2017 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

46Engine complaints

7.9%Of all 579 complaints

#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS158 · 27.3%

VISIBILITY/WIPER103 · 17.8%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM101 · 17.4%

Unspecified / other96 · 16.6%

ENGINE46 · 7.9%

Share of the 579 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2017 Subaru Forester overview page.

What owners report

“AFTER FULL STOP ENGINE OR DRIVE TRAIN LOST POWER ON SHARP LEFT TURN.RESUMED POWER IN 2-3 SECONDS.ENGINE DID NOT STALL AND DID NOT REQUIRE RESTARTING.HAS…”NHTSA complaint 11195512 — filed 04/10/2019

“SCREEN BLACKED OUT EVERYTHING WENT OFF, NO LIGHTS, NO RADIO, NO DASH BOARD VISION. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER…”NHTSA complaint 11150690 — filed 11/10/2018

“AFTER ANY DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, SMELL OF COOLANT IN RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT”NHTSA complaint 11110075 — filed 07/08/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Subaru Forester have engine problems?

Engine is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2017 Subaru Forester: 46 of 579 complaints on file (7.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2017 Subaru Forester have in total?

579 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 39 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 27 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.