2017 Subaru Forester Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2017 Subaru Forester. Part of Generation 4 — 2014–2018.

20162018
Complaints
775
Crashes
63
Fires
1
Injuries
34
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1

Worst 2017 Subaru Forester Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1151 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:34,205 mi
Crash-related:14
#2103 complaints

Wipers & Visibility

Avg mileage:33,474 mi
#3101 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:38,999 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2017 Subaru Forester.

Airbags
151
complaints
Crashes
14
Fires
—
Avg Miles
34,205
Wipers & Visibility
103
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
33,474
Electrical Faults
101
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
38,999
Engine Problems
46
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
34,703
Transmission / Drivetrain
39
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
44,130
Unintended Acceleration
33
complaints
Crashes
18
Fires
—
Avg Miles
29,184
Seat-Related Issues
29
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
28,973
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
25
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
27,419
Steering Defects
24
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
26,318
Wheel Issues
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
41,500
Brakes
12
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
25,976
Body Structure
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
27,703
Fuel System
11
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
30,872
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
13,491
Suspension Failures
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
62,750
Seat Belt Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
26,206
Visibility:Windshield
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
61,534
Electronic Stability Control
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
28,358
Headlight/Taillight Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Back Over Prevention: Warnings
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Lane Departure: Assist
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Lane Departure: Warning
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2017 Subaru Forester. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2017 Subaru Forester

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~366,282 vehicles.

19V701000Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
~366,282 affected

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.

Other Subaru Forester Years

19981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026

2017 Subaru Forester — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2017 Subaru Forester reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2017 Subaru Forester has 775 NHTSA complaints, 63 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Airbags with 151 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2017 Subaru Forester?
Top reported problems: Airbags (151 complaints, avg 34,205 mi); Wipers & Visibility (103 complaints, avg 33,474 mi); Electrical Faults (101 complaints, avg 38,999 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2017 Subaru Forester?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 34,505 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2017 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA complaints for the 2017 Subaru Forester include 63 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 34 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2017 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 366,282 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2017 Subaru Forester?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (airbags) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Subaru Forester reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2017 Subaru Forester

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