What Is Causing the Subaru Forester 2017 Acceleration Problems?

For several years, owners of late-model Subaru Foresters, including the 2017 models, have been experiencing problems with their cars suddenly, and unexpectedly, accelerating, often when they are applying the brakes. Many have shared their frustration on online automotive and consumer forums, and by filing complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Others are taking their complaints to court.

Since Subaru has not issued any recalls related to unintended acceleration, the exact cause of the problem has not been universally agreed on, but critics suggest a faulty electrical system is to blame.

Subaru Forester 2017 Overview

The Subaru Forester 2017, like those before and after it, is considered a compact crossover vehicle, one that straddles the line between car and sport utility vehicle. It is a four-door, hatchback that came standard with all-wheel drive and earned a 3.5 out of 5 rating from longtime automotive reviewer Edmunds.

One of Subaru’s biggest selling points has always been safety, and owners of the Subaru Forester 2017 cited safety as one of the top reasons they favor the vehicle, according to a J.D. Power review of the car.

What Is Causing the Subaru Forester 2017 Acceleration Problems?

Sudden unintended acceleration can be caused by one of three things: an electronic or mechanical malfunction that prompts the throttle to expand wide open, or operator error – think accidentally hitting the gas instead of the brake, or getting the gas pedal caught on a floor mat.

Electronic malfunctions are more common in modern cars because the electronic systems now control the powertrain on most late-model vehicles.

The root of the problem with the Subarus, according to a group of drivers who brought a class action lawsuit against the carmaker in May, is threefold. First, the cars have an inadequate fault detection system that isn’t sensing the sudden acceleration. Second, the throttle sensor, throttle body assembly, and powertrain control module are susceptible to malfunction, possibly from faulty circuit boards, the lawsuit claims. Thirdly, the brake override systems either malfunction or are incapable of overriding the triggered acceleration.

Can the Subaru Forester 2017 Be Fixed?

Many of the Subaru owners who shared complaints online, on the sites Carcomplaints.com and Carproblemzoo.com, among others, have reported taking their cars to their dealers for repair. In most cases, the owners reported being told the mechanics could not identify a problem and therefore no repairs were made.

Has a Subaru Forester Recall Been Issued?

More than 200 complaints about unintended sudden acceleration in Subarus have been lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including the Subaru Forester 2017. Yet the carmaker has not issued any recalls on the models involved and has not informed drivers about the potential for acceleration problems.

Have Any Subaru Forester 2017 Class Action Lawsuits Been Filed?

Six Subaru owners filed a class action lawsuit against the automaker in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in May, accusing Subaru of knowing about the unintended acceleration problem since at least 2011 and doing little if anything about it. The suit claims the problem affects 2012-2018 Subaru Foresters, 2015-2019 Subaru Legacys, and 2015-2019 Subaru Outback vehicles.

Several plaintiffs taking part in the lawsuit, and many others who have aired their grievances on online car forums, say Subaru directed its dealerships to tell customers their cars were operating normally or that no issues could be found.

“Many of the complaints reveal that Subaru, through its network of dealers and repair technicians, has been made aware of the Sudden Acceleration Defect,” the complaint claims. “Despite having knowledge of the Sudden Acceleration Defect and even armed with knowledge of the exact vehicles affected, Subaru often refused to diagnose the defect or otherwise attempt to repair it while (the vehicles) were still under warranty.”

Often, the blame for the accelerations is directed back at drivers, who are told their floor mats might have caught the gas pedal and put unintended pressure on it.

Two of the plaintiffs in the case, Martin and Margaret Greenwald, ended up in the hospital after their 2014 Forester accelerated without warning, according to their complaint. They were driving on a highway when Martin Greenwald pressed the brake pedal, but instead, the car accelerated, hit a guard rail, and flipped over, they reported.

The Subaru Forester Unintended Acceleration Class Action Lawsuit is Weston, et al. v. Subaru of America Inc., et al., Case No. 1:20-cv-05876 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Join a Free Subaru Unintended Acceleration Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you have owned or leased 2012–2018 Subaru Forester, a 2015­–2019 Subaru Outback, or a 2015–2019 Subaru Legacy that has experienced sudden Subaru unintended acceleration issues, you may be able to join this class action lawsuit investigation and pursue compensation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.