Subaru Forester years to avoid
Every Subaru Forester model year on file (2012-2026), ranked worst to best by severity index - the share of owner complaints that report a crash, fire, injury or fatality.
2013
Worst year on file
120.3
Severity index
Engine
Most-reported system
2018
Cleanest year on file
Ranked worst to best
| # | Model year | Severity | Complaints | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2013 Subaru Forester | 120.3 High | 77 | Engine |
| 2 | 2012 Subaru Forester | 108.8 High | 105 | Engine |
| 3 | 2025 Subaru Forester | 107.9 High | 90 | Unknown Or Other |
| 4 | 2014 Subaru Forester | 98.4 High | 403 | Suspension |
| 5 | 2023 Subaru Forester | 90.7 High | 73 | Unknown Or Other |
| 6 | 2022 Subaru Forester | 85.8 High | 97 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 7 | 2015 Subaru Forester | 82.3 High | 613 | Engine |
| 8 | 2021 Subaru Forester | 71.3 Medium | 207 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 9 | 2016 Subaru Forester | 71.0 Medium | 411 | Air Bags |
| 10 | 2024 Subaru Forester | 70.5 Medium | 29 | Unknown Or Other |
| 11 | 2017 Subaru Forester | 64.3 Medium | 583 | Air Bags |
| 12 | 2026 Subaru Forester | 53.0 Medium | 15 | Electrical System |
| 13 | 2019 Subaru Forester | 50.5 Medium | 832 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 14 | 2020 Subaru Forester | 49.0 Medium | 596 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 15 | 2018 Subaru Forester | 41.0 Low | 493 | Visibility/Wiper |
A high rank here means a larger share of this year's complaints described a crash, fire or injury - not that the vehicle is unsafe to drive, and not a reliability or repair-cost rating. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold.
Subaru Forester complaints and recalls by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crashes | Fires | Severity | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 105 | 15 | 15 | 5 | 108.8 High | ENGINE |
| 2013 | 77 | 12 | 13 | 2 | 120.3 High | ENGINE |
| 2014 | 403 | 2 | 48 | 3 | 98.4 High | SUSPENSION |
| 2015 | 613 | 3 | 53 | 7 | 82.3 High | ENGINE |
| 2016 | 411 | 3 | 39 | 3 | 71.0 Medium | AIR BAGS |
| 2017 | 583 | 1 | 39 | 1 | 64.3 Medium | AIR BAGS |
| 2018 | 493 | 3 | 26 | 1 | 41.0 Low | VISIBILITY/WIPER |
| 2019 | 832 | 3 | 36 | 11 | 50.5 Medium | VISIBILITY/WIPER |
| 2020 | 596 | 0 | 26 | 8 | 49.0 Medium | VISIBILITY/WIPER |
| 2021 | 207 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 71.3 Medium | VISIBILITY/WIPER |
| 2022 | 97 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 85.8 High | VISIBILITY/WIPER |
| 2023 | 73 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 90.7 High | UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
| 2024 | 29 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 70.5 Medium | UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
| 2025 | 90 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 107.9 High | UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
| 2026 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 53.0 Medium | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold; a high-volume seller will attract more filings than a rare trim.