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Subaru Forester: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Subaru Forester problems by model year, from 4,916 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2011 (65%, 73 drivetrain complaints), 2013 (53%, 32 drivetrain complaints) and 2012 (46%, 38 drivetrain complaints). 5 of the 14 Subaru Forester years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2023 (16%), 2018 (16%) and 2022 (18%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2010 (25%) to 2011 (65%), up 40 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2015 drew the most drivetrain complaints (226 of 1,116 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Subaru Forester year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Forester | no elevated signal | 25% | 53 | 262 | 7/14 | 17 |
| 2011 Forester | very high | 65% | 73 | 147 | 1/14 | 16 |
| 2012 Forester | high | 46% | 38 | 105 | 3/14 | 15 |
| 2013 Forester | high | 53% | 32 | 77 | 2/14 | 12 |
| 2014 Forester | no elevated signal | 31% | 104 | 403 | 6/14 | 2 |
| 2015 Forester | high | 45% | 226 | 614 | 4/14 | 3 |
| 2016 Forester | elevated | 36% | 113 | 415 | 5/14 | 3 |
| 2017 Forester | no elevated signal | 22% | 90 | 586 | 8/14 | 1 |
| 2018 Forester | no elevated signal | 16% | 64 | 496 | 13/14 | 3 |
| 2019 Forester | no elevated signal | 18% | 145 | 833 | 11/14 | 3 |
| 2020 Forester | no elevated signal | 19% | 112 | 600 | 10/14 | 0 |
| 2021 Forester | no elevated signal | 20% | 41 | 207 | 9/14 | 0 |
| 2022 Forester | no elevated signal | 18% | 15 | 98 | 12/14 | 1 |
| 2023 Forester | no elevated signal | 16% | 10 | 73 | 14/14 | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Subaru Forester years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Subaru Forester engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Subaru Forester involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 28 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2016 | 16V162000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger | 2015–2016 |
| Dec 2019 | 19V856000 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv) | 2019 |
| Jul 2021 | 21V587000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018 |
| Nov 2023 | 23V754000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2023 |
| Nov 2023 | 23V755000 | power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch | 2022 |
23 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2012 | 12V099000 | seat belts: rear/other | 2010–2012 |
| Dec 2012 | 12V602000 | exterior lighting | 2010–2012 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V159000 | equipment | 2014 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V311000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2010–2013 |
| Dec 2014 | 14V830000 | service brakes, hydraulic | 2010–2013 |
| May 2016 | 16V358000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Oct 2016 | 16V738000 | electrical system | 2010–2013 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V014000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V012000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V013000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Jul 2018 | 18V455000 | tires | 2018 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V007000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V008000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V009000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V065000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2019 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V149000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2014–2016 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V297000 | electrical system: ignition: switch | 2010–2013 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V701000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2015–2018 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V001000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V002000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V003000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V263000 | suspension: rear | 2019 |
| Nov 2022 | 22V838000 | seat belts | 2010–2013 |
What the free pages leave out on the Subaru Forester
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Subaru Forester
What are the worst years for the Subaru Forester?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Subaru Forester years are the 2011 (65% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2013 (53% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2012 (46% of relevant complaints, high). 5 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Subaru Forester?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Subaru Forester years are the 2023 (16%), the 2018 (16%) and the 2022 (18%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Subaru Forester have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 1,116 of 4,215 relevant NHTSA complaints (26%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
Is the Subaru Forester reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 5 of 14 Subaru Forester years we score have an elevated complaint share and 9 do not. Pooled across those years, 26% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Subaru Forester?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Subaru Forester years we track, out of 28 in total: 21V587000 (Jul 2021, 2018), 23V754000 (Nov 2023, 2023), 23V755000 (Nov 2023, 2022), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.