2017 Subaru Forester air bags problems
164 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the air bags on the 2017 Subaru Forester — 28% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The airbag warning light for the front passenger seat has been intermittently lighting. Both when the passenger seat is occupied and vacant. The light sometimes indicates the passenger airbag is off when there is a passenger in the seat. I took the car to the Subaru dealer where I purchased the…”
filed Aug 19, 2026
“The airbag sensor in the passenger front seat has malfunctioned and it is indicating that the passenger airbag will not deploy. This is after the recall that was completed on the ODS from service campaign 19V701000.”
filed Aug 19, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System…Campaign 19V701000 · Oct 3, 2019
Air Bags problems in other Forester years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Forester | 4 | 4% |
| 2024 Forester | 7 | 24% |
| 2023 Forester | 6 | 8% |
| 2022 Forester | 4 | 4% |
| 2021 Forester | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 Forester | 11 | 2% |
| 2019 Forester | 17 | 2% |
| 2018 Forester | 96 | 19% |
| 2016 Forester | 99 | 24% |
| 2015 Forester | 101 | 16% |
| 2014 Forester | 57 | 14% |
| 2013 Forester | 13 | 17% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2017 Subaru Forester
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.