Subaru Forester Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2019 draws 7.55 complaints per run and the 2012 1.83, a 4.1-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age, so 58.6% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Visibility/wiper, with 1,053 complaints, typically at 1.5 years.

Subaru Forester years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Subaru Forester — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2026	1	14	14	too new
2025	1.71	96	56	too new
2024	1.07	29	27	too new
2023	1.67	72	43	too new
2022	1.8	97	54	too new
2021	2.92	207	71	too new
2020	5.98	598	100	yes
2019	7.55	830	110	yes
2018	4.54	486	107	yes
2017	4.45	574	129	yes
2016	3.42	400	117	yes
2015	4.05	591	146	yes
2014	3.36	383	114	yes
2013	1.85	74	40	yes
2012	1.83	97	53	yes
2011	1.84	138	75	yes
2010	3.34	237	71	yes
2009	2.61	154	59	yes
2008	1.4	42	30	yes
2007	1.78	66	37	yes
2006	1.85	72	39	yes
2005	1.8	81	45	yes
2004	3.44	179	52	yes
2003	3.8	152	40	yes
2002	1.57	66	42	yes
2001	2.14	105	49	yes
2000	1.69	54	32	yes
1999	2.55	102	40	yes
1998	2.09	73	35	yes

ROWS 29·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2019 Forester asks a median $15,995, against $18,499 for a 2020, the next model year: about 14% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.

Among the 12 Subaru Forester years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2019, 2020, 2018; the three worth hunting are 2012, 2011, 2009.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Subaru Forester — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	961	16.5%	covered
1 year	783	29.9%	covered
2 years	666	41.4%	covered
3 years	663	52.8%	you pay
4 years	676	64.4%	you pay
5 years	527	73.4%	you pay
6 years	397	80.2%	you pay
7 years	325	85.8%	you pay
8 years	252	90.1%	you pay
9 years	182	93.3%	you pay
10 years	143	95.7%	you pay
11 years	97	97.4%	you pay
12 years	60	98.4%	you pay
13 years	38	99.1%	you pay
14 years	30	99.6%	you pay
15 years	25	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 41.4% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 58.6% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 21% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Subaru Forester, the early trouble is Visibility/wiper and Unknown Or Other — reported at around 1.5 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Engine at 4.8 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Subaru Forester — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Visibility/wiper	1053	1.5 yrs	—	—
Unknown Or Other	798	3.3 yrs	55	24
Engine	795	4.8 yrs	56	41
Air Bags	790	4.9 yrs	133	7
Electrical System	771	3.8 yrs	25	31
Power Train	507	3.9 yrs	48	3
Vehicle Speed Control	471	3.6 yrs	221	1
Suspension	377	6 yrs	13	1

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Forester's vehicle class. Per production run, the Subaru Outback draws 3.64, the Toyota Land Cruiser 1.49 and the Chevrolet Trailblazer 8.46, against 3.35 for the Forester.

FIG.05·Subaru Forester — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Forester	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Subaru Outback	8,587	159	2005–2026
Toyota Land Cruiser	257	85	1981–2026
Chevrolet Trailblazer	8,447	57	2002–2026
Honda Element	1,308	100	2003–2011
Jeep Liberty	8,880	80	1993–2013
Toyota FJ Cruiser	907	65	2007–2014

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Subaru Forester

Recalls121 campaigns Fuel economy35 mpg best Common problems6,521 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space34 cu ft Used prices11,115 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1998–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Subaru Forester reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 3.35 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Forester years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2019, 2020, 2018. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2012, 2011, 2009. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Forester problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age. The most reported system is Visibility/wiper, typically at 1.5 years, followed by Unknown Or Other.

Will the warranty cover Forester problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 41.4% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 21% of the complaints here.

Is the Forester more reliable than the Subaru Outback?

Yes: 3.35 complaints per production run for the Forester against 3.64 for the Subaru Outback.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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