2017 Subaru Forester seats problems
33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the seats on the 2017 Subaru Forester — 6% 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
“My 2017 Subaru Forester is experiencing the exact component failure and severe safety hazard outlined in NHTSA Recall 19V-701 (Subaru Campaign WUM-98R). The front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) is failing continuously, which illuminates the "Passenger Airbag Off" indicator and…”
filed Jul 18, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Seats problems in other Forester years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Forester | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 Forester | 3 | 4% |
| 2022 Forester | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 Forester | 1 | 0% |
| 2020 Forester | 4 | 1% |
| 2019 Forester | 4 | 0% |
| 2018 Forester | 30 | 6% |
| 2016 Forester | 23 | 6% |
| 2015 Forester | 22 | 4% |
| 2014 Forester | 14 | 3% |
| 2012 Forester | 2 | 2% |
| 2011 Forester | 4 | 3% |
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.