The best and worst Subaru Forester years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Subaru Foresters old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2006, 2008, 2013 and 2022 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2015, 2017 and 2019–2020 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2015 Subaru Forester · 35.0 per 10,000 sold (1.8× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 65,000 miles; then stalling and no-start.
2017 Subaru Forester · 32.9 per 10,000 sold (1.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 26,000 miles; then doors, windows, latches, seats and trim.
2019 Subaru Forester · 46.2 per 10,000 sold (2.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Water leaks and seals, typically around 8,500 miles; then doors, windows, latches, seats and trim.
2020 Subaru Forester · 33.8 per 10,000 sold (1.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Water leaks and seals, typically around 5,500 miles; then doors, windows, latches, seats and trim.
Years with the fewest complaints
2006 Subaru Forester · 10.9 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Control arms, ball joints and bushings, typically around 128,000 miles.
2008 Subaru Forester · 7.4 per 10,000 sold (0.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Control arms, ball joints and bushings, typically around 140,000 miles.
2013 Subaru Forester · 6.2 per 10,000 sold (0.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 28,000 miles.
2022 Subaru Forester · 8.5 per 10,000 sold (0.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Driver-assist cameras, radar and calibration, typically around 500 miles.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Subaru Forester year: 20.0 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Subaru Forester?
Among Subaru Foresters old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2019 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 46.2, about 2.3× a typical Subaru Forester year. The 2015, 2017 and 2020 also stand out.
What is the best year for the Subaru Forester?
The 2013 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Subaru Foresters from 2005–2022: 6.2, against 20.0 for a typical year. The 2006, 2008 and 2022 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2019 Subaru Forester?
The most-reported problem on the 2019 Subaru Forester is water leaks and seals, typically around 8,500 miles.
Why aren't the newest Subaru Forester years ranked?
The 2023–2026 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.