580 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Air Bags · verdict AVOID 34/100
“Airbag sensor does not work. It is not activated when someone sits in the passenger seat. This was recalled in other Subaru Foresters but for some reason our specific vin number is not eligible for repair.”NHTSA complaint, 2017 Subaru Forester owner
“The front lower control arm bushing were breaking apart at 53,156 miles. Shop reported significant play in the wheel while on the stand. Sounds like a safety hazards.”NHTSA complaint, 2017 Subaru Forester owner
“My 2017 had the passenger airbag sensor recall in 2020. It went into for repair. It began going off again where the passenger seat airbag is off when a passenger is in the seat in 2023 on and off. It consistently began going off again in August 2024. I spoke to subaru corporate and they said they needed to replace the whole seat and wouldn't cover the cost of the whole repair of 1600. The part had a long backorder be”NHTSA complaint, 2017 Subaru Forester owner
| Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 03/10/2019 | Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification SAFETY | 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. |
On the federal record it scores 34/100: 580 owner complaints (64.44 per year on the road) and 1 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems.
The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Air Bags, with 162 of 556 categorised reports.
The 2017 Subaru Forester scored 34/100 on the federal record.