Cars › Subaru › Forester › 2023
2023 Subaru Forester problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2023 Subaru Forester. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 16% of relevant complaints.
Better than 92% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 11 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 14%).
Does the 2023 Subaru Forester have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 10 of 62 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Subaru Forester concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (16%). For comparison, 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 2023 Subaru Forester
- 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 10 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Subaru Forester?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 Subaru Forester involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2023 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 2023 Subaru Forester have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 10 of 62 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Subaru Forester concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (16%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Subaru Forester?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 Subaru Forester involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 23V754000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Subaru Forester years are better?
The 2023 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Subaru Forester years we track (16%). The other years run higher.
Should I buy a 2023 Subaru Forester?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2023 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. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.