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2020 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Forester years

Owner complaints for the 2020 Subaru Forester are substantially higher than the model-year median of 131.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
600Owner complaints

Model-year median: 131

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2020 Subaru Forester

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 600 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Visibility/wiper: 252 reports
  • Unknown Or Other: 107 reports
  • Electrical System: 101 reports
  • Engine: 79 reports
  • Visibility: 49 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    586
    2017    493
    2018    833
    2019    600
    2020    207
    2021    98
    2022    73
    2023
    Compare all Forester years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Visibility/wiper
    252    Unknown Or Other
    107    Electrical System
    101    Engine
    79    Visibility
    49
    All reported categories
    Forward Collision Avoidance
    43    Power Train
    32    Vehicle Speed Control
    24    Lane Departure
    22    Structure
    15    Service Brakes
    13    Fuel/propulsion System
    12    Air Bags
    11    Steering
    11    Engine And Engine Cooling
    4    Seats
    4    Exterior Lighting
    3    Seat Belts
    3    Electronic Stability Control (esc)
    2    Latches/locks/linkages
    2    Tires
    2    Back Over Prevention
    1    Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
    1    Parking Brake
    1    Wheels
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    272 reports with mileage · 328 unknown

    NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

    What to inspect

    Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

    • Visibility/wiper. Review the 252 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Electrical System. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Engine. Review the 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    26 crash reports8 fire reports13 injury reports

    Lane Departure complaints

    22 reports
    Clear category filter
    70 miles · Jan 3, 2021
    Electrical SystemLane Departure

    VEHICLE HAS SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE TPMS THAT LESS THAN A YEAR IN, ONE OF THEM IS SEEMS TO BE GOING OUT. THEE HEAD UNIT (INFOTAINMENT SYS) ALSO HAD CONNECTION ISSUE THAT WAS AWARE AND KNOWN BY SUBURA DEALER REP WHEN CALLED AND AS TO BRING IN FOR MAINTENANCE. BLINDS POT MONITOR ON THE RIGHT HAS TENDENCY TO NOT FLASH OR ALE…

    Read full complaint

    VEHICLE HAS SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE TPMS THAT LESS THAN A YEAR IN, ONE OF THEM IS SEEMS TO BE GOING OUT. THEE HEAD UNIT (INFOTAINMENT SYS) ALSO HAD CONNECTION ISSUE THAT WAS AWARE AND KNOWN BY SUBURA DEALER REP WHEN CALLED AND AS TO BRING IN FOR MAINTENANCE. BLINDS POT MONITOR ON THE RIGHT HAS TENDENCY TO NOT FLASH OR ALERT EVERY SO OFTEN.

    NHTSA ODI #11386233

    1,550 miles · Dec 9, 2020
    Forward Collision AvoidanceLane DepartureVisibility/wiper

    I WAS DRIVING HOME IT WAS DARK AND RAINING. SOMETHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHEN I WOKE UP ON SATURDAY I SAW A BIG CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD

    NHTSA ODI #11378625

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.

    Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems

    Subaru Forester transmission problems →Subaru Forester electrical problems →