YearToAvoid

2017 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 76 engine-related complaints for the 2017 Subaru Forester, 13% of its 587 total complaints for the year. Owners mainly report sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds, often while parking, with 20 crashes and 7 injuries logged. No related recall is listed for this issue.

Engine complaints
76
13% of 587
Crashes reported
20
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
7
Median mileage
22,907 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle suddenly accelerates on its own at very low speeds while parking or pulling into a space, often ending in a crash into a wall, curb, tree, or parked vehicle.
  • Unintended acceleration occurs even after the driver's foot is on the brake pedal, with the brake seeming to have no effect on slowing the car.
  • Some owners report the engine continues revving after the vehicle is shifted into park and only stops after the key is removed from the ignition.
  • A few incidents describe the accelerator pedal depressing fully by itself with no driver input, even when the driver's foot is not on it.
  • Some drivers say the vehicle kept surging forward repeatedly, striking an obstacle multiple times before coming to a stop.

When 2017 Subaru Forester engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 6, 2017, latest Sep 11, 2026.

2017 Subaru Forester engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter62017 Q12018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42022 Q12023 Q22024 Q4
76 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q4 (6).

Engine recalls for the 2017 Subaru Forester

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Forester model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201058 (22%)
  2. 201179 (54%)
  3. 201246 (44%)
  4. 201333 (43%)
  5. 2014110 (27%)
  6. 2015191 (31%)
  7. 201691 (22%)
  8. 201776 (13%)
  9. 201858 (12%)
  10. 2019136 (16%)
  11. 2020105 (17%)
  12. 202142 (20%)
  13. 202218 (18%)
  14. 202310 (14%)
  15. 20242 (7%)
  16. 20258 (9%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2017 Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA lists 76 engine-related complaints for the 2017 Forester, which is 13% of the 587 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2017 Subaru Forester engine acceleration problem?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this issue on the 2017 Forester.
What is the main engine problem owners report on the 2017 Subaru Forester?
Most complaints describe sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds, frequently while parking, with the brake pedal seemingly unable to stop the vehicle.
At what mileage do 2017 Forester engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 22,907 miles.
Were there crashes or injuries linked to this problem?
NHTSA data shows 20 crashes and 7 injuries associated with the 76 engine complaints for the 2017 Forester.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.