2017 Subaru Forester problems and complaints
Owners have filed 589 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Forester. The most-reported areas: Air Bags (165), Electrical System (106), Visibility/Wiper (104).
Key takeaways
- 589 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 40 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 28 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 165 | 28% |
| Electrical System | 106 | 18% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 104 | 18% |
| Unknown Or Other | 96 | 16% |
| Engine | 47 | 8% |
| Power Train | 46 | 8% |
| Seats | 33 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 | 6% |
| Steering | 25 | 4% |
| Service Brakes | 15 | 3% |
| Structure | 15 | 3% |
| Wheels | 12 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Subaru Forester SUV AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Power Train,lane Departure,forward Collision Avoidance - filed 2026-10-13
Valve control assembly failure. A known TSB. Disables safety features of the car. Should be a recall.
Power Train - filed 2026-10-13
TRANSMISSION LIGHT OVER HEATING COMES ON
Air Bags,seat Belts - filed 2026-10-08
the occupant detection system has failed for years, the subaru dealership keep temporarily fixing the problem and has finally quoted me 2,000 to completely replace the seat as that is where the sensor is located. If i get in a wreck with a passenger they will have no airbag, and i dont think the seatbelts would work ei...
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More for the 2017 Subaru Forester
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.