2017 Subaru Forester Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 1%of 592 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 25,650miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2017 Subaru Forester, 1% of the 592 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 25,650 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On october 4, 2019 my car was parked and the passenger rear bumper was hit and damaged by a school bus. My car has been in the shop 4 times to get fixed and it is still not fixed. The bsd/rcta sensors are not working. The dealership has fixed this issue 4 times now and I am taking it back to the dealership for a 5th time.”
NHTSA complaint #11283115, filed 2019-12, 42,195 miles“On three separate occasions thus far, while driving approximately 70 MPH on interstate 93 in massachusetts and new hampshire, my 2017 Subaru Forester touring (with 21k miles) lost power and completely shutdown. All three times, I was luckily able to steer the vehicle to safety while avoiding other motor vehicles and neither myself, my passengers nor anyone else around us was hurt. When the vehicle decides to shutdown, it feels like the car drops itself into neutral, the rpms shoot up to about 4500-5000 and all of the lights on the dashboard light up. …”
NHTSA complaint #11289678, filed 2019-12, 21,300 miles“I was driving my forrester 2019, notice that it would slowly move once I stopped at a stop sign. But then it would jerk into a faster pace. Yesterday as I was driving, I stop at a bank atm. When I went back to the vehicle I put my key in the ignition and nothing happened. Not a sound. So tried it several more times with the same results. I had to call for roadside service. They came and gave me a jump. The vehicle started with no problem. I did as the service person told me to let the vehicle run for at least 30 minutes so the cells can build up in the battery, so I did as I was told. …”
NHTSA complaint #11258886, filed 2019-09, 19,935 miles“Forester - 500 miles - consistent and continuing problems: car lurches forward on its own in first gear. - in motion engine not only has excessive (can last 5 seconds or more) rev-hangs shifting up from any gear but actually increases by 700-900 rpms. This has caused difficulty in slowing down (reducing speed with downshift). When using brake to reduce speed when this occurs, the engine will begin to race, increasing up to 1500 or more rpms, difficult to control vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10959901, filed 2017-03Electronic stability control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 0% |
| 2019 | 10 | 1% |
| 2018 | 6 | 1% |
| 2017 | 5 | 1% |
| 2016 | 8 | 2% |
| 2015 | 14 | 2% |
| 2014 | 5 | 1% |
| 2013 | 1 | 1% |
| 2012 | 4 | 4% |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% |
| 2010 | 3 | 1% |
| 2009 | 5 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2017 Subaru Forester
166 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
116 complaintsElectrical system
106 complaintsOther or unknown
97 complaintsEngine
47 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
46 complaintsSeats
34 complaintsVehicle speed control
33 complaintsSteering
25 complaintsBrakes
15 complaintsBody and structure
15 complaintsSuspension
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2017 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology