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#BS-2017-SUBFOR-326B

2017 Subaru ForesterProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 812 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
812
Crashes
66
Fires
1
Recalls
1
TSBs
449
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 812 complaints, 66 crashes, 1 fires, and 1 recalls. Complaint rate is 5.6x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

shuddering and jerking

20 complaints • Severity 6.6/10

$X,XXX
2

air conditioner stopped working

11 complaints • Severity 6.7/10

$X,XXX
3

airbag light on

7 complaints • Severity 7.4/10

$X,XXX
4

very weak battery

6 complaints • Severity 5.3/10

$X,XXX
5

wont turn over wont start

6 complaints • Severity 7.3/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the AirbagsHIGH

164 owners reported airbags issues — failures commonly reported around 30K miles.

!Inspect the VisibilityMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

219
0–30K
160
30–60K
37
60–90K
20
90–120K
2
120–150K
3
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (219 reports) • Median: 30K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Airbags (164 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Airbags164 (20%)
Visibility107 (13%)
Electrical102 (13%)
Other97 (12%)
Engine47 (6%)
Drivetrain43 (5%)
Seats34 (4%)
Speed Control33 (4%)

2017 Subaru Forester: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 20% of all reports filed for the 2017 Subaru Forester, with 164 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 30,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 30K-mile mark.

Visibility Issues

Visibility complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2017 Subaru Forester, with 107 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to visibility-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2017 Subaru Forester, with 102 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2017 Subaru Forester, with 47 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

8
16
29
17
75
18
179
19
121
20
108
21
75
22
60
23
45
24
58
25
54
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2017 Subaru Forester. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

19V701000Feb 2020

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2017 Subaru Forester NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

PE19009ClosedOpened Aug 2019 · closed Jan 2020

Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

The worst model year for the Subaru Forester is the 2014 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2017 Subaru Forester vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD)

This vehicle

812

Class avg

146

5.6x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical small sport utility vehicle 4wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 812 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Subaru Forester Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998
View all Subaru Forester years →

2017 Subaru Forester: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Subaru Forester?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2017 Subaru Forester is related to the airbags, with 164 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2017 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2017 Subaru Forester has 812 complaints, 66 crash reports, and 1 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 5.6x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2017 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA rates the 2017 Subaru Forester 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2017 Subaru Forester problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2017 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes, the 2017 Subaru Forester has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Subaru Forester problems start?
Based on 441 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 30,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2017 Subaru Forester data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 812 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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