2017 Subaru Forester Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 47about this part
- Share
- 8%of 592 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 17,650miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 47 complaints about the engine of the 2017 Subaru Forester, 8% of the 592 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 17,650 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My car stole in the middle off highway on a very busy traffic time,, I can hear the engine but the car did not move, finally it moved very slowly and stop again, I almost got hit many times since vehicles were speeding over 65miles and no one will allow me to move to the shoulder, finally after 10 minutes the car engine accelerated and I was able to drive away, very scary situacin”
NHTSA complaint #11290612, filed 2019-12, 30 miles“While driving my vehicle wants to stall and I have to floor the gas pedal and it slowly starts to accelerate. I'm afraid that one of these days it will not accelerate and will cause a fatal accident. I brought it in to pine belt Subaru in lakewood, nj for service and they said the software needs updating and they updated it. However, it's still stalling. This stalling happens many times. The last time was on 03/22/2019.”
NHTSA complaint #11191384, filed 2019-03, 4,000 miles“Exhaust manifold cracked and needed replaced; was first advised that the catalyt converter was bad and would need replaced by a non Subaru service provider. When I took to Subaru dealer, was advised I had to pay for 2 hours labor to diagnosis the exhaust before they could advise of issue/fix; did not do at that time. Next Subaru maintenance requested to have situation diagnosed; was then advised that did not need to remove covers to diagnosis, they knew it was the exhaust manifold. …”
NHTSA complaint #11395158, filed 2021-02, 90,000 miles“Screen blacked out everything went off, no lights, no radio, no dash board vision. This happened 3 times before I took it to the dealer. I was told it was an electrical issues and electrical cables were replaced, however, just this week my vehicle, while waiting at a light, turned completely off. It was so scary, good thing there was no one else behind me. A few minutes later I was able to turn the car on and continue my journey. Now, I do not feel safe when I use my vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11150690, filed 2018-11, 14,000 miles“I did my first oil change at 1500 miles, then the next two changes at about 3000 mile intervals. Then I decided to stretch them to the 5k miles recommended by Subaru. I was about 4k miles into this change interval when my oil level light came on. I checked the dip stick and it was bone dry. I wouldn't have noticed oil consumption on the first few changes because I was doing them more frequently than needed and therefore the engine didn't have time to consume enough oil to trip the low oil light. I went to Subaru for an oil consumption test, which it passed . …”
NHTSA complaint #11170211, filed 2019-01, 16,266 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11037934Sep 16, 2026This bulletin announces Warranty Extension and design changes made to the front exhaust pipe and covers to address the concerns of some customers regarding an odor or a…
- 11034269Jun 30, 2026This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11033065May 13, 2026This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11033051May 1, 2026This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs B1571(REFERENCE CODE INCOMPATIBILITY IMMOBILIZER CM TO ECM) and B1572(IMM CIRCUIT EXCEPT ANTENNA CIRCUIT)…
- 11027982Jan 12, 2026This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
- 11027090Dec 12, 2025This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11027083Dec 8, 2025This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
- 11023536Sep 30, 2025In the interest of customer satisfaction Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage in the models listed. The extension will address…
- 11022313Aug 14, 2025This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11022307Aug 11, 2025In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating a new voluntary emissions recall for certain 2017 model year WRX and Forester vehicles…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% |
| 2025 | 4 | 4% |
| 2024 | 1 | 3% |
| 2023 | 5 | 7% |
| 2022 | 11 | 11% |
| 2021 | 34 | 16% |
| 2020 | 81 | 13% |
| 2019 | 106 | 13% |
| 2018 | 32 | 6% |
| 2017 | 47 | 8% |
| 2016 | 60 | 14% |
| 2015 | 131 | 21% |
| 2014 | 69 | 17% |
| 2013 | 27 | 35% |
| 2012 | 27 | 25% |
| 2011 | 60 | 41% |
| 2010 | 34 | 13% |
| 2009 | 27 | 15% |
| 2008 | 7 | 14% |
| 2007 | 9 | 12% |
| 2006 | 11 | 13% |
| 2005 | 3 | 3% |
| 2004 | 23 | 11% |
| 2003 | 12 | 6% |
| 2002 | 1 | 1% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
| 1999 | 3 | 2% |
| 1998 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2017 Subaru Forester
166 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
116 complaintsElectrical system
106 complaintsOther or unknown
97 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
46 complaintsSeats
34 complaintsVehicle speed control
33 complaintsSteering
25 complaintsBrakes
15 complaintsBody and structure
15 complaintsSuspension
13 complaintsWheels
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