Used 2017 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews
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Very disappointed in Forester - CVT, PZEV, other
P. Laffin, 09/21/2018
updated 07/06/2022
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
Subaru has a great reputation for safety and its all-wheel drive. So far, so good, but it lacks in so many other areas and the CVT transmission and the PZEV add-on are horrible. Subaru just issued an extended warranty on the CVT transmission when they should have issued a recall. This vehicle jumps into gear from a stop, and some have reported it stalling while stopped on hills. Even on level surfaces in parking lots our Forester sometimes rolls backwards. This is an accident waiting to happen. A couple of times, the eyesight feature failed to notice a car in the blind spot. Other problems include a back seat that is like sitting on a board, a tiny useless console that is impossible to reach if the seat is pushed forward for a shorter driver, 2 ridiculous drink holders that don't adjust much for different sizes (water or pop bottles rattle around in them but large travel mugs won't fit at all), and a navigation system that is frustrating to use and takes a zillion steps to program. I'm about ready to go look at a different make of vehicle. On the plus side, it has great visibility and is easy to enter and get out of. Have now had this vehicle for almost 6 years. Haven't had any major issues. The lift gate is slow to open and it turns out there's a service bulletin on that. The struts will be replaced. Also, the key gets stuck in the ignition many times. That, too, has a service bulletin and will be fixed. Manufacturers should just fix this stuff without waiting to hear a complaint about it. The transmission is still awful and acceleration is non-existent. Still, it's been a reliable vehicle, and I think new ones are not as good.
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Subaru Forester - Solid AWD vehicle, right price.
michael oleksiuk, 08/29/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
Great driver 360 visibility, but it is improved when removing rear headrests when not in use.
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2017 Subaru Forester for sale near you
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- 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUVMSRP: $13,9958 mi away
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Get one!
Ronald Nelson, 10/13/2016
updated 04/17/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Do your due diligence. You can save much. Shop very carefully.. Not a review, just a practical observation. By the way, the Forester is just great! Totally useful, fun and well designed. Does3 everything well.
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Quality Has Gone Downhill
Brad S., 05/25/2017
updated 06/01/2022
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
23 of 34 people found this review helpful
My 2017 Forester XT Touring model has been one disappointment after another. The CVT transmission is just horrible, and completely detracts from owning the turbo model. When I try to accelerate quickly there is a 2 second delay before the car takes off. The manual shift mode doesn't help at all. The RPMs jump up to about 4000 and just stay there (whether I'm in the manual shift mode or not) until I ease up on the accelerator. The Harman Kardon sound system is terrible, too. The bass response is overbearing. I have to turn the bass all the way down, and it's still way too overbearing. The Harman Kardon system doesn't have speed controlled volume leveling, or several other features that are found on Subaru's basic sound system. The paint job on my Forester is terrible. The paint is so thin that it is chipped very easily. While washing the car, I have found several tiny little chips in the hood, the roof, and the doors. It seems that every time I wash the car I find new chips in the paint. I took it to the dealer to report the problem with the paint and the dealer told me to report the problem to Subaru of America (SOA). I reported the problem to SOA and they told me to take the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer says there's nothing they can do about the paint, so SOA says there's nothing they can do either. The climate control system doesn't work very well. When I'm heating up the interior, in the winter, and the desired temperature is reached, the AC comes on. The remote start is pretty worthless because the car shuts off when I open the door, so I have to re-start the vehicle (brilliant engineering). I have music stored on a USB drive, but every time I switch to the USB to listen to music it takes several minutes for the music to load. There are many other disappointments with this vehicle. Let me just say that I had a 2005 Forester XT Limited that blew this away, not only in the overall quality, but performance-wise, too. Subaru has gone way downhill. I'll never own another one after this.
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Great SUV, good control
s rastogi, 08/12/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
As the title says; I am impressed. this is my first Subaru. Forester did not disappoint at all. the leg room, head room, storage and perfect height to make our daughter seat on her seat. Windows are big, some time feels too big in sunny day, but rest of time gives a good view. our model has panoramic moon roof, my kids are fan to it, they just love to keep it open, for me not so much. dashboard and panel is great, only one complaint; "Starlink" every company make there own operating system, they should have learned by now that its not easy, better use "Android Auto", it works.
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I love this car, BUT:
Competent driver, 03/25/2019
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is for a '17 XT Forester Touring, which may be different than the standard models. It is depressing to find out what a cheap battery was put in this car. 390 CCA is not sufficient even for Central West Wisconsin. I purchased a new battery already at 33000 miles, bought the car Sept of '16. It makes me wonder if they hired young specialists to figure out how to cheapen other components. I had an '02 6 cylinder Outback which was near flawless in it's reliability, and that's why I purchased this one when I wanted an all wheel drive. Admittedly the battery and related problems from a weak battery is the only flaw so far, but now I am suspicious of the rest of the automobile. The weak battery caused the check engine light to come on, and other lights, flashing cruise control, stuck in sport mode, etc, which I figure can be solved hooking the car to a computer and pressing a few buttons. The steering is kind of twitchy at zero, even though I am used to it now, and even though it handles well, it is kind of weird when you push the car into it's handling limits, which probably won't effect most people. The seats are comfortable, but the seat bottoms are too short, shorter than most. I wish they wouldn't make the controls so complicated, even though it's simpler than a lot of them. I like dials and switches that I don't have to understand or think about while driving. The 4 wheel drive is great, and has gotten me out of trouble with the "xmode" lock up the 4wheel drive mode. I live on a back country road that is primitive. I want more gauges , especially one for the voltage reading. I love the power of the engine, in the two sport modes, it is great for passing those people that want to speed up when you pass them on our two lane roads. I wish this got better gas mileage as I feel guilty in running an all wheel drive with all this climate change weather we have been having, but I really require this competent auto to deal with the freezing rain and all the snow we have been having, and I like all the power this XT has. All in all, I would buy another one, but because of the weak battery and my suspicions because of it; might look a little closer at other manufacturers.
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Great all-rounder SUV
Warne, 07/20/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I am not going to comment on information buyers should be aware of before buying 2017/2018 Subaru Forester XT Touring like (i) Price (ii) Needs Premium gas (iii) returns a low mpg. My wife is the primary user of this SUV; her height is below average and she loves the fact that this SUV offers great visibility and leg reach to brake and gas. You wouldn't hesitate to get this vehicle a little dirty, compared to the more high end vehicles. We have driven it in snow, beach, heavy rain and it performs without any issues. The Eyesight system does not work during very bad weather (rain and snow), and the dashboard lets you know when it is ON or OFF. We have also attached roof rack and a bicycle carrier to the hitch and gone on vacation with the car fully loaded. The SUV did not disappoint; the turbo and the bigger horse power really makes a difference. I love the adaptive cruise control when driving on highway. All you have to do is set the speed and the distance you want to maintain with the vehicle in front, after that you can lift your foot off the pedal and just steer. The cruise control will even bring the car to a complete stop, it brakes very smoothly. I would not recommend using the adaptive cruise control on curvy/winding roads as the system fails to correctly sense the vehicle in front of you if the front vehicle is going through the curve. This SUV (specific model) comes with Emergency Braking (prevents hitting the vehicle in front) and Rear Assistance Braking (RAB) which helps when you are pulling out of a parking lot or reversing. The Emergency Braking system works but could be made better if the vehicle would start braking from a further distance making the stop much smoother. When I tested it, my wife freaked out because the car applied the brakes only when it approached very close to the car in front. The RAB works well; once you put the gear in reverse it will warn you if there are other vehicles approaching in the back and if you go ahead and hit gas while there are cars in the back it will automatically apply the brakes. I also don't think the Emergency Braking works well for pedestrians...I have not dared to try that out for obvious reasons. In terms of comfort, it meets our family needs but if you are a tall family then you might want to look for another vehicle as the driver seat is not long enough to give a comfortable thigh support. Strangely this version of Forester does not have sunglass holder, which is ridiculous. Also, the doors do not lock down automatically when you start driving or open automatically (driver side) when you open the door handle. I do not like the position of cup holders for driver and front passenger, feels like it should be moved couple of inches forward. The GPS is so so, I always use my phone anyways. The headlights move with the steering wheel, a feature I really like. We also got the dealer installed remote starter - which I think is a scam, as the starter itself is not integrated to the main fob; so we ended basically having a car key fob and a separate 'thing' for the starter. That increases the 'bulk' we have to carry - a fob and a starter. I paid the extra money thinking that it would all be integrated with the main car key fob - had I known I would have done it outside the dealership at 1/3rd the price. I would like to know if a factory installed is available, and the starter integrated in the key fob. To sum up we absolutely love this Forester. It could be better with some attention to details.
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Don’t do it
Paul , 07/28/2021
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Very unhappy. 2017 model and just spent a couple grand on wheel bearings and a front tire suspension part. Only 75 k miles of normal driving. Very unhappy
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Great bang for the buck
Jerry, 03/26/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is a very sensible and practical vehicle. To me it drives like a pickup truck which is a positive. It handles bumpy roads well and is effortless to steer (others felt like you had to coax them to move). You sit high and window visibility in all directions is outstanding. High marks for entry and exit. All wheel drive is standard. Many competitors offer AWD only as an option and then only on the high end models.
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Great gas mileage and visibility
Cheryl, 10/19/2018
updated 04/20/2020
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Have had for 2 years. The tires wore out at 27,0000 miles. Still trying to get used to the CVT(continuous variable transmission). I find the seat uncomfortable for long distance driving. I do love the heated seats. I love the gas mileage and the ability to see well all around with little to no blind spots. My phone does not hook up to the blue tooth well and I have to remove and add almost every time I get in the car. It handles well on the road ,but in wintery weather, not so much. It is very peppy and accelerates quickly , which is great. In freezing rain ,the windshield being so large,it does not completely clear the ice around the window edges, despite the defrost on high. I left the keys in the ignition to later find out it drained my battery because the lights stay on when the the keys are in the ignition. I had the lights in auto so not sure if this happens when the lights aren't in auto. Because Subaru holds its value and has a very good safety rating I would most likely consider another Subaru in the future.
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2017 Forester Touring rattling noise!
Jason, 12/21/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Be forewarned. I bought the 2017 Forester and started experiencing the rattling dashboard noise and the windshield pillar posts tapping at 7k miles only. It is quite annoying and getting worse. My concern is that cheap plastic dashboard is hitting the windshield and could cause it to shatter the next really bad bumpy road or pot hole I hit. Dealer replaced the plastic on the pillar posts and took care of that issue. The dashboard rattle, they claim they couldnt hear. Maybe enough have complained. Anyway, I also started hearing a buzzing noise from the fan at low fan speed. It sounds like it is a misaligned fan. I've been to the dealer 4 times and now they finally gave me a loaner so they can keep the vehicle and investigate the problem. I also reported the issue to Subaru of America so they are tracking the case. I should've properly read the reviews on Subaru product lines and stuck with Honda. I heard about the cheap materials they use and thought It cant be that bad...It was bad.
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Not reliable
Zuma, 09/22/2020
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Always had Honda's so I thought I buy something different, and bought the 2017 Forester new. The car is now 3 years old and only has 23,000 miles on it. Nothing but problems with it. First was the battery. It died a few times. Finally Subaru said the battery is too small for all the electronics in the car, so they put in a new battery under warranty. So far not issues with that anymore. Now, last month we drove the car on a road trip, and through southern Oregon it was 105 degrees, the AC stopped working - no cold air. Had to spend a couple of days in Medford getting it fixed at an independent mechanic because the Subaru dealer there said it would be 2 weeks before we could get the car in there! Got home and got a letter from Subaru saying about a warranty extension for 2017 Forester AC condenser assemblies. They will check out the car and fix it if needed. Totally unacceptable for a car with only 20,000 miles to have issues with the AC. I'ved owned may cars and have never had ac problems like this. The car is unreliable!! What is going to happen next??!! Do not feel confident at all taking it on a road trip. I took my chance and bought a Subaru for the first time. NEVER AGAIN! They have lost my business forever!!
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Great Value for the money
Roger, 06/14/2017
updated 06/15/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Assembled in Indiana. Have had 4 SUV's and this one ranks among the best I have owned
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Transmission failed at 70,000 miles
Jim Y, 08/29/2021
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
With normal driving the Transmission failed at 70,000 miles. That should not happen.
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Great car but it leaks!
Gene, 04/20/2019
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Just purchased a 2017 Forester used. This is my third Forester so I am loyal to the brand. However, when it rains I get water leaking into the passenger side, from under the glove compartment. It’s already been back to the dealer twice, and is being caused by blockages in the A/C drain. Love the car, but I could not be more disappointed with this issue. This should NOT happen.
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Perfect "sports" SUV
Teresa Parker, 01/09/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have missed driving a sports car but love the ability to sit up a bit higher in a SUV. The Subaru Forester combines both for me. It handles like a sports car but has the advantages of an SUV. LOVE IT!
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Soft Winshield
Sam, 01/29/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
11 of 16 people found this review helpful
Purchased 2017 Forester in October of 2016 at Bob Moore Subaru in Edmond Oklahoma. Will never go back. RUDE. Heated seats do not function well. Either too hot or too cold. Drove an Outback loaner and big difference..much better. Drove to Denver in December of 2016 with snow and treatments on roads. My windshield has small chips and speckles all over it. The car grill, headlights etc have a few very light marks...the windshield is horrible...horrible. My two other cars, an X-5 BMW and GMC Yukon, which have over 100,000 miles, their windshields have nothing like this and have had much, much, much more exposure to harsh elements. Something is wrong with Subaru windshields!
Get out of the van!
Justin Wolfe, 09/19/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
If gas, safety, and all wheel drive are concerns for you then Subaru has vehicles to consider. The 2017 Forester is great on gas, has an awesome safety rating and is all-wheel drive so when it came time to get out of that old mini van, the choice was easy!
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Subaru, terribly good!
Subaru Forester, 11/16/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
I'm 6'6", more room than my Cadillac! Easy to get in and out of, love the adaptive cruise control, and visibility.
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Don't understand the hype
Judd Burnham, 09/01/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
9 of 13 people found this review helpful
I'm not impressed at all. I've owned many cars and for $30,000 I don't I got my money's worth. The ride is jarring and the leather seats on my Touring edition are like sitting on cement. For a Touring edition the front passenger seat is like sitting on a booster seat at McDonald's. Technology. What technology? My 93 Mercedes Benz was more impressive. The vehicle is good in the bad weather. My Wife and I have four vehicles and avoid taking the Forester as much as possible. I'll give Subaru credit for that. Otherwise, I don't understand the hype.
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Leaks water
Sorry, 10/24/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
15 of 23 people found this review helpful
We bought the car based on all the hype of being one of the best for quality ... loved it ... then one month later and week of light rain and pool of water higher than floor mat on the passenger side. Of course now the worry is what other issues down the road will this cause..smell, rusting who knows..
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Impression at 2 weeks after owning the car
ChuckC, 09/22/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Overall, l love the car. The handling, the active driving safety features, the gas mileage, the ride, ... Would be nice if there are more pocket/compartment for storage. And the car come with so many control/info features, it would take sometime to get to know and use.
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After 20 years owning a Subaru, a huge Fan.
Bruce Fensley, 03/22/2017
updated 03/31/2025
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
We bought our first Subaru Forester in 2002 and drove it for 20 years. We are amazed how much better the design, technology, safety, and functionality. We look forward to driving this Forester another 18 years! We had to replace our Battery after only Three years. That's a very Short Life of Service. I don't know if that is abnormal or not? We are STILL driving the 2002 Forester and our 2017 is so much better. We often are asked if we are interested in selling our 2002. We would agree with the 2020 Consumer Reports. There is some level of engine noise during start-up and acceleration. But, is very quiet during normal driving. The stability and comfort is excellent. Very impressed with all the driving safety, efficiency, and electronic/ computer systems.
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Mechanically good car with very poor electronics
Edward Epstein, 05/18/2019
updated 11/29/2021
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Don't buy with electronics - nothing but problems!!! Was very happy when traded it in 3 weeks ago. Never again I will buy Subaru. Dealer I bought it from had very poor knowledge of the vehicle and giving me wrong messages besides the poor customer service.
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WINDSHEILD ISSUE - Eye Sight module
Nancy, 02/04/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
11 of 17 people found this review helpful
I love my Forester but....my WINDSHEILD cracked for no apparent reason 2 months after purchase. Thankful for warranty covered it. A rock hit the new WINDSHEILD and a small chip. I then reaserched and found out Subaru has WINDSHEILD issues since 2015. I talked to dealer about this information as well and have been informed, the Subarus with Eye Sight have a THINNER glass. Not comforting, I let sales man talk me into having the Eye Sight. The module does block sight a bit as well. My suggestion is to really research the option with Eye Sight from Subaru and if you do purchase it make sure you also get Glass Ins. Coverage on your vehicle insurance policy! I regret Eye Sight all around in my new Forester.
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Solid and reliable but quircky
Gregg, 09/23/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
12 of 19 people found this review helpful
Transmission shifts are odd with AC on. Needs more interior storage cabbies. Trunk light is a joke. Passenger side and rear window/lock controls don't light up at night. Seats could be a bit more comfy. Radio controls could be more intuitive. Wish it had speed sensitive door locks and a light in the glove box. On the positive side it is solid,smooth,free of squeaks or rattles and has great build quality and ratings. Wish front passenger seat would fold flat.
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Headaches from toxic fumes from ac
Jay, 10/25/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
24 of 40 people found this review helpful
Dear 2017 Forester owners. I desperately need a feedback. I bought this brand new Forester with all the bells and whistles. Like any new car it had an upholstery smell which generally goes away with time but not in this car. I have been driving this car now for almost 2 months. My whole body would smell like old leather or shoe polish including from my breath. I always owned a new car but never a Subaru. This smell turned into headaches and lightheadedness and watery eyes when I turned my Heater on few days back. To experiment whether it is me only I told my wife to test drive with my son. Just 30 minutes into driving she started getting headaches and watery eyes. She had to stop the car and tell my son to go on the back seat to avoid a/c due to he getting nauseated. I took the car to dealer who found nothing wrong and referred me to Subaru tech team and I am still waiting to hear from them. I have kept my windows open but no improvements. I am so scared to drive because of headaches and drowsiness kicking in. Can someone please let me know if they are going through the same. One article I read showed in 2007 study that Forester was one of the 10 worst car for toxic fume in the cabin. I don't think since 2007 they have done any improvement in the quality of material they are using. Surprisingly only Forester was mentioned and no other Subaru models were mentioned. I felt so bad that I leased this vehicle. If they don't take back I don't know what my options are. Please any advice is highly appreciated. Jay
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VERY BAD HEATED SEATS DESIGN
javier, 04/04/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 16 people found this review helpful
The temperature operation range for the heated seats is just a very bad design, just with your body temperature the thermostat of the seats do not allow to heat the seats, the low and high temperature limits of the thermostat maintain the heat off almost all the time. Very disappointed with the seated heats performance.
I want my VW back
Roger, 10/26/2016
updated 11/08/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
20 of 34 people found this review helpful
I purchased a 2017 Forrester after owning 2 VW Tiguans over 8 years, I needed more space and better fuel economy and that's what I got. The vehicle has great space and much better MPH than either of my VW's. l love the headlights ( except the brights only will turn on when the car allows it). I really like the self dimming mirrors. I cant figure out how to remote start the vehicle and my salesman finally gave up because he didn't know either. Interior trim is not durable I am a hockey player and it's definitely not going to hold up. The drivers seat and controls are not ergonomically set up, after 2500 miles i still cant get the seat right. The car is suppose to have better handling and corning than the VW, I disagree it feels clumsy in the corners and almost feels top heavy. In high winds the car gets pushed off the road. Visibility is awesome in this car no doubt. The technology is overwhelming between satellite radio, all the drivers training tools and eyesight you will spend hours in the owners manual. I am sorry I bought this car. Updated now with 25K miles I figured out the headlights and the remote start but overall the car is still not for me. To much technology; when you have to go to the dealership to change the clock that's ridiculous. Overall my impression of the car and the brand remains mediocre and I will be shopping for a new car as soon as I can afford it. Updated with 80,000 miles I obviously spend a lot of time in a car, this car is not built for someone over six foot. Although my feeling on this car has not change much I have turned off some of the safety features I paid for and I have gotten used tot he rest. All in all it is decent car.
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StrangeEngine/transmission noise started last week
James, 01/27/2017
updated 08/09/2021
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
7 of 11 people found this review helpful
2017 Forester 2.0 XT- with 70,000 miles has a engine/transmission noise that started last week and since it is out of warranty it will probably cost a lot of money. Also The USB ports are poorly located and are hard to use. Also I purchased the all weather floor mats from the dealer but they are too small so the mud/snow gets all over my carpeting. I had to purchase the Weather tech mats to replace the dealer mats. The car does have too much road noise, and had a bad case of turbo lag. I would not buy it again.
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Toyota Loyal Customer fall in love with Subaru
Caryn, 06/08/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I owned a Prius for 10 years prior to purchasing my Forester. I was looking for something that was AWD and/or handled well in the snow. I test drove the Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV, Nissan Rogue and Mazda CX-5. While the other cars have a more pleasing outward look, slick aerodynamics, etc, the Forester was only model that I felt like I could really see 360 degrees. The pick-up is amazing even though the CX-5 was peppier. Overall, the price, reliability and talking to other Subaru owners put my mind to rest. Even though I will miss my little Prius with it's unprecedented gas mileage and zippy personality, I am really excited to start the next decade with my Forester!
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New Forester w/Eyesight
George Rostrup, 01/18/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I’ve only owned the vehicle for 2 weeks so reliability is excellent! Lane keep assist is not great but having Eyesight operating in the background is a reassurance. The ride is firm but comfortable and quiet. The Harman Kardon audio with SiriusXM is awesome. Probably not the fastest car but plenty fast for me.
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A Swiss knife of car
Bilbo Baggins, 01/31/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Versatile, reliable & reasonable in every respect. It will get you there in safety & comfort if not necessarily in style.
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I love this car!
MZB2222, 04/07/2021
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
It is very well made and I expect it too last for many years. Gets 30-37 MPG. It can handle bad weather and bad driving conditions easily. It is a dream to drive, has lots of power and the safety features are excellent. It has almost no blind spots. Comfortable on long trips. Versatile for carrying large cargo.
Forest the Forester Knows How to Run
Sandra Strickland, 03/16/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
There are a couple things that are different from the Honda I previously owned. The Subaru boxer engine does deliver torque, but it's not quite as peppy as the iVTEC from Honda. This hasn't been an issue though because the acceleration is still pretty good. The Symmetrical AWD is hands down my favorite part of the Forester. It's awesome. Also, spring for the All Weather Package. It really doesn't cost that much to add, and the heated side mirrors are really nice to have. The de-icers at the windshield wipers are really nice as well. I live in an area that gets more ice than snow, so these are essential.
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Subaru works for me.
Paul Raquel, 11/29/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Great driving SUV, comfortable, great safety features.
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Working on my first 1,000 miles, and enjoying it
J Man, 05/10/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My wife and I test drove several vehicles from different manufactures. Our last vehicle being a Toyota Camry Hybrid. That was our baseline vehicle to compare our evaluation with. The Toyota had great power and gas millage, but had some funky placement of controls (i.e., the cruise control being behind the steering wheel). We found the Subaru Forester Touring 2.0XE, to be the best at meeting all our requirements. The most important being Safety, where Subaru has done a great job with their eyesight system. I particularly like the lane departure features, that will nudge you back into the lane before you cross over the lane marker. For example, Toyota, only gives a verbal beep with no correction, and for someone who has high frequency hearing loss, you will never hear it. The only thing I cannot hear in the Forester is the turn signal, however the Outback it was easy to hear. The adaptive cruise control, greatly enhances the driving pleasure in congested traffic that is always slowing down and speeding up. I only with it was a little faster on braking when approaching traffic that has stopped, especially in light traffic where it may not have locked on to a vehicle in front of it. Gas millage is in the lower to mid twenty mpg range using premium gas for the turbo engine; which gives excellent power, especially for getting on to the Interstate Hwy with it's high speeds especially with a short on ramp. The 360 view cannot be beat, with all that glass; however, we are glad that we had premium tint put on the windows and especially the moon roof, which greatly reduces the heating from solar radiation. Living in a high desert, the sun can really brat down on you. The headlights have what I call tunnel vision found on many vehicles these days. Subaru, has helped with the side lighting, by having the headlights pivot in the direction of your turn, helping with the driver's side vision in the direction of the turn. Have not had a chance to use or with only limited use, I can not fully evaluate other features yet. We had most options added, however the cargo barrier is not a pet barrier for smaller dogs, and had it taken off. This being a turbo, we could nor add several items on the front bumper. Very pleased with our purchase, will consider another review later after I have driven it in all seasons.
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Test drove two cars. A/C didn’t work on either
Howard, 07/03/2019
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Test drove a base model and a premium model. A/C blew hot air in both. These were at a Subaru dealer. Did some research and learned A/C issues not uncommon on this year Forester
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Function over Style
Joe D., 06/19/2018
updated 01/11/2022
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
The first thing you notice driving the Forester is the fantastic visibility. You sit high in the vehicle with great vision all around. Very obvious after you sit in other compact suv's. The 4 cylinder has a lot of pep with outstanding fuel economy. The leather seating looks good and is comfortable. Some of the interior finishes could be improved. The carpet especially. It's our first Subaru, probably won't be our last.
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We came, We saw, We bought
Dennis R Miller, 05/21/2018
updated 11/26/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
We have owned a Subaru Forester before so it this was not a very difficult decision for us. We have owned several Toyota Camrys before and really liked them but the Subaru blows them out of the water. Any car we buy in the future will be a Subaru. The closest thing I have to a complaint is that the Bluetooth feature can be a little spotty and I wish we had gotten one with built in GPS. I will absolutely recommend a Subaru in general and Forester specifically to anyone and everyone. We are still extremely happy with our Subaru.
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Major repair concerns
Kelly, 02/03/2021
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Purchased a 2017 forester on January 31, 2016. Thankfully, I also purchased an extended warranty. Within 4 years, I had the following repairs: 1. Faulty battery 2. Locked out while car was running. Paid for a tow to open door. Door locks were faulty. 3. Air condenser failed 4. Park Range Switch failed. In addition, I replaced a headlight 3-4 times. Burns oil faster than my Honda. Paid $100.00 deductible for 3/4 repairs. Had to argue the battery deductible. I called the Subaru company to inform them of my concerns. They were kind and told me to call them with any problems in the future. My warranty is now expired and I am concerned about what will be coming down the pike. Unfortunately, I would not purchase this brand again.
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Great Idea, good design, lots of fails.
Wedgetail, 05/23/2020
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
The practicality of this vehicle and it's design is REALLY likeable - zero complaints there. However, incessant and in some cases almost catastrophic alignment, wheel, and tire issues plague this SUV since delivery. Its been to the dealer for various repairs under warranty, I've gone over it myself, and I've replaced tires and had more alignments done on it than any other vehicle I've ever had. 60k and it's ready for good tire set #3. Why is my passenger front tire almost bald thousands of miles ahead of the other three? No one can say. The AC compressor completely failed within the first year, The driver's electric window has a mind of its own when it rains. It randomly eats wheel studs (i keep spares now) and the struts are close to done at 60k of mostly freeway driving. It also has weird hesitations somewhere in the drivetrain that crop up for a quarter second here and there to make it shudder which makes me shudder. Pending recall on the airbag to deal with now. I really like it and planned to keep it long term but I can't say I trust that it's up to that task. Compared to the 2014 Outback I bought there's definitely a wide quality difference even though I like the Forester better. If this is the future of Subaru reliability I'll be buying something else next time.
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Impressed by 2017 Forrester
New owner, 12/24/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I knew I was going to buy a Forrester. I got the eyesight package by mistake and am very glad I got it. It cost an extra $1200 and worth every bit. The insurance on the new car was a little cheaper than my six year old trade in. The car is much better than expected for the price.
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Throttle
Gary Caron, 08/19/2016
updated 02/23/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Everything within easy reach from drivers seat, very logically designed, intuitive, but the throttle is too sensitive. It accelerates faster than I would like when I depress the gas pedal. It is especially disconcerting at low speeds.
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2017 Subaru Forester Touring Review
Daniel Kucinskas, 07/02/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Add body side moldings, door edge guards, rear bumper cover and side window deflectors as accessories as most dealer lot models are displayed without. These can be dealer installed and protect the door edge, body side panels and bumper from damage. Side window deflectors are great as they allow driver and passenger window to be slightly opened while keeping out rain.
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Not So Boring Subaru
L Mortpn, 09/25/2016
updated 03/30/2020
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 10 people found this review helpful
This is the best car for the money, safety, features, fuel economy, and price.
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Water Water Everywhere
Water Water everywher, 10/27/2016
updated 10/29/2018
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
21 of 41 people found this review helpful
Well here is an update as of October 2018.. We have to bring the car in for the third time for something being wrong with air conditioning. so far so good but waiting for the next hot spell next to see if something else goes wrong. Oh and by the way, The dealer we bought the car upgraded our warranty but told us we could only bring to them .... we bought the car from them even though they were out of way because they had the color we wanted. Well after the upgrade that they told we had and could only bring it to them we found that it wasn't true and we could have been bringing to near by dealer for the upgraded maintenance they promised...live and learn on part ..not sure I would buy a Subaru again... 2017 and the first month was great..then came the rain. A puddle of water on passenger side floor. Of course we brought it back to the dealer and wanted it fixed and get things replaced and wanted to know what's going on. Well to our surprise they tell us the air conditioner is blocked and that is causing it. Well I don't know how that can cause a puddle that goes above the floor mat. What the heck how can that be it's bran new. We have owned multiple cars and none have had issue like this. Not sure about Subaru's quality anymore... So after much back and forth with the dealership over the phone, and many trips there as well, it all came down to a plugged drain line for the air conditioner which of course they fix and then cleaned the carpet. They gave us a nice gift and upgraded our warranty. Lets see how well the floor pan holds up over the next couple of years.
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More Cons than Pros
Roger, 12/28/2016
updated 12/28/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
13 of 26 people found this review helpful
Updated 10k mile review Pro's 1. Great storage space 2. Incredible visibility 3. Sound system really rocks Con's 1. Handling especially in high winds 2. Gas mileage expected it to be 26-28 and it's 24-24 highway 3. Headlights are great but the bright lights only turn on when the ambient light is low. 4. Incredibly loud in a rain storm. 5. Resetting the clock even the dealer can't do it. 6. General ergonomics do not fit a person over 6 foot the door rest is too low and the window sill is too high. My car now has 47000 miles on it and I am still have not changed my mind the car is boring to drive, does not fit me and the technology is ridiculous you have to go to the dealership to change the time! I will be selling the car in the next 6 months.
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Headrests and blind spot -- Lousy car, great value
John C., 12/06/2016
updated 06/08/2017
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
17 of 35 people found this review helpful
This is my second Forester. Last one was an '03. The 2017 should fit most people's needs, but is undriveable for me. Biggest complaint is the front headrests. I am 5'10" and the headrest pushes my head forward and down. I can't drive it for more than a few minutes without hurting myself. Blind spot at passenger side rear when looking at it from driver's seat is big, and made more so by body design: right rear window sweeps up towards tailgate, so body design gives you an idea that there's a car there when there isn't. You have to really look, not glance, to check that blind spot. I like the manual transmission, but think there should be some more spacing between the gears. I'm constantly shifting from 2nd to 5th (skipping 3rd) or 3rd to 6th (skipping 4th) because the selections are tightly spaced. As I get used to it, that should change. Cabin noise is about normal for a low-20s priced car. You're not going to get a Caddie. Fit, finish, steering, and handling, are good for a car in its price range. Acceleration is good. Subaru has never made seats for long drives for most people, and I knew that when buying the car (my problem is the headrest, not the seat). I've had the car for 6 weeks now. Most of my driving has been city driving, so mileage is low and probably unfair at first glance. Update for the comment that asked about adjusting the headrest: Yes, both I and the dealer tried different headrest positions; no luck. My head gets pushed forward and down. I'm going to have to spring for an interior customizer to modify the head rests. Cost unknown. Head rests in old '03 were fine. Update on review: Nothing has changed. Gas mileage is lower than expected, but not by much, and given my driving habits and city driving, I can't complain too much about that. Headrests are miserable and it cost $150 to have one headrest modified so I could stand to drive it for more three minutes. Blind spot at passenger side rear is large. Don't buy it. Subaru can design a Forester with a much smaller blind spot, and headrests that don't pitch one's head forward. When Subaru does that, fine.
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2017 Forester Head Gasket failure at 12 Miles!!!!!
Dave, 08/12/2016
2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
180 of 400 people found this review helpful
Went and bought my wife a brand new 2017 Forester Touring the other day. Picked up the car to bring it home and got 12 miles down the road only to see white smoke pouring out the tailpipe! Pulled it over and called the dealer. They sent a tow truck that took over an hour to get to us. It was close to 100 degrees outside and we had our 10 month old baby in the backseat. It got so hot I had no other choice but to start the car to keep my daughter cool. Dealer said they would fix the car. NO WAY, I want a new car! Subaru is trying to just fix the car......lol. Luckily my wife's cousin is a consumer lawyer. Has already received word that Subaru will write me a check for the car I paid cash for and cover his expenses. Unfortunately, after how we were treated by the dealer and Subaru, we will never buy a vehicle from them again!
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