2017 Model Year

Subaru Forester

NHTSA Complaints & Reliability Data

Compare
Complaints
560
Recalls
0
Crashes
39
Severe
63

Recent Complaints

Latest owner reports

Air Bags
Jul 2026

Airbag light came on intermittently at first, then constantly in 2023. It was determined to be a defective ODS in the passenger seat, and was repaire...

Structure
Feb 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that upon opening the tailgate, the tailgate quickly fell unintendedly and struck the cont...

Power Train
Feb 2026

After traveling for unknown number of miles on repeated occasions, arriving at the destinations to the smell of burning oil. Smell was evident while d...

STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES
Feb 2026

Intermittently, for the past few months, either when I wish to back up or go forward, a buzzer will sound, the anti-lock brakes and eye-sight indicato...

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
Jan 2026

There was a recall on this vehicle from 2022, and we did not own this vehicle at that time. Recall passenger side airbag contact under seat can cause...

Air Bags
Dec 2025

The WUM-98 recall fix did not address the problem with the front passenger occupancy detection system. We, and many other Subaru Forester owners are c...

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
Nov 2025

Passenger airbag safety intermittently turns on stating that the passenger airbag is not able to deploy. If I turn the car off and on it goes away and...

Air Bags
Nov 2025

I had an Occupant Detection System replaced under recall in my 2017 Forester. Five years later it went bad. Obviously, still faulty. Cost $1,800.00+ (...

Steering
Nov 2025

Power steering failed. On January 6th 2025, night time with cold weather conditions, leaving a parking lot the power steering stopped working. Vehicle...

AIR BAGS,SEATS
Oct 2025

I want to bring a widespread safety issue up that is not being resolved by the manufacturer. I have a 2017 Subaru Forester with a faulty ODS sensor. T...

VS

Vehicle Safety Research Team

Automotive Data Analysts

Independent researchers analyzing NHTSA data to help consumers make informed vehicle decisions.

Data updated: March 5, 2026

Summary

The 2017 Subaru Forester has 560 complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most commonly reported issue is Air Bags. 39 crash-related incidents have been reported.

Complaint Trend