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
586 reports, newest first.
Air bags, May 20, 2021, crash
Vehicle was struck by a dump truck traveling approximately 50 mph that ran a red light. Impact was on the front passenger side. Although, the collision was violent and there was substantial frontend damage, no airbags deployed. Driver was only occupant.
Power train, May 19, 2021
Once vehicle is stopped, transmission shifted to Park, and ignition key turned to off, ignition key will not come out of ignition. This has happened 8-19 times. Driver must start car, put in drive then back in park, turn off then key can be removed. I understand TSB 16-112-18R addresses this issue known to Subaru. It has not been inspected by a mechanic.
Electrical system, May 16, 2021
THE BATTERY ON MY 2017 FORESTER HAS BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THREE TIMES AFTER BEING FOUND DEAD. ALL THREE TIMES SUBARU HAS SAID IT WAS A BAD BATTERY. THE BATTERY COULDN'T BE JUMPED AND MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE IF IT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. LUCKILY IT WAS AT MY HOUSE ALL THREE TIMES SO ONLY A SIMPLE TOW. IF THIS HAPPENED 300 MILES OFF ROAD, IT WOULD BE A MASSIVE ISSUE.
Electrical system, May 15, 2021
BATTERY GOES DEAD AND MUST BE REPLACED IF NOT DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE.
Electrical system, May 14, 2021
IN NOV 2019 WE LEFT THE CAR PARKED FOR A WEEK AT THE CRUISE TERMINAL WHILE STATIONED OVERSEAS IN ITALY. WE WE CAME BACK, THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND HAD JUMPED. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS THE CAR HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING AND WE ENDED UP TAKING THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN FROSINONE, ITALY. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT WE WERE NOT THE FIRST FORRESTER OWNERS TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED.
Electrical system, May 14, 2021
THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY DRAINS QUICKLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF, LEFT STATIONARY, AND NOT IN USE, WHICH RENDERS THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE.
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 28, 2021
CAR NEARLY STALLS WHEN STARTING FROM STOP AFTER SITTING AT LIGHT OR INTERSECTION WHEN IN REGULAR (NOT SPORT) MODE. ESPECIALLY OCCURS WHEN HAVING TO TURN FROM A STOP AND ACCELERATE FASTER. HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES. DOES NOT OCCUR IN THE OTHER MODES. VERY SCARY! ?FUEL PUMP OR OTHER DEFECT? CITY AND COUNTY ROADS. REPRODUCIBLE.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Apr 27, 2021
I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2017 SUBARU FORESTER ON JUNE 19 2020. I HAVE HAD AN INTERMITTENT SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE NOT RESPONDING CORRECTLY WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE SINCE. WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WILL BEGIN TO ACCELERATE WITH MY RPMS RISING NORMALLY. THEN MY RPMS WILL START TO DROP WHEN THEY WOULD NORMALLY RISE AND MY CAR STOPS OR MAINTAINS THE ACCELERATION PRIOR. ONCE THEY HAVE DROPPED THEY WILL STAY THERE FOR A LITTLE AND THEN WILL SHOOT UP SUDDENLY AND RED LINE. I HAVE TRIED A VARIETY OF THINGS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING; I HAVE TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, KEPT THE SAME OR MORE PRESSURE ON THE GAS, AND BREAKING. REGARDLESS OF WHAT I DO THE VEHICLE RED LINES AND MY SPEED WILL EITHER DROP OR STAY THE SAME. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SUBARU DEALERSHIPS ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND IT WAS RETURNED TO ME WITHOUT DIAGNOSING OR REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME I DROVE MY VEHICLE IT DID THIS AGAIN AND THE RPMS RED LINING CAUSING MY ENGINE TO FAIL. I WAS ACCELERATED FROM A STOP AT A STREET LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGH I WAS PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE RPMS REDLINED AND MY ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE THAT WE LATER DISCOVERED WAS FROM UNREPAIRABLE ENGINE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOW BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A MONTH TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AND TRY TO FIX THIS ISSUE. EVERY WEEK THEY TELL ME I WILL GET IT BACK THE NEXT WEEK AND THEN SOMETHING ELSE FAILS OR CAUSES A SET BACK. I BOUGHT A SUBARU FORESTER BECAUSE OF ADVERTISEMENTS ABOUT HOW "SAFE" AND 'RELIABLE' THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE. INSTEAD I HAVE HAD NEAR MISSES WHEN MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE OR TURNING ACROSS TRAFFIC IN A BUSY DENVER INTERSECTION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DOESN'T RESPOND AS EXPECTED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS IGNORED MY CONCERNS BY EITHER SAYING "THAT JUST HAPPENS WITH FORESTERS SOMETIMES" OR "WE CAN'T FIX IT UNLESS WE CAN REPLICATE IT.'
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 27, 2021
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WHICH IS ROLLED UP COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THERE ARE NO CRACKS NO INDENTATION THAT THE GLASS WOULD HAVE BROKEN AT TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE ONLY ISSUE LEADING UP TO THIS THE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP ALL THE WAY AT TIMES. WHICH IS WHY I PERSONALLY NEVER ROLLED THE WINDOW DOWN ONCE I KNEW THAT WAS AN ISSUE
Electrical system, Apr 23, 2021
2017 SUBARU FORESTER BATTERY DRAINS POWER AND LEAVES CAR TOTALLY DEAD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASE (1/2017). BATTERY DIED IN 2018 TWICE: ONCE DURING SUMMER AND ONCE IN NOVEMBER. (ONE TIME SUBARU SERVICE ROADSIDE ASSIST WAS USED, 11/18, AND ONE TIME A FRIEND CHARGED BATTERY). THIRD TIME BATTERY DIED WAS 3/19. BROUGHT CARE TO DEALER ON 4/29/19 WITH COMPLAINT OF BATTERY DRAIN. SUBARU TESTED BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS ALL GOOD AND WOULD NOT REPLACE BATTERY. IN 1/20 BATTERY AGAIN DIED AND ON 1/29/20 TOOK CAR AGAIN TO SUBARU DEALER WITH COMPLAINT OF BATTERY DRAIN. SUBARU CHECKED THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND UPDATES. BATTERY FAILED TESTING AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ON 4/22/21 BATTERY AGAIN DIED. I CALLED SUBARU SERVICE MANAGER AND ASKED TO HAVE THE MY CAR TESTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CAR THAT WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE MANAGER REPEATEDLY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING LEFT ON BY ME WHILE THE CARE WAS TURNED OFF.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 23, 2021
I HAVE NOW REPLACED MY WINDSHIELD A SECOND TIME IN A 30-DAY PERIOD OF TIME. I HAD MY WINDSHIELD BREAK WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. AS SOON AS I GOT IT REPLACED, 3 DAYS PAST AND I WOKE UP ONE MORNING TO SEE THAT MY WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN AGAIN. NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD EITHER TIME AND IT JUST SPORADICALLY CRACKED. I'M DREADING HAVING TO PAY FOR THE THIRD REPLACEMENT.
Air bags, Seat belts, Apr 18, 2021
WHILE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, FOLLOWING THE ODS RECALL REPAIR, THE AIRBAG LIGHT OCCASIONALLY SAYS ON AND OCCASIONALLY SAYS OFF. SOMETIMES THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT IS LIT. I AM ABSOLUTELY UNSURE WHEN THE AIRBAG WILL BE ARMED AND DEPLOY. TRIED IT WITH SEAT BELT ATTACHED AND UNATTACHED.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 10, 2021
MY WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR WITH ONLY 41,000 MILES ON IT CURRENTLY. IT IS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER AND THERE ARE NOW 2 CRACKS IN THE THIRD AND CURRENT WINDSHIELD.THE WINDSHIELDS THEY ARE USING ARE UNSAFE AND COST ROUGHLY $1300 TO REPLACE DUE TO THE EYE SIGHT SYSTEM. SUBARU IS INSTALLING THESE UNSAFE WINDSHIELDS KNOWINGLY AND COLLECTING MASSIVE PROFITS FROM ALL THE REPLACEMENTS.
Electrical system, Apr 5, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY OCCASIONALLY SEIZED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO THE SHIFTER SENSOR OR THE KEY SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000.*DT
Steering, Apr 1, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT ONTO THE HIGHWAY RAMP, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO THE SHOULDER, SHUT-OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND THE STEERING FUNCTIONALITY RETURNED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RHETT ALLEN/MARK MILLER SUBARU SOUTHTOWNE (10920 STATE ST, SANDY, UTAH 84070, (801)553-5200 WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Other or unspecified, Apr 1, 2021
I HAD TO GET MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AFTER DISCOVERING AN EXHAUST LEAK. THE SHOP THAT PERFORMED MY WORK SAID HE HAS SEEN NUMEROUS SUBARU FORESTERS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT SUSTAINED ANY DAMAGE OR BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS THAT MIGHT WARRANT THIS ISSUE TO HAVE OCCURRED.
Other or unspecified, Mar 31, 2021
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN PARKED. MUST CONSTANTLY MOVE SHIFTER BACK AND FORTH AND SLAM INTO PARK. SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN 16-112-18R. SEEMS TO BE A POPULAR PROBLEM AS PER FORUM. CONSTANT PROBLEM AT THIS TIME
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Mar 25, 2021
FORESTER WINDSHIELD STARTED CRACKING FOR NO CLEAR REASON, SPREAD QUICKLY TO A 20" OR LONGER CRACK THAT CONTINUES TO SPREAD.
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.
Wheels, Mar 22, 2021
VEHICLE SHAKING ON FRONT TIRES DUE TO LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEEDING REPLACEMENT.
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
Other or unspecified, Mar 16, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO CAUSE WHILE PARKED AT WORK
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.
Other or unspecified, Mar 5, 2021
WHEN YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF YOU CAN'T TAKE THE KEYS OUT OFF THE IGNITION.
Electrical system, Mar 3, 2021
I'VE BEEN HAVING MORE PROBLEMS WITH TAKING MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. IT START OF HAPPENING ONCE IN AWHILE AND NOW EVERYTIME I TURN OFF MY CAR AND TAKE THE KEY OUT. I SEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND READ ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED MY BRYAN SUBARU AND THEY SAID THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING.