Reliability & cost of ownership
Subaru Forester Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Subaru Forester? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Subaru Forester problems by model year
117 recall entries and 6,537 owner complaints on file across 29 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Subaru Forester, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- visibility/wiper1,062 complaints
- engine832 complaints
- unknown or other825 complaints
- air bags820 complaints
- electrical system805 complaints
- power train559 complaints
- vehicle speed control531 complaints
- suspension412 complaints