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, Seats, Sep 19, 2019
PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON/ GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHT WARNS US THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF DESPITE HAVING A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM SO I WANTED TO LOG OUR ISSUE WITH NHTSA AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER DEPLOYED IT AIRBAGS NOR BEEN IN A FRONT END COLLISION.
Air bags, Sep 18, 2019
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE AUGUST 2019-PRESENT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON REGULARLY WITHOUT CAUSE REGARDLESS OF A PASSENGER BEING PRESENT IN THE CAR.
Air bags, Seats, Sep 18, 2019
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL SWITCH TO OFF. AN ERROR MESSAGE WILL APPEAR INDICATING THAT THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS CHECKED. ISSUES APPEARS TO BE LOCATED WITH THE OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *DT *AS
Electrical system, Air bags, Seats, Sep 17, 2019
USUALLY WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WILL TURN OFF AND PUT AN ERROR CODE OUT THAT SAYS NOT ON EVEN WITH AN ADULT IN THE SEAT. RESETTING THE CODE CAN GET IT TO GO OFF BUT IT RETURNS. HAS TURNED OFF ON ITS OWN BEFORE AND COME BACK. TURNING CAR OFF AND ON DOES NOT RESET IT. *DT *DT *AS
Other or unspecified, Sep 16, 2019
A/C FAILED DURING THE GUARANTEE OF THE CAR - FAULTY CONDENSER - FIRST TIME THEY ADD FREON - THEN CAR BLOW HOT AIR AGAIN - THEN THEY TRIED TO PUT DIED AND FINALLY DETERMINE THAT CONDENSER WAS THE PROBLE, AFTER THAT IT WORKS FINE . I WANT TO POINT THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS OF EACH MODEL BUT THEY EXPECT THE GUARANTEE TO EXPIRE ...
Air bags, Sep 11, 2019
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR INDICATED OFF, WHEN IT SHOULD'VE BEEN ON. THERE WAS AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE INDICATOR WAS ON AFTER STARTING THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO RESET BY TURNING CAR OFF AND TURNING IGNITION BACK ON AND OFF. THE INDICATOR CAME BACK ON. IT TURNED OFF ON SUBSEQUENT STARTING OF AUTOMOBILE. I RECEIVED EMAIL FROM SUBARU STARLINK THE NEXT DAY TOO.
Air bags, Sep 9, 2019
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON STATING THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS MY FAULT DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE SENSOR? NOT SO. ONLY NORMAL USE, NO DAMAGE, RARELY ANYONE SITTING THERE. $850 PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE. SAID WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT DUE TO A SMALL GREASE STAIN ON SEAT.
Air bags, Sep 9, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND AIR BAG ON/OFF WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Air bags, Sep 6, 2019
PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS OFF RANDOMLY.
Air bags, Sep 6, 2019
WITHOUT WARNING, AND WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING. VEHICLE TELEMATICS REPORT NOTHING WRONG WITH ANY SYSTEMS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED. THE LIGHT TURNED ON AFTER STARTING.
Air bags, Aug 27, 2019
PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WITH A PASSENGER SEATING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HER WEIGHT, APPROX. 130 LBS AND THE SEAT WAS DRY. BROUGHT THE CAR TO SUBARU DEALER. TECH FOUND SRS LIGHT ON. TECH SCANNED CODES AND FOUND A OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR MAT SYSTEM FAULT. HAD TO REPLACE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BOTTOM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED WITHOUT THE OWNER HAVING TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT BAD SENSOR.
Air bags, Aug 23, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS ARE INTERMITTENTLY BEING DISABLED WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE SEAT IN A PROPER SEATING POSITION. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS WARNING MESSAGE WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND AIRBAG OFF DISPLAY LIGHT COMES ON. RED SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN THE DRIVER'S CONSOLE ALSO COMES ON. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY DURING LONGER COMMUTES AS I'VE NOTICED THE WARNING LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN DRIVING SHORT DRIVING DISTANCES AND THE WARNING LIGHTS OFTEN DISAPPEAR WHEN CAR GETS TURNED OFF OR AFTER A DAY PASSES. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN JUNE OF 2019. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL SUBARU DEALER ON 06/12/2019. THEY CHECKED FOR STORED CODES AND IT CAME BACK WITH CODE B1760 WAS STORED IN OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM AND CODE B1650 STORED IN AIRBAG CONTROL SYSTEM. THEY CHECKED FOR ANY DAMAGE/LOOSE CONNECTIONS/MOISTURE AS DEALER STATED THOSE THINGS MAY CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO COME ON BUT NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THEY CLEARED THE CODES AND STATED THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG AND THE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON WHILE THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER BUT THEY DIDNT EVEN DRIVE THE CAR WHICH IS WHY THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. I WAS CHARGED $105.95 BY THE DEALER FOR THEIR TIME. I TOLD THEM THAT I RESEARCHED THE MATTER ONLINE AND THAT MANY SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT UNTIL SUBARU ISSUES A RECALL THEY CAN'T HELP ME AND WON'T REIMBURSE ME FOR MY CHARGES.
Air bags, Seats, Aug 22, 2019
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS ARE INTERMITTENTLY BEING DISABLED WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE SEAT. I AM ALERTED TO THIS BY MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF STARTING THE CAR AND IS USUALLY STILL STATIONARY.
Air bags, Aug 21, 2019
PASSENGER AIRBAG INTERMITTENTLY GOES OFF WHEN THERE'S AN ADULT PASSENGER PROPERLY SEATED IN THE SEAT WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LIGHT IN THE CENTER CONSOLE GOES FROM ON TO OFF, AND THE RED SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN THE DRIVER'S CONSOLE COMES ON. THE SRS LIGHT CAN STAY ON FOR A COUPLE DAYS WITH VEHICLE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION, THEN RETURNS TO NORMAL. I'VE NOTIFIED MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER BY EMAIL ON AUG 16, 2019, BUT HAVE NOT YET HAD A REPLY.
Air bags, Aug 16, 2019
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. OFTEN, WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE LIGHT WILL SHOW THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THERE IS ALSO A WARNING LIGHT TELLING US TO GET THE AIRBAG CHECKED. IN CONTRAST, THE SENSOR WILL SAY THAT THE AIRBAG IS ON WHEN THERE IS NO ONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP ON 8.8.19 AND WERE TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE WERE ADVISED TO JUST ASSUME THAT THE AIRBAG WORKS CORRECTLY, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS TELLING US THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Aug 13, 2019
MY 2017 SUBARU FORESTER BLOWS HOT AIR FROM A/C. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THE NEW CAR LIKE THAT. CHECKED WITH REPAIR SHOP, THE AIR COMPRESSOR IS BAD. I HAVE SUFFERED THIS IN THE HOT SUMMER. SUBARU NEEDS RECALL THIS. THIS IS THE KNOWN ISSUE FOR EVERY SUBARU USER.
Other or unspecified, Aug 13, 2019
MY AIR CONDITION BLOWS HOT AIR IN THE SUMMER. THE AIR COMPRESSOR IS BROKEN. IT IS AMAZING THAT THE NEW CAR HAS THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. THE DESIGN DEFECTS CAUSED ME THE HOT SUMMER!
Air bags, Aug 13, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SELLERS SUBARU (23651 HALL RD, MCCOMB, MI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Air bags, Aug 13, 2019
MY WIFE HAS BEEN USING A SEAT CUSHION, FOR HER BACK PROBLEM, FOR OVER A MONTH. STARTING 4 DAYS AGO THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATES OFF. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ONLY GOES BACK ON WHEN THE SEAT CUSHION IS REMOVED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO MY SUBARU DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.
Service brakes, Aug 13, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE REVERSING FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE DAMAGED WAS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER YARK AUTO GROUP (6039 CENTRAL AVE, TOLEDO, OH 43615 (419) 877-7725) BUT THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED THE CONTACT $1000 FOR A TRADE IN. THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HE FELT THAT THE MANUFACTURER MADE THESE VEHICLES WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. CORRECTION: OWNER REQUESTED QUOTE FOR COST OF REPLACING ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. QUOTED PRICE WAS $8,500.00 AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. REPAIRS WERE DECLINED. OWNER PICKED UP CAR AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS AND HAS DRIVEN WITH NO ISSUES...YET.*JB
Air bags, Aug 13, 2019
THE LIGHTS INDICATING AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. IT APPEARS THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE BOTH OFF. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, AND AT THAT TIME THE LIGHTS DID NOT INDICATE A PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN THIS MORNING INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS.
Air bags, Aug 12, 2019
AT RANDOM TIMES THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD TURN OFF EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY.
Air bags, Aug 12, 2019
SEAT BOTTOM OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM FAILED TO WORK. NOTICE THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE SERVICED APPEARED ON DASH MESSAGE. NOTICE OCCURRED BOTH WHEN STATIONARY AND WHEN MOVING. DEALER REPLACED SEAT BOTTOM SENSOR UNDER A B1760 CODE. PART(S) USED:64139SG140VH. THIS IS A LEASED VEHICLE (PRIVATE).
Air bags, Aug 12, 2019
SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNED OFF. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, 4 DAYS APART. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE SENSOR MUST HAVE GOTTEN WET. I DON'T BELIEVE THE SENSOR WAS EVER WET. HAPPEN AGAIN TWICE IN THE NEXT 2 WEEKS WHILE DRIVING. I HAD ALSO PREVIOUSLY HAD THE PASSENGER SEATBELT LIKE COME ON WHEN THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WHILE DRIVING. WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT DUE TO A BAD SENSOR.
Air bags, Aug 12, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR RANDOMLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO R&G SUBARU (1140 HIGHWAY 59 S, DETROIT LAKE, MN) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND RESOLVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,606. *BF*JB