Subaru Forester Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability Report
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported injuries, and worst problem areas. Data sourced from federal safety databases and updated daily.
Own a Subaru Forester? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Subaru Forester — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Worst Component | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021Best | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | Full report → |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | Full report → |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | Full report → |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | Full report → |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | Full report → |
| 2016Worst | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | Full report → |
Forester Years to Avoid
No strongly problematic years identified in recent data.
Ranked by combined complaints, recalls, and reported injuries.
Best Forester Years to Buy
Subaru Forester Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Subaru Forester Reliability
What year Forester has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Subaru Forester had the highest combined complaint and recall count among recent model years — 0 complaints and 0 safety recalls. See the full 2016 report for details on specific defects.
Is the Subaru Forester reliable?
The Subaru Forester has accumulated 0 owner-filed complaints and 0 safety recalls across recent model years in NHTSA's national database. The 2021 model year stands out as having the fewest reported issues in recent data. Reliability varies significantly by year and individual vehicle history — always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Forester.
What are the most common Forester problems?
Owner complaints for the Subaru Forester commonly cite issues with the engine, transmission, electrical systems, and brakes. Check the year-specific pages above for a detailed breakdown.
How do I check if my Forester has an open recall?
You can check for open recalls on any Subaru Forester using the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with accident history, odometer records, and other key information. Recalls on this page are model-level — a VIN check will confirm whether your specific vehicle's recall was remedied.
Check a Specific Subaru Forester VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, lien status, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Subaru Forester VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily