Four problems related to battery dead have been reported for the 2017 Subaru Forester. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2017 Subaru Forester based on all problems reported for the 2017 Forester.
2017 Subaru Forester battery drains power and leaves car totally dead on several occasions since purchase (1/2017). Battery died in 2018 twice: once during summer and once in November. (one time Subaru service roadside assist was used, 11/18, and one time a friend charged battery). Third time battery died was 3/19. Brought care to dealer on 4/29/19 with complaint of battery drain. Subaru tested battery and said it was all good and would not replace battery. In 1/20 battery again died and on 1/29/20 took car again to Subaru dealer with complaint of battery drain. Subaru checked the charging system and updates. Battery failed testing and was replaced under warranty. On 4/22/21 battery again died. I called Subaru service manager and asked to have the my car tested to see if there was something in the car that was draining the battery. The manager repeatedly told me that there was probably something left on by me while the care was turned off.
Battery goes dead and must be replaced if not driven for several days. I have replaced the battery twice.
I was driving my forrester 2019, notice that it would slowly move once I stopped at a stop sign. But then it would jerk into a faster pace. Yesterday as I was driving, I stop at a bank atm. When I went back to the vehicle I put my key in the ignition and nothing happened. Not a sound. So tried it several more times with the same results. I had to call for roadside service. They came and gave me a jump. The vehicle started with no problem. I did as the service person told me to let the vehicle run for at least 30 minutes so the cells can build up in the battery, so I did as I was told. As I would turn the corners on the streets-the steering became very difficult, (in both directions). Especially after turning at a stop sign, so as I were driving I notice the dash board would keep blinking. I took a photo of the gages on the dashboard. The eyesight light stayed, but the others kept blinking off and on. I drove the vehicle home and tried to parallel park in front of my house but the wheels would not allow me to do so. So I parked the car across the street where their were a lot more space and I parked there. I set there for another 30 minute before turning off the engine. Once I turned the engine off and tried to start the engine again it fell to turn over. No sound or anything just like earlier. In 2018 they replace my battery, because I was having to call for roadside service up to 3-4 times a week because the battery would die out on me. All this took place in a period of 3-4 months. Now this battery is approximately 10-12 months old. When I took it in for the new battery, I was told the battery was to small for the car. So now I am stuck at home without a vehicle until the Subaru shop opens on Monday and hopefully they can fix the problem. I've never had a 2 year old vehicle that's given me this many problems.
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. The battery will die if the hazard lights are on for 5 minutes or 15 and others will be just fine. The camera in the back of the car is a bit obstructed by the rear bumper.