Reliable Auto DB

2023 Subaru Forester reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2023 Subaru Forester holds 73 complaints after 4 years, a rate of 20 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Forester years here — under the median of the other years, which is 37. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Driveshaft.

2012 Subaru Forester
Photo by TTTNIS, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC0
Complaints

73

Per year

20

Recalls

1

Years on the road

4

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Forward collision avoidance (13 of 73), then Visibility and wipers (11) and Electrical system (7). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 4 that report an injury.

Next to 2022 and 2024

The 2022 Forester has 98 complaints, 23 per year, and the 2024 has 29 complaints, 10 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has more complaints per year than the 2024.

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 2023 Subaru Forester. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Driveshaft 2023-11-09 · NHTSA campaign 23V754000
Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRP-23.

Complaints by component (73 total)

Forward collision avoidance
13
Visibility and wipers
11
Electrical system
7
Air bags
6
Speed control
6
Engine
5
Lane departure
5
Service brakes
5
Exterior lighting
4
Powertrain
4
Seats
3
Structure
3
Suspension
3
Fuel and propulsion system
2
Tires
2
Back-over prevention
1
Engine and engine cooling
1
Seat belts
1
Steering
1
Visibility
1
Show 12 more Show less
Crash-flagged

8

Fire-flagged

4

Injury reports

4

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

162023282024172025122026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I am writing to formally report a critical safety defect regarding the driver-side footwell design in my 2023 Subaru Forester Sport, which poses an immediate and severe risk of a crash. A hard plastic lower extension…"
    Speed control, Unknown or other, Service brakes · filed 2026-08-05
  • "Eyesight collision braking system engaged as I was rolling up my driveway to go into garage. Garage door was rolling up and was about 5 feet off the ground when Anti Collision system engaged and slammed the brakes on. I…"
    Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-07-27
  • "Tires are wearing badly on the inside edge only. Suspension and drive train components make noise during normal operation."
    Suspension, Powertrain · filed 2026-07-19
  • "The contact owned a 2023 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently accelerated, and the Forward Collision Avoidance system was inoperative, causing the…"
    Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-07-10
  • "Vehicle caught fire after oil change. Oil leaked from engine onto catalytic converter and causes catastrophic engine fire"
    Engine · filed 2026-06-10

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2023 Subaru Forester SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness SUV AWD Not rated 5 stars 5 stars Not rated

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
Forester Wilderness all-wheel drive 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S8) All-wheel drive 25 28 26 MPG $2500

Specs and fitment

5th generation (SK), 2019–2024
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 synthetic (2.5L; 5W-30 if 0W-20 unavailable) , 5.1 qt capacity
Tire size 225/60R17, 225/55R18 (trim dependent)
Towing capacity 1,500 lbs

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.

Compare

Previous year 2022 Subaru Forester Next year 2024 Subaru Forester See every Subaru Forester model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2023 Subaru Forester holds 73 complaints after 4 years, a rate of 20 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Forester years here — under the median of the other years, which is 37. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Driveshaft.

What are common problems with a 2023 Subaru Forester?

The complaints owners file most often name Forward collision avoidance (13 of 73), then Visibility and wipers (11) and Electrical system (7). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 4 that report an injury.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2022 Forester has 98 complaints, 23 per year, and the 2024 has 29 complaints, 10 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has more complaints per year than the 2024.

Has the 2023 Subaru Forester been recalled?

The 2023 Subaru Forester has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2023 Subaru Forester?

Owners have filed 73 complaints about the 2023 Subaru Forester with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2023 Subaru Forester get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2023 Subaru Forester is 27.5 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).