What Subaru Forester owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Subaru Forester safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 |
| 2025 | 95 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 177 |
| 2024 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 176 |
| 2023 | 73 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 250 |
| 2022 | 98 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 312 |
| 2021 | 207 | 16 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 362 |
| 2020 | 601 | 26 | 9 | 16 | 0 | 472 |
| 2019 | 833 | 37 | 11 | 21 | 1 | 568 |
| 2018 | 496 | 26 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 405 |
| 2017 | 587 | 40 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 443 |
| 2016 | 415 | 40 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 450 |
| 2015 | 614 | 53 | 7 | 34 | 0 | 497 |
| 2014 | 403 | 48 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 632 |
| 2013 | 77 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 378 |
| 2012 | 105 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 383 |
| 2011 | 147 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 353 |
| 2010 | 262 | 21 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 233 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Subaru Forester complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
We purchased two new Evenflo Revolve 360 convertible car seats in November 2023 (Manufactured September 2023). After only two years of use, the harness straps are frayed almost all the way through. We noticed the issue in December 2025 and reached out to Evenflo in January 2026. The company claims that the fraying is due to "environmental factors." However, we also own two additional Revolve 360 seats for our other child that were purchased in 2022 that have been exposed to the same cars and environments and do not have any fraying or other damage. These car seats are supposed to last for 10 years, so this is not "normal wear and tear." the straps are frayed in the exact same spot on both si…
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with ODS failure. The contact was informed that the ODS needed to be replaced. The manufacturer had covered the cost for the diagnostic test. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V701000 (Air Bags); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The manufacturer offered to help with the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 100.
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while her husband was driving on a road trip at interstate speed with the contact and her daughter inside the vehicle, the vehicle started shaking violently from side to side. The driver pulled over to the side of the road momentarily. The driver resumed driving, and upon accelerating to overtake a vehicle, the engine made an abnormal sound; the vehicle started shaking violently and pulling from side to side and made abnormally loud and rumbling sounds. The driver pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was test driven, and the failure was duplicated. The vehicle was diagnosed with eng…
The passenger seat belt went off when my beagle was jumping around on the front seat and I had made an appointment to bring it into the shop the dealer and the light was off but I had the appointment so I brought it in anyway and now the lights on all the time now and it's coming up on the screen too they just made the whole problem even worse and it did have the initial fix for the harness already but that did not work
At approximately 500 miles from delivery, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure caused by a malfunctioning PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve, which resulted in oil fumes being expelled through the exhaust system. This is a manufacturing/component defect that should not occur in a new vehicle at such low mileage, and I have serious and reasonable concerns that oil contamination may have affected the catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, and/or other emissions and engine components, regardless of whether the PCV valve itself has since been replaced. I want to be clear about the severity of this incident, as it is directly relevant to the safety concerns underlying …
I had made a right turn onto an avenue, then crossed another main avenue that breaks up the first avenue, and attempted to continue onto the original avenue. Suddenly, before I could continue to drive down the avenue and complete the maneuver, the pre-collision breaking system activated (I could see the wording in red on the screen above the steering wheel) and the breaks were triggered by the system thereby completely stopping the car. (phantom breaking). Fortunately, the road ahead was clear (there was nothing on the road, and the weather was perfectly clear) and I was going slow and wearing a seatbelt. Of course my safety was put at risk because (a) I was jerked in my seat and (b) I coul…
The front passenger airbag of my Subaru Forester 2018 is deactivated, I brought my car to the Subaru dealer in white Plains, NY to check because I found out that there was a recall for malfunction of the airbag and I was told that I have to pay for it since the repair was already done, then, I have to pay for the repair ( see the estimated bill) I contacted the Subaru headquarters because I considered unfair, they air bag is still inactive and I am at risk of having an accident. Today I received a message from the DMV to renew my registration and I saw that my car is in a recall for the air bag (NTSA Campaign 21V587000). Please help me to contacting the manufacturer to accept to rereplace …
Within 30k miles, Front passinger control arm bushings required replacement due to bushing failure resulting in uneven tire ware. By 35k miles, the front driver lower control arm also had the same issue effecting steering and uneven tire ware.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
This bulletin announces the service procedures to be followed when encountering instances of water intrusion from the sunroof area. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top center retaining nut area of the front strut mounts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin announces an inspection procedure for the Smart Rear View Mirror Assembly.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) has initiated a non-compliance recall for certain 2026 model year Crosstrek Hybrid vehicles, 2025-2026 model year Forester & Forester Hybrid vehicles, and 2019- 2026 Ascent vehicles due to incorrect information listed on the certification label. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Subaru announcement provides an update to the non-compliance recall WRH-26 Certification label.
This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR580 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
This bulletin announces a design change to the cord assembly that connects the Center Infotainment Display (CID) to the CCU, addressing reports of CID screen flickering.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Service Information Bulletin announces the release of a new diagnostic assistance application for TR690 and TR580 CVT-equipped vehicles. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Bulletin provides updated diagnostic procedures to follow and a brief questionnaire to complete when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS faile
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2026, owners most often name: visibility/wiper, unknown or other, air bags. 5,064 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
