2017 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet
Airbag warning light or recall
- 164owner reports
- 32,000median miles
- $1,566median quote
- 14involved a crash
Newest report Aug 19, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
164 of the 587 complaints on this car describe airbag, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2017 Forester.
Narrower sheets: Passenger airbag sensor problems (98 reports) · Takata airbag inflator recall (67 reports) · Airbag warning light stays on (63 reports)
Tick what matches of 164 reports
Airbag on other Forester years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Airbag complaints split into a few kinds. The most common is an airbag warning light that won't go out. Others involve the passenger seat sensor switching the passenger bag off with an adult sitting there, an airbag that didn't deploy in a crash, or one that went off without a crash at all. A large share also come from owners waiting on a recall part.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (90 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the airbags covers the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
The recall on the 2017 Subaru Forester, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the Forester
Occupant detection system (ods) failure. Closed jan 22, 2020, led to recall 19V-701.
What owners paid
34 of the 164 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $850 to $2,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 19,123 and 46,050 miles, from the 90 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Airbag warning light and blind spot failure warning lights are on and staying on.”
Filed Jul 24, 2024
“Passenger side airbag alert for not working. Came on was repaired by dealer came on again. Dealer says part needed not currently available. Part needed is the passenger seat.”
Filed Jul 22, 2024
“Front Passenger airbag sensor fault causing airbag to be turned off despite unit having been repaired under recall 19V-701. Occurs approximately 50% of the time after starting car and appropriate adult weight passenger sits in front seat. Has occurred on at least 3 occasions in last week.”
Filed May 26, 2024
“Passenger air bag warning light on dash does not turn off. Other warning light says air bagis off.”
Filed Aug 8, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 14 of 164 reports involved a crash and 14 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Windshield cracks or distorts 114 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 46 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 39 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 25 reports