2017 Subaru Forester reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2017 Subaru Forester — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 787
- 350 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 157 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 63 reported crashes · 35 injuries · 1 fire
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#581
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+605
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2015-2019
+489
median 298 complaints in 577 records
Top component share
20%
Air Bags: 157 complaints
What owners report fails — 2017 Subaru Forester
- AIR BAGS 157
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 103
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 101
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 96
- ENGINE 46
1 recall on record for the 2017 Subaru Forester
- NHTSA 19V701000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the ri
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2017 Subaru Forester
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2017 Subaru Forester units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Subaru Forester reliable?
NHTSA has 787 consumer complaints on record for the 2017 Subaru Forester and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is air bags (157 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2017 Subaru Forester units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Subaru Forester?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (157), visibility/wiper (103), electrical system (101), unknown or other (96). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2017 Subaru Forester?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.