2021 Subaru Forester: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 267 complaints
267
Total Complaints
8,250mi
Median Mileage
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Top Issue
28
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

3,234 25th Percentile
8,250 Median Mileage
21,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
76
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
38
ENGINE
28
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
27
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
13
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
13
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
11
POWER TRAIN
11
SERVICE BRAKES
7
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
6

Severity Assessment

28
Crashes
7
Fires
18
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I HAVE A 2021 SUBARU FORESTER, BOUGHT IN OCT. 2020. THE VEHICLE WAS PARK IN THE GARAGE. I WENT TO GET INTO THE CAR AND NOTICE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON."
"THE CAR IS TWO MONTHS OLD AND THE BATTERY DIED (NOTHING WAS LEFT ON)!"
"WITH LESS THAT 800 MILES I CAUGHT A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD, SAFELITE REPAIRED THAT CRACK AND FILLED IT, THEN LATER THAT NIGHT WITH NO CARS AROUND ME ANOTHER ROCK HITS THE WINDSHIELD AND IT'S GOT A HUGE CRACK...THE CAR IS A 2021 WITH LESS THAT 800 MILES ON AND IT AND I NEED A NEW WINDSHIELD ALREADY!!..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28