2017 Subaru Forester electrical problems
106 of the 587 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Forester name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 203 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 106 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 11 · 2020: 17 · 2021: 29 · 2022: 19 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 2
Half of the 49 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 20,000 and 49,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
587 complaints in all about the 2017 Subaru Forester, 2 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Subaru Forester electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
There is intermittent surging upon initial acceleration and while driving at higher speeds. The back interior light will intermittently turn on while all doors are closed. The passenger side seatbelt sign comes on intermittently while there's nothing in the seat.
Driving in the freeway around 20-30mph, some traffic. On the way to dropping daughters off to school. On the freeway switched lanes then car lost power and decelerated on its own quickly from 20mph to about 1mph, pressing the didn't do anything. Almost got hit by the rear driver behind me. Managed to move to right lane.
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. I was told it was an electrical issues and electrical cables were replaced, however, just this week my vehicle, while waiting at a light, turned completely off.
On 9/29/18, 1:35 PM while in the process of parking the vehicle and initiating a turn to the right the car suddenly accelerated from idle to full throttle unintentionally and launched itself towards a 12' x 20' wood framed outbuilding on our property which has an attached deck.
Vehicles battery has slow cranking power, since new currant miles are 47,800 today vehicles slow to start ,once started all engine warning lights illuminate and stay on and vehicle will not drive in forward or reverse, replaced battery with new and vehicle started normal and strong, put into drive and vehicle drove normal, put into…
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications203 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 15-308-23R Service bulletinAug 20, 2026
- This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 15-304-22R Service bulletinAug 13, 2026
- This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
- Article Locator OtherAug 5, 2026
- Techtips newsletter locator index.
- 15-333-25R Service bulletinAug 1, 2026
- This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin
The 4 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
B2A16 B1761 B1771 B1795 P05A0 P0606 B2A20 P2610
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2017 Subaru Forester names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2017 Subaru Forester
Source: the same files- airbag problems 197 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2017 Subaru Forester?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 106 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (18% of everything owners filed about it), and 203 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2017 Subaru Forester?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 1 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2017 Subaru Forester?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 38,000 miles; half of them between 20,000 and 49,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.