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SUV · Hybrid

Subaru Forester 2019–2026 (SK)

Subaru Forester
Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Price
$24,800–$38,000
MPG
35
  • Strength: Excellent safety
  • Strength: Strong running costs
  • Strength: Strong value retention
  • Watch-out: Below-average driving fun
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How it scores for you10 scores
A supremely safe, standard-AWD family SUV with a roomy, airy cabin, undercut by dull driving, modest towing, and nagging wiper/visibility complaints.
Reliability69

Recalled about half as often as cars of the same model years; 2 of its 12 recalls were serious. About 6% of its owner complaints describe a crash, fire or injury. Based on recalls and serious defect reports — it doesn't capture everyday repairs or problems fixed by warranty extensions. Adjusted +4 points for its wider reputation.

Safety100

5-star overall NHTSA crash rating (frontal 5, side 5, rollover 4).

Running costs76

About $1,900 a year in fuel (EPA estimate) — cheaper to run than about 76% of cars we track.

Cargo & utility61

28.9 cu ft of cargo space — more than about 61% of other SUVs we track.

Passenger space68

Roomy cabin for a compact SUV with generous headroom, legroom and 74.2 cu ft max cargo. Airy greenhouse enhances the sense of space.

Driving fun38

182 hp CVT-driven crossover prioritizes utility over engagement. AWD grip is solid, but modest power and numb dynamics make it functional rather than fun.

Tech50

EyeSight driver assist and standard AWD are competitive, but infotainment and interior tech have lagged rivals. Segment-typical overall.

Comfort58

Compliant ride, upright seating and famously excellent outward visibility make it comfortable and easy to live with, slightly above average.

Value retention70

SUVs and hybrids usually hold their value better than average.

Capability44

Rated to tow 1,500 lb; all- or four-wheel drive available.

Safety & recalls14 recalls
Overall 5/5
Frontal 5/5
Side 5/5
Rollover 4/5

14 recalls · 10 common complaint areas across 2019–2026

  • Visibility/wiper — 349 complaints (2019)
  • Recall — Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments (2026)
  • Visibility/wiper — 238 complaints (2020)

2026

  • RecallStructure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments25V889000

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester vehicles. These vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect and/or incorrectly oriented rear hatch support bracket which can detach without prior warning.

  • RecallVisibility: sun/moon roof assembly26V346000

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester and Forester Hybrid vehicles. The sliding glass panel of the power moonroof assembly may have been improperly bonded to the sliding frame, allowing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.

  • RecallEquipment: other: labels26V436000

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with

  • Complaint clusterVisibility/wiper5 complaintscomplaints:VISIBILITY/WIPER

    I am experiencing a serious visibility defect in my 2026 Subaru Forester. When driving at night with headlights on, a dark curtain or shadow drops down over more than half of the windshield. This occurs consistently and severely reduces forward visibility. It is dangerous and makes it difficult to s

2025

  • RecallWheels25V033000

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2025 Forester vehicles equipped with 18" aluminum alloy wheels. The wheels may have been manufactured with an incorrectly specified lug seat surface, which can result in the wheel being improperly attached and cause a loss of vehicle stability.

  • RecallChild seat25V419000

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2025 Forester vehicles. The child seat anchor bolts may have been improperly tightened, allowing the bolts to come loose.

  • RecallFuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap26V106000

    Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek hybrid, and 2025 Forester hybrid vehicles. When the fuel tank is near full capacity, an increase in ambient temperature may cause the fuel to expand and spill out of the filler neck due to an insufficient seal on the fuel cap.

  • RecallEquipment: other: labels26V436000

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with

  • Complaint clusterUnknown or other18 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Purchased new 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Sport on 01 May 2025 (owned 19 months). Approximately 156 DAYS (a little over 5 months) after purchase we began having trouble with an unknown fuel system defect which prevents the vehicle from being refueled, disables our hybrid system, disables safety feat

  • Complaint clusterVisibility/wiper10 complaintscomplaints:VISIBILITY/WIPER

    Two occurences of rear hatch window shattering spontaneously while vehicle was parked, powered off. No symptoms, warning lamps, or messages were present. First incident, six months after production/purchase, factory-installed window shattered spontaneously while owner was seated in the car, parked

  • Complaint clusterElectrical8 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    I have been having problems with my 2025 Subaru Forester since I purchased it. It has failed multiple times to alert me of people and cars when I am backing up. I have RCTW on my vehicle .Sometimes it alerts me when there is a car or person is coming behind me ,sometimes it doesn't. I have a video

  • Complaint clusterForward collision avoidance8 complaintscomplaints:FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

    While driving wth adaptive cruise set to 50mph I attempted to adjusted the setting for distance between us and rage car in front of us. While the car in front of us was maintains a steady speed our Forester started to slow down dramatically to a near stop; pressing the accelerator had no effect on

  • Complaint clusterExterior lighting8 complaintscomplaints:EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    Significant issues with adaptive headlights having a large shadow in middle of beam as well as two smaller dark shadows at end of beam that are very distracting. It also dims very low at times severely reducing my visibility especially at different grades of the road. The headlights were so bad from

2024

  • RecallEngine and engine cooling23V723000

    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.

  • RecallPowertrain: driveline: driveshaft23V754000

    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.

  • Complaint clusterAirbags7 complaintscomplaints:AIR BAGS

    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 headlight and damaged the fender and quarterpanel lightly and slightly bent the hood. I

  • Complaint clusterUnknown or other7 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    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, which seems very odd. This car was bought brand new in February 2025 and this

2023

  • RecallPowertrain: driveline: driveshaft23V754000

    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.

  • Complaint clusterUnknown or other14 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    This 2023 windshield can easily be chipped. It has more than 10 visible chips/cracks.

  • Complaint clusterVisibility/wiper10 complaintscomplaints:VISIBILITY/WIPER

    Windshield developed a crack during a week with wild temperature swings. There was no incident leading up to the development of the crack that would have caused an initial chip or point of failure. The initial crack appeared during the day where the temperature went from the mid-60s to below freezin

  • Complaint clusterElectrical7 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    This vehicle has died 4 times in one week. when this happens, multiple lights have flashed in the dash board, including the "eye sight" warning. Then, it would not restart but continued to "turn over" when the ignition button was pushed. One instance was on a busy street at a stop light, another at

  • Complaint clusterForward collision avoidance6 complaintscomplaints:FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

    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 front center of the vehicle to crash into five other vehicles while trying to stop t

  • Complaint clusterAirbags6 complaintscomplaints:AIR BAGS

    1. The passenger seat air bag turn on mechanism malfunctions in a 2023 Subaru Forester Limited. The seat mechanism can be tested (and has been tested) upon request. 2. An adult that weighs 104lbs is not detected when in the seat, so the air bag is not turned on. 3. The problem has been reproduced by

2022

  • RecallPowertrain: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch23V755000

    Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.

  • Complaint clusterUnknown or other16 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Back window shattered spontaneously. No known cause. No evidence of vandalism. Temperature did drop 45 degrees over night. Shut side door and back window shattered. Had not started car yet. Rear defroster not engaged.

  • Complaint clusterVisibility/wiper16 complaintscomplaints:VISIBILITY/WIPER

    I was driving along and noticed my windshield was cracked on the passenger side. The crack is vertical from the bottom of the windshield to about halfway up. It was fine the day before. No rocks, etc struck my windshield. I understand that Subaru has had issues with windshields cracking for no reaso

  • Complaint clusterElectrical8 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for a service appointment, the contact was advised that the batter was defective. The contact was informed that the battery was not large enough for the power of the vehicle. The contact was informed

  • Complaint clusterExterior lighting8 complaintscomplaints:EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    When driving my 22 Subaru Forester at night, I’ve noticed the headlight projection has rectangular dark spots which causes a huge distraction and a blind spot that moves when steering. I’ve noticed that I’m not the only person that has encountered this issue. I’m bringing it into the dealership to b

  • Complaint clusterBrakes7 complaintscomplaints:SERVICE BRAKES

    On 8/15/2026 my car's EyeSight system falsely automatically engaged Pre-Collision Braking on a clear road with no cars, obstacles or potholes ahead, on a sunny day, accelerating at 10–15 mph from a traffic light stop. The car was brought to an abrupt stop with no warning beeps from the Eyesight syst

2021

  • Complaint clusterVisibility/wiper69 complaintscomplaints:VISIBILITY/WIPER

    Windshield cracks with the slightest rock hit making the windshield unsafe to continue use. Had two replacements in first six months

  • Complaint clusterElectrical30 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while trying to roll up vehicle windows from driver sits and passenger sit they would roll up to 3/4th all the way up and they would roll back down after. The contact stated this was a recurring event. The dealer was aware of failur

  • Complaint clusterUnknown or other30 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    I am filing this complaint regarding a recurring and dangerous safety issue with my 2021 Subaru Forester. The auto stop/start feature intermittently fails to restart the engine after it shuts off when stopped. When this occurs, multiple dashboard warning lights come on, an alarm sounds, and the veh

  • Complaint clusterEngine15 complaintscomplaints:ENGINE

    While driving the car, the engine stops completely. After a few seconds, it can be restarted. It does this several times a week at random intervals. It's very dangerous since it usually happens when we're driving in traffic. The dealer checked it out in July but couldn't find anything wrong. Ev

  • Complaint clusterPowertrain13 complaintscomplaints:POWER TRAIN

    My 2021 Subaru Forester has a recurring, worsening defect in the Idle Stop/Start (ISS) system that creates a stalling hazard. When ISS shuts the engine off at a stop, the engine intermittently fails to restart when I try to move again. It cranks progressively slower, warning lights illuminate, a con

2020

  • Complaint clusterVisibility/wiper238 complaintscomplaints:VISIBILITY/WIPER

    As I was driving my 2020 Subaru Forester a cracked suddenly appeared across the driver side of the windshield, possibly from a small pebble. The sunlight reflection off the crack sent blinding sunlight into my eyes which nearly caused a collision with the car stopped in front of me. I now have an

  • Complaint clusterElectrical96 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    24th February 2020 - Bought the car from Subaru dealer. Couple of service records prior to May 24, 2022. - May 24, 2022 (9,037 miles) | RO# 806326: The lower oil pan leaked prematurely and had to be completely replaced under warranty. During the same visit, explained LONG BRAKE PEDAL issue, and was

  • Complaint clusterUnknown or other85 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    While driving my girfriend's 2020 Subaru Forester on August 11, 2026 at approximately 65 to 70 mph, I struck a deer on a highway. The airbags deployed immediately, and I temporarily lost all forward visibility due to the airbag deploy, and smoke or steam coming from the front of the vehicle as it de

  • Complaint clusterVisibility49 complaintscomplaints:VISIBILITY

    The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact became aware of a 7-inch crack at the bottom of the windshield near the driver’s side pillar running horizontally. The contact stated that there was no impact on the windshield to cause the cr

  • Complaint clusterPowertrain30 complaintscomplaints:POWER TRAIN

    Component/System Defect: Failed Thermo Control Valve (TCV) leading to sudden vehicle power loss / limp mode. Description of Safety Incident: While operating my vehicle at highway speeds late at night, the Thermo Control Valve (TCV) failed catastrophically without warning. The vehicle instantly expe

2019

  • RecallSteering: electric power assist system19V065000

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Forester and Crosstrek vehicles. A connector inside the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.

  • RecallEngine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)19V856000

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.

  • RecallSuspension: rear21V263000

    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.

  • Complaint clusterVisibility/wiper349 complaintscomplaints:VISIBILITY/WIPER

    I started my car and turned on the windshield wipers and fluid to clear the windshield. Within a few seconds of wiping the windshield, I heard a pop and a crack directly down the center of the windshield starting at the top developed along the line of the eyesight system and rearview mirror mount.

  • Complaint clusterUnknown or other119 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Car swirving as if someone grabbed the steering and pulled right left quickly when applying breaks. First incident happened on interstate which nearly caused an accident. Carriage makes a “clunk” sound when moving forward or backwards and you feel the cabin continue in motion when first stopping. W

  • Complaint clusterElectrical117 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    We have replaced the battery twice and likely will need a third battery soon. I have learned that there is a known issue with the DCM trying to connect using 3G. This is causing a parasitic drain on the battery. The vehicle will fail to start. This has occurred many times over the last few years. W

  • Complaint clusterEngine55 complaintscomplaints:ENGINE

    Engine lost power and was misfiring while many warning symbols appeared on the dash. There was a divider separating the lanes. The car coasted to almost to a stop, but the engine chugged enough to slowly turn left at the first opening in the divider and just barely made it off the main road. The eng

  • Complaint clusterPowertrain38 complaintscomplaints:POWER TRAIN

    The electrical system fails, and the battery is not charging sufficiently. When the auto start/stop engages, the car does not restart in traffic. Requested a battery test at the dealership in May 2025; was told it could not be done that day because it would require leaving the dealer service shop. E

Cost to own$18,200 / 5 yr

MSRP, new

$24,800–$38,000

Estimated used price, by model year

2026$35,300–$38,000
2025$26,600–$31,200
2024$23,600–$27,700
2023$21,000–$24,600
2022$18,500–$21,700
2021$16,300–$19,100
2020$14,200–$16,600
2019$12,200–$14,400

$1,900/yr

EPA estimate, combined fuel cost per year.

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Specs
MSRPNew $24,800–$38,000
Efficiency35 MPG
Seats5
DrivetrainAWD
PowertrainHybrid

City MPG

35

Highway MPG

34

Combined MPG

35

Horsepower

182 hp

Doors

4

Length

182.3 in

Width

71.7 in

Height

68.1 in

Wheelbase

105.1 in

Curb weight

3,459 lb

Cargo volume

28.9 cu ft

Cargo (seats folded)

74.2 cu ft

Towing capacity

1,500 lbs

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