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2021 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Subaru Forester do not stand out strongly from 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 →
207Owner 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

2021 Subaru Forester

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 207 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: 76 reports
  • Unknown Or Other: 41 reports
  • Electrical System: 33 reports
  • Engine: 32 reports
  • Forward Collision Avoidance: 17 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
    493
    2018    833
    2019    600
    2020    207
    2021    98
    2022    73
    2023    29
    2024
    Compare all Forester years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Visibility/wiper
    76    Unknown Or Other
    41    Electrical System
    33    Engine
    32    Forward Collision Avoidance
    17
    All reported categories
    Power Train
    14    Visibility
    14    Vehicle Speed Control
    12    Lane Departure
    8    Service Brakes
    7    Fuel/propulsion System
    6    Suspension
    4    Steering
    3    Structure
    3    Air Bags
    2    Back Over Prevention
    2    Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
    1    Exterior Lighting
    1    Seats
    1    Tires
    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

    Limited mileage data: 37 of 207 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

    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 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Electrical System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Engine. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    16 crash reports5 fire reports5 injury reports

    Seats complaints

    1 reports
    Clear category filter
    Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2026
    Electrical SystemEngineSeats

    Car drains battery. 45,000 miles and has had 3 batteries and have been told it needs another. Dealer says start stop switch, requires a battery of 750 CCA and not the Subaru recommend battery. Car will die in traffic and driver seat adjusts to different positions by itself. Told that these problems will never stop unless I g…

    Read full complaint

    Car drains battery. 45,000 miles and has had 3 batteries and have been told it needs another. Dealer says start stop switch, requires a battery of 750 CCA and not the Subaru recommend battery. Car will die in traffic and driver seat adjusts to different positions by itself. Told that these problems will never stop unless I get a higher rated battery than required.

    NHTSA ODI #11714847

    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 →