NHTSA holds 6,493 complaints for the Subaru Forester from 1998 to 2026, and every model year from 2014 to 2020 has at least twice the 162.5 median, with the 2019 (833), 2015 (613) and 2020 (600) highest. Complaints for the 2018 to 2021 models are led by visibility and wipers, and 492 complaints across the model mention windshield cracks. The 2015 leads on brake, stalling and hesitation complaints. Air bags are a top complaint category from 2014 to 2018, and a 2019 NHTSA investigation into occupant detection system failure led to recall 19V701000 on 2015 to 2018 cars with heated seats.
Subaru Forester Common Problems and Years to Avoid (NHTSA Data)
By the founder of CarWorthItPublished
Short answer
Subaru Forester years to avoid, going by NHTSA owner complaints: 2019 (833 complaints), 2015 (613) and 2020 (600), each at least twice the median model year (162.5). The components owners report most are visibility/wiper (1,060), engine (822) and air bags (814). NHTSA lists 42 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations for the 1998 to 2026 model years.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and defect investigations for the 1998 to 2026 Subaru Forester, 6,493 complaints in all, pulled September 28, 2026.
Subaru Forester complaints and recalls by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation and distinct recall campaigns, for every model year with records, counted on September 28, 2026. The median model year up to 2021 drew 162.5 complaints; a year is marked to avoid when it is one of the three highest and drew at least twice that. Years after 2021 have had less time to collect complaints, so they are judged only if they already pass the same line.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Recalls | Crash / fire / injury reports | Most-reported components |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Too new to judge | 21 | 0 | 0 / 0 / 0 | Forward collision avoidance (5), Visibility/wiper (4), Electrical system (4) |
| 2025 | Too new to judge | 93 | 3 | 11 / 2 / 6 | Fuel/propulsion system (13), Visibility/wiper (13), Forward collision avoidance (10) |
| 2024 | Too new to judge | 29 | 2 | 4 / 1 / 1 | Air bags (7), Visibility/wiper (5), Forward collision avoidance (4) |
| 2023 | Too new to judge | 73 | 1 | 8 / 4 / 4 | Forward collision avoidance (13), Visibility/wiper (11), Electrical system (7) |
| 2022 | Too new to judge | 98 | 1 | 8 / 6 / 3 | Visibility/wiper (20), Forward collision avoidance (15), Service brakes (10) |
| 2021 | Above median | 207 | 0 | 16 / 5 / 5 | Visibility/wiper (76), Electrical system (33), Engine (32) |
| 2020 | Year to avoid | 600 | 0 | 26 / 9 / 13 | Visibility/wiper (252), Electrical system (102), Engine (80) |
| 2019 | Year to avoid | 833 | 3 | 37 / 11 / 16 | Visibility/wiper (370), Electrical system (134), Engine (106) |
| 2018 | High | 495 | 3 | 26 / 1 / 6 | Visibility/wiper (135), Air bags (97), Electrical system (71) |
| 2017 | High | 586 | 1 | 40 / 1 / 25 | Air bags (164), Electrical system (106), Visibility/wiper (104) |
| 2016 | High | 414 | 3 | 40 / 3 / 15 | Air bags (99), Electrical system (93), Engine (60) |
| 2015 | Year to avoid | 613 | 3 | 53 / 7 / 26 | Engine (131), Air bags (101), Power train (95) |
| 2014 | High | 403 | 2 | 48 / 3 / 18 | Suspension (94), Engine (69), Air bags (57) |
| 2013 | Fewest complaints | 77 | 12 | 13 / 2 / 8 | Engine (26), Air bags (13), Service brakes (9) |
| 2012 | Typical | 105 | 15 | 15 / 5 / 8 | Engine (27), Air bags (20), Vehicle speed control (18) |
| 2011 | Typical | 147 | 16 | 21 / 6 / 4 | Engine (60), Air bags (29), Service brakes (20) |
| 2010 | Above median | 262 | 17 | 21 / 6 / 9 | Seats (76), Air bags (42), Service brakes (37) |
| 2009 | Typical | 178 | 18 | 19 / 7 / 5 | Air bags (40), Engine (27), Electrical system (22) |
| 2008 | Fewest complaints | 50 | 1 | 5 / 3 / 2 | Suspension (11), Engine (7), Air bags (6) |
| 2007 | Fewest complaints | 74 | 1 | 13 / 1 / 5 | Suspension (12), Power train (11), Engine (9) |
| 2006 | Typical | 88 | 2 | 12 / 7 / 4 | Vehicle speed control (20), Suspension (12), Engine (11) |
| 2005 | Typical | 93 | 1 | 15 / 1 / 8 | Suspension (21), Vehicle speed control (17), Fuel/propulsion system (14) |
| 2004 | Above median | 219 | 2 | 13 / 4 / 7 | Fuel/propulsion system (63), Gasoline (61), Fuel system (61) |
| 2003 | Typical | 191 | 3 | 17 / 0 / 9 | Gasoline (31), Fuel system (31), Fuel/propulsion system (26) |
| 2002 | Typical | 92 | 1 | 22 / 1 / 5 | Vehicle speed control (23), Power train (17), Engine and engine cooling (17) |
| 2001 | Typical | 142 | 0 | 32 / 0 / 21 | Vehicle speed control (28), Power train (23), Service brakes (16) |
| 2000 | Typical | 75 | 0 | 7 / 0 / 3 | Power train (21), Suspension (19), Engine and engine cooling (12) |
| 1999 | Typical | 134 | 1 | 5 / 1 / 4 | Power train (32), Engine and engine cooling (25), Suspension (25) |
| 1998 | Typical | 101 | 1 | 7 / 5 / 2 | Power train (22), Suspension (17), Vehicle speed control (14) |
Counts are raw totals and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so a big-selling year draws more complaints than a slow one. Crash, fire and injury columns count complaints that report one, as filed by the owner.
Check the value and recall status of a specific Subaru Forester
Model-year counts cannot tell you about the car in front of you. Enter its 17-character VIN for the free report: the exact year, trim and engine it was built with, the safety recalls NHTSA lists for its year, make and model, its crash-test ratings and running costs. No account. Then, from $2.99, see what that Subaru Forester is worth at its mileage near your ZIP code, with the listings behind the number, and whether the asking price is fair. The $6.99 Full Report also checks that VIN for recalls still outstanding.
2018 to 2021: windshield and visibility complaints
Visibility/wiper is the largest complaint category across the whole model, at 1,060, and it is the top category for the 2018 (135), 2019 (370), 2020 (252) and 2021 (76). Of the 492 complaints that mention windshield cracks, 173 are for the 2019, 126 for the 2020 and 64 for the 2018. The 2019 and 2020 also lead the complaints that mention the check-engine light, with 69 and 44 of 285. None of the 42 recall campaigns lists the windshield as its component. These are raw totals, not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
2015: brakes, stalling and hesitation
The 2015 has 613 complaints, led by the engine (131), air bags (101) and power train (95), and it has the most crash reports (53) and injury reports (26) of any year. It also has the most complaints of any year that mention brakes (117 of 857), describe stalling or loss of power while driving (66 of 323), describe hesitation, jerking or surging (57 of 301) or mention transmission problems (52 of 265).
2015 to 2018: air bag complaints and the occupant detection recall
Air bags rank among the top three complaint categories for every year from 2014 to 2018, and complaints that mention air bags peak at 157 for the 2017, 114 for the 2015 and 100 for the 2018. In August 2019, NHTSA opened preliminary evaluation PE19009 into occupant detection system failure on the 2016 to 2018. It closed in January 2020 with recall 19V701000, which covers 2015 to 2018 Foresters equipped with heated seats and is filed under the occupant classification air bag sensor.
Older Foresters: inflators and control arms
The 2009 to 2013 models carry the most recall campaigns, from 18 for the 2009 to 12 for the 2013, and many are passenger frontal air bag inflator campaigns tied to where the car was sold or registered, such as 20V001000, 20V002000 and 20V003000. For the 2003 to 2008, investigation PE11011 resulted in recall 11V464000: the front lower control arms may break at the hanger brackets due to corrosion if exposed to salty and humid environments such as roads containing snow melting agent. The 2004 has 95 of the 224 complaints that mention a fuel pump, fuel leak or fuel smell.
What to check on a used Subaru Forester
- Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup, which lists any recall not yet repaired on that car (see what else a free VIN check shows). On a 2015 to 2018 with heated seats, confirm 19V701000; on a 2009 to 2013, confirm every air bag inflator campaign listed for that VIN.
- On a 2018 to 2021, inspect the windshield for chips and cracks, including along the edges, and ask whether it has been replaced.
- On a 2015, pay close attention to braking and pulling away from a stop, and ask whether the car has ever stalled or hesitated.
- On a 2014 to 2018, check that the air bag warning light goes out after start-up.
- On a 2003 to 2008, look at the front lower control arms and hanger brackets for corrosion and confirm 11V464000 was done.
- Before you settle on a price, check the seller's asking price against the Subaru Foresters for sale near you with the used car price check.
Before you make an offer, check what a specific Forester is worth by VIN. The valuation, from $2.99, prices that VIN at its mileage near your ZIP code against cars for sale.
What Subaru Forester owners report most
NHTSA files each complaint under one or more component categories. Across all 6,493 Subaru Forester complaints, these are the most common:
| NHTSA component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 1,060 | 16.3% |
| Engine | 822 | 12.7% |
| Air bags | 814 | 12.5% |
| Electrical system | 794 | 12.2% |
| Power train | 552 | 8.5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 531 | 8.2% |
| Suspension | 415 | 6.4% |
| Service brakes | 376 | 5.8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 348 | 5.4% |
| Seats | 248 | 3.8% |
The categories are broad, so the owners' own descriptions were also searched for specific symptoms. These are counts of complaints whose text mentions each one, not diagnoses, and one complaint can mention several.
| What the complaint describes | Complaints | Share | Model years with the most |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 857 | 13.2% | 2015 (117), 2014 (73), 2019 (73) |
| Air bags | 853 | 13.1% | 2017 (157), 2015 (114), 2018 (100) |
| Windshield cracks | 492 | 7.6% | 2019 (173), 2020 (126), 2018 (64) |
| Stalling or loss of power while driving | 323 | 5.0% | 2015 (66), 2019 (40), 2016 (33) |
| Hesitation, jerking or surging | 301 | 4.6% | 2015 (57), 2016 (23), 2018 (23) |
| Check-engine light | 285 | 4.4% | 2019 (69), 2020 (44), 2015 (30) |
| Transmission problems | 265 | 4.1% | 2015 (52), 2014 (25), 2016 (25) |
| Steering | 261 | 4.0% | 2015 (33), 2017 (29), 2014 (26) |
| Electrical faults or battery drain | 250 | 3.9% | 2017 (43), 2019 (39), 2016 (35) |
| Fuel pump, fuel leak or fuel smell | 224 | 3.4% | 2004 (95), 2003 (41), 2005 (12) |
Subaru Forester recalls (42 campaigns)
Every recall campaign NHTSA lists for the Subaru Forester, newest first, with the model years it covers and NHTSA's own description of the defect, shortened. A recall on the model is not proof a given car was affected or left unrepaired: check a specific car by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or in the free CarWorthIt VIN report.
| Campaign | Reported | Model years | Component | The defect, in NHTSA's words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V436000 | July 7, 2026 | 2025 | Equipment | These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire selection and rims." |
| 25V419000 | June 19, 2025 | 2025 | Child seat | The child seat anchor bolts may have been improperly tightened, allowing the bolts to come loose. A loose child seat anchor bolt increases the risk of injury to a child during a crash. |
| 25V033000 | January 23, 2025 | 2025 | Wheels | The wheels may have been manufactured with an incorrectly specified lug seat surface, which can result in the wheel being improperly attached and cause a loss of vehicle stability. |
| 23V755000 | November 9, 2023 | 2022 | Power train | An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail. An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 23V754000 | November 9, 2023 | 2023 to 2024 | Power train | The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break. A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. |
| 23V723000 | October 26, 2023 | 2024 | Engine and engine cooling | The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant. Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire. |
| 22V838000 | November 10, 2022 | 2009 to 2013 | Seat belts | The front seat belt assembly force-limiter may not operate correctly in the event of a crash. The seat belt assembly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 21V587000 | July 29, 2021 | 2018 | Fuel system, gasoline | The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 21V263000 | April 15, 2021 | 2019 | Suspension | The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach. Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 20V003000 | January 2, 2020 | 2009 to 2013 | Air bags | The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. |
| 20V002000 | January 2, 2020 | 2009 to 2013 | Air bags | The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. |
| 20V001000 | January 2, 2020 | 2009 to 2013 | Air bags | The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. |
| 19V856000 | December 2, 2019 | 2019 | Engine and engine cooling | The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving. |
| 19V701000 | October 3, 2019 | 2015 to 2018 | Air bags | An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen. If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash. |
| 19V297000 | April 11, 2019 | 2009 to 2013 | Electrical system | The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine. |
Show the other 27 Subaru Forester recalls
| Campaign | Reported | Model years | Component | The defect, in NHTSA's words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19V149000 | February 28, 2019 | 2014 to 2016 | Exterior lighting | Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park. |
| 19V065000 | February 6, 2019 | 2019 | Steering | A connector inside the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance. Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 19V009000 | January 9, 2019 | 2010 to 2013 | Air bags | These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. |
| 19V008000 | January 9, 2019 | 2010 to 2013 | Air bags | These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. |
| 19V007000 | January 9, 2019 | 2010 to 2013 | Air bags | These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. |
| 18V455000 | July 10, 2018 | 2018 | Tires | The Certification Label may indicate the incorrect wheel size, tire size, and air pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." |
| 18V014000 | January 9, 2018 | 2009 | Air bags | These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. |
| 18V013000 | January 9, 2018 | 2009 to 2010 | Air bags | These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. |
| 18V012000 | January 9, 2018 | 2009 to 2013 | Air bags | These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. |
| 17V026000 | January 11, 2017 | 2009 | Air bags | These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. |
| 17V014000 | January 10, 2017 | 2009 to 2012 | Air bags | These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. |
| 16V738000 | October 13, 2016 | 2009 to 2013 | Electrical system | The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat. If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire. |
| 16V358000 | May 25, 2016 | 2009 to 2011 | Air bags | These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. |
| 16V162000 | March 21, 2016 | 2015 to 2016 | Engine and engine cooling | The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash. |
| 14V830000 | December 31, 2014 | 2009 to 2013 | Service brakes, hydraulic | The brake lines may experience brake line corrosion due to salt water splashing on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector. Brake fluid may leak due to the brake line corrosion and may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 14V311000 | June 10, 2014 | 2009 to 2013 | Service brakes, hydraulic | Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request. |
| 13V159000 | April 24, 2013 | 2014 | Equipment | The backing for the carpeted floor mats was not manufactured to specification. As a result, the floor mats may curl when exposed to heat. Curling of the driver side floor mat could distract the driver and/or interfere with proper operation of one or a combination of, the vehicle's clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals. |
| 12V602000 | December 26, 2012 | 2009 to 2012 | Exterior lighting | Up to 78,650 of these vehicles may have been equipped with accessory puddle lights that, when illuminated, brighten the area under the doors of the vehicle. A short circuit can develop when either the puddle light or connector are exposed to an electrolytic moisture source (such as road spray that has road salt in it) and it penetrates the circuit board of the puddle light or the pins of the puddle light connector(s)... |
| 12V099000 | March 13, 2012 | 2009 to 2012 | Seat belts | The automatic locking retractor in the seat belt assemblies located in the rear center seating of the affected vehicles do not meet lockability requirements and fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 208, occupant crash protection. specifically, the assemblies may not permit proper installation and secure attachment of a child restraint in that seating position. |
| 11V464000 | September 6, 2011 | 2003 to 2008 | Suspension | The front lower control arms may break at the hanger brackets due to corrosion if the hanger bracket is exposed to salty and humid environments such as roads containing snow melting agent. |
| 09E011000 | April 2, 2009 | 2009 | Equipment | These fit kits were sold as aftermarket equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. The bolt(s) used to secure the foot to the vehicle was manufactured to a hardness that may cause the bolt(s) to be brittle and potentially break under stress. |
| 08V460000 | September 11, 2008 | 2009 | Engine and engine cooling | Some vehicles may have the cylinder head-side oil supply pipe and turbocharger-side pipe improperly assembled. Vibration would occur while driving and, over time, could eventually result in cracking the pipe which would allow oil to leak. |
| 07V043000 | February 12, 2007 | 2006 | Air bags | On certain vehicles, the wiring harness for the air bag occupant detection system in the front passenger seat may have been pinched during production. Pinching of the wiring harness between the floor crossmember and the seat mounting bracket could result in a short circuit. |
| 04V473000 | October 1, 2004 | 2004 | Engine and engine cooling | On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the cover bolts for the engine oil control valve may not be sufficiently tightened, allowing oil to leak from around the cover gasket. |
| 03V047000 | February 20, 2003 | 2003 | Seat belts | Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." The left and right front seat belt buckle/latch assemblies were improperly manufactured. |
| 02V282000 | October 30, 2002 | 2002 to 2003 | Power train | Certain sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions were produced with an improperly manufactured transmission parking rod. When the transmission selector lever is placed in the "p" (park) position, the transmission park mechanism, that is intended to hold your vehicle, may not engage. |
| 99V040000 | March 3, 1999 | 1998 to 1999 | Service brakes, hydraulic | Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles equipped with anti-lock braking system (ABS). (the 1999 2.2 liter legacy vehicles are excluded). This condition causes the vehicle stopping distance to be increased, possibly resulting in a crash. |
NHTSA defect investigations
Investigations are opened when NHTSA sees a possible safety defect, often from complaints like the ones above. PE is a preliminary evaluation, EA an engineering analysis, RQ a recall query into whether an earlier recall went far enough, DP a defect petition and AQ an audit query.
| Number | Opened | Status | Subaru Forester years | Subject | Recall campaign linked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE19009 | August 6, 2019 | Closed January 22, 2020 | 2016 to 2018 | Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure | 19V701000 |
| PE11011 | April 7, 2011 | Closed September 23, 2011 | 2003 to 2008 | Front suspension control arm failure | 11V464000 |
| PE99020 | March 5, 1999 | Closed March 26, 1999 | 1999 | SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATION | No |
How these numbers were counted
Complaints: NHTSA's complaints API for NHTSA model names FORESTER, FORESTER ICE, FORESTER WILDERNESS, FORESTER WILDERNESS ICE, each complaint counted once per model year; hybrid and plug-in versions, which NHTSA files separately, are not included. Recalls: distinct campaign numbers from NHTSA's recalls databasefor the same names and years. Investigations: NHTSA's defect investigation file. All pulled September 28, 2026. These are counts of reports, not failure rates, and they say nothing about any individual car. For that, check the VIN.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Subaru Forester?
NHTSA files the most Forester complaints under visibility/wiper (1,060), the engine (822), air bags (814) and the electrical system (794). Of the 6,493 complaints on file, 857 mention brakes, 853 mention air bags and 492 mention windshield cracks.
What Subaru Forester years should I avoid?
The 2019, 2015 and 2020 model years, with 833, 613 and 600 complaints, all at least twice the 162.5 median for years up to 2021. The 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 are also above twice the median, and no 2022 or newer year has reached that level.
How many recalls does the Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA lists 42 recall campaigns for the 1998 to 2026 Forester, and the 2009 is covered by the most, 18. Recall 19V701000, which followed investigation PE19009, covers the occupant classification air bag sensor on 2015 to 2018 Foresters with heated seats.
Do Subaru Forester windshields crack?
In the NHTSA data, 492 complaints mention windshield cracks, 7.6% of all Forester complaints, with 173 for the 2019, 126 for the 2020 and 64 for the 2018. None of the 42 recall campaigns lists the windshield as its component.