Subaru Forester problems, recalls & best years
The deets on every Forester from 1998 to 2026: 6,502 owner complaints and 115 recalls across 29 model years.
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2019 (833), 2015 (615), 2020 (602). Best fuel economy: 29 mpg combined (2026).
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Problem areas across all years
Year by year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Best mpg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 | 101 | 21 | |
| 1999 | 1 | 131 | 21 | |
| 2000 | 0 | 75 | 21 | |
| 2001 | 0 | 139 | 21 | |
| 2002 | 1 | 88 | 21 | |
| 2003 | 3 | 189 | 21 | |
| 2004 | 2 | 219 | 21 | |
| 2005 | 1 | 93 | 23 | |
| 2006 | 2 | 88 | 22 | |
| 2007 | 1 | 74 | 22 | |
| 2008 | 1 | 50 | 22 | |
| 2009 | 17 | 178 | 22 | |
| 2010 | 17 | 262 | 22 | |
| 2011 | 16 | 147 | 23 | |
| 2012 | 15 | 105 | 23 | |
| 2013 | 12 | 77 | 23 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 403 | 27 | |
| 2015 | 3 | 615 | 27 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 415 | 27 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 588 | 28 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 498 | 28 | |
| 2019 | 3 | 833 | 29 | |
| 2020 | 0 | 602 | 29 | |
| 2021 | 0 | 209 | 29 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 98 | 29 | |
| 2023 | 1 | 74 | 29 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 29 | 29 | |
| 2025 | 3 | 97 | 29 | |
| 2026 | 3 | 25 | 29 |
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Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the Subaru Forester.
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FAQ
What is the worst year for the Subaru Forester?
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2019 (833), 2015 (615), 2020 (602).
How many recalls has the Subaru Forester had?
Across 1998–2026, NHTSA lists 115 vehicle recall campaigns by model year (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year).