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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.

About this comparison →
207Owner complaints

Model-year median: 131

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
493
2018833
2019600
2020207
202198
202273
202329
2024
Compare all Forester years →

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

What owners reported most

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

Tires complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2023
Tires

Tire size: P225/60R/17 98T Was driving around a roundabout @ about 25mph. There was a "Bang" and the right front tire went instantly flat. At no time did the vehicle either hit an object on the road or a curb. Vehicle was pulled over immediately. There is no rim damage that might indicate a curb strike. Upon examinatio…

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Tire size: P225/60R/17 98T Was driving around a roundabout @ about 25mph. There was a "Bang" and the right front tire went instantly flat. At no time did the vehicle either hit an object on the road or a curb. Vehicle was pulled over immediately. There is no rim damage that might indicate a curb strike. Upon examination of the tire there is a 2 inch rip in the sidewall of the tire. The tires (4) had been installed on the car @ 20,988 miles. They had been rotated at 27,427 miles. The blowout occurred @ 33,721 miles (12,733 miles from installation. I was told that there is no warranty on the tire(s) since we were not the original owner of the car when they were installed.

NHTSA ODI #11558607

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems

Subaru Forester transmission problems →Subaru Forester electrical problems →