← New search

2017 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Forester years

Owner complaints for the 2017 Subaru Forester are substantially higher than the model-year median of 131.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

321 reports with mileage · 265 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 164 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports1 fire reports25 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

96 reports
Clear category filter
36,000 miles · Oct 29, 2019
Unknown Or Other

CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN FRONT OF VEHICLE WHILE STATIONARY AT HOME.

NHTSA ODI #11276947

30,000 miles · Oct 29, 2019
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

I AM REPORTING TO SEPARATE INCIDENCES. BOTH INCIDENCES ARE BECAUSE OF A SMALL ROCK HITTING MY WINDSHIELD, CREATING A BULLET-SIZED CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. ONE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON COUNTY ROADS. THE FIRST BULLET HOLE CRACK HAS SINCE SPREAD INTO A CRACK THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE LENGT…

Read full complaint

I AM REPORTING TO SEPARATE INCIDENCES. BOTH INCIDENCES ARE BECAUSE OF A SMALL ROCK HITTING MY WINDSHIELD, CREATING A BULLET-SIZED CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. ONE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON COUNTY ROADS. THE FIRST BULLET HOLE CRACK HAS SINCE SPREAD INTO A CRACK THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF MY WINDSHIELD PERIOD THE MORE RECENT BULLET HOLE CRACK WILL MOST LIKELY DO THE SAME.

NHTSA ODI #11276880

9,750 miles · Oct 27, 2019
Unknown Or Other

PEBBLE THROWN TO WINDOW AND STARTED AS A LIL CHIP AND WITHIN TRIP HOME ENTIRE CRACK THROUGH WINDSHIELD FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF GLASS. I WAS DRIVING ENTIRE TIME OF CRACK SPREADING!

NHTSA ODI #11271359

22,000 miles · Oct 2, 2019
Unknown Or OtherCrash

WHILE PARKING THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT GOING AT 10 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT TOP SPEED WENT OVER A CURB AND HIT A TREE. THE CAR THEN WENT IN REVERSE AT FULL SPEED IN A CIRCLE APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES UNTIL THE KEY COULD FINALLY BE REMOVED. THE BRAKES WERE WORKING BUT WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11265586

41,000 miles · Sep 28, 2019
Unknown Or Other

OFTEN I CANNOT INITIALLY REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AFTER I HAVE PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, AFTER I HAVE STOPPED THE CAR AND AM READY TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I THEN HAVE TO MOVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DRIVE AND THEN BACK TO PARK AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME BEFORE THE KEY WILL FINALLY MOVE TO THE FAR LEFT AND ALLOW ME…

Read full complaint

OFTEN I CANNOT INITIALLY REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AFTER I HAVE PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, AFTER I HAVE STOPPED THE CAR AND AM READY TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I THEN HAVE TO MOVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DRIVE AND THEN BACK TO PARK AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME BEFORE THE KEY WILL FINALLY MOVE TO THE FAR LEFT AND ALLOW ME TO REMOVE IT AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THIS HAS STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO (THE CAR HAS 41K MILES AND MOST RECENTLY YESTERDAY AFTER PARKING IT IN MY GARAGE ON LEVEL GROUND!

NHTSA ODI #11258725

36,000 miles · Sep 16, 2019
Unknown Or Other

A/C FAILED DURING THE GUARANTEE OF THE CAR - FAULTY CONDENSER - FIRST TIME THEY ADD FREON - THEN CAR BLOW HOT AIR AGAIN - THEN THEY TRIED TO PUT DIED AND FINALLY DETERMINE THAT CONDENSER WAS THE PROBLE, AFTER THAT IT WORKS FINE . I WANT TO POINT THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS OF EACH MODEL BUT THEY EXPECT TH…

Read full complaint

A/C FAILED DURING THE GUARANTEE OF THE CAR - FAULTY CONDENSER - FIRST TIME THEY ADD FREON - THEN CAR BLOW HOT AIR AGAIN - THEN THEY TRIED TO PUT DIED AND FINALLY DETERMINE THAT CONDENSER WAS THE PROBLE, AFTER THAT IT WORKS FINE . I WANT TO POINT THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS OF EACH MODEL BUT THEY EXPECT THE GUARANTEE TO EXPIRE ...

NHTSA ODI #11255730

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2019
Unknown Or Other

MY 2017 SUBARU FORESTER BLOWS HOT AIR FROM A/C. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THE NEW CAR LIKE THAT. CHECKED WITH REPAIR SHOP, THE AIR COMPRESSOR IS BAD. I HAVE SUFFERED THIS IN THE HOT SUMMER. SUBARU NEEDS RECALL THIS. THIS IS THE KNOWN ISSUE FOR EVERY SUBARU USER.

NHTSA ODI #11243720

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2019
Unknown Or Other

MY AIR CONDITION BLOWS HOT AIR IN THE SUMMER. THE AIR COMPRESSOR IS BROKEN. IT IS AMAZING THAT THE NEW CAR HAS THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. THE DESIGN DEFECTS CAUSED ME THE HOT SUMMER!

NHTSA ODI #11243717

47,900 miles · Jul 4, 2019
Unknown Or Other

AIR CONDITIONING IS BLOWING AMBIENT AIR. PURCHASED AUGUST 1, 2016. HAS 47,900 MILES AND SUDDENLY STARTED BLOWING WARM ON JULY 3, 2019. I HAVE READ THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE COMPRESSORS IN THIS MODEL AND HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY DEALERSHIP JULY 18, 2019. THE ISSUE IS INDEPENDENT OF BEING STATIONARY, MOVING, IN GEAR, OR P…

Read full complaint

AIR CONDITIONING IS BLOWING AMBIENT AIR. PURCHASED AUGUST 1, 2016. HAS 47,900 MILES AND SUDDENLY STARTED BLOWING WARM ON JULY 3, 2019. I HAVE READ THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE COMPRESSORS IN THIS MODEL AND HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY DEALERSHIP JULY 18, 2019. THE ISSUE IS INDEPENDENT OF BEING STATIONARY, MOVING, IN GEAR, OR PARKED. AS A KNOWN PROBLEM I AM HOPING FOR A RECALL TO FIX THE ISSUE, BUT HAVE NOT YET SEEN ONE IN SPITE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED.

NHTSA ODI #11229430

35,000 miles · Jun 24, 2019
Unknown Or Other

I WENT TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY AIR CONDITIONING WAS NOT WORKING AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO FREON AND DID SNIFFER AND COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. THEY ADDED FREON THEN TOOK IT HOME ON A FRIDAY AND BY MONDAY IT WAS BLOWING WARM ON DRIVERS SIDE AND TEPID ON PASSENGER SIDE. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND IN FACT IT WAS AS I SAID IN…

Read full complaint

I WENT TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY AIR CONDITIONING WAS NOT WORKING AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO FREON AND DID SNIFFER AND COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. THEY ADDED FREON THEN TOOK IT HOME ON A FRIDAY AND BY MONDAY IT WAS BLOWING WARM ON DRIVERS SIDE AND TEPID ON PASSENGER SIDE. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND IN FACT IT WAS AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING THE COMPRESSOR WAS BROKEN. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN AFTER 36K I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR IT. ALSO MY SIRIUSXM CHANNELS DID NOT WORK AND THEY HAD TO UPDATE AT DEALERSHIP. AGAIN IF NOT WITHIN 36 K I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIR. EVERY PERSON IN WAITING ROOM HAVE HAD SIMILAR REPAIR ISSUES WITHIN FIRST TWO YEARS. IT WAS RIDICULOUS WHEN WE COMPARED NOTES. THE WARRANTY COVERED BUT IT TOOK TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11222070

Official recalls

1

19V701000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Oct 3, 2019

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE19009 · Occupant Detection System (ods) Failure

Opened Aug 6, 2019 · Closed Jan 22, 2020

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

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 full-sized passenger. In a frontal crash that is sufficient to warrant deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On August 14, 2019 ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Subaru requesting information on the subject vehicles and MY 2014-2015 Subaru Forester vehicles.On October 3, 2019, Subaru submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect in the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness of 366,282 MY 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with seat heaters.The DIR stated that over time, due to a decrease in contact pressure between the terminals in the ODS sensor mat harness, a temporarily unstable electrical connection may be possible. If the connection is temporarily unstable, the ODS may not properly determine the status of the right front seat occupant. If the ODS is unable to correctly determine the status of the front occupant, the airbag warning light may illuminate, and 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.Using vehicle production data and field occurrence frequency, Subaru determined the potentially affected vehicle production range to be between January 20, 2015 ?and August 1, 2017.In addition, Subaru indicated that over 99 percent of the related MY 2015-2018 field reports with vehicles in the production range involved vehicles with seat heaters.NHTSA's analysis of complaint and warranty claim data showed 1,440 of the complaints and 11,672 of the claims involve vehicles with seat heaters that were built within the production range covered by Subaru's recall.In addition, NHTSA's analysis showed a complaint rate of 393.1 per hundred thousand vehicles for the recalled population and 89.0 for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall. Analysis of warranty claim data found a claim rate of 3.2 percent for the recalled population and 0.3 percent for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall.Subaru will instruct owners with Subaru Forester vehicles produced in the affected vehicle production range, to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the sensor mat harness, inspected and replaced with a new part, including the seat cushion assembly, if necessary.Based on ODI's analysis, the actions taken by Subaru mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by ODS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles. For subject and peer vehicles outside the recall population and those equipped without seat heaters, ODI's analysis indicates that there is currently no safety-related defect trend. Given these circumstances, further use of the agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

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 full-sized passenger. In a frontal crash that is sufficient to warrant deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On August 14, 2019 ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Subaru requesting information on the subject vehicles and MY 2014-2015 Subaru Forester vehicles.On October 3, 2019, Subaru submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect in the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness of 366,282 MY 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with seat heaters.The DIR stated that over time, due to a decrease in contact pressure between the terminals in the ODS sensor mat harness, a temporarily unstable electrical connection may be possible. If the connection is temporarily unstable, the ODS may not properly determine the status of the right front seat occupant. If the ODS is unable to correctly determine the status of the front occupant, the airbag warning light may illuminate, and 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.Using vehicle production data and field occurrence frequency, Subaru determined the potentially affected vehicle production range to be between January 20, 2015 ?and August 1, 2017.In addition, Subaru indicated that over 99 percent of the related MY 2015-2018 field reports with vehicles in the production range involved vehicles with seat heaters.NHTSA's analysis of complaint and warranty claim data showed 1,440 of the complaints and 11,672 of the claims involve vehicles with seat heaters that were built within the production range covered by Subaru's recall.In addition, NHTSA's analysis showed a complaint rate of 393.1 per hundred thousand vehicles for the recalled population and 89.0 for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall. Analysis of warranty claim data found a claim rate of 3.2 percent for the recalled population and 0.3 percent for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall.Subaru will instruct owners with Subaru Forester vehicles produced in the affected vehicle production range, to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the sensor mat harness, inspected and replaced with a new part, including the seat cushion assembly, if necessary.Based on ODI's analysis, the actions taken by Subaru mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by ODS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles. For subject and peer vehicles outside the recall population and those equipped without seat heaters, ODI's analysis indicates that there is currently no safety-related defect trend. Given these circumstances, further use of the agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Air Bags:frontal

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 full-sized passenger. In a frontal crash that is sufficient to warrant deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On August 14, 2019 ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Subaru requesting information on the subject vehicles and MY 2014-2015 Subaru Forester vehicles.On October 3, 2019, Subaru submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect in the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness of 366,282 MY 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with seat heaters.The DIR stated that over time, due to a decrease in contact pressure between the terminals in the ODS sensor mat harness, a temporarily unstable electrical connection may be possible. If the connection is temporarily unstable, the ODS may not properly determine the status of the right front seat occupant. If the ODS is unable to correctly determine the status of the front occupant, the airbag warning light may illuminate, and 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.Using vehicle production data and field occurrence frequency, Subaru determined the potentially affected vehicle production range to be between January 20, 2015 ?and August 1, 2017.In addition, Subaru indicated that over 99 percent of the related MY 2015-2018 field reports with vehicles in the production range involved vehicles with seat heaters.NHTSA's analysis of complaint and warranty claim data showed 1,440 of the complaints and 11,672 of the claims involve vehicles with seat heaters that were built within the production range covered by Subaru's recall.In addition, NHTSA's analysis showed a complaint rate of 393.1 per hundred thousand vehicles for the recalled population and 89.0 for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall. Analysis of warranty claim data found a claim rate of 3.2 percent for the recalled population and 0.3 percent for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall.Subaru will instruct owners with Subaru Forester vehicles produced in the affected vehicle production range, to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the sensor mat harness, inspected and replaced with a new part, including the seat cushion assembly, if necessary.Based on ODI's analysis, the actions taken by Subaru mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by ODS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles. For subject and peer vehicles outside the recall population and those equipped without seat heaters, ODI's analysis indicates that there is currently no safety-related defect trend. Given these circumstances, further use of the agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

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 full-sized passenger. In a frontal crash that is sufficient to warrant deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On August 14, 2019 ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Subaru requesting information on the subject vehicles and MY 2014-2015 Subaru Forester vehicles.On October 3, 2019, Subaru submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect in the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness of 366,282 MY 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with seat heaters.The DIR stated that over time, due to a decrease in contact pressure between the terminals in the ODS sensor mat harness, a temporarily unstable electrical connection may be possible. If the connection is temporarily unstable, the ODS may not properly determine the status of the right front seat occupant. If the ODS is unable to correctly determine the status of the front occupant, the airbag warning light may illuminate, and 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.Using vehicle production data and field occurrence frequency, Subaru determined the potentially affected vehicle production range to be between January 20, 2015 ?and August 1, 2017.In addition, Subaru indicated that over 99 percent of the related MY 2015-2018 field reports with vehicles in the production range involved vehicles with seat heaters.NHTSA's analysis of complaint and warranty claim data showed 1,440 of the complaints and 11,672 of the claims involve vehicles with seat heaters that were built within the production range covered by Subaru's recall.In addition, NHTSA's analysis showed a complaint rate of 393.1 per hundred thousand vehicles for the recalled population and 89.0 for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall. Analysis of warranty claim data found a claim rate of 3.2 percent for the recalled population and 0.3 percent for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall.Subaru will instruct owners with Subaru Forester vehicles produced in the affected vehicle production range, to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the sensor mat harness, inspected and replaced with a new part, including the seat cushion assembly, if necessary.Based on ODI's analysis, the actions taken by Subaru mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by ODS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles. For subject and peer vehicles outside the recall population and those equipped without seat heaters, ODI's analysis indicates that there is currently no safety-related defect trend. Given these circumstances, further use of the agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Air Bags

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 full-sized passenger. In a frontal crash that is sufficient to warrant deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On August 14, 2019 ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Subaru requesting information on the subject vehicles and MY 2014-2015 Subaru Forester vehicles.On October 3, 2019, Subaru submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect in the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness of 366,282 MY 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with seat heaters.The DIR stated that over time, due to a decrease in contact pressure between the terminals in the ODS sensor mat harness, a temporarily unstable electrical connection may be possible. If the connection is temporarily unstable, the ODS may not properly determine the status of the right front seat occupant. If the ODS is unable to correctly determine the status of the front occupant, the airbag warning light may illuminate, and 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.Using vehicle production data and field occurrence frequency, Subaru determined the potentially affected vehicle production range to be between January 20, 2015 ?and August 1, 2017.In addition, Subaru indicated that over 99 percent of the related MY 2015-2018 field reports with vehicles in the production range involved vehicles with seat heaters.NHTSA's analysis of complaint and warranty claim data showed 1,440 of the complaints and 11,672 of the claims involve vehicles with seat heaters that were built within the production range covered by Subaru's recall.In addition, NHTSA's analysis showed a complaint rate of 393.1 per hundred thousand vehicles for the recalled population and 89.0 for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall. Analysis of warranty claim data found a claim rate of 3.2 percent for the recalled population and 0.3 percent for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall.Subaru will instruct owners with Subaru Forester vehicles produced in the affected vehicle production range, to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the sensor mat harness, inspected and replaced with a new part, including the seat cushion assembly, if necessary.Based on ODI's analysis, the actions taken by Subaru mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by ODS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles. For subject and peer vehicles outside the recall population and those equipped without seat heaters, ODI's analysis indicates that there is currently no safety-related defect trend. Given these circumstances, further use of the agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems