Subaru Forester recalls & problems by year
117 recalls and 6,531 owner complaints across 29 model years (1998–2026).
Most complaints2019834 complaints
Most recalls200918 recalls
Crashes reported555in owner complaints
Injuries reported3119 deaths
| Year | NHTSA stars | EPA mpg | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5★ | 26–29 mpg | 4 | 34 |
| 2025 | 5★ | 26–29 mpg | 3 | 99 |
| 2024 | 5★ | 26–29 mpg | 2 | 31 |
| 2023 | 5★ | 26–29 mpg | 1 | 74 |
| 2022 | 5★ | 26–29 mpg | 1 | 100 |
| 2021 | 5★ | 29 mpg | 0 | 212 |
| 2020 | 5★ | 29 mpg | 0 | 604 |
| 2019 | 5★ | 29 mpg | 3 | 834 |
| 2018 | 5★ | 24–28 mpg | 3 | 498 |
| 2017 | 5★ | 24–28 mpg | 1 | 592 |
| 2016 | 5★ | 25–27 mpg | 3 | 416 |
| 2015 | 5★ | 25–27 mpg | 3 | 616 |
| 2014 | 5★ | 24–27 mpg | 2 | 403 |
| 2013 | 4★ | 21–23 mpg | 12 | 78 |
| 2012 | 4★ | 21–23 mpg | 15 | 106 |
| 2011 | 4★ | 21–23 mpg | 16 | 147 |
| 2010 | — | 21–22 mpg | 17 | 262 |
| 2009 | — | 21–22 mpg | 18 | 178 |
| 2008 | — | 20–22 mpg | 1 | 50 |
| 2007 | — | 20–22 mpg | 1 | 74 |
| 2006 | — | 20–22 mpg | 2 | 88 |
| 2005 | — | 19–23 mpg | 1 | 93 |
| 2004 | — | 18–21 mpg | 2 | 219 |
| 2003 | — | 21 mpg | 3 | 189 |
| 2002 | — | 21 mpg | 1 | 88 |
| 2001 | — | 21 mpg | 0 | 139 |
| 2000 | — | 21 mpg | 0 | 75 |
| 1999 | — | 20–21 mpg | 1 | 131 |
| 1998 | — | 20–21 mpg | 1 | 101 |
Crash, fire, injury and death figures are what owners reported in their complaints; NHTSA does not verify them. A year with more complaints is not necessarily worse: newer and best-selling years collect more reports.
Most-reported problem areas, all years
- Visibility/wiper — 1,062 complaints
- Air bags — 919 complaints
- Engine — 830 complaints
- Unknown or other — 824 complaints
- Electrical system — 806 complaints
- Power train — 572 complaints
- Vehicle speed control — 534 complaints
- Suspension — 421 complaints