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, Mar 2, 2021, crash
2017 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHERE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE'S FRONT WAS DESTROYED. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. *JS
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Mar 1, 2021, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP THE CEMENT BUMPER AND THE BUSHES IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL REVVING WHEN TURNED OFF AND PLACED IN PARK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CREWS SUBARU OF CHARLESTON 8261 RIVERS AVE, NORTH CHARLESTON, SC 29406; (843) 820-4200) WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,050.
Electrical system, Feb 23, 2021
THESE MODELS HAVE AMPLIFIER SOUND ISSUES THAT ROUTINELY CAUSE THE AMPLIFIER TO FAIL AND CUT THE SOUND. THIS COULD DEFINITELY CAUSE A CRASH BY DISTRACTING THE DRIVER. THE AMPS ARE EXTREMELY PRONE TO FAILING AND CAUSE EAR DEAFENING TONES, NO SOUND, CRACKLING ETC. THE PROBLEM IS EXTREME AND DEALERS HAVE NO APPARENT WAY OF RECTIFYING THE ISSUE. THE INTERNET IS LOADED WITH CUSTOMERS REPORTING THIS INCLUDING MYSELF. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD FIXED. NORMAL DEVICE FAILURE IS FINE BUT THIS IS OVER THE TOP. MY CAR WENT TO THE DEALER ROUGHLY 4 TIMES DUE TO THIS. MY VEHICLE PRODUCED A EAR PIERCING SOUND IN MID WINTER WITH THE WINDOWS UP AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO GAS STATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PROTECT MY EARS AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS SILLY BUT THE SOUND SYSTEM IS ROUGHLY 500W AND THAT MIXED WITH THE HIGH PITCHED TONES IS EAR DAMAGING. I'M LUCKY I DID NOT CRASH. THE ONLY WAY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY WAS PHYSICALLY UNPLUGGING THE AMPLIFIER. PLEASE HELP.
Electrical system, Feb 20, 2021
THIS IS A 2017 FORRESTER. THE BATTERY KEEPS REPEATEDLY DYING. FOR EXAMPLE: HAD TO JUMP IN LAST NIGHT, DROVE IT FOR 45 MINUTES TO ENSURE IT SHOULD BE CHARGED BACK UP. IT WAS IN OUR GARAGE LAST NIGHT - AND TODAY, IT WON'T START AND WE CAN'T JUMP IT EITHER. AWAITING A TOW TRUCK. THIS BATTERY HAS REQUIRED A JUMP AT LEAST 5 TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY. TALKING TO MULTIPLE SUBARU OWNERS REVEALS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE - ONE SUBARU 'SOLVES' BY PUTTING IN A NEW BATTERY (AT MY COST) AND THEN IT WILL DIE TOO.
Vehicle speed control, Feb 17, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TWICE TO JOHNSON SUBARU OF CARY (5010 OLD RALEIGH RD, CARY, NC 27511, WHERE AN UNKNOWN SOFTWARE WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE SOFTWARE THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LAUNCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE SOFTWARE WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.
Visibility, Feb 8, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE FRACTURE WAS LOCATED ON THE LEFT CORNER OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRACTURE STARTED TO EXPAND. THE CONTACT CONTACTED A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Engine, Feb 8, 2021
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACED; WAS FIRST ADVISED THAT THE CATALYT CONVERTER WAS BAD AND WOULD NEED REPLACED BY A NON SUBARU SERVICE PROVIDER. WHEN I TOOK TO SUBARU DEALER, WAS ADVISED I HAD TO PAY FOR 2 HOURS LABOR TO "DIAGNOSIS" THE EXHAUST BEFORE THEY COULD ADVISE OF ISSUE/FIX; DID NOT DO AT THAT TIME. NEXT SUBARU MAINTENANCE REQUESTED TO HAVE SITUATION DIAGNOSED; WAS THEN ADVISED THAT DID NOT NEED TO REMOVE COVERS TO DIAGNOSIS, THEY KNEW IT WAS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. PART WAS ON BACKORDER; ORDERED AND THEN REPLACED; EXHAUST STILL LOUD AND NOW HAVE FUMES THAT WERE NOT PRESENT PRIOR TO THE REPAIR
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 8, 2021
PERIODICALLY UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY OVER THE PAST 2 MONTHS. KEY IS "LOCKED" IN IGNITION, UNABLE TO COMPLETELY "TURN OFF" KEY SWITCH AND THEREFORE UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. ONLY RESOLUTION HAS BEEN TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND SHIFT THE GEARS AND REATTEMPT TO TURN CAR OFF AND REMOVE KEY. THIS IS ALSO, LIKELY, AFFECTING BEING ABLE TO USE THE REMOTE START FOR MY VEHICLE.
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.
Air bags, Jan 28, 2021, crash
MY NAME IS [XXX] ADDRESS: [XXX] E-MAIL: [XXX] CELL: [XXX] I AM THE FIRST AND THE ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR, SUBARU FORESTER PREMIUM, 2017. VIN [XXX] PURCHASED FROM REEDMAN TOLL SUBARU, LANGHORNE, PA, ON 03/2017, AS A BRAND NEW. CURRENT MILEAGE: 63000 MY CAR IS TOTALED, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS SERVICED BY SUBARU REEDMAN THIS SPRING D/T MANUFACTURER RECALL. I WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH ON MAJOR ROAD, HAVING THE RIGHT OF WAY. A DODGE TRUCK CROSSED IN FRONT OF ME, SPEEDING FROM A CROSS ROAD. MY CAR HIT RIGHT FRONT TIRE OF THE TRACK. MY CAR'S FRONT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, FRONT END PUSHED WELL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS WAS A FRONT TO SIDE IMPACT. ALL LIQUIDS LEAKED AWAY ON THE SPOT. BOTH HEAD LITES AND FOG LITES WERE TORN AWAY FROM MY CAR AND THROWN AROUND THE ROAD. BOTH RIGHT DOORS ARE HAVING DENTS, TOO. INSURANCE COMPANY, AAA, DECLARED TOTAL LOSS. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NONE OF THEM. I SUSTAINED A WHIPLASH INJURY REQUIRING MEDICAL ATTENTION AND INVESTING IN REHABILITATION MEASURES..... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Visibility, Jan 27, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED WITHOUT IMPACT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 45 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. *BF
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.
Other or unspecified, Jan 3, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACK
Electrical system, Dec 31, 2020
INTERMITTENTLY, THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WOULD NOT GO TO THE "OFF" POSITION SO THAT I COULD REMOVE IT AFTER THE CAR WAS IN "PARK." I WOULD HAVE TO MOVE IT (THE KEY) BACK TO THE "ON" POSITION, THEN BACK AGAIN TO THE "OFF" POSITION (BEYOND THE "ACC" SETTING).
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.
Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidance, Dec 18, 2020, crash
PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED (SINCE I'D NOT DRIVEN QUICKLY THROUGH THE PARKING LOT - TOO MANY BACKING UP TOO QUICKLY!). SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND RAMMED INTO BRICK WALL OF THE BUILDING. MY FOOT MUST OF SLIPPED, BUT IT WAS FAST. NO COLLISION DETERRENTS ACTIVATED AT ALL, WHICH WAS STRANGE SINCE THIS CAR WILL STOP FOR AN OBSTACLE 1/2 A BLOCK AHEAD IN LOW LIGHT. NO BUZZING, BEEPING, WARNING, OR STOPPING. WAS ABLE TO SLAM MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT STILL HIT THE WALL. NO AIR BAGS ACTIVATED.
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.
Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD SEEMS TO BE CHIPPING IN MULTIPLE PLACES AND I FEAR IT MIGHT CRACK WHILE I AM ON THE ROAD
Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2020
MY CAR WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED
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.