Diagsheet

2017 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet

Seat belt or seat problems

  • 39owner reports
  • 28,000median miles
  • $1,800median quote
  • 1involved a crash

Newest report Aug 19, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

39 of the 584 complaints on this car describe seat belt.

Tick what matches of 39 reports

2
3
5
1
20

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the seat frame or track (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the seats covers the 2017 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the seats on the Forester

PE99-020opened Mar 5, 1999
Seat Belts · model years 1999

Seat belt anchorage separation. Closed mar 26, 1999.

NHTSA summary
ODI HAS ONE COMPLAINT ALLEGING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE, LOCATED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND CENTER CONSOLE, BECAME DETACHED WHILE DRIVING.IN ADDITION, THE OWNER INSPECTED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE AND FOUND THAT THE BOLT WAS PARTIALLY BACKED-OUT.THE COMPLAINT VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH LEATHER SEAT COVERS AND HEATED FRONT SEATS.BECAUSE OF THESE OPTIONS, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE INSTALLED BY AN OUTSIDE VENDOR AT THE PORT OF ENTRY IN VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON.SUBARU STATES THAT A SMALL QUANTITY OF VEHICLES WITH HEATEDFRONT SEATS DID NOT HAVE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY INSTALLED WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN VANCOUVER.THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES WERE SUPPLIED SEPARATELY FROM THE FRONT SEATS AND AN OUTSIDE VENDOR INSTALLED BOTH THE LEATHER SEAT COVERS AND THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES TO THE SEAT FRAME.SUBARU HAS SEARCHED THEIR FILES AND FOUND NO ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS OR WARRANTY CLAIMS ON FORESTER VEHICLES FOR LOOSE SEAT BELT BOLTS.SUBARU ALSO CONFIRMED THAT WITH THEIR CURRENT QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTIONS THAT SUCH A CONDITION CANNOT GO UNNOTICED IN THE FUTURE.

None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.

What owners paid

12 of the 39 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,600 to $2,000.

$1,600$1,800$2,000
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 19,123 and 50,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.

317
318
1019
120
121
422
223
324
525
726

What owners wrote

“The passenger airbag sensor often, but not always, malfunctions in my 2017 Subaru Forrester. Often it says PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF when there is a passanger. Occording to KBB Kelly Blue Book there IS a current RECALL in place for 2017 Subaru Forresters for EXACTLY this issue, including for my car - but when i typed in my liscnese plate in the NHTSA website, no unrepaired recalls showed up for my car.”

Filed Aug 20, 2025

“Issue with passenger air bag. Issue was caught and detected by dealership as ods sensor error. Further research revealed recall in vehicles of the same year, make, and model as vehicle in question for that part. Dealership and corporate offices deny relation of problems with recall, claim no such recall exists for the vehicle.”

Filed Jun 23, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 39 reports involved a crash and 1 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.

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