Check a VIN

2017 Subaru Forester brakes problems

15 complaints (3% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 23,825. 7 crashes reported.

owner complaints
15
of this car's complaints
3%
typical mileage
23,825
crashes
7
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Foundation components: disc: caliper
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Subaru Forester brakes problems in other years

199820052010201520202026

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2017 Subaru Forester owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 10, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · CA · crash · 1 injury

On May 30, 2026, I was driving the freeway 2(Glendale Fwy) south, I was using the cruise control and driving 63 0r 68 miles. All of sudden, my car start to shaking violently, moving toward right lane, so I tried move my car back to my lane. My car was out of control and driving zig zag way then went up to hillside of the freeway and roll over end up crash on the concrete swale. I thought that was my last moment of my life. I could not move, severely injured and my car was totally damaged. The driver was driving who witnessed whole thing from behind my car, stopped and called 911. He was kindly came to me and gave me a drinking water. The mileage in my was about 68000 miles and I did maintenance as the manufacture recommended it.

Filed Feb 15, 2026 · Brakes, Steering · NY

Intermittently, for the past few months, either when I wish to back up or go forward, a buzzer will sound, the anti-lock brakes and eye-sight indicators on the dash will say that neither system is working. The brakes malfunction and the steering wheel is very difficult to turn. Turning off the engine and restarting once or twice usually solves the problem, as if restarting reboots the system. But then the problem recurs randomly on another day. The most recent date of occurrence is listed under additional details

Filed Jan 24, 2024 · Acceleration, Airbags · 55,000 miles · AZ · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that after driving into a parking space in a parking lot with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle jolted and veered to the right. The passenger's side of the vehicle hit the driver's side of another occupied vehicle. The other vehicle was scratched and there was no injury sustained. The contact stated she then reversed out of the parking space, and the vehicle made an abnormal growling sound. The vehicle then accelerated unintendedly while reversing. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she depressed the brake pedal continuously but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact then shifted into drive (D), and the vehicle accelerated increasingly. The contact swerved and hit another unoccupied vehicle; however, the vehicle continued to accelerate unintendedly. The contact stated that she then attempted to drive into a tree to stop the vehicle, but a high curb caused the contact to miss the tree, and the vehicle crashed into an unoccupied vehicle that was parked behind the tree. The vehicle then stopped. The unoccupied vehicle then hit another vehicle, which caused a train of reaction that involved 6 unoccupied vehicles. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that an unknown rear tire blew out, and the vehicle was severely damaged. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The insurance company then towed the vehicle to another lot, where it was totaled. There was no police report filed. The contact sustained pain in the right SI joint and on the right leg. The contact stated that the incident might have intensified her pre-existing neck injury. The contact also sustained mental and emotional trauma. The contact received medical assistance and was undergoing physical therapy. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Filed Apr 22, 2023 · Acceleration, Brakes · MI · crash · 1 injury

On May 20, 2022, I was attempting to back into a parking space when my car lunged forward and crashed into two parked cars. I suffered a cracked sternum. No one else was hurt but I was just a few feet from the ground-level windows of a motel. Much body damage to my car (in excess of $13,000) and the other two cars. Police report was filed. Insurance claim filed. No reproduction of problem sought from manufacturer or dealer. No warning signals from car. Assumption made of driver at fault accident. However, please refer to Detroit Free Press article printed 4/22/23: https://freep-mi.newsmemory.com/?publink=0dd2ac172_134ab3a

Filed Mar 9, 2022 · Brakes, Steering · NY

On 19 January 22 while driving approx 60mph on I-95N s/o exit 92 (at that point hwy is divided 2 lanes n/b), the steering wheel suddenly froze and decelerated to 20mph, sending my vehicle leftward into passing lane in the path of tractor trailers traveling at high speeds. I don't know how but I was able to wrestle car back into r/h lane and off hwy. It was towed to a repair shop where the alignment was severely off. They also found evidence that the r front brake had locked. They replaced calipers and realigned wheels. Within 20 miles after repairs the steering again became very stiff. I had the car towed to my mechanic who found "numerous" codes indicating failure of steering control module and rack and pinion assy. Since that time it has been realigned three times but I still feel the steering is erratic with vibration of both the steering cheel and chassis. After 2 attempts, a Subaru service shop seems to have eliminated the steering wheel vibration by dismounting the damaged front tires and switching the damaged outer treads onto the inside. This has now made the car feel like it wobbles under 20mph and over 55mph. They have pronounced the car safe to drive, despite my concern for the way the car feels while driving.

Filed Oct 14, 2021 · Acceleration, Brakes · 28,959 miles · IL · crash

The contact owned a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph and making a turn, the vehicle hydroplaned as the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle inadvertently accelerated while hydroplaning going across 3 lanes of oncoming traffic and hit a curve. The contact stated that the front driver's side tire detached from the vehicle. No one was injured, and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot where it was deemed as a total loss. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,959.

Filed Jun 29, 2020 · Acceleration, Brakes · 23,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2017 subaru forester. The contact stated that while applying the brakes at speeds slower than 5 MPH, the vehicle surged forward. The contact stated that extra effort was needed while depressing the brake pedal to slow and stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 23,000.

Filed Jun 2, 2020 · Brakes · 25,000 miles · MD

With car stopped and engine running brake pedal sinks to the floor if steady pressure is applied. Dealer saw this but told me "they all do that". If that is true than subaru has a problem and it could be dangerous.

Filed May 17, 2020 · Brakes · 66,180 miles · IA

I was driving straight at a speed of 35 MPH in town. I was approaching a red light, as I went to break the car did not slow down but seemed to speed up. It took a lot of force on the break to stop completely.

Filed May 16, 2020 · Acceleration, Brakes · 29,000 miles · CA

When in motion coming to a stop on local street, hitting brakes, forester makes sounds on both front wheels but more on front right wheel area needing to brake harder. Wife and son were on freeway in motion, hitting brakes made click click sound and having to brake harder coming to a full stop wife

Questions about the 2017 Subaru Forester brakes

Does the 2017 Subaru Forester have brakes problems?

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the brakes of the 2017 Subaru Forester, 3% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2017 Subaru Forester brakes problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 23,825 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2017 Subaru Forester brakes?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Subaru Forester have bad brakes?

The Subaru Forester model years with the most brakes complaints are 2010 (37 complaints), 2015 (36 complaints) and 2014 (31 complaints).

Other 2017 Subaru Forester problems

Airbags 167Visibility 116Electrical 106Engine 48Transmission 46Seats 34Acceleration 33Steering 25Driver assistance 16Body 15Suspension 13Wheels 13Fuel system 11Seat belts 10Lights 4Locks 1

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2017 Subaru Forester?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history