Diagsheet

Fourth generation (SJ)

2017 Subaru Forester

  • 584owner complaints
  • 1recalls
  • 39involved a crash
  • 33,000median miles at failure

Newest report Aug 31, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

miles

2017 Subaru Forester
Photo: OSX, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

When each problem shows up

Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: airbag warning light or recall, 164 complaints.

0k25k50k75k100k125k150kyou
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails14 reports
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails21 reports
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early14 reports
Accelerates on its own12 reports
Seat belt or seat problems39 reports
Battery dies or the car will not start46 reports
Engine stalls or loses power while driving25 reports
Airbag warning light or recall164 reports
Windshield cracks or distorts114 reports
Suspension noise, struts or alignment11 reports

middle half of reports, median tick. Darker bars have 75 or more reports.

Behind you

    Around your mileage

      Ahead of you

        How this compares

        2017 Subaru Forester584
        Median 2017 model here (27 vehicles)591
        Median 2017 SUV here (15)801

        584 complaints is about the median for a 2017 model on this site and 1.4 times fewer than the median 2017 SUV. Among the 11 Forester model years here it ranks 4th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.

        Complaints filed by year

        716
        2217
        4318
        12819
        9620
        8721
        5422
        4523
        3324
        4125
        2826

        128 complaints came in 2019, 3.0 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.

        NHTSA investigations

        PE19-009opened Aug 6, 2019
        Airbags · model years 2016 to 2018

        Occupant detection system (ods) failure. Closed jan 22, 2020, led to recall 19V-701.

        NHTSA 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

        Recalls that include the 2017 Subaru Forester

        Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

        19V-701Oct 3, 2019
        Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification

        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 and remedy
        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: 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.

        Other model years

        20143642015606201641120175842018493201983320205982021207202297202373202590