Reliable Auto DB

2024 Subaru Forester reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2024 Subaru Forester has 29 complaints with NHTSA after 3 years, or 10 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 2 recalls on file, including Driveshaft and Engine and engine cooling.

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

29

Per year

10

Recalls

2

Years on the road

3

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (7 of 29), then Visibility and wipers (5) and Forward collision avoidance (4). The most filings arrived in 2024 (13 of 29). Those filings include 4 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2023 and 2025

The 2023 Forester has 73 complaints, 20 per year, and the 2025 has 93 complaints, 47 per year. The 2024 has fewer complaints per year than the 2023.

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 2024 Subaru Forester. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

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.
Recall Engine and engine cooling 2023-10-26 · NHTSA campaign 23V723000
Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.
Remedy Subaru’s independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts. The affected vehicles have not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners and therefore, no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRO-23.

Complaints by component (29 total)

Air bags
7
Visibility and wipers
5
Forward collision avoidance
4
Exterior lighting
2
Structure
2
Back-over prevention
1
Electrical system
1
Engine
1
Lane departure
1
Service brakes
1
Speed control
1
Steering
1
Tires
1
Show 5 more Show less
Crash-flagged

4

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

13202410202562026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "While driving my grandbaby home I was unable to avoid hitting a deer when it ran into the road. Neither the automatic braking nor the airbags deployed when I hit the deer at the front left side. It destroyed the…"
    Air bags, Structure, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-08-15
  • "I am writing to formally request that the NTSB investigate an apparent defect in the EyeSight driver assistance system installed on the 2024 Subaru Forester. I have experienced repeated instances of unreliable and…"
    Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-04-23
  • "Windshield cracks/chips very easily even when nothing has touched it. I have had 4 cracks in less than 6 months with no reason as to why they are occurring and they are ALL on the driver side, NOTHING on passenger side,…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-04-23
  • "4 Subarus and this is my 5th spontainious windshield crack (2nd on this vehicle)."
    Visibility and wipers · filed 2026-02-05
  • "On the morning of December 13, 2026, an incident occurred involving our 2024 Subaru Forester. While attempting to make a right-hand turn, the vehicle failed to decelerate as expected and subsequently struck a utility…"
    Air bags, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-01-16

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2024 Subaru Forester SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2024 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-S8) 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 2023 Subaru Forester Next year 2025 Subaru Forester See every Subaru Forester model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2024 Subaru Forester reliable?

The 2024 Subaru Forester has 29 complaints with NHTSA after 3 years, or 10 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 2 recalls on file, including Driveshaft and Engine and engine cooling.

What are common problems with a 2024 Subaru Forester?

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (7 of 29), then Visibility and wipers (5) and Forward collision avoidance (4). The most filings arrived in 2024 (13 of 29). Those filings include 4 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2024 Subaru Forester more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2023 Forester has 73 complaints, 20 per year, and the 2025 has 93 complaints, 47 per year. The 2024 has fewer complaints per year than the 2023.

Has the 2024 Subaru Forester been recalled?

The 2024 Subaru Forester has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2024 Subaru Forester?

Owners have filed 29 complaints about the 2024 Subaru Forester with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2024 Subaru Forester get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2024 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).