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
Visibility/wiper, Dec 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD IS EXTREMELY BRITTLE AND WILL CRACK ACROSS WITH IMPACTS THAT OTHER CARS CAN SUSTAIN. 3 WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS REQUIRED IN 18 MONTHS.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 26, 2019
12/11/19 2PM DRIVING AT 55MPH SOUTH ON ROUTE 321 BETWEEN KANE, PA AND WILCOX, PA. NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, NO STONE CHIPS. NOTICED 6" L SHAPED CRACK IN WINDSHIELD. DEFROSTER WAS ON. NEXT MORNING THE CRACK WAS ABOUT 14" AND GROWING.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 23, 2019
WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKS DEVELOP TWICE OVER THE COURSE OF OWNERSHIP
Visibility/wiper, Dec 3, 2019
THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD OF MY FORESTER SUDDENLY CRACKED WHILE PARKED A FEW MONTHS AGO. MY INSURANCE FULLY COVERED THE REPAIR. THE REPLACEMENT AFTERMARKET WINDSHIELD FROM SAFELITE ONLY LASTED A FEW MORE MONTHS BEFORE IT TOO GOT CHIPPED FROM A SMALL PEBBLE HIT AND NEEDED REPAIR. THE THIRD WINDSHIELD WAS DEFECTIVE AND FINALLY, THE FOURTH TIME, I GOT AN OEM WINDSHIELD INSTALLED WHICH IS STILL INTACT. I INCURRED NO COSTS DUE TO INSURANCE BUT THIS IS VERY AGGRAVATING! IT'S HARD TO GET A RELIABLE REPLACEMENT GLASS ON THE AFTERMARKET, WHICH IS ALL INSURANCE PAYS FOR UNLESS YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS LIKE I DID, ONLY THEN WILL YOU GET OEM. AND I WONDER HOW LONG IT WILL LAST! THE GLASS SEEMS BRITTLE - THERE IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN PROBLEM HERE.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2019
I PURCHASE MY 2017 FORESTER FROM THE ANNAPOLIS DEALER AS A USED LOANER CAR WITH LESS THAN 7000 MILES WITH THE ORIGINAL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. AFTER READING ABOUT WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS I STARTED CHECKING THE WINDSHIELD ON MY FORESTER. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HAIRLINE CRACKS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND BEST SEEN IN LOW SUNLIGHT WITH THE LIGHT IS REFRACTED BY THE CRACKS. I HAVE NOT REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER BUT WILL AT THE NEXT SERVICE APPOINTMENT.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 24, 2019
WINDSHIELD EXHIBITED SPARKLING TYPE FAULT THAT COMPROMISED ABILITY TO SEE CLEARLY THRU THE WINDSHIELD. ESPECIALLY SEVERE IN NIGHT DRIVING OR DIRECT SUNLIGHT. SUBARU REPLACED WINDSHIELD AS A "COURTESY" TO ME. THE SAME CONDITION IS NOW PREVALENT IN THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD. I KNOW THE DEALER WILL TELL ME IT IS ANOTHER FAULT, NOT THE MANUFACTURING OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 30, 2019
MY WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWICE IN THE PAST 3 YEARS THAT I'VE HAD IT. I'VE NEEDED TO USE SAFELITE TO SEAL THE CRACKS BUT I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL CHIPS AND SCRATCHES.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANYTHING AND WAS NEVER IN A COLLISION, BUT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED APPROXIMATELY 14 INCHES IN LENGTH BEGINNING AT THE BOTTOM EDGE ABOUT 1 FOOT FROM THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER AND ANGLING UP AND LEFTWARD. THE VEHICLE REQUIRED AN EXPENSIVE ($425) REPLACEMENT AS THE CRACK WAS TOO LONG FOR REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH LANE DEPARTURE AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE, WHICH THE REPAIR SHOP CITED AS THE REASON FOR THE VERY HIGH PRICE. NOTABLE AT THE SHOP WAS THAT THE CAR BEFORE MINE AND AFTER MINE WERE THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
MY 2.5 YEAR OLD 2017 SUBARU FORESTER HAS ALREADY HAS THE WINDSHIELD CHIPPED 2X WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BY SEATTLE. BOTH TIMES I HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED BY SAFELITE. EACH TIME IT WAS A TINY THING THAT HAD APPARENTLY HIT THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
A SMALL ROCK FROM THE HIGHWAY HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND IT CRACKED IMMEDIATELY. THE CRACK REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. WE HAVE HAD OTHER CARD BE HIT BY ROCKS, ONES THAT HAVE BEEN A LOT BIGGER AND HAVE HARDER IMPACTS THAT DID NOT CRACK OR CHIP THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MILES I NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKING
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
WHILE PARKED, THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF 2017 SUBARU FORESTER SUDDENLY CRACKED.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES FOR NO REASON. HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AFTER HITTING A DEER. REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO APPARENT REASON WHILE CAR WAS PARKED.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 11, 2019
SMALL OBJECT HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. CRACK DEVELOPED LATER THAT DAY.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 19, 2019
DAMAGED WINDSHIELD FROM A TINY PEBBLE RESULTING IN A 2 INCH SPIDER WEBBED CRACK. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON A PAVED ROAD WITHOUT ANY CONSTRUCTION. VERY SMALL PEBBLE STRUCK WINDSHIELD AND LEFT A LARGE CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 13, 2019
WINDSHIELD GOT SMALL STAR CHIP ON PASSENGER SIDE AFTER GETTING DINGED WITH A ROCK WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. COMMERCIAL WINDSHIELD REPAIR WAS ATTEMPTED. THE REPAIR FAILED AND THE WINDSHIELD PRODUCED A LARGE HORIZONTAL CRACK ALONG PASSENGER SIDE, ORIGINATING FROM INITIAL CHIP/REPAIR SITE.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 13, 2019
SMALL OBJECT HIT EDGE OF WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. HORIZONTAL CRACK DEVELOPED LATER THAT DAY.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 11, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD ON MY VEHICLE DEVELOPED DOZENS OF CHIPS AFTER ONLY 40K MILES OF DRIVING. MY PREVIOUS VEHICLES DRIVEN IN THE SAME MANNER IN THE SAME PLACES HAD NO SUCH PROBLEM. THE OTHER THE DAY FACTORY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A LARGE CRACK AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE LOOK AT OTHER OWNER COMPLAINTS AT SUBARUFORESTER.ORG ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE FORESTER WINDSHIELD. THERE IS A TREND OF BROKEN WINDSHIELDS ON THIS MODEL. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SUBARU NEEDS TO RESOLVE. THE FACTORY WINDSHIELD IS TOO WEAK.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 21, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALL BY ITSELF A SECOND TIME. GOT INTO THE CAR, LOOKED UP, MASSIVE CRACK FROM THE TOP EDGE DOWN AND ACROSS. THERE WAS NO IMPACT. FILED INSURANCE CLAIM, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACED WITH ANOTHER OEM SUBARU WINDSHIELD, HAD EYESIGHT SYSTEM CALIBRATED. CAR SAT AT DEALERSHIP UNDRIVEABLE FOR 4 MONTHS BECAUSE WINDSHIELD WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 21, 2019
GOT INTO VEHICLE, LOOKED UP AND THE WINDSHIELD HAD A MASSIVE CRACK FROM THE TOP EDGE DOWN AND ACROSS. NO IMPACT OF ANY SORT. FILED INSURANCE CLAIM AND TOOK TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT WITH OEM SUBARU WINDSHIELD AND CALIBRATION OF EYESIGHT SYSTEM.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 2, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKS AT VERY LITTLE IMPACT AND CRACKS SPREAD RAPIDLY THROUGH WINDSHIELD. I HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT TWICE IN 2018 AND IT CRACKED AGAIN ON 01-01-2019. IT HAPPENED ON THE SAME ROAD I COMMUTE FOR 20 YEARS AND NEVER HAD WINDSHIELD CRACKS WITH MY PREVIOUS VEHICLES.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 5, 2018
OUR WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE SITTING IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. WE WERE TOLD THAT REPLACEMENT HAS TO BE OEM GLASS AND CALIBRATED DUE TO THE EYESIGHT SAFETY SENSORS. AFTER TWO MONTHS ON BACK ORDER WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE IS A SOA BACKORDER OF OVER 2,000 WINDSHIELDS. UPON CHECKING FORUMS, THERE ARE A PLETHORA OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT REPEATED WINDSHIELD CRACKS AND LONG WAITS SIMILAR TO OURS. DESIGN DEFECT?
Visibility/wiper, Sep 23, 2018
WINDSHIELD ISSUES. STARTING 2/11/2017 FIRST STONE DING - KINGS SUBARU RECOMMENDED WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. PART WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED BY A MEL'S AUTO-GLASS. I PAY $250.00 DEDUCTIBLE FOR REPAIR. 7/28/2017 - SAME ISSUE, STONE DING - SAME DEALER RECOMMENDS GLASS REPLACEMENT. GETTING A NEW WINDSHIELD MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THIS TIME. ONE MONTH LATER I SEEK A SECOND OPINION FROM SAFELITE. THEY ARE ABLE TO FIX WINDSHIELD AND DO SO AT NO COST TO ME. I CANCEL WINDSHIELD ORDER FROM KINGS SUBARU AND CANCEL INSURANCE CLAIM SINCE REPAIR WAS DONE AT NO COST TO ME. 4/4/2018. STONE DING - SAFELITE REPAIRS GLASS - I PAY $104.40 7/13/2018 - VEHICLE IS PARKED - HOT DAY. NOW HAS CRACKED GLASS FROM RIGHT SIDE TOWARDS LEFT SIDE. NO EVIDENCE OF HIT. I DRIVE TO KINGS SUBARU, THEY TAKE PICTURES AND FORWARD TO SUBARU FOR A POSSIBLE CLAIM - I AM DENIED ASSISTANCE SO I FILE ANOTHER INSURANCE CLAIM AND HAVE A GLASS ORDERED THRU SAFELITE. I LEARN ABOUT A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON SUBARU THAT AFFECTS WINDSHIELD DELIVERY. SUBARU CUSTOMER SUPPORT AGREES TO EXPEDITE DELIVERY AND SHIPS WINDSHIELD TO KINGS SUBARU. THEY SELL WINDSHIELD TO ANOTHER CUSTOMER. 8/30/2018 RE-ORDER WINDSHIELD THRU SAFELITE - THEY USE A DIFFERENT DEALER THEY HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH. STILL WAITING FOR GLASS TO ARRIVE AND GET INSTALLED. I REALIZE SUBARU DOES NOT MANUFACTURE GLASS BUT THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG QUALITY WISE WITH THE VEHICLE OR THE GLASS TO HAVE THIS MANY ISSUES. I AM UNAWARE OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE INVOLVING WINDSHIELDS - DOCUMENTAION ATTACHED.