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT WITH THE KEY IN IT WHILE DRAINING THE BATTERY WHILE THIS MAY SEEM MORE AN INCONVENIENCE THAN A SAFETY ISSUE, ON SOME OCCASIONS THIS RESULTED IN MY BATTERY BECOMING SO WEAK THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T CRANK LEAVING ME STRANDED UNTIL I COULD FIND SOMEONE TO HELP ME JUMP OFF MY CAR. AFTER THREE OF THESE INCIDENTS, I BEGAN DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY CABLES WHEN I COULDN'T REMOVE THE KEY. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR SUBARUS OF VARIOUS MODELS. THEY SAID THAT THE GUIDE PLATE IN THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY KEPT THOSE PARTS IN STOCK. THEY DID REPLACE THE GUIDE PLATE WHICH CORRECTED THE ISSUE. MY QUESTION IS: IF SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE (WITH A CORRECTION COST OF $500) WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? I PERSONALLY HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH COVERED ALL BUT $100 OF THE REPAIR, BUT PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL HAVE TO PAY THE FULL $500 JUST TO GET A KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SUBARU NOW USES A DIFFERENT GUIDE PLATE IN THE LATEST MODELS. SUBARU KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM IN THE CARS THAT ARE 2-3 YEARS OLD. THEY NEED TO BE HONEST WITH CONSUMERS SO THAT THEY DON'T RISK BEING STRANDED DUE TO A WEAKENED BATTERY BECAUSE OF FAULTY GUIDE PLATES AND THEY NEED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE AS IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 24, 2020
SMELL OF GASOLINE AT STARTUP. THE CAR HAS ONLY 30000 MILES ON IT AND SEEMS TO BE A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM/ISSUE WITH SUBARUS OF ALL MAKES/MODELS. THIS WAS NOT IN COLD WEATHER. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! *TR
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 15, 2020
THE KEY FOB GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND CAN'T BE TAKEN OUT. I HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE CENTER CONSOLE DRIVE SHIFTER TO GO IN AND OUT OF PARK POSITION UNTIL IT FINALLY TURNS AND COMES OUT. PLEASE REFERENCE TSB 16-112-18R. *TR
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, May 17, 2020
I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH IN TOWN. I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, AS I WENT TO BREAK THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN BUT SEEMED TO SPEED UP. IT TOOK A LOT OF FORCE ON THE BREAK TO STOP COMPLETELY.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, May 16, 2020
WHEN IN MOTION COMING TO A STOP ON LOCAL STREET, HITTING BRAKES, FORESTER MAKES SOUNDS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS BUT MORE ON FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AREA NEEDING TO BRAKE HARDER. WIFE AND SON WERE ON FREEWAY IN MOTION, HITTING BRAKES MADE CLICK CLICK SOUND AND HAVING TO BRAKE HARDER COMING TO A FULL STOP WIFE *TR
Other or unspecified, May 5, 2020
CONTINUOUS BATTERY DRAINAGE ISSUES. OVER THE PAST HALF A YEAR I'VE HAD 3 BATTERY REPLACEMENTS. MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THE FIRST BATTERY REPLACEMENT HAPPENED BUT HAS SINCE THEN LAPSED. IN ALL OF THE CASES, THE BATTERY WOULD DIE AFTER 2-3 DAYS OF NOT STARTING THE CAR. DEALERSHIP INSISTS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. *TR
Other or unspecified, Mar 30, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD GOT CRACKED LAST MONTH. IT WAS SO EASY TO GET CRACKED. IT COSTED MY ALMOST $900 TO REPLACE IT. IT NEVER HAPPENED TO MY OLD CAR (DIFFERENT BRAND) BEFORE. I HAVE TALKED TO MY FRIEND WHO ALSO WAS DRIVING 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK ABOUT IT AND HE CLAIMED THAT HIS WINDSHIELD HAD BROKEN TWICE.
Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2020
CRACKED WINDSHIELD
Other or unspecified, Mar 2, 2020
CRACKED WINDSHIELD OCCURED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME
Other or unspecified, Feb 26, 2020
BLACK FOAM INSULATION KEEPS FALLING OUT OF MY WINDSHIELD. THEY HAVE ALREADY REPLACED MY WINDSHIELD PREVIOUSLY AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY PREVIOUSLY PUT ME IN A LOANER WHILE WINDSHIELD WAS ON BACK ORDER. IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT THE WINDSHIELD MIGHT BLOW OUT. THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME THIS TIME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM PROBLEM WITH THE FORESTER. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME TO JUST PUSH IT BACK IN WITH A RULER OR JUST PULL IT OUT. HOW CAN THIS BE A SAFE SOLUTION. WHAT IF I HAVE NO INSULATION LEFT ? IS MY WINDSHIELD GOING TO BLOW OUT ? IS IT LOOSE NOW ? I HAVE A BRAND NEW GRANDSON, SHOULD I BE PUTTING HIM IN MY CAR WITH A FEAR OF THE WINDSHIELD BLOWING OUT ? THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT SOME GUY NAMED LIAM FROM NJ WILL BE CALLING ME BACK. HE HASN'T CALLED YET AND IT IS ALMOST A WEEK NOW. CAN YOU PLEASE GET ME SOME ANSWERS ABOUT THE FOAM INSULATION FALLING OUT. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS TELLING ME TO GET A RULER AND PUSH BACK IN OR JUST PULL IT OUT.
Other or unspecified, Feb 25, 2020
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY WINDSHIELD REPLACE 3 TIMES IN MY 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. SEEMS TO ME TO BE A LOT. IN 45 YEARS OF DRIVING, I'VE NOT HAD TO HAVE THAT MANY WINDSHIELDS REPLACED, TOTAL. ONE TIME THE DAMAGE WAS DEFINITELY FROM A ROCK HIT. RECENTLY I'VE HAD A CHIP REPAIRED FROM A ROCK HIT.
Other or unspecified, Feb 23, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. GOT INTO MY VEHICLE FOLLOWING MEMORIAL DAY PARADE AND STARTED DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (A SMALL TOWN ROAD WITH SPEED LIMIT OF 35) AND NOTICED A CRACK STARTING AT THE TOP EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD, ABOUT IN THE CENTER. THE CRACK EVENTUALLY TRAVELED INTO THE DRIVER'S VIEWING AREA AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD.
Other or unspecified, Jan 8, 2020
THE KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION AFTER YOU TURN THE CAR OFF.
Other or unspecified, Dec 23, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALONG THE TOP CENTER WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE OF BEING HIT BY ANYTHING. THE SUBARU DEALER ARRANGED FOR A THIRD PARTY TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AT MY EXPENSE AND THEN CHARGED ME $360 TO READJUST THE SAFETY VISION THROUGH THE NEW WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS DONE THROUGH MY INSURANCE WHICH CAUSED MY INSURANCE TO GO UP. AT NO TIME DID ANYONE TELL ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THESE WINDSHIELDS BREAKING SPONTANEOUSLY BECAUSE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE THE SERVICE INVOICE FROM 16 APRIL 2019.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 21, 2019
MY CAR STOLE IN THE MIDDLE OFF HIGHWAY ON A VERY BUSY TRAFFIC TIME,, I CAN HEAR THE ENGINE BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE, FINALLY IT MOVED VERY SLOWLY AND STOP AGAIN, I ALMOST GOT HIT MANY TIMES SINCE VEHICLES WERE SPEEDING OVER 65MILES AND NO ONE WILL ALLOW ME TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER, FINALLY AFTER 10 MINUTES THE CAR ENGINE ACCELERATED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY, VERY SCARY SITUACIN
Other or unspecified, Dec 9, 2019
TWICE TODAY WHEN CAR WAS OFF, IN PARK, WITH PARK BRAKE APPLIED, IGNITION WOULD NOT ALLOW KEY TO RELEASE. 'FIX' WAS TO RESTART CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE, THEN BACK TO PARK ONE OR MORE TIMES UNTIL KEY COULD FINALLY BE REMOVED.
Other or unspecified, Nov 1, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACK
Other or unspecified, Oct 29, 2019
CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN FRONT OF VEHICLE WHILE STATIONARY AT HOME.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Oct 29, 2019
I AM REPORTING TO SEPARATE INCIDENCES. BOTH INCIDENCES ARE BECAUSE OF A SMALL ROCK HITTING MY WINDSHIELD, CREATING A BULLET-SIZED CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. ONE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON COUNTY ROADS. THE FIRST BULLET HOLE CRACK HAS SINCE SPREAD INTO A CRACK THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF MY WINDSHIELD PERIOD THE MORE RECENT BULLET HOLE CRACK WILL MOST LIKELY DO THE SAME.
Other or unspecified, Oct 27, 2019
PEBBLE THROWN TO WINDOW AND STARTED AS A LIL CHIP AND WITHIN TRIP HOME ENTIRE CRACK THROUGH WINDSHIELD FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF GLASS. I WAS DRIVING ENTIRE TIME OF CRACK SPREADING!
Other or unspecified, Oct 2, 2019, crash
WHILE PARKING THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT GOING AT 10 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT TOP SPEED WENT OVER A CURB AND HIT A TREE. THE CAR THEN WENT IN REVERSE AT FULL SPEED IN A CIRCLE APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES UNTIL THE KEY COULD FINALLY BE REMOVED. THE BRAKES WERE WORKING BUT WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR.
Other or unspecified, Sep 28, 2019
OFTEN I CANNOT INITIALLY REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AFTER I HAVE PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, AFTER I HAVE STOPPED THE CAR AND AM READY TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I THEN HAVE TO MOVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DRIVE AND THEN BACK TO PARK AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME BEFORE THE KEY WILL FINALLY MOVE TO THE FAR LEFT AND ALLOW ME TO REMOVE IT AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THIS HAS STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO (THE CAR HAS 41K MILES AND MOST RECENTLY YESTERDAY AFTER PARKING IT IN MY GARAGE ON LEVEL GROUND!