What 577 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Forester

Intermittently, for the past few months, either when I wish to back up or go forward, a buzzer will sound, the anti-lock brakes and eye-sight indicators on the dash will say that neither system is working. The brakes malfunction and the steering wheel is very difficult to turn. Turning off the engine and restarting once or twice usually solves the problem, as if restarting reboots the system. But then the problem recurs randomly on another day. The most recent date of occurrence is listed under additional details

NHTSA ODI 11718133

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

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

On 19 January 22 while driving approx 60mph on I-95N s/o exit 92 (at that point hwy is divided 2 lanes n/b), the steering wheel suddenly froze and decelerated to 20mph, sending my vehicle leftward into passing lane in the path of tractor trailers traveling at high speeds. I don't know how but I was able to wrestle car back into r/h lane and off hwy. It was towed to a repair shop where the alignment was severely off. They also found evidence that the r front brake had locked. They replaced calipers and realigned wheels. Within 20 miles after repairs the steering again became very stiff. I had the car towed to my mechanic who found "numerous" codes indicating failure of steering control module and rack and pinion assy. Since that time it has been realigned three times but I still feel the steering is erratic with vibration of both the steering cheel and chassis. After 2 attempts, a Subaru service shop seems to have eliminated the steering wheel vibration by dismounting the damaged front tires and switching the damaged outer treads onto the inside. This has now made the car feel like it wobbles under 20mph and over 55mph. They have pronounced the car safe to drive, despite my concern for the way the car feels while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11455826

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT SPEEDS SLOWER THAN 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA EFFORT WAS NEEDED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ODI 11331483

WITH CAR STOPPED AND ENGINE RUNNING BRAKE PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR IF STEADY PRESSURE IS APPLIED. DEALER SAW THIS BUT TOLD ME "THEY ALL DO THAT". IF THAT IS TRUE THAN SUBARU HAS A PROBLEM AND IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327010

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH IN TOWN. I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, AS I WENT TO BREAK THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN BUT SEEMED TO SPEED UP. IT TOOK A LOT OF FORCE ON THE BREAK TO STOP COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ODI 11324846

WHEN IN MOTION COMING TO A STOP ON LOCAL STREET, HITTING BRAKES, FORESTER MAKES SOUNDS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS BUT MORE ON FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AREA NEEDING TO BRAKE HARDER. WIFE AND SON WERE ON FREEWAY IN MOTION, HITTING BRAKES MADE CLICK CLICK SOUND AND HAVING TO BRAKE HARDER COMING TO A FULL STOP WIFE *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324792

WHEN BREAKING, THE CAR ACELLERATED ON A CITY STREET AND A SECOND TIME IN A VERY BUSY PARKING LOT! FORTUATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT> HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO LATER REPORTED THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR UNTILL MORE IS INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ODI 11301737

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

I AM WRITING IN REGARD TO FBI ALERT NUMBER 1-031716-PSA. MY HUSBAND AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR 2017 SUBARU FORESTER IS BEING REMOTELY EXPLOITED. SEP. 29, 2018 WE PURCHASED OUR FORESTER FROM TUCSON SUBARU (4901 N. ORACLE ROAD TUCSON, AZ 85704). OCT. 3, 2018 WE TOOK CAR TO TUCSON SUBARU BECAUSE CAR WAS BRAKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED, AND THERE WAS A DIAGNOSTIC CODE IN THE POWER-TRAIN SYSTEM. DEALER KEPT CAR AND RETURNED IT TO US OCT. 4, 2018 STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PROBLEM INCREASED AFTER RECEIVNG OUR CAR BACK. THE FOLLOWING ANOMALOUS VEHICLE BEHAVIOR BEGAN TO OCCUR, INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW DAILY. 1)CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AND WHEN BRAKE IS LIGHTLY PRESSED. 2) WHEN TURNING, CAR STOPS MOMENTARILY AND AT OTHER TIMES ACCELERATES INTO THE TURN FROM THE REAR WHEELS CAUSING THE CAR TO ALMOST FISHTAIL. 3)CAR SELF ACCELERATES FROM THE REAR LIKE IT'S BEING PUSHED. 4)CAR BRAKES WHEN NO BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS LIGHTLY PRESSED. 5)SPEED DOES NOT REGISTER CORRECTLY ON SPEEDOMETER WHEN CAR SELF ACCELERATES AND SELF BRAKES. 6)WHEELS LOSE TRACTION AT RANDOM TIMES MAKING IT LIKE DRIVING A BOAT ON WATER. IT FEELS LIKE ALL MANUAL CONTROLS DISENGAGE. 7)DURING ANOMALIES, SOMETHING IN CAR CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN CONCENTRATION TO NEAR PASSING OUT. EXITING CAR DECREASES SYMPTOMS. 8)SOMETHING AT FRONT FLOOR IN CAR CAUSES FEET TO HEAT UP, VIBRATE, GO NUMB, SWELL, AND FORM SMALL BLOOD CLOTS BENEATH THE SKIN SURFACE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO HOLD ON THE BRAKE OR GAS. 9)THE ANOMALIES OCCUR WHEN A CAR TAILS US OR STAYS A SPECIFIC DISTANCE BEHIND OUR CAR. ALL ANOMALIES HAVE OCCURRED WHEN THERE ARE OTHER CARS IN THE VICINITY OF OUR CAR, DURING CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING (CRUISE CONTROL IS OFF). NOV. 17, 2018 AND APR. 23, 2019, WE TOOK THE CAR TO TUCSON SUBARU. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THESE ANOMALIES.

NHTSA ODI 11219128

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