MODELYEARINDEX

Which Subaru Forester years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2019, 2020 and 2015 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Subaru Forester Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2019 vs model median 2.7×
Model median3× median
Lights & Visibility 399
Electrical 98
Engine 63
Avoid

2019 · 2020

Best

2012 · 2013

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.35× 93 B
2011
0.41× 70 B
2012
0.25× 59 B
2013
0.16× 35 B
2014
0.85× 198 B
2015
1.67× 428 D
2016
1.13× 298 C
2017
1.58× 496 C
2018
1.49× 457 C
2019
2.67× 872 F
2020
2.21× 713 D
2021
0.87× 246 B
2022 P
0.48× 137 A
2023 P
0.38× 111 A
2024 P
0.14× 38 A
2025 P
0.48× 121 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2019 F 872 reports · median 8,793 mi

  1. Lights & Visibility 399

    I AM here to report my 2019 subaru forrester windshield crack. I the car is only 1 month old and we found the crack in the morning while sitting in the driveway I heard the same problem happens on 2015 outback I called… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 98

    Rear gate door would not open whether using keyless fob, rear gate door button or dash button. Had to have car battery disconnected for a short period of time and then reconnected it to get the rear gate door to work. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 63

    In an accident involving front end to other car rear end on an interstate highway, the airbag system didn't deploy. The engine then caught fire in the right front of the engine. The entire car burned. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

46 crash · 17 fire · 21 injuries

2020 D 713 reports · median 6,000 mi

  1. Lights & Visibility 300

    We very recently purchased this 2020 forester....less than 1000 miles. The vehicle was parked in my driveway and when we got in it the next morning the windshield had a small crack in it! owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Driver Assist 72

    I leased my 2020 forester end of march and memorial day drove to my sister's house 20 miles away. It rained as soon as I left my house. When it was raining on me all the safety features stopped working! owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 69

    When driving the driver heated seat puts out low heat even if the switch is in the off position. At 15 minutes sitting, heat can be felt on the buttocks skin and caused minor skin burn at around 30 minutes. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

41 crash · 11 fire · 35 injuries

The best year for the Forester

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2013 is the best-scoring Forester model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 81 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2013 0.16× 35 B
2012 0.25× 59 B
2021 0.87× 246 B

Recalls

32 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
19V149000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH 2014–2016 1,303,530
12V602000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2010–2012 633,842
26V436000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS 2025 541,237
14V311000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS 2010–2013 461,338
19V009000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2013 452,630
21V263000 SUSPENSION:REAR 2019 408,271
19V701000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION 2015–2018 366,282
19V008000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2013 330,120
12V099000 SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER 2010–2012 326,014
16V358000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 302,127
20V001000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2013 258,813
14V830000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2010–2013 200,064

+ 20 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2019 were reported at a median of 8,793 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Subaru Forester years should you avoid?
2019, 2020, 2015 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Subaru Forester model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Subaru Forester?
2013 is the best-scoring Subaru Forester model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 81 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Subaru Forester have?
32 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Subaru Forester model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2019 Forester
Complaints in window
872
Severity-weighted
1,145
Model median (weighted)
428
vs model median
2.67×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
3
Open investigations
0
Score 25.6 F