Subaru Forester recalls and safety
43 recalls · crash ratings 2011-2026 · 6,508 owner complaints
43
recalls
43
recalls
The Subaru Forester has 43 recalls covering 7.53 million vehicles as reported; model year 2010 is covered by the most (18). The 2026 Subaru Forester earned 5 of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Owners filed 303 safety complaints in the 12 months to Sep 2026; visibility/wiper is named most over all years.
Updated Oct 11, 2026 · recalls to Oct 6, 2026
Recalls
43
Most for 2010: 18
Units affected
7.53M
As reported
Overall stars
5 of 5
Model year 2026
Complaints, 12 mo
303
-5.3% vs 12 months before
Do-not-drive
0
None
By model year
Which model years are covered by the most recalls, and which get the most complaints
Recalls by model year
How many recalls cover each model year. Hover a year for the count.
Crash test star ratings
27 rated versions, model years 2001 to 2026
Overall stars by model year
The best and lowest overall rating of the versions tested each year (5 is best).
| Year | Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | SUV · AWD | 17.4% risk | |||
| 2025 | SUV · AWD | 17.4% risk | |||
| 2024 | SUV · AWD | 16.9% risk | |||
| 2023 | SUV · AWD | 16.9% risk | |||
| 2022 | SUV · AWD | 16.9% risk | |||
| 2021 | SUV · AWD | 16.9% risk | |||
| 2020 | SUV · AWD | 16.9% risk | |||
| 2019 | SUV · AWD | 16.9% risk | |||
| 2018 | SUV · AWD | 16.9% risk | |||
| 2017 | SUV · AWD | 16.9% risk | |||
| 2016 | SUV · AWD | 16.9% risk | |||
| 2015 | SUV · AWD | 16.9% risk | |||
| 2014 | SUV · AWD | 16.9% risk | |||
| 2013 | SUV · AWD | 17.9% risk | |||
| 2012 | SUV · AWD | 17.9% risk | |||
| 2011 | SUV · AWD | 17.9% risk |
The 16 newest of 27 rated versions. Download the CSV for all of them, with the safety features.
5 stars is the best. Ratings before model year 2011 used older tests.
Owner complaints
Safety complaints about the Subaru Forester, by the month they were received
Complaints per month
303 in the 12 months to Sep 2026.
Components named most
- Visibility/wiper1,061
- Engine825
- Unknown or other821
- Air bags817
- Electrical system796
- Power train554
- Vehicle speed control532
- Complaints
- 6,508
- Crashes reported
- 552
- Fires reported
- 102
- People injured
- 308
Counts only, as reported by owners and not verified.
Parts recalled
Recalls of the Subaru Forester by component
- Air bags14 · 2.35M units
- Engine and engine cooling5 · 87K units
- Equipment3 · 555K units
- Power train3 · 273K units
- Seat belts3 · 326K units
- Service brakes, hydraulic3 · 883K units
- Electrical system2 · 101K units
- Exterior lighting2 · 1.94M units
Subaru Forester recalls
The 25 newest of 43
Related pages
Questions and answers
Is the 2026 Subaru Forester recalled?
Yes: 3 recalls cover the 2026 Subaru Forester. Check the recall pages below for what is wrong and the free fix; a dealer can tell if a single vehicle still needs the repair.
How many recalls does the Subaru Forester have?
43 recalls cover the Subaru Forester, for 7.53 million vehicles as reported. The most common problem is air bags (14 recalls).
What is the safety rating of the 2026 Subaru Forester?
5 of 5 stars overall (SUV): frontal crash 5, side crash 5 and rollover 4 stars, with a 17.4% chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
What do owners complain about most on the Subaru Forester?
Visibility/wiper: named in 1,061 of the 6,508 safety complaints about the Subaru Forester, then engine (825). One complaint can name several components.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data, updated daily. Models are written as published, so a few versions of one model can be listed under slightly different names.