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2021 Subaru Forester problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2021 Subaru Forester. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 20% of relevant complaints.
Better than 87% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2021 Subaru Forester have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 41 of 207 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Forester concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). For comparison, the 2020 scores 19% and the 2022 scores 18%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Subaru Forester
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Subaru Forester said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 41 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Checking one particular 2021 Subaru Forester? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2021 Subaru Forester have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 41 of 207 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Forester concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2021 Subaru Forester.
Which Subaru Forester years are better?
Among the Subaru Forester years we track, the 2018 (16%), the 2023 (16%) and the 2019 (18%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (20%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2021 Subaru Forester?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2021 Subaru Forester shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.