repaired · 2021 Q2
Sensor: occupant classification
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…
2017 Subaru ForesterProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 594 owner complaints about the 2017 Subaru Forester, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 19V-701 the manufacturer reports only 87% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 2, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: EurovisionNim, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2017 Subaru Forester has problems
594 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
167Air bags14 crash/fire/injury
106Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
104Visibility/wiper
47Engine4 crash/fire/injury
46Power train1 crash/fire/injury
34Seats
33Vehicle speed control
25Steering
15Structure
10014 other systems17 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 167 | 14 |
| Electrical system | 106 | 3 |
| Visibility/wiper | 104 | 0 |
| Engine | 47 | 4 |
| Power train | 46 | 1 |
| Seats | 34 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 33 | 18 |
| Steering | 25 | 2 |
| Structure | 15 | 4 |
| 14 other systems | 100 | 17 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2017 Subaru Forester recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
26kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 81 air bags complaints. 98% were reported before 100,000 miles.
38under 30k miles79under 100k miles2100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Air bags
21 owners mentioned a cost$1,800median
Middle half: $1,200 – $2,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2017 vs. every other Forester year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Forester median. How we score
'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2017 Subaru Forester safety ratings
2017 Subaru Forester SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2017 Subaru Forester, and the recalls they led to.
- Occupant Detection System (ODS) FailureLed to recall 19V-701
In owners' words
What Forester owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The Occupant Detection Sensor had a recall in 2019 and we replaced under that recall in 2020, but the part has once again failed and in looking at other Subaru forums, many others with this model year of Subaru Forester have dealt with the same ODS replaced ODS sensor failing again. This sensor…
After replacement of the passenger ODS harness under recall WUM-98, the system still fails to detect a passenger in the seat, making it impossible for me to safely drive with a passenger. Subaru will not fairly cover the defect and would have to install a new seat and recode the new seat to the…
the occupant detection system has failed for years, the subaru dealership keep temporarily fixing the problem and has finally quoted me 2,000 to completely replace the seat as that is where the sensor is located. If i get in a wreck with a passenger they will have no airbag, and i dont think the…
Own a 2017 Forester?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.