2021 Subaru Forester problems and recalls

The 2021 Subaru Forester has no recalls on file. Owners have filed 207 complaints, most often on the Visibility/Wiper.

207
Complaints
0
Recalls
16
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
8
Injuries
71.3
Severity index

Severity index 71.3 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 71.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 26 of 92 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 72% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 76 complaints (36.7%)76 37%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 41 complaints (19.8%)41 20%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 33 complaints (15.9%)33 16%EngineEngine: 32 complaints (15.5%)32 15%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 17 complaints (8.2%)17 8%Power TrainPower Train: 14 complaints (6.8%)14 7%VisibilityVisibility: 14 complaints (6.8%)14 7%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 12 complaints (5.8%)12 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
VISIBILITY/WIPER7636.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4119.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3315.9%
ENGINE3215.5%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE178.2%
POWER TRAIN146.8%
VISIBILITY146.8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL125.8%

Complaints filed per year

029582021: 582022: 492023: 262024: 242025: 372026: 13 (partial year)21582223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
202158
202249
202326
202424
202537
2026 (year to date)13
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2021 to 2022 (87 against 107).

Other Subaru Forester model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.