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: visibility/wiper
104 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel/propulsion system, Visibility/wiper, Mar 22, 2021
FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS DEVELOPED TWO LINEAR CRACKS SPONTANEOUSLY, ONE SMALL ONE 5 CM LONG, THE OTHER ACROSS THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD ABOUT 50 CM. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY, THERE WAS NO DEBRIS, ETC, FIRST NOTED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN GARAGE. THERE ARE NO STELLATE MARKINGS, ETC.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 16, 2021
I PURCHASED MY 2017 SUBARU FORESTER IN JULY 2017, SO I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS. ONE DAY RECENTLY I GOT IN MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED A MASSIVE STRESS CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF MY HOME AND I HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY SEEN ANY CRACKS ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK IS AROUND 12 INCHES IN LENGTH, MAYBE LONGER. IT STARTS AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND EXTENDS MOSTLY HORIZONTALLY TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE. I RAN MY FINGER END TO END ACROSS THE CRACK BOTH OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND I COULD NOT FEEL THE CRACK. WHICH MEANS THE CRACK IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH MAKES ME THINK IT IS A STRESS CRACK. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS SUBARU VEHICLES OF VARIOUS MAKES, MODELS, AND YEARS. MY 2017 SUBARU FORESTER IS INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF VEHICLES THAT IS AFFECTED. SUBARU HAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM BECAUSE THIS ISSUE OF SUBARU WINDSHIELDS CRACKING IS SO COMMON. HERE IS A NEWS ARTICLE WITH MORE INFORMATION: HTTPS://WWW.TORQUENEWS.COM/1084/SUBARU-CRACKED-WINDSHIELD-LAWSUIT-UPDATE-WARRANTY-CLAIMS-ARE-DISMISSED
Visibility/wiper, Mar 7, 2021
WINDSHIELD PRONE TO LARGE CRACKS AFTER ANY SMALL CHIPS NEAR THE EDGE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 2 MONTHS. CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN CRACKS WERE NOTICED.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 1, 2021
MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF 8HRS WHILE I WAS AT WORK. THE CRACK STARTS FROM THE BOTTOM AND EXTENDS VERTICALLY AND THEN MOVES HORIZONTALLY. I BELIEVE IT TO BE INTERNAL AS IT HAS NO EXTERIOR MARKS OR CHIPS FROM THE OUTSIDE. I ALSO HAVENT HAD ANY DEBRIS HIT MY VEHICLE DURING THE LAST TIMES I HAVE COMMUTED TO WORK.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 19, 2021
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT FORWARD ON A WELL-MAINTAINED HIGHWAY UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS MY CAR HAS BEEN HIT WITH SEVERAL ROCKS THAT HAVE BEEN FLUNG FROM TRUCK WHEELS INTO MY LANE. MY CAR'S WINDSHIELD CHIPPED AND CRACKED IN AN UNUSUALLY EASY AND VIOLENT MANNER. ONE OF THE CRACKS SPECIFICALLY SEEMS LIKE A HAZARD TO THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE GLASS, AS IT IS EASILY SPREADING WITH ANY PRESSURE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 6 MONTHS, AND I HAVE 7 (POSSIBLY MORE) VISIBLE ROCK CHIPS AND CRACKS ON THE WINDSHIELD. MY PRIOR SUBARU WAS AN OLDER (2001) MODEL AND I NEVER EXPERIENCED A VISIBLE ROCK CHIP IN 8 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 3, 2021
AFTER OWNING MY CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED SUBARU FORESTER FOR 3 MONTHS I WOKE UP TO A LARGE SPIDER CRACK STARTING FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT MY APARTMENT COMPLEX IN A PATROLLED LOT. IT WENT DOWNWARD ABOUT 8 INCHES IN LENGTH. NO ROCKS WERE HEARD OR VISUALLY OBSERVED TO IMPACT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE SOURCE OF THE CRACK APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE GLASS WHERE IT IS SEALED AT THE VERY TOP. THIS CRACK WAS NOT ABLE TO BE FELT WITH A FINGERNAIL WHICH IS HOW IT IS KNOWN TO BE UNDER THE GLASS.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 3, 2021
MYSELF, WIFE,AND SON WERE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 99 WHEN WE HEARD A POPPING SOUND FOR NO APPARENT REASON WE WERE STARTLED, THERE WAS NO CAR OR TRUCK IN FRONT OF US SO I KNOW IT WASN'T A ROCK,I THEN NOTICED A SMALL CRACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD, THEN WITHIN SECONDS OF NOTICING MY WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO CRACK RIGHT INFRONT OF US AND CONTINUED TILL WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION. WE WERE SHOCKED TO SEE HOW FAST IT CONTINUED TO CRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 30, 2020
THERE IS A CHIP/DENT IN THE BOTTOM LEFT OF THE WINDSHIELD OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED FROM REGULAR USE AND THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS INFERIOR/DEFECTIVE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 18, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A LARGE CRACK (2 FEET LONG) BEGINNING AT THE LOWER LEFT EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE WIPER EXTENDING HALF WAY UP THE WINDSHIELD. THERE HAD BEEN NO IMPACTS TO THE WINDSHIELD TO EXPLAIN THE CRACK, AND THE ORIGIN OF THE CRACK DID NOT CONTAIN A CHIP TO SHOW WHY IT STARTED. I NOTICED THE CRACK WHEN I PARKED AT MY HOUSE, I'M NOT SURE WHEN IT STARTED BUT WAS SURE IT WASN'T PRESENT WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 2.5 WEEKS PREVIOUSLY.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
WINDSHIELD HAS MULTIPLE CHIPS. CURRENTLY ON OUR SECOND WINDSHIELD AFTER A CRACK ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD REQUIRED A FULL REPLACEMENT
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
AT THE END OF A DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED THIS CRACK IN THE LOWER LEFT PART OF THE WINDSHIELD (FROM DRIVER'S VIEW). I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OBJECT HIT MY WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK LOOKS UNIFORM.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED. HAD TO GET REPLACED. WE NOTICED NO STONES OR PEBBLES STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE THIS. IT CRACKED ON A HIGHWAY.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 18, 2020
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 101 SOUTHBOUND. DRIVER HEARD A LOUD POP. DRIVER LOOKED AROUND TO FIND A LARGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES WITHIN 7-8 CAR LENGTHS IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 16, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70 MILES AN HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, TYPICAL SPEED FOR MY AREA IS BETWEEN 65 AND 80MPH ON HIGHWAYS. MY WIND SHIELD WAS STRUCK BY GRAVEL/ROCK/SMALL OR SMALL DEBRIS. AND A PART OF MY WINDSHIELD CHIPPED WHILE AN OTHER SPOT CRACKED AND LATER DEVELOPED A CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 7, 2020
SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN MY VEHICLE, MY WINDSHIELD HAS GOTTEN SEVERAL CRACKS AND CHIPS (VERY EASILY) FROM ROCKS FLYING UP OFF THE ROAD. FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GET MY WINDSHIELD REPAIRED AND THIS TIME A FULL REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED DUE TO DAMAGE FROM A ROCK HITTING MY WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING A LARGE CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 2, 2020
GOT INTO MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THERE WERE NO BRANCHES OR OTHER LARGE ITEMS NEAR THE CAR THAT WOULD'VE FALLEN ON IT. THERE WAS NO CRACK WHEN LAST DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CRACK IS ABOUT A FOOT IN LENGTH AND STARTS AT THE TOP LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHEN LOOKING AT IT. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED AT OUR RESIDENCE.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 30, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED, WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. EPICENTER OF THE CRACK DOES NOT SHOW SIGNS OF IMPACT. APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN STRESS INDUCED. CRACK EXTENDS FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD TO BELOW THE MIRROR.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 27, 2020
TWO SMALL CRACKS FORMED AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD (CAUSE UNKNOWN). ONE OF THOSE CRACKS HAS NOW SPREAD TO HALFWAY UP THE WINDSHIELD IN ONE DAY.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 27, 2020
BOUGHT THE 2017 SUBARU FORESTER EYESIGH BRAND NEW IN 2017. 2 WEEKS LATER FRONT WINDSHIELD CHIPPED AND CRACKED. GOT IT REPLACED. AND NOW ANOTHER CHIPPED. THIS IS CHEAP THIN POORLY MADE WINDSHIELD EVEN THE DEALER PARTS PERSON SAID SO. 1ST TIME......THIS IS ALL HAPPENED FREEWAY DRIVING. OUT OF NOWHERE. ALL I HEARD A DEBRIS HIT THE WINDSHIELD GOT TO WORK PARKED. BY THE TIME I GET OFF WORK..... THERES A BIG LONG CRACKED ACROSS THE BOTTOM WINDSHIELD. AND 2ND TIME SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE GOING TO WORK. SAME THING HAPPENED. BUT THIS TIME I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED, AND I GOT THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WARRANTY. NO LUCK, TOLD ME THEY ONLY CAN DO REPAIR SMALLER THEN A QUARTER. SO I CALLED, THEY SAID ONLY CAN REPAIR NO REPLACEMENT. FILL IN THE CRACKED. SO. SO FAR. THIS GONNA BE MY 1ST AND LAST SUBARU. NOTHING BUT HEADACHE DEALING WITH THE DEALERS. WINDSHIELD REPLACNEMT IS NOT CHEAP. ITS ABOUT $$1200
Visibility/wiper, Sep 4, 2020
FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED HORIZONTAL CRACKS WHILE PARKED ON STREET AT OWNERS LOCATION. CRACK INCREASED IN LENGTH OVER A PERIOD OF TWO MONTHS. FAILURE BEGAN ON PASSENGER SIDE. FAILURE NOW EXTENDS NEARLY 50% INTO DRIVER SIDE. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY IMPACT FROM EITHER THE OUTSIDE OF WINDOW OR INSIDE OF WINDOW.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 2, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THE 4 YEARS I'VE OWNED THE CAR. THIS TIME, ON AUG 28, IT HAPPENED WHILE PARKED IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 11, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD GOT A SPONTANEOUS CRACK WHILE DRIVING, NOT BEHIND ANY WORK TRUCKS, AND THEN AS THE DAYS GOT HOTTER, IT BEGAN TO SPIDER. I PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT THROUGH SAFELIGHT IN MARCH 2018. I ALSO PAID FOR THE REQUIRED CALIBRATION FOR A TOTAL OF JUST OVER $642. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, I GOT ANOTHER CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I PUT SEALANT INTO IT AND IT IS STARTING TO SPREAD. THE SECOND TIME THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHICH IS IN A QUIET RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITH NO CONSTRUCTION.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 26, 2020
I JUST PURCHASED MY 2017 SUBARU FORESTER ON 6/13/20 AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON 6/25/20 THE WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY A SMALL ROCK FROM A SEMI TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. I DID NOT SEE ANY VISIBLE DAMAGE AT THE TIME BUT THE NEXT DAY A VERY LARGE CRACK APPEARED ON MY WINDSHIELD ALMOST A FOOT AND A HALF LONG. IN SPEAKING WITH OTHER SUBARU OWNERS I HAD NOT REALIZED WHAT A MASSIVE AND WELL KNOWN ISSUE THIS IS FOR SUBARU WINDSHIELDS. I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE OCCUR THIS INSTANTLY ON A WINDSHIELD FROM SUCH A MINOR IMPACT. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 22, 2020
WHILE DRIVING MY 2017 SUBARU FORESTER IN JULY 2017 ON M22 LOCATED IN MICHIGAN MY WINDSHIELD BEGAN CRACKING. *TR