Worst years for a Subaru Forester
Owners have filed 8,735 complaints about the Subaru Forester with NHTSA across model years 1998 to 2026. More of them are about the windows, mirrors & wipers than anything else.
Every Subaru Forester year, graded
The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.
| Year | Grade | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Median miles | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | A | 28 | 0 | 0 | — | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| 2025 | D | 129 | 18 | 2 | 2,700 | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| 2024 | C | 41 | 7 | 3 | — | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| 2023 | C | 111 | 11 | 7 | 9,000 | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| 2022 | C | 144 | 11 | 10 | 4,500 | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| 2021 | D | 285 | 28 | 10 | 8,500 | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
| 2020 | F | 813 | 46 | 13 | 6,000 | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
| 2019 | F | 1,088 | 67 | 26 | 8,800 | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
| 2018 | F | 679 | 53 | 1 | 14,771 | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
| 2017 | F | 801 | 66 | 1 | 30,000 | Airbags |
| 2016 | F | 622 | 77 | 6 | 39,000 | Airbags |
| 2015 | F | 897 | 92 | 12 | 42,625 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2014 | F | 576 | 84 | 6 | 50,000 | Suspension |
| 2013 | C | 94 | 17 | 3 | 47,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2012 | C | 140 | 22 | 5 | 45,702 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2011 | C | 195 | 41 | 7 | 54,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2010 | C | 307 | 29 | 8 | 60,000 | Seats |
| 2009 | C | 228 | 25 | 8 | 60,000 | Airbags |
| 2008 | C | 67 | 8 | 6 | 87,950 | Suspension |
| 2007 | C | 89 | 16 | 1 | 59,187 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2006 | C | 121 | 20 | 10 | 51,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2005 | C | 105 | 23 | 1 | 80,115 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2004 | C | 270 | 19 | 4 | 96,500 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2003 | C | 238 | 28 | 0 | 85,000 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2002 | C | 109 | 29 | 1 | 93,000 | Acceleration & Cruise Control |
| 2001 | C | 169 | 39 | 0 | 60,000 | Acceleration & Cruise Control |
| 2000 | B | 95 | 7 | 0 | 80,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 1999 | B | 156 | 6 | 1 | 72,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 1998 | B | 138 | 9 | 5 | 98,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
What breaks on a Subaru Forester
Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.
Exactly what failed on a Subaru Forester
The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.
Complaints filed over time
Every complaint about every Subaru Forester, by the month it reached NHTSA.
Subaru Forester problems by state
Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.
Compare the Subaru Forester
Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.