2017 Subaru Forester Safety Report
2017 SUBARU FORESTER Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2017 Subaru Forester
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2017 Subaru Forester. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (564) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 40 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Air Bags | Compare air bags issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Subaru Forester with 197 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Subaru Forester before buying across this generation. |
Subaru Forester Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Subaru Forester years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Subaru Forester | 480 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Subaru Forester | 400 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Subaru Forester | 828 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Subaru Forester | 604 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Subaru Forester | 588 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Subaru Forester | 197 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2017 Subaru Forester Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2017 Subaru Forester, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Air Bags
109 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Subaru onlyVisibility/Wiper
93 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru onlyUnknown Or Other
69 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru onlyElectrical System
57 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Subaru onlyEngine
21 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Subaru onlyAir Bags,Seats
19 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags,Seats issues Subaru onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2017 Subaru Forester
Reliability Score
The 2017 Subaru Forester receives a reliability score of 59 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2017 Subaru Forester
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2017 Subaru Forester
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2017 Subaru Forester:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger Airbag Deactivation The front passenger airbag has been known to deactivate even when an adult is seated and belted, posing a safety risk. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Driver’S Seat Movement The driver’s seat has been observed to move left to right while driving, which can affect the driver's control and safety. |
Medium | Rare | 27k-30k miles |
| Eyesight System Failure The EyeSight system has been reported to become disabled and not complete camera calibration, affecting safety features. |
Low | Rare | 118k-120k miles |
| Airbag Occupancy Detection System The airbag occupancy detection system has intermittently failed, causing the airbag light to come on and potentially affecting airbag deployment. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2017 Subaru Forester:
Driver’s seat moves unexpectedly while driving.
Passenger airbag deactivates unexpectedly.
EyeSight system fails to complete camera calibration.
Airbag occupancy detection system intermittently fails.
Recall Details for the 2017 Subaru Forester
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2017 Subaru Forester by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2017 Subaru Forester
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2017 Subaru Forester with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
The driver’s seat in my 2017 Subaru Forester suddenly became loose and moves left to right while driving. The vehicle has only 27,000 miles, has never been in an accident, and has been meticulously maintained. The Subaru dealer diagnosed failed seat frame rail guides and replaced the entire seat undercarriage at a cost of $1,742 because the guides cannot be replaced individually. The dealer stated...
My 2017 Subaru Forester Touring (VIN: [XXX] , 118,200 mi) has a recurring EyeSight failure where the system becomes disabled and will not complete camera registration or calibration. Subaru of Sterling (VA) diagnosed active code B28A0 “Vehicle Model Judgment” and noted that the EyeSight stereo camera would not accept vehicle model registration. The technician documented: “Error for camera adjustme...
My 2017 Subaru Forester [Touring] (VIN: [VIN]) has a recurring front passenger airbag deactivation problem even when an adult is seated and belted. The console shows “Passenger Airbag OFF” with an adult occupant. The seatbelt chime recognizes a passenger, but the airbag remains OFF. In many cases, the airbag will only enable if the passenger sits after engine start—classic Occupant Detection Syste...
There is intermittent failure of the passenger air bag occupancy detection system (ODS). This shows up as aporadic display of the passenger air bag failure code in the car, and became more frequent until the code rained on. This was previously an issue, but a couple years ago I performed the Subaru issued recall related to this sensor and it went away for a time. Now the same issue has come back. ...
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that upon opening the tailgate, the tailgate quickly fell unintendedly and struck the contact's head while the contact was retrieving items from the trunk. The contact sustained head soreness but had not received medical attention. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, ...
After traveling for unknown number of miles on repeated occasions, arriving at the destinations to the smell of burning oil. Smell was evident while driving as well. Subaru was able to diagnose this issue to a leaking CVT pump seal causing CVT fluid to leak and run down on top of the transmission pan onto the hot exhaust system. Subaru has acknowledge this is an issue back in 2016 due to the seala...
Intermittently, for the past few months, either when I wish to back up or go forward, a buzzer will sound, the anti-lock brakes and eye-sight indicators on the dash will say that neither system is working. The brakes malfunction and the steering wheel is very difficult to turn. Turning off the engine and restarting once or twice usually solves the problem, as if restarting reboots the system. But...
Airbag light came on intermittently at first, then constantly in 2023. It was determined to be a defective ODS in the passenger seat, and was repaired at Subaru’s expense “Goodwill” on November 2 2023. Again in 2025, the SRS alert appeared intermittently at first, then continuously that the system needed service. The car was at Fox Subaru for 8 days, and eventually I was told by Subaru Customer...
There was a recall on this vehicle from 2022, and we did not own this vehicle at that time. Recall passenger side airbag contact under seat can cause fire or electrical issues. I contacted Subaru and they said the recall was satisfied in 2022. If that's the case, the repair piece must have been faulty as the issue has come back. The dealership I took the car to said they have seen about 4 of this...
On feb 28 2025 I bumped into car at stop light. Don’t know how it happened. 11 4th about 2 as I was stopped behind car at bank, the car lunged forward-jumped- no reason for it. This is the 4th time something has happed. I slammed on brakes so no incident this time. I am being cautious such as staying 1car length back. Vehicle is accelerating without cause.
Two incidents happened first battery died, we replaced the battery. Then Battery died again, we replaced the alternator on June 5, 2025. Then on Saturday September 13, 2025; all system lights came on at once on the dashboard then the battery died again. Car locks up and is stalled out. Cannot restart car, has to be towed. We replaced the battery cable and cleaned the terminals. Three months later,...
Passenger airbag safety intermittently turns on stating that the passenger airbag is not able to deploy. If I turn the car off and on it goes away and doesn't turn until another time I start the car. Also detects a passenger in the seat when there is no passenger or weight in that seat. Overall some sort of issue with the airbag safety system in the front passenger seat. I will state no liquids ha...
I had an Occupant Detection System replaced under recall in my 2017 Forester. Five years later it went bad. Obviously, still faulty. Cost $1,800.00+ (you read that right) to have it replaced. Contacted Subaru twice about this and both times denied for replacement cost. Really unfair and absurd. Will never own another Subaru for this reason. Not standing behind a sub par part. Unwilling to help out...
I want to bring a widespread safety issue up that is not being resolved by the manufacturer. I have a 2017 Subaru Forester with a faulty ODS sensor. This is a known issue to Subaru and there are bulletins issued on this topic (WUM-98 and 17-19-24). I had the original ODS sensor replaced in 2021. Several months ago my passenger airbag lights started to turn off again. I took it to Subaru and they d...
Previous recall for passenger ODS. Having continued issues with passenger airbag ODS not recognizing someone sitting there. Intermittently turns on and off even if no one is sitting there. Took it to a dealer and they want me to pay out of pocket for diagnostic and possible parts. Very high concern for even allowing someone to sit in the car (even my pregnant wife) in the case there was ever an ac...
I just noticed today that the air bag warning light was illuminated. There was an adult in the passenger seat and the car indicated that the passenger air bag was OFF. This vehicle had a previous air bag recall applied that was to correct these same symptoms. I noticed that a zip tie was cut and not replaced that secured the underseat wiring. I checked the underseat connectors and they all appe...
In 2020 my ODS wireharness had been replaced. I'm now having the same issue in 2025 with the ODS system. I had the ODS recall fixed but the dealership is telling me it is the ODS seat mat not the harness that needs repair and that is not covered under the recall. The airbag light is showing it is off even when I have a passenger. This is very dangerous because if I were to get in an accident my pa...
My srs airbag system is off for the drivers. It went off for no reason. I went to Subaru but they said it would be $3000 and an undetermined wait for the part to come in. But I’m supposed to keep driving my primary car with no guarantee my airbags will deploy if in an accident.
My [XXX] mother in law was told by Subaru White Plains NY her both her front control arms and both front sway bar links had to be replaced due to rust as they were not safe and would not pass the NY vehicle inspection. So I did a Google search and saw 2017 Subaru Foresters had rust issues in this area and had a recall. However it doesn't show up for this VIN. [XXX] ) Her car was built before 7/2...
SRS AIRBAG LIGHT continuously switches on in the car with a passenger present. The seat has been replaced, light is still coming on and issue is not resolved. The dealer is refusing to resolve the issue with the sensor/ wiring harness and saying it is not applicable for recall repairs. This is a Safety issue that Subaru of America is refusing to address that directly impacts the safety of passenge...
Showing 20 of 564 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2017 Subaru Forester
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Opened 2019-08-06 · Closed 2020-01-22
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS faile...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2017 Subaru Forester
Has the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER been recalled?
Yes, the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER have?
The 2017 SUBARU FORESTER has 564 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 39 involved crashes. 26 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER?
The 2017 SUBARU FORESTER received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER involve air bags (109 complaints), visibility/wiper (93 complaints), unknown or other (69 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, engine, air bags,seats.
How many crash reports does the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER have?
There are 39 crash reports associated with the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER out of 564 total complaints (6.9% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER out of 564 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER.
How many injuries are reported for the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER?
26 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2017 SUBARU FORESTER?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER is proceed with caution. It has 564 complaints, 1 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER?
The components with the most failures on the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER are: 1. AIR BAGS (109 complaints), 2. VISIBILITY/WIPER (93 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (69 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (57 complaints), 5. ENGINE (21 complaints). AIR BAGS is the single most-reported problem area with 109 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2017 SUBARU FORESTER?
Be cautious of potential airbag and seat issues, and consider the reliability of the EyeSight system and electrical components. The 2017 SUBARU FORESTER has 564 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER?
The 2017 SUBARU FORESTER receives a reliability score of 59/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 564 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 40 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Passenger Airbag Deactivation and Driver’s Seat Movement.
What are the known issues with the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER?
Known issues with the 2017 SUBARU FORESTER include: Passenger Airbag Deactivation, Driver’s Seat Movement, EyeSight System Failure, Airbag Occupancy Detection System. These are based on patterns found across 564 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2017 Subaru Forester?
Common issues include unexpected movement of the driver’s seat, passenger airbag deactivation, EyeSight system failures, and intermittent airbag occupancy detection system issues.
Are there any recalls for the 2017 Subaru Forester?
Yes, there have been recalls related to the passenger airbag and the occupant detection system.
What should I do if I experience issues with my 2017 Subaru Forester?
Contact Subaru for a recall check and repair, and consider having the vehicle inspected by a professional.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of potential airbag and seat issues, and consider the reliability of the EyeSight system and electrical components.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2017 Subaru Forester
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2017 Subaru Forester. The data includes 564 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 39 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 26 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2017 Subaru Forester an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16