2017 Subaru Forester Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
73/100
#5 most-complained of 16 Forester years
The 2017 Subaru Forester has a Complaint Index of 73 and ranks 5th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Airbags account for 28% of its 587 complaints, with 1 recall filed for an Occupant Detection System sensor issue.
- Complaints
- 587
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 40 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 28 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 25
- 23 city / 28 hwy
Top 2017 Subaru Forester problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags164 (28%)
- Visibility & Wipers115 (20%)
- Electrical System108 (18%)
- Other96 (16%)
- Engine76 (13%)
- Structure & Body49 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain44 (7%)
- Steering25 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires21 (4%)
- Brakes20 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners describe the steering wheel locking up during a turn, resulting in a crash into a pole.
- Some drivers report unintended acceleration while pulling into parking spaces or merging, leading to collisions.
- Multiple owners describe the brake pedal being depressed at low speed while the vehicle lunged forward on its own, striking objects, trees, or parked vehicles.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in rear-end and other collision situations, even with visible impact to the steering wheel or window.
- An oil level warning light was reported to intermittently activate when driving over inclines like driveways or snow, then clear once parked on flat ground.
2017 Subaru Forester recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V701000Oct 3, 2019Airbags366,282 vehicles
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: 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.
2017 Subaru Forester fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 25 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2017 compared with other Forester years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Subaru Forester reliable?
- NHTSA lists 587 complaints for the 2017 Forester with a Complaint Index of 73, ranking it 5th worst among 16 model years. This gives it a Caution verdict relative to other Forester years.
- What is the top problem area for the 2017 Subaru Forester?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 28% of complaints (164 complaints) and involved in 14 crashes.
- Does the 2017 Subaru Forester have a recall?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 19V701000) covers a possible loose electrical connection in the front passenger seat Occupant Detection System on Forester vehicles with heated seats. Subaru dealers inspect and replace the sensor mat harness free of charge.
- How does the 2017 Forester compare to other years?
- Its Complaint Index of 73 is worse than most other years like 2011-2013 (Best, index 7-20) and 2021-2024, but better than 2015, 2019, and 2020, which carry Avoid verdicts with indexes of 87, 100, and 93.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Subaru Forester?
- The 2017 Forester gets 25 mpg combined (23 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700.