2021 Subaru Forester reliability
The 2021 Subaru Forester has 207 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 44 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Forester years here — over the median of the other years, which is 28. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
207
44
0
6
The complaints owners file most often name Visibility and wipers (76 of 207), then Electrical system (33) and Engine (32). Those filings include 16 that report a crash, 5 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.
The 2020 Forester has 600 complaints, 136 per year, and the 2022 has 98 complaints, 23 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.
The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Subaru Forester. How we count. Data as of .
Recalls (0)
No recalls on file with NHTSA for this model year.
Complaints by component (207 total)
Show 12 more Show less
16
5
5
0
Complaints filed per year
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
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"The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while trying to roll up vehicle windows from driver sits and passenger sit they would roll up to 3/4th all the way up and they would roll back down after.…"
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"My 2021 Subaru Forester has a recurring, worsening defect in the Idle Stop/Start (ISS) system that creates a stalling hazard. When ISS shuts the engine off at a stop, the engine intermittently fails to restart when I…"
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"Persistent Battery Drain on a 2021 Subaru Forester Limited. Problems began in year 4 of ownership (~17,000 mileage), after Subaru Starlink Subscription services expired. Red (Error) Starlink SOS indicator light was…"
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"Driving along and various system warnings came on, then started losing power, then the engine died and the car was completely dead. Got a jump start and the car ran for a couple of minutes and died again. Had it towed…"
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"2021 Subaru Forester The vehicle has experienced recurring electrical and battery-related issues for several years. The original battery was replaced by the Subaru dealer with a larger-capacity battery because of…"
NHTSA crash ratings
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Subaru Forester SUV AWD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.
Fuel economy
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester all-wheel drive | 2.5L, 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S7) | All-wheel drive | 26 | 33 | 29 MPG | $2250 |
Specs and fitment
Known issues for this generation
NHTSA safety recall 21V263000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles. The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach. Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will retorque and replace any missing bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-21. When NHTSA lists multiple Subaru nameplates in one campaign, the published unit count is shared across them.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2021 Subaru Forester has 207 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 44 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Forester years here — over the median of the other years, which is 28. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
What are common problems with a 2021 Subaru Forester?
The complaints owners file most often name Visibility and wipers (76 of 207), then Electrical system (33) and Engine (32). Those filings include 16 that report a crash, 5 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.
Is the 2021 Subaru Forester more reliable than the years next to it?
The 2020 Forester has 600 complaints, 136 per year, and the 2022 has 98 complaints, 23 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.
Has the 2021 Subaru Forester been recalled?
NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2021 Subaru Forester.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Subaru Forester?
Owners have filed 207 complaints about the 2021 Subaru Forester with NHTSA.
What mpg does a 2021 Subaru Forester get?
EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Subaru Forester is 29 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.
What engine oil does a Subaru Forester use?
0W-20 synthetic (2.5L; 5W-30 if 0W-20 unavailable)
What does NHTSA recall 19V-007 cover on the Subaru Forester?
NHTSA safety recall 19V007000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that subaru of America, Inc.
What generation is the 2013 Subaru Forester?
3rd generation (SH) (2012-2013).