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Model Year Problem Record

Subaru Forester 2017 - Problems, Recalls, and Investigations

The complete public record for the 2017 Subaru Forester: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.

593Distinct owner complaintsSource: NHTSA Complaints
1Recall campaignsSource: NHTSA Recalls
4Defect investigationsSource: NHTSA Investigations
67Complaints reporting a crash or fireOwner Reports, Unverified

Complaints by System

Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.

Did a Recall Cover It?

For each system: what owners reported, matched against the recalls on file for this model year. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.

Air Bags200 complaints

200 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 19V701000.

Visibility116 complaints

116 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Electrical System106 complaints

106 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Unknown Or Other97 complaints

97 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Engine48 complaints

48 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Power Train46 complaints

46 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seats34 complaints

34 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Speed Control33 complaints

33 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Steering25 complaints

25 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Driver Assistance and Stability Systems25 complaints

25 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Structure16 complaints

16 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Brakes15 complaints

15 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Suspension13 complaints

13 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Wheels13 complaints

13 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Fuel and Propulsion System11 complaints

11 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seat Belts10 complaints

10 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Lighting4 complaints

4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Latches, Locks and Linkages1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Recall Campaigns

Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.

19V701000Reported October 3, 2019 - 366,282 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on October 3, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 366,282 vehicles across all affected models.

Defect Investigations

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.

PE19009Opened August 6, 2019 - Closed January 22, 2020

Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure. Resulted in recall campaign 19V701000.

PE19009Opened August 6, 2019 - Closed January 22, 2020

Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure. Resulted in recall campaign 19V701000.

PE19009Opened August 6, 2019 - Closed January 22, 2020

Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure. Resulted in recall campaign 19V701000.

PE19009Opened August 6, 2019 - Closed January 22, 2020

Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure. Resulted in recall campaign 19V701000.

Complaints by Year Received

When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.

20167
201722
201843
2019128
202096
202187
202254
202345
202433
202541
202637
How to Read These Counts: complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not failure rates. Older and higher-volume vehicles accumulate more reports, and counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold - no per-sales rate or reliability ranking is shown, because the public data does not support one.

Data as of November 1, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.