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.
Other or unspecified, Feb 10, 2017
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY YESTERDAY 2/9/17, THE CAR WAS SEVERELY VIBRATING AT THE SPEED OF ABOUT 60- 65. IT WAS UNBEARABLE. MY WHOLE BODY WAS SHAKING AND STUFF ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS ALMOST FALLING DOWN. FUEL VS MILEAGE GAUAGE ON DIGITAL SCREEN WAS VISIBLY SHAKING. STEERING WHEEL WAS SO SEVERELY VIBRATING THAT MY HANDS AND ARMS REMAINED SHAKING EVEN AFTER I ARRIVED MY DESTINATION. IT WAS ABOUT 30MINUTE DRIVE ON THE HIGYWAY. I FELT I WAS IN VIBRATING MASSAGE CHAIR ALL THE WAY. IT WAS SNOW DAY BUT THE HIGHWAY WAS PERFECTLY CLEARED OF SNOW. I WAS NOT SPEEDING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR 8/6/17. IT STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEM SINCE SEPTEMBER, FIRST AIR CONDITIONAL DIDN'T WORK AT 1000MILES THEN I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER SAYING TRANSMISSION FLUID MIGHT NOT BE FILLED ENOUGH ON OCTOBER. OF COURSE THEY FOUND IT WASN'T FILLED ENOUGH WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE SERVICE. THEY SOLD DEFECTIVE CAR AND CALLED IT GREAT PRODUCT.
Vehicle speed control, Feb 6, 2017
MY 2017 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHENEVER I ATTEMPT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BY DOWNSHIFTING, THE VEHICLE WILL OFTEN CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. THIS UNWANTED ACCELERATION IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING DOWN A GRADE, HOWEVER IT ALSO FREQUENTLY HAPPENS ON FLAT GROUND. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I AM GOING 35 MPH IN 4TH GEAR AND AM ANTICIPATING A STOP LIGHT AHEAD, I WOULD TYPICALLY RELEASE MY RIGHT FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND DOWNSHIFT TO 3RD GEAR, THEN 2ND GEAR WHILE LIGHTLY BRAKING TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE. INSTEAD, DOWNSHIFTING HAS MINIMAL AFFECT ON THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, WHILE DOWNSHIFTING MERELY INCREASES ENGINE RPM, NOT ASSIST IN BRAKING THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN SCENARIOS WHEN THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE HAS ACTUALLY INCREASED ON FLAT GROUND (WITHOUT DRIVER ACCELERATION INPUT) DESPITE DOWNSHIFTING. THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO HAPPENED ONCE ON ICY ROADS AND CAUSED ME TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A FRAME OF REFERENCE, I HAVE DRIVEN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AS A PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR ALL OF MY DRIVING LIFE (NEARLY 22 YEARS). I HAVE NEVER PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED A MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT ACCELERATES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT ON FLAT GROUND. IT SEEMS THAT THIS ISSUE OF UNWANTED ACCELERATION COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN AVOIDED. THANKS.
Seats, Jan 25, 2017
I HAVE CAUGHT THE BACK OF MY RIGHT SHOE 4 TIMES( SINCE BUYING THE CAR IN AUGUST) WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. IT CATCHES ON THE HARD PLASTIC ON THE FRONT LEFT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE FIRST THREE TIMES I WAS EXITING THE CAR IN TOWN AND COULD HAVE FALLEN INTO PASSING TRAFFIC HAD I NOT BEEN HOLDING ONTO THE DOOR. THE LAST TIME MY SISTER WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF ME AND CAUGHT ME. I HAVE TRIED TO LOCATE SEAT COVERS TO COVER THE PIECE OF HARD PLASTIC WITH NO LUCK. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE HELPFUL. THE DESIGN CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
Power train, Jan 7, 2017
ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION: WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, ENGINE SPEED INCREASES TO 4000-4500 RPM WHILE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, DESPITE HAVING FOOT ENTIRELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. RPM REMAINS ELEVATED FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS BEFORE SLOWLY RETURNING TO NORMAL IDLE. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, ENGINE SPEED WILL INCREASE TO APPROXIMATELY 2500 RPM WHILE SITTING WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED AND FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR (FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE WAITING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT). DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A "RUNAWAY" CONDITION: THE ENGINE SPEED NEVER APPROACHES REDLINE, BUT INCREASES SMOOTHLY TO THE "TARGET" RPM, STAYS CONSTANT FOR AWHILE, THEN SMOOTHLY RETURNS TO IDLE. NOTE: OTHER 2017 FORESTER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR BEHAVIOR. SUBARU IS INVESTIGATING, BUT AT PRESENT IS SAYING, "IT'S NOT A BUG, IT'S A FEATURE." AFTER 50 YEARS OF DRIVING SCORES OF VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, I DISAGREE.
Power train, Nov 29, 2016
11/23/16 - AS I WAS SLOWLY ROLLING INTO A FRONT PARKING SPOT THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN - I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT SO I WOULDN'T CRASH FULL ON INTO THE BUILDING - TRYING TO CONTROL THE CAR - I WENT OVER A CURB THAT WAS JETTING OUT - DEFINING THE PARKING SPACES - MY RIGHT FRONT AND BACK TIRES WENT OVER THE CURB - JUST MISSING A TREE - FINALLY COMING TO A STOP - IF THERE WAS ANYONE THERE - I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM - THAT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED - AND ON MY PAPERWORK IT STATED "CUSTOMER STATES SUBARU SEEMS TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN - TECH FOUND NO CODES. TECH DROVE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE"
Steering, Nov 22, 2016
THE STEERING GETS LOCKED AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. THE WHEELS ARE NOT TURNED IN AND ARE STRAIGHT. DEALER CLAIMS"THIS IS NORMAL" CAN NOT START THE CAR WITHOUT FIGHTING WITH THE STEERING AND THE KEY. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS.
Other or unspecified, Nov 2, 2016
SINCE PURCHASE THE" RADIO/COMPUTER" HANDS-FREE PHONE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED. HANDS-FREE PHONE COMMUNICATION IS NOT POSSIBLE. YOU CAN CALL FROM THE CAR BUT THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END CANNOT HEAR WHAT IS SAID. IT WAS CHECKED AND IT IS NOT THE MICROPHONE THAT IS THE PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. REPLACEMENT SYSTEM IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER.
Steering, Oct 27, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE INTO AN INTERSECTION, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND RECEIVED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Other or unspecified, Oct 21, 2016
CVT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS NOT FILLED WITH THE SPECIFIC AMOUNT FROM THE FACTORY. THIS IS THE SECOND ISSUE WITH THIS BRAND NEW CAR. FIRST THEY DIDN'T FILL ENOUGH FREON FOR AC SO IT STARTED BLOWING OFF HOT AIR AT 1400MILES A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT. AND AT TWO MONTHS NOT ENOUGH TRANSMISSION FLUID. I'M WORRIED WHAT ELSE THEY DID NOT PUT ENOUGH OR IS THEI QUALITY CHECKING GOOD ENOUGH TO PUT THE CARS LIKE MINE ON THE MARKET
Electrical system, Structure, Oct 17, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE SCREEN REFLECTED LIGHT ONTO HER FACE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT'S VISION WAS IMPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.
Other or unspecified, Sep 15, 2016
DRIVER SIDE VENTS ARE BLOWING WARM AIR WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON. ONLY 1400 MILES ON SINCE I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW LAST MONTH 8/6/16.