What 577 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Forester

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 ODI 11283115

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A TRACTOR TRAILER COLLIDED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED LEFT HAND AND LEFT LEG AS WELL AS SHOULDER INJURIES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD, RIGHT HAND, AND FACIAL LACERATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *DT *TR*JB

NHTSA ODI 11278623

ACCIDENTALLY PLACED MY HAND NEAR THE EDGE OF THE REAR POWER LIFT GATE WHEN IT WAS CLOSING. CLOSED ON MY FINGER AND DID NOT AUTO REVERSE. KEPT APPLYING FORCE UNTIL I MANAGED TO PULL MY FINGER OUT! DANGEROUS DESIGN

NHTSA ODI 11268101

WHILE PARKING THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT GOING AT 10 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT TOP SPEED WENT OVER A CURB AND HIT A TREE. THE CAR THEN WENT IN REVERSE AT FULL SPEED IN A CIRCLE APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES UNTIL THE KEY COULD FINALLY BE REMOVED. THE BRAKES WERE WORKING BUT WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11265586

INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT WAS WHERE THE SUBARU WAS T-BONED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. BOTH FRONT AND REAR DOOR AND ALL PANELING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. MY VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT 40MPH AND THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME WAS GOING 20-30MPH AND ACCELERATING. *DT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11265346

2017 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11258139

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE REVERSING FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE DAMAGED WAS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER YARK AUTO GROUP (6039 CENTRAL AVE, TOLEDO, OH 43615 (419) 877-7725) BUT THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED THE CONTACT $1000 FOR A TRADE IN. THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HE FELT THAT THE MANUFACTURER MADE THESE VEHICLES WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. CORRECTION: OWNER REQUESTED QUOTE FOR COST OF REPLACING ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. QUOTED PRICE WAS $8,500.00 AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. REPAIRS WERE DECLINED. OWNER PICKED UP CAR AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS AND HAS DRIVEN WITH NO ISSUES...YET.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11243586

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED AFTER CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11173400

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CEMENT DIVIDER. THE VEHICLE THEN LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE THREE TIMES AND A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND LATER TOWED TO MCKENNA SUBARU (LOCATED AT 1880 BEACH BLVD, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92648, (888) 685-1421). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: SR1-36575883866. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA ODI 11154322

9/24/2017 PRESSING ON BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR SPEEDED UP, I TRIED PARKING IN FRONT OF A CEMENT PLANTER HOPING THE PRE-COLLISION BRAKES WOULD STOP ME, IT DIDN'T IT LUNGED AFTER HITTING THE CEMENT DIVIDER IN THE PARKING SPACE, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND PUT IT IN PARK, THE WHEELS TURNED IN THE DIRT HITTING A TREE, THE CAR BOUNCED BACK THEN WENT FORWARD HITTING THE TREE AGAIN, THE CAR RAN ON IT'S OWN TURNED OFF, UNTIL IT CAME TO A STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11141556

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. GEICO MY INSURER ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO PRESTIGE AUTO, IN MISSION VIEJO, CA THE BRAKES AND CAUSE OF CAR ACCELERATION WAS NOT WORKED ON, THE INSURANCE COMPANY ACTED UNETHICALLY, THEY DIDN'T CARE IF I GOT INTO ANOTHER ACCIDENT, THEY WITHHELD INFORMATION AND URGED ME TO TAKE THE CAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM, THEY CHECKED AND WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA, AND I AM WAITING ON THEM TO INSPECT THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11141018

ON 9/29/18, 1:35 PM WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THE VEHICLE AND INITIATING A TURN TO THE RIGHT THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM IDLE TO FULL THROTTLE UNINTENTIONALLY AND LAUNCHED ITSELF TOWARDS A 12' X 20' WOOD FRAMED OUTBUILDING ON OUR PROPERTY WHICH HAS AN ATTACHED DECK. BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE SHUT OFF IT HAD JUMPED UP ONTO THE DECK AND SMASHED INTO AND PARTIALLY PENETRATED THE FRONT OF THE OUTBUILDING. FORWARD PROGRESS WAS HALTED WHEN THE REAR PORTION OF THE CAR HAD BECOME HIGH CENTERED ON THE EDGE OF THE DECK. PRESENTLY THE CAR IS STILL ON THE DECK AND PARTIALLY IN THE BUILDING. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL IS I" OFF THE GROUND. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL DUG ITSELF 3" DOWN INTO THE GRAVEL. - NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THIS ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS OCCUPIED BY ONLY THE DRIVER. - THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THE CAR EXPERIENCED TWO (2) SIGNIFICANT IMPACT EVENTS. 1ST WHEN IT HIT A TEMPORARY WOOD STEP AND THE EDGE OF THE DECK (18" ABOVE GRADE) AND 2ND WHEN IT STRUCK THE BUILDING. MOST OF THE BUMPER WAS TORN OFF THE CAR WHEN IT HIT THE DECK AND IS NOW PINNED UNDER THE CAR. THE IMPACT SHIFTED THE BUILDING APPROX. 3/8" ON IT'S POST & PIER FOUNDATION. - THIS REPORT WAS WRITTEN & SUBMITTED ON 10/1/18. - A WRECKER IS SCHEDULED TO EXTRICATE THE CAR FROM THE OUTBUILDING ON 10/2/18. - THE DRIVEWAY AND PARKING AREA WHERE THIS OCCURRED IS CRUSHED ROCK/GRAVEL. - THE DISTANCE FROM WHERE THE CAR INSTANTLY ACCELERATED TO THE EDGE OF THE DECK WAS APPROXIMATELY 22 FEET. THE FACE OF THE OUTBUILDING IS 8 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE DECK. THE DISTANCE COVERED BY THE CAR DURING THIS ACCIDENT WAS APPROX. 30 PLUS FEET. - DURING THIS EVENT AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO CONTROL/STOP THE CAR WITH EXTREME APPLICATION OF THE FOOT BRAKE AND HANDBRAKE AND ULTIMATELY THE STOP BUTTON. - IT WAS A DRY, SUNNY, EARLY FALL DAY IN THE WEST SIDE OF THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS IN WASHINGTON STATE.

NHTSA ODI 11132690

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND STRUCK TWO VEHICLES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. PLANET SUBARU IN HANOVER, MASSACHUSETTS WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 11099947

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 ODI 11092294

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE, IT SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT WRIST, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,120. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11084047

AFTER BACKING UP IN A GAS STATION, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND LIGHTLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PETAL WITH THE INTENTION OF MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY. I FELT THE GAS PETAL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN ALL BY ITSELF - THE CAR TOOK OFF! I HIT A LANDSCAPE BOX TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI 11073997

DRIVER'S SUBARU WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A BOX TRUCK WHILE STATIONARY ON A HIGHWAY (DRIVER HAD STOPPED JUST SHORT OF A MULTI-CAR COLLISION BUT THE BOX TRUCK BEHIND HER WAS UNABLE TO STOP); BOX TRUCK PUSHED THE SUBARU INTO THE CAR IN FRONT. DRIVER'S SEATBELT WAS ON, BUT DRIVER'S CHEST STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND HER HEAD POSSIBLY HIT THE SIDE WINDOW. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEATBELT DID NOT STOP DRIVER FROM STRIKING STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, THE EMPTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ROCKETED FORWARD ON ITS RAILS ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT, AND AT LEAST THREE HINGES FLEW OFF THE PASSENGER SEAT RAIL MECHANISM.

NHTSA ODI 10986045

ON MARCH 1, 2017 I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. AFTER PROCEEDING STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND REACHING A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH I HEARD AN ALERT IN MY CAR, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY HEARD CARS BEHIND ME SOUNDING THEIR HORNS. I QUICKLY LOOKED UP INTO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW THAT THE TAILGATE OF MY CAR HAD OPENED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING MY DOG TO FALL OUT OF THE BACK. THIS OCCURRED AFTER TRAVELING FOR APPROXIMATELY 6-8 MILES WITHOUT EVER RECEIVING A DASHBOARD ALERT THAT THE TAILGATE WAS OPEN. THERE HAVE BEEN ELECTRONIC ISSUES WITH THE CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW. SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T RECOGNIZE THE KEY FOB AND THE DOORS WON'T UNLOCK, OR THE CAR WON'T START AND I GET AN ALERT THAT THERE IS NO KEY DETECTED (WHEN IT IS IN THE CUP HOLDER MERE INCHES FROM THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION START.) TWICE THE FASTEN SEAT BELT ALERT HAS LIGHTED AND CHIMED, WHEN THE DRIVER HAS THE SEAT-BELT FASTENED AND THERE ARE NO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. OFTENTIMES THE TAILGATE WON'T OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB OR BY UTILIZING THE OUTSIDE BUTTON - ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY IT TOOK ME SEVERAL MINUTES OF FUSSING WITH ALL THE CONTROLS BEFORE I COULD GET THE TAILGATE TO OPEN AT ALL. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE TAILGATE OPENED ON ITS OWN. THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I RECALL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY IS THAT AS I WAS GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DIPPED INTO A POTHOLE WITH A SIGNIFICANT JARRING.

NHTSA ODI 10958676

ENGINE LOW LEVEL OIL LIGHT CAME ON A FEW TIMES WHEN I DROVE UP MY DRIVEWAY OR OVER A FEW INCHES OF SNOW. MANUALLY INSPECTED OIL LEVELS THE FIRST FEW TIMES AND RESTARTED ENGINE. THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD GO AWAY. WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON WHEN DRIVING ON A FLAT SURFACE AND ALWAYS WENT AWAY WHEN PARKED ON FLAT SURFACE AND RESTARTED VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO LOUD ENGINE SOUND, KNOCKING SOUND OR SMOKE. PAGE 3-19 OF THE OWNERS MANUAL STATED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT MIGHT ILLUMINATE TEMPORARILY WHEN DRIVING ON INCLINED SURFACE. ONE DAY 15 MINUTES INTO MY COMMUTE ON A FREEWAY I HEARD A RATTLING NOISE AND THEN HEARD SERVER KNOCKING , SMOKE AND THEN THE WHOLE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE IN A FEW MINUTES. I HAVE TALKED TO SUBARU AND FORMALLY FILED A COMPLAINT. INSURANCE HAS DETERMINED IT IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10953804

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE INTO AN INTERSECTION, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND RECEIVED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 10919275