2017 Subaru Forester: engine stalls while driving

Filed Dec 2, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · MD

Two incidents happened first battery died, we replaced the battery. Then Battery died again, we replaced the alternator on June 5, 2025. Then on Saturday September 13, 2025; all system lights came on at once on the dashboard then the battery died again. Car locks up and is stalled out. Cannot restart car, has to be towed. We replaced the battery cable and cleaned the terminals. Three months later, December 1, 2025; the battery light came on then all system lights came on at once, the battery died again. This happened on Interstate 95, it could easily have caused a crash. Car locks up again and is stalled out again. Cannot restart car again, has to be towed again. Something in the electrical is causing this, we do not know what.

Filed Nov 27, 2023 · Fuel system · NC

On three separate occasions, my Forester has stalled while driving. The engine loses power, and pressing the accelerator increases the rpms sporadically. We have had to coast to the side of the road. Then, when we try to restart it, it turns over but never actually starts. After a couple of tries, it eventually will start and run normally again. Because this happens while driving at highway speeds, it is a safety issue. The problem happens rarely, but is dangerous when it happens. There are no warning lights or indication of what went wrong and mechanics do not find an issue, as it hasn’t happened while they were driving.

Filed Jan 9, 2023 · Engine · GA

I have a 2017 Subaru Forester Touring. It has stalled on acceleration twice. Once on a divided highway attempting to increase speed going up slight incline around 60mph. It stalled and shut off. It also stalled but didn't completely shut off going through an intersection at 45mph today.

Filed Aug 12, 2022 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact veered to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the transmission clutch was replaced. However, the failure reoccurred while driving approximately 30 MPH, and the vehicle had 95,000 miles. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission clutch, the ball bearings, and the flywheel needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Nov 2, 2021 · Transmission · DE

Making a sharp turn going slightly uphill from a full stop, the car moves forward enough to enter the intersection and then there is no throttle response. The car does not respond at all to the accelerator peddle. The engine does not stall but rpm drop to idle speed. After a few seconds, throttle response returns. Very dangerous as you move onto a highway because the car lingers in the intersection while the car behaves as if it has totally lost power. This has happened repeatedly but at random times.

Filed Apr 28, 2021 · Fuel system · 54,135 miles · MD

Car nearly stalls when starting from stop after sitting at light or intersection when in regular (not sport) mode. Especially occurs when having to turn from a stop and accelerate faster. Have almost been hit by oncoming traffic several times. Does not occur in the other modes. Very scary! ?fuel pump or other defect? City and county roads. Reproducible.

Filed Feb 26, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 90,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2017 subaru forester. While driving approximately 70 MPH the vehicle suddenly stalled. The dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The contact was concerned that the vehicle was unsafe. The contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate when pressing the accelerator pedal. While driving, the speed was suddenly reduced. After turning the vehicle off and restarting the engine, the vehicle operated as normal. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer reedman toll subaru (1700 east lincoln hwy, langhorne pa) who was unable to duplicate the failure or determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Feb 3, 2020 · Electrical · 18,440 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2017 subaru forester. The contact stated while driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to lithia subaru of fresno located at 5200 n blackstone ave, fresno, ca 93710 (559) 540-7189, where the technician was unable to duplicate the failure or retrieve a fault code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 18,440.

Filed Apr 10, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 5,000 miles · TX

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 occured 5-7 times.

Filed Mar 25, 2019 · Engine · 4,000 miles · NJ

While driving my vehicle wants to stall and I have to floor the gas pedal and it slowly starts to accelerate. I'm afraid that one of these days it will not accelerate and will cause a fatal accident. I brought it in to pine belt subaru in lakewood, nj for service and they said the software needs updating and they updated it. However, it's still stalling. This stalling happens many times. The last time was on 03/22/2019.

Filed Sep 25, 2018 · Engine · 10,000 miles · DE

Vehicle hesitates during acceleration, worse if AC is on. Engine nearly stalls, losing power. Initially happened during left turn and while vehicle is in middle of intersection in front of oncoming traffic. This is repeated issue over several months

Filed Aug 17, 2018 · Transmission · 30,000 miles · CA

Vehicle often shudders violently at low speeds coming to a stop - stalling itself once. When merging onto freeway or overtaking on the highway the vehicle occasionally makes loud clicking noise and automatic transmission acts as if it is disengaged (like a fully depressed clutch pedal in a manual, and engine still revs). Took to subaru dealer multiple times and received the "we can't replicate it so there is no problem" feedback - dealer also claims there are no error codes. Contacted subaru of america (soa) directly and was instructed by soa to trust dealer's diagnosis. Online forums and independent mechanics believe my issue is a bad torque converter or some issue with the automatic CVT transmission - a similar issue consumer groups have accused subaru for on previous generations of my vehicle. (see forbes article describing similar issue: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jensen/2017/09/07/consumer-groups-subaru-should-recall-transmissions-not-just-extend-warranty/#352e23e0ab27)