2017 Subaru Forester recalls and problems

The 2017 Subaru Forester has 1 recall and 594 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is air bags.

Pictured: a 2016 model; the 2017 may differ in details. Photo: 2016 Subaru Forester by LuvsMG481, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2017 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 27 Forester model years — 4th most.

1recalls

594complaints

40crashes

1fires

28injuries

30,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

1 recall

Air Bags

Oct 3, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V701000 · 366,282 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Air Bags167

Visibility116

Electrical System106

Unknown or other98

Engine48

Power Train46

Seats34

Vehicle Speed Control33

Steering25

Service Brakes15

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure

PE19009 · opened Aug 6, 2019 · closed Jan 22, 2020 · led to recall 19V701000

Summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS failed to operate properly, the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light illuminated, and/or the ODS incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied by a full-sized passenger. In a frontal crash that is sufficient to warrant deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On August 14, 2019 ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Subaru requesting information on the subject vehicles and MY 2014-2015 Subaru Forester vehicles.On October 3, 2019, Subaru submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect in the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness of 366,282 MY 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with seat heaters.The DIR stated that over time, due to a decrease in contact pressure between the terminals in the ODS sensor mat harness, a temporarily unstable electrical connection may be possible. If the connection is temporarily unsta…

2017 vs. other Subaru Forester years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2017. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2017 Subaru Forester have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the 2017 Subaru Forester, the latest from Oct 3, 2019 (air bags). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Subaru Forester?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention air bags (167), visibility (116), electrical system (106). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.