2023 Subaru Forester problems and recalls

Owners have filed 74 complaints on the 2023 Subaru Forester, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Unknown Or Other (20 complaints).

74
Complaints
1
Recalls
8
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
6
Injuries
94.8
Severity index

Severity index 94.8 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 94.8p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 10 of 86 by severity index among 2023 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 88% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2023 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 20 complaints (27.0%)20 27%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 13 complaints (17.6%)13 18%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 11 complaints (14.9%)11 15%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 8 complaints (10.8%)8 11%Service BrakesService Brakes: 6 complaints (8.1%)6 8%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 6 complaints (8.1%)6 8%Air BagsAir Bags: 6 complaints (8.1%)6 8%Power TrainPower Train: 5 complaints (6.8%)5 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2027.0%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1317.6%
VISIBILITY/WIPER1114.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM810.8%
SERVICE BRAKES68.1%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL68.1%
AIR BAGS68.1%
POWER TRAIN56.8%

Complaints filed per year

014282023: 162024: 282025: 172026: 13 (partial year)2324282526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
202316
202428
202517
2026 (year to date)13

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
23V75400009/11/2023POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.

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 2026-10-06. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.