{"id":"2017_subaru_forester","make":"Subaru","make_slug":"subaru","model":"Forester","model_slug":"forester","year":2017,"url":"/subaru/forester/2017/","pts":["gas"],"configs":[{"id":37453,"model":"Forester AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (variable gear ratios)","cyl":4,"displ":2.5,"eng":"","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":26,"hwy":32,"comb":28,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":315,"fe_score":6,"ghg_score":6,"fuel_cost":2250,"save_spend":0,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"FJX","modified":"Fri Sep 16 00:00:00 EDT 2016"},{"id":37367,"model":"Forester AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AV-S8)","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":23,"hwy":27,"comb":25,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Premium","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":359,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":3100,"save_spend":-4250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"FJX","modified":"Wed Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2017"},{"id":37949,"model":"Forester AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Manual 6-spd","cyl":4,"displ":2.5,"eng":"","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":22,"hwy":28,"comb":24,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":368,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":2600,"save_spend":-1750,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"FJX","modified":"Wed Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 2016"}],"vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","segment":"Compact SUV","epa_certified":true,"recalls":[{"campaign":"19V701000","component":"AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION","mfr":"Subaru of America, Inc.","reported":"2019-10-03","owner_notified":"2020-02-11","units":366282,"summary":"Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats.  An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.","consequence":"If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.","remedy":"Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge.  The recall began February 11, 2020.  Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.  Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"WUM-98","initiated_by":"ODI","variants":[],"severity":"high"}],"recall_count":1,"critical_count":0,"park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"score":92,"grade":"A","complaints":{"count":584,"crash":39,"fire":1,"injured":27,"deaths":0,"comps":[["Air Bags",197],["Electrical System",106],["Visibility/Wiper",104],["Unspecified",96],["Engine",46],["Power Train",44]],"by_year":{"2016":7,"2017":22,"2018":43,"2019":128,"2020":96,"2021":87,"2022":54,"2023":45,"2024":33,"2025":41,"2026":28},"excerpts":[["2021-08-10","Engine","My 2017 Subaru Forester has 52,000 miles driven. Recently the ignition key will NOT turn to start the engine. The transmission was in park and all the doors were fully closed. After 15 minutes trying several times to no avail it did finally turn to the right and the engine started. Also, previously a few times, randoml\u2026"],["2021-07-26","Electrical System","The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the key remained stuck in the ignition after multiple attempts to shut-off the vehicle. The contact stated that he had to restart the vehicle or move the shift lever back and forth from the park position to release the key from the ignition. The contact t\u2026"],["2021-07-22","Visibility","The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated a day after purchasing the vehicle, he noticed a crack on the windshield of the vehicle while the vehicle was parked in the garage. The contact was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer and manufac\u2026"]]},"investigations":[{"action":"PE19009","component":"AIR BAGS","opened":"2019-08-06","closed":"2020-01-22","campaign":"19V701000","subject":"Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure","summary":"The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS failed to operate properly, the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light illuminated, and/or the ODS incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied by a"}],"ncap":[{"desc":"SUV AWD","overall":5,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.169,"seats":5,"fcw":"Optional","ldw":"Optional","aeb":"No","esc":"","backup_cam":"Standard","variant":null}],"popularity":26,"headline":{"range":null,"mpg":28,"ncap":5,"complaints":584},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 06:27 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}