2017 Subaru Forester Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 33about this part
- Share
- 6%of 592 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 28,980miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 33 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2017 Subaru Forester, 6% of the 592 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 28,980 miles. 18 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.
“Accident 9/24/2017, 2017 Subaru Forester, 11,000. Miles. Driving slowly in a shopping parking lot, on a dry sunny morning, around 10 am, after pushing on the brakes my car accelerated. My car ran on it's own when turned off, then I put it in park, it lunged over a cement planter, on off and put in park, it hit a tree a few times before it stopped itself. There was bumper damage. …”
NHTSA complaint #11141018, filed 2018-10, 11,000 miles“Traveling on a highway, no cruise control set. Maintaining 70-73 MPH. All of a sudden I felt my car surge, speed up on its own. I took my foot off the gas pedal briefly and the car continued to surge. I heard the engine make acceleration sound like I was speeding off a ramp to get on to a highway. Confused as to what was going on, I stepped on my brake twice. I then noticed I had control again of the speed. I wasn't really sure what happened.”
NHTSA complaint #11324784, filed 2020-05, 33,491 miles“I bought a certified pre-owned 2017 Subaru Forester on june 19 2020. I have had an intermittent safety issue with the vehicle not responding correctly when I try to accelerate since. When I press the gas pedal the car will begin to accelerate with my rpms rising normally. Then my rpms will start to drop when they would normally rise and my car stops or maintains the acceleration prior. Once they have dropped they will stay there for a little and then will shoot up suddenly and red line. …”
NHTSA complaint #11414188, filed 2021-04, 55,338 miles“After backing up, I removed my foot from the brake, put the car in drive and lightly touched the accelerator (I was in a small parking lot). The accelerator left my foot and fully depressed by itself which caused an accident.”
NHTSA complaint #11092294, filed 2018-05, 10,000 miles“My 2017 Subaru Forester has a 6-speed manual transmission. Whenever I attempt to slow the vehicle by downshifting, the vehicle will often continue to accelerate. This unwanted acceleration is most noticeable when driving down a grade, however it also frequently happens on flat ground. For example, if I am going 35 MPH in 4th gear and am anticipating a stop light ahead, I would typically release my right foot from the accelerator pedal and downshift to 3rd gear, then 2nd gear while lightly braking to decelerate the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10949892, filed 2017-02, 800 milesVehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% |
| 2025 | 5 | 5% |
| 2024 | 1 | 3% |
| 2023 | 6 | 8% |
| 2022 | 9 | 9% |
| 2021 | 12 | 6% |
| 2020 | 24 | 4% |
| 2019 | 27 | 3% |
| 2018 | 30 | 6% |
| 2017 | 33 | 6% |
| 2016 | 37 | 9% |
| 2015 | 70 | 11% |
| 2014 | 42 | 10% |
| 2013 | 7 | 9% |
| 2012 | 18 | 17% |
| 2011 | 13 | 9% |
| 2010 | 24 | 9% |
| 2009 | 19 | 11% |
| 2008 | 6 | 12% |
| 2007 | 8 | 11% |
| 2006 | 20 | 23% |
| 2005 | 17 | 18% |
| 2004 | 12 | 5% |
| 2003 | 15 | 8% |
| 2002 | 23 | 26% |
| 2001 | 29 | 21% |
| 2000 | 4 | 5% |
| 1999 | 6 | 5% |
| 1998 | 14 | 14% |
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 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 30, 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