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.
Electrical system, Air bags, Apr 4, 2020
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT BEGAN DISPLAYING
Visibility/wiper, Apr 1, 2020
WINDSHEILD CRACKED IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER AND THE CRACK LED ALL THE WAY TOWN TO THE LOWER LEFT CORNER
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.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 23, 2020
WINDSHIELD IS HORRIBLY CHIPPED AND HAS ONE CRACK WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. WILL NEED NEW WINDSHIELD SOON DUE TO HOW UNSAFE IT IS WHEN SUN HITS IT.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 16, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN DECEMBER 2019. I PARKED THE CAR OVERNIGHT IN MY FAMILY'S DRIVEWAY AND IN THE MORNING THERE WAS A 6 INCH CRACK FROM THE BOTTOM LEFT SIDE. THE CRACK EVENTUALLY BECAME MUCH LARGER, ENCOMPASSING HALF THE WINSHIELD. NO PICTURES WERE TAKEN BUT I REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD FOR $435 IN JANUARY 2020.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 16, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD THAT STARTED AT THE TOP THEN EXPANDED DOWNWARD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AUTHORIZED SAFELIGHT AUTO GLASS TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM WAS RECALIBRATED WHICH ADDED TO THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT. MAITA SUBARU LOCATED AT (2912 AUBURN BLVD, SACRAMENTO, CA 95821 916-486-8500), STATED THAT THE CRACK MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A ROCK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,586.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF FOREIGN OBJECT CONTACT AND WITHOUT WARNING WITHIN ONE YEAR OF PURCHASE.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2020
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY , AND NOTHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD BUT THEN A LARGE CRACK START ACROSS THE TOP 1/3 OF MY WINDSHIELD AND CONTINUED TO GROW LARGER.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE AND HAS HAD SEVERAL CRACKS SINCE THEN.
Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2020
CRACKED WINDSHIELD
Visibility/wiper, Mar 9, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED 3 TIMES IN THE SPAN OF 2.5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. I'VE HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE IT TWICE AND PATCH THE CRACK ONCE. THE FIRST AND THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON A HIGHWAY GOING ~60MPH BUT THE SECOND TIME WAS ON A 35MPH ROAD. I DON'T TAILGATE OTHER CARS AND I'VE NEVER HAD SO MUCH AS A SMALL STAR CRACK ON MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 3, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT CAUSE. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD IN AUGUST 2017. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED WITH GENUINE SUBARU PARTS AT A SERVICER DIRECTED BY THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN APRIL 2018. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED YET AGAIN WITH GENUINE SUBARU PARTS AT A SERVICER DIRECTED BY THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED A THIRD TIME WITHOUT CAUSE IN MAY 2019.
Other or unspecified, Mar 2, 2020
CRACKED WINDSHIELD OCCURED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME
Visibility/wiper, Feb 28, 2020
I WAS IN MOTION AND WITHIN THE FEW MONTHS OF OWNING MY VEHICLE I RECEIVED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH I LATER PAID TO HAVE FIXED. I HAVE SINCE THEN HAD 2 MORE, PLUS ONE OF THE CRACKS, HAS SPLINTERED (AFTER BEING FIXED) AND THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. CRACK FIXED: 10/25/17, 6/4/18, 6/24/19
Visibility/wiper, Feb 27, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER BEING HIT BY A VERY SMALL PEBBLE FROM THE ROADWAY.
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 26, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING, THE SPEED WAS SUDDENLY REDUCED. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER REEDMAN TOLL SUBARU (1700 EAST LINCOLN HWY, LANGHORNE PA) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE PARKED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THIS ALSO ENTAILED CALIBRATING THE DEVICES ASSOCIATED WITH EYE SIGHT.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
MY 2017 SUBARU FORESTER WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I GOT IN TO START IT AND LEAVE FOR WORK, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE BASE ABOVE THE DASHBOARD SEEMINGLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT HAS SINCE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED MULTIPLE CHIPS IN IT FROM NORMAL USE. NO HEAVY CONSTRUCTION, DEBRIS, HAIL, OR GRAVEL
Visibility/wiper, Feb 24, 2020
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED, ALL THE WAY FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM. NO PREVIOUS CRACKS OR CHIPS.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 24, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON I-5 FROM PORTLAND TO VANCOUVER , BC, MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THIS. IT WAS 4:30AM AND RAINING. I WAS IN SEATTLE WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT. UPON EXAMINING THE CRACK, IT SHOWS NO STAR OR ANY INDICATION FOR DEBRIS DAMAGIN THE WINDSHEILD. AS THE DAY PROGRESSED, IT IS JUST A CRACK BECAME AN 'N' ON MY WINDSHIELD.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 23, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT.