What 577 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Forester

My windshield cracked significantly after shutting the passenger side door. I chalked that up to maybe a possible chip was put under stress, until a few months later, my driver's side window burst spontaneously right in front of my eyes as I was shutting the trunk door. The pieces went half inside the car and half outside the car. Even though most of it was chunks of glass, I have been sliced and cut up trying to remove it from the driver's, passenger and rear seats, carpets, doors, etc. The entire thing shattered completely, like it almost exploded. The car was parked in the shade on a relatively cool day (it was about 75 degrees) and had not been running.

NHTSA ODI 11742007

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that upon opening the tailgate, the tailgate quickly fell unintendedly and struck the contact's head while the contact was retrieving items from the trunk. The contact sustained head soreness but had not received medical attention. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the tailgate sending unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11720656

On feb 28 2025 I bumped into car at stop light. Don’t know how it happened. 11 4th about 2 as I was stopped behind car at bank, the car lunged forward-jumped- no reason for it. This is the 4th time something has happed. I slammed on brakes so no incident this time. I am being cautious such as staying 1car length back. Vehicle is accelerating without cause.

NHTSA ODI 11703267

The contact owned a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while attempting to make a left turn at an intersection, the contact observed there was a vehicle coming towards the intersection at high speeds. The contact stated that the stop light was green, however, the contact stopped the vehicle, and the vehicle coming towards the contact, depressed the brake pedal causing the vehicle to swerve and crash into the contact's vehicle on the front passenger's side at approximately 50 MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle spun around about 90 degrees. The air bags did not deploy, and no warning lights were illuminated. The contact sustained severe whiplash causing a concussion, crushed disc, ruptured at least 1 vertebrae, and spinal column nerve damage. The contact had been receiving medical treatment since the accident. The vehicle was towed to the tow company's storage lot. A police report was filed. The insurance company determined that the vehicle was a total loss. The other driver sustained severe burns when the air bags deployed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was in dealer mode, which did not allow warning lights to illuminate the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

NHTSA ODI 11580431

The contact owned a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that after driving into a parking space in a parking lot with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle jolted and veered to the right. The passenger's side of the vehicle hit the driver's side of another occupied vehicle. The other vehicle was scratched and there was no injury sustained. The contact stated she then reversed out of the parking space, and the vehicle made an abnormal growling sound. The vehicle then accelerated unintendedly while reversing. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she depressed the brake pedal continuously but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact then shifted into drive (D), and the vehicle accelerated increasingly. The contact swerved and hit another unoccupied vehicle; however, the vehicle continued to accelerate unintendedly. The contact stated that she then attempted to drive into a tree to stop the vehicle, but a high curb caused the contact to miss the tree, and the vehicle crashed into an unoccupied vehicle that was parked behind the tree. The vehicle then stopped. The unoccupied vehicle then hit another vehicle, which caused a train of reaction that involved 6 unoccupied vehicles. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that an unknown rear tire blew out, and the vehicle was severely damaged. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The insurance company then towed the vehicle to another lot, where it was totaled. There was no police report filed. The contact sustained pain in the right SI joint and on the right leg. The contact stated that the incident might have intensified her pre-existing neck injury. The contact also sustained mental and emotional trauma. The contact received medical assistance and was undergoing physical therapy. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 11567531

When I pulled into a parking spot in a parking lot, the car seemed to go faster than I intended. I swiped a car next to me, which to me as it was not a tight space. I immediately, turned off the engine and dealt with the passenger of the other vehicle, exchanging information. After sometime, I got back in my car to move it to another location. As soon as the motor was running in reverse, in began to accelerate making a loud roaring noise. I stepped on the brakes, meanwhile going in reverse at an accelerating speed, trying to keep away from cars parked on either side. I also pulled up the emergency brake. At the end of the row, I felt I could move forward without hitting many cars and hoping that in doing so, it would now slow down. It did not. At that point, I thought the only way to stop it, was going to be hitting something. (I did not want to go out of the parking lot into traffic). I aimed for a small tree, not realizing that there was a high curb surrounding it. The car hit the curb and flew over it, missing the tree, blowing out a rear tire, and hitting another parked car. That car slid into another car causing a chain reaction with still another car. There were 6 cars that were damaged in all. My insurance company is involved, but I do have a cap on how much liability I can pay.

NHTSA ODI 11564881

The incident happened at my workplace parking garage. As I slowly turned left to park in parking spot at work, I heard the engine rev and my car unexpectedly lurched forward very quickly. I stepped hard on the brake but it did not seem effective at stopping the car. I recently replaced my brakes in late August, 2023. As far as I know, before today my car was in proper working order. My vehicle is equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and I don't believe that the warning collision activated even as the car plowed towards the wall. The car hit the concrete parking block/wheel stop and then the heavy wire barrier at front the parking spot. The wire barrier sits between the front of the parking spot and parking structure wall (I would guess about a 12 inch gap between wires and wall). The wire barrier probably prevented the car from hitting the wall and causing greater property damage or injury to myself. So far, damage looks cosmetic. The front bumper is scratched (some paint taken off) and scuffed from the wire barrier and the bottom half of my license plate frame broke off. I am feeling rattled and I'm unsure if I have injuries. I intend to contact my dealership and car mechanic for suggestions on next steps and will likely ask them to inspect my car.

NHTSA ODI 11557428

I was in an accident hit from left driver side and no deployment of airbags

NHTSA ODI 11554768

On July 31,2023, approximately 8PM, I was driving my 2017 Subaru slowly as I made the 90degree turn into my driveway. Midway up the driveway, the car suddenly —on its own—spontaneously accelerated , burst through the half open garage door, across the garage, and crashed through the garage wall into my family room—bulldozing through two sheets of plywood and large pieces of firewood in the garage, and then destroying heavy antique furniture in the family room before coming to rest. The jagged remains of the wall prevented opening either the passenger or the driver’s side door. My adult son, [XXX] , was my passenger in the front seat. He climbed to the back, but the hatch has no handle on the inside, so we were trapped in the car. I called 911. Police and Fire departments arrived. Miraculously, we were not hurt, but had anyone been in the family room at the time, they would have been seriously injured or killed. I made an insurance claim with Allstate Insurance Company the next morning. They determined that the car is "repairable" but will not pay for it to be examined and repaired at a Subaru dealership or Subaru certified body shop . They tell me I have to use at shop in their "preferred network" and pay the extra cost that a Subaru facility would charge. A non-Subaru affiliated mechanic theorized that it was a computer problem that caused the malfunction. Doing a "google" search, I find that hundreds of drivers have had this sudden, unexpected acceleration problem,(Subaru Forester years 20120-2018) but that Subaru dealerships are unable to discover the cause. There have also been two "class action" lawsuitsI I called Groove Subaru dealership,(5300 S. Broadway, Englewood, CO, 80113, and the service department man that I spoke with seemed not at all concerned about the spontaneous acceleration issue, and casually recommended a body shop. The UNKNOWN cause needs to be found before someone is killed !!! PLEASE HELP INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11538950

On May 20, 2022, I was attempting to back into a parking space when my car lunged forward and crashed into two parked cars. I suffered a cracked sternum. No one else was hurt but I was just a few feet from the ground-level windows of a motel. Much body damage to my car (in excess of $13,000) and the other two cars. Police report was filed. Insurance claim filed. No reproduction of problem sought from manufacturer or dealer. No warning signals from car. Assumption made of driver at fault accident. However, please refer to Detroit Free Press article printed 4/22/23: https://freep-mi.newsmemory.com/?publink=0dd2ac172_134ab3a

NHTSA ODI 11518420

After coming to a complete stop, the vehicle, a 2017 Subaru Forrester suddenly and without driver input surged forward. It crashed into a large garbage can directly in front of the vehicle, crushing it. It then continued forward crushing two whole-home air conditioning units and driving one of them into a brick wall, dislodging and breaking some of the bricks. The vehicle suffered considerable front end damage including the bumper, right front fender, and right headlight. The collision avoidance system should have prevented this occurrence as the flat sided municipal type garbage can was directly in front of the car. Furthermore the front air-bag did not deploy despite the considerable damage to the front bumper.

NHTSA ODI 11479243

UNKNOWN I was pulling toward a parking space. We heard a loud revving sound and the car jumped forward. I braked and then after a short discussion with my passenger trying to figure out what just happened I proceeded to turn into the space. All of a sudden the car revved even louder rapidly accelerated and we hit the pole grazing another vehicle. Felt like someone rammed us but nobody else was behind us when I looked in the rear mirror. Thank God nobody was hurt but if someone was walking in that area they could have been killed. There was almost seven thousand dollars in damage from the car wrapping around the pole and we are very lucky it happened in a parking lot

NHTSA ODI 11477728

Sitting in line to get gas and when I put car in Drive it went to full throttle and struck two vehicles in front of me. Car ended up on resting on driver's side and had to be towed.

NHTSA ODI 11473436

2017 Subaru Forester- I had arrived to work and stopped at parking spot. Before I could put car in park position.. I heard a car high pitch revving sound. The car throttles forward and hit a building. Now I’m scared of the car.

NHTSA ODI 11468814

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle crashed into a second vehicle causing substantial front end damage to the vehicle. During the crash no airbags in the vehicle deployed. The driver sustained chest and rib injuries and was transported to the hospital. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified. The failure mileage was 33,000.

NHTSA ODI 11438409

The contact owned a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph and making a turn, the vehicle hydroplaned as the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle inadvertently accelerated while hydroplaning going across 3 lanes of oncoming traffic and hit a curve. The contact stated that the front driver's side tire detached from the vehicle. No one was injured, and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot where it was deemed as a total loss. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,959.

NHTSA ODI 11436842

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while attempting to shift gear into reverse, the vehicle made a strange noise, then lunged forward inadvertently. The vehicle's front driver-side tire ran over the contact's daughter's upper legs. The contact's daughter received medical attention on the scene for injuries sustained to her legs and was now receiving physical therapy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was appraised by the insurance company for front-end damage and was repaired by an auto collision center. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11435400

My vehicle was involved in a five car accident where is was completely destroyed and flipped upside and the two front airbags never deployed which caused head, back, and neck injuries to the two passengers that were in the two front seats. There was a recall on the the passenger front air bag which supposedly got fixed by Palm Springs subaru on July 13, 2020. This recall air bag never deployed during or after the major accident. I contacted the Subaru of America which they supposedly did an investigation on why the two front airbags did not deployed and they stated that there was not malfunction on either airbags which is hard to believe because my car was unrepairable because of the severe damages due to the accident. I would like this to be taken into consideration.

NHTSA ODI 11434793

I was pulling into a parellel parking space, braking to slow to a stop when my car surged froward inspite of increased and continued braking and hit the car in front of me. The collision is what stopped the car. My Subaru Forester is very damaged (bumper, lights, and frame rail) and the car in front also had extensive damage. My safety and the safety of the neigbhorhood cars, pedestrians and homes was at risk given my car was unstoppable despite braking. I couldn't understand what happened so I did an internet search for acceleration while braking and many articles came up reguarding several Subaru models (including mine) of "sudden unintended acceleration" issues. What was described was exactly what I experienced. There are several class action lawsuits in the works as Subaru has not taken any responsibility. No dashboard warning lights came on before or after the crash. I took the car to the Subaru dealer I purshased it from. At first they said there would be a 250. dollar diagnostic fee. When I picked it up they said there was an ECM (Engine Control Module) update and they performed it on my car. The update was designed "to address problems" like those I described. The clerk would not elaborate, was very vague and would say nothing beyond that except he didn't know if the update would fix the problem-that we would just have to wait and see. I explained that if it happened again it could have catastrophic consequences, he had nothing to say. He waived the service fee. I got the impression Subaru didn't want to say much because they would be responsible. By waiving the fee they hoped I would just go away. I am left with: a severely damaged car, as is my neighbor's, an accident that looks to be my fault-when in fact it is Subaru's fault, a large deductable to pay, a point on my lisence and increased insurance rates, and a car I have no faith in. This should not be on my driving record. Subaru should be found responsible.

NHTSA ODI 11433469

Vehicle was struck by a dump truck traveling approximately 50 mph that ran a red light. Impact was on the front passenger side. Although, the collision was violent and there was substantial frontend damage, no airbags deployed. Driver was only occupant.

NHTSA ODI 11417894

2017 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHERE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE'S FRONT WAS DESTROYED. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11398372

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP THE CEMENT BUMPER AND THE BUSHES IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL REVVING WHEN TURNED OFF AND PLACED IN PARK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CREWS SUBARU OF CHARLESTON 8261 RIVERS AVE, NORTH CHARLESTON, SC 29406; (843) 820-4200) WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,050.

NHTSA ODI 11398519

THESE MODELS HAVE AMPLIFIER SOUND ISSUES THAT ROUTINELY CAUSE THE AMPLIFIER TO FAIL AND CUT THE SOUND. THIS COULD DEFINITELY CAUSE A CRASH BY DISTRACTING THE DRIVER. THE AMPS ARE EXTREMELY PRONE TO FAILING AND CAUSE EAR DEAFENING TONES, NO SOUND, CRACKLING ETC. THE PROBLEM IS EXTREME AND DEALERS HAVE NO APPARENT WAY OF RECTIFYING THE ISSUE. THE INTERNET IS LOADED WITH CUSTOMERS REPORTING THIS INCLUDING MYSELF. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD FIXED. NORMAL DEVICE FAILURE IS FINE BUT THIS IS OVER THE TOP. MY CAR WENT TO THE DEALER ROUGHLY 4 TIMES DUE TO THIS. MY VEHICLE PRODUCED A EAR PIERCING SOUND IN MID WINTER WITH THE WINDOWS UP AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO GAS STATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PROTECT MY EARS AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS SILLY BUT THE SOUND SYSTEM IS ROUGHLY 500W AND THAT MIXED WITH THE HIGH PITCHED TONES IS EAR DAMAGING. I'M LUCKY I DID NOT CRASH. THE ONLY WAY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY WAS PHYSICALLY UNPLUGGING THE AMPLIFIER. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI 11397613

MY NAME IS [XXX] ADDRESS: [XXX] E-MAIL: [XXX] CELL: [XXX] I AM THE FIRST AND THE ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR, SUBARU FORESTER PREMIUM, 2017. VIN [XXX] PURCHASED FROM REEDMAN TOLL SUBARU, LANGHORNE, PA, ON 03/2017, AS A BRAND NEW. CURRENT MILEAGE: 63000 MY CAR IS TOTALED, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS SERVICED BY SUBARU REEDMAN THIS SPRING D/T MANUFACTURER RECALL. I WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH ON MAJOR ROAD, HAVING THE RIGHT OF WAY. A DODGE TRUCK CROSSED IN FRONT OF ME, SPEEDING FROM A CROSS ROAD. MY CAR HIT RIGHT FRONT TIRE OF THE TRACK. MY CAR'S FRONT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, FRONT END PUSHED WELL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS WAS A FRONT TO SIDE IMPACT. ALL LIQUIDS LEAKED AWAY ON THE SPOT. BOTH HEAD LITES AND FOG LITES WERE TORN AWAY FROM MY CAR AND THROWN AROUND THE ROAD. BOTH RIGHT DOORS ARE HAVING DENTS, TOO. INSURANCE COMPANY, AAA, DECLARED TOTAL LOSS. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NONE OF THEM. I SUSTAINED A WHIPLASH INJURY REQUIRING MEDICAL ATTENTION AND INVESTING IN REHABILITATION MEASURES..... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11390587

PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED (SINCE I'D NOT DRIVEN QUICKLY THROUGH THE PARKING LOT - TOO MANY BACKING UP TOO QUICKLY!). SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND RAMMED INTO BRICK WALL OF THE BUILDING. MY FOOT MUST OF SLIPPED, BUT IT WAS FAST. NO COLLISION DETERRENTS ACTIVATED AT ALL, WHICH WAS STRANGE SINCE THIS CAR WILL STOP FOR AN OBSTACLE 1/2 A BLOCK AHEAD IN LOW LIGHT. NO BUZZING, BEEPING, WARNING, OR STOPPING. WAS ABLE TO SLAM MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT STILL HIT THE WALL. NO AIR BAGS ACTIVATED.

NHTSA ODI 11384111