Model year record

2017 Subaru Forester

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 902 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V701000

Air bags: sensor: occupant classification

Component: Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected: 366,282
Reported to NHTSA: 2019-10-03
Owners notified: 2020-02-11

Defect description

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.

Safety 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 the event of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Air bags	200	30,000 mi
Electrical system	109	38,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	107	31,000 mi
Unknown or other	103	30,000 mi
Engine	48	17,650 mi
Power train	44	30,000 mi
Seats	43	28,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	33	28,959 mi
Steering	30	23,825 mi
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification	25	18,000 mi
Suspension	16	55,500 mi
Service brakes	15	23,000 mi
Structure: body	15	20,000 mi
Wheels	15	31,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	11	21,300 mi
Seat belts	11	26,618 mi
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger	10	12,200 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control	7	—
Visibility: windshield	7	70,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	5	21,300 mi
Forward collision avoidance: warnings	5	54,000 mi
Exterior lighting	4	500 mi
Lane departure: warning	4	—
Visibility	4	65,000 mi
Lane departure: assist	3	—
Structure	3	1,200 mi
Back over prevention: warnings	2	54,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition	2	26,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer	2	88,223 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	2	156,774 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	2	54,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	2	—
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut	2	—
Structure: body: tailgate	2	85,000 mi
Back over prevention: rearview system braking	1	—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	1	22,375 mi
Lane departure: blind spot detection	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift	1	49,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	55,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper	1	—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: condensor/evaporator	1	21,000 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior	1	—

The 2016 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 2018 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.