This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Subaru Forester wheels problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Subaru Forester have filed 7 NHTSA complaints about the wheels at roughly $400 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See wheels across all vehicles →
Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
| Model year | wheels complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Forester | 8 |
| 2015 Forester | 15 |
| 2016 Forester | 11 |
| 2017 Forester (this page) | 7 |
| 2018 Forester | 3 |
| 2019 Forester | 4 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering wheels on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin announces a change made to the wheel lug nuts.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces availability of new front wheel hub assemblies incorporating bearing surfaces having increased resistance to imperfections resulting from shock loads.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin announces a change made to the wheel lug nuts.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a design change made to the rear wheel / brake backing plates.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Subaru is well aware of the rear wheel bearing prematurely due to the faulty backing plate design. They have even sent a service bulletin mentioning the problem. so the rear wheel hub and backing plate should be replaced by Subaru. They are charging $1000 for repairing this. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Had wheels trouble with your 2017 Subaru Forester?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the wheels problem on the 2017 Subaru Forester?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 7 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $400 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Based on the 7 complaints filed, wheels issues most often appear around 41,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $400 for wheels repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Subaru/Forester.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.