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NHTSA Safety Recalls

Subaru Forester Recalls by Year

NHTSA's files hold 41 recall campaigns for the Subaru Forester, across 22 model years from 2002 to 2025. The 2009 has the most (18); the fewest among years with a recall is 2023 (1).

Subaru Forester years to avoid by our method: 2015 (2.8× the median year), 2016 (2.4× the median year), 2017 (4.0× the median year), 2018 (4.2× the median year), 2019 (9.2× the median year), 2020 (8.8× the median year) and 2021 (2.4× the median year).

Model years
22

2002–2025, with a recall

Recall campaigns
41
Most recalls
2009

18 recalls

Owner complaints
6,290

all model years, NHTSA

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Owners have filed 6,290 complaints with NHTSA about the Subaru Forester across 27 model years; the most, 834, concern the 2019.

Owners marked a crash on 542 of the Subaru Forester complaints (9%) and a fire on 97.

Across all Subaru Forester model years, owners name the visibility/wiper most often (at least 991 complaints), then the engine (795).

NHTSA received the most complaints about the Subaru Forester in 2019: 818, across all model years.

The component recalled most often on the Subaru Forester is air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module, in 43 model-year listings.

The newest Subaru Forester recall, 26V436000, was reported on July 7, 2026 and concerns the equipment: other: labels.

NHTSA's recall file lists no recall for the 2020 and 2021 Subaru Forester, model years owners have filed complaints about.

Subaru Forester years to avoid

The 2019 Subaru Forester stands out most: 641 complaints between 2018 and 2022, 44% of them naming the visibility/wiper.

The 2019 also carries 3 recalls, against a median of 2 for the ranked Subaru Forester years.

The best-measured Subaru Forester years are 2008 (0.2×), 2005 (0.2×) and 2013 (0.3×).

The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method

Recalls and complaints by model year

NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the Subaru Forester, by model year
YearRecallsComplaintsFirst yearsvs median year
2026030—not ranked
2025398—not ranked
2024231—not ranked
2023174—not ranked
2022110083
1.0×
2021avoid0211157
2.4×
2020avoid0603492
8.8×
2019avoid3834641
9.2×
2018avoid3498291
4.2×
2017avoid1592296
4.0×
2016avoid3416169
2.4×
2015avoid3615194
2.8×
20142403109
1.5×
2013127824
0.3×
20121510535
0.6×
20111614737
0.6×
20101726260
1.0×
20091817844
1.1×
200815010
0.2×
200717424
0.3×
200628832
0.5×
200519314
0.2×
2004221922
0.3×
2003318945
0.7×
200218847
0.6×

First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Subaru Forester years without a link have no recall page on this site.

What gets recalled most on the Subaru Forester

  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE43
  • SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM6
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH5
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
  • SEAT BELTS5
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC5
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS5
  • AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION4
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING4
  • SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER4

Subaru Forester model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.

Every Subaru Forester recall campaign (41)

NHTSA recall campaigns covering the Subaru Forester, newest first
CampaignComponentYearsRisk namedVehicles
26V436000July 7, 2026equipment: other: labels2025crash541,237
25V419000June 19, 2025child seat2025crash and injury2,938
25V033000January 23, 2025wheels2025crash20,366
23V754000November 9, 2023power train: driveline: driveshaft2023–2024crash4,701
23V755000November 9, 2023power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch2022crash95,830
23V723000October 26, 2023engine and engine cooling2024fire49
22V838000November 10, 2022seat belts2009–2013crash and injury16
21V587000July 29, 2021fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump2018crash175,968
21V263000April 15, 2021suspension: rear2019crash408,271
20V001000January 2, 2020air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009–2013injury and death258,813
20V002000January 2, 2020air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009–2013injury and death127,547
20V003000January 2, 2020air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009–2013injury and death111,562
19V856000December 2, 2019engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)2019crash51,613
19V701000October 3, 2019air bags: sensor: occupant classification2015–2018crash and injury366,282
19V297000April 11, 2019electrical system: ignition: switch2009–2013crash and injury511
19V149000February 28, 2019exterior lighting: brake lights: switch2014–2016crash1,303,530
19V065000February 6, 2019steering: electric power assist system2019crash10,417
19V007000January 9, 2019air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2010–2013injury and death43,394
19V008000January 9, 2019air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2010–2013injury and death330,120
19V009000January 9, 2019air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2010–2013injury and death452,630
18V455000July 10, 2018tires2018crash3,654
18V012000January 9, 2018air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009–2013injury and death64,179
18V013000January 9, 2018air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009–2010injury and death93,209
18V014000January 9, 2018air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009injury and death72,150
17V026000January 11, 2017air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009injury and death69,529
17V014000January 10, 2017air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009–2012injury and death53,480
16V738000October 13, 2016electrical system2009–2013fire100,127
16V358000May 25, 2016air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2009–2011injury and death302,127
16V162000March 21, 2016engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger2015–2016crash18,187
14V830000December 31, 2014service brakes, hydraulic2009–2013crash200,064
14V311000June 10, 2014service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2009–2013crash461,338
13V159000April 24, 2013equipment2014crash10,137
12V602000December 26, 2012exterior lighting2009–2012fire633,842
12V099000March 13, 2012seat belts: rear/other2009–2012crash and injury326,014
11V464000September 6, 2011suspension: front: control arm: lower arm2003–2008crash318,215
08V460000September 11, 2008engine and engine cooling: engine2009fire16,715
07V043000February 12, 2007air bags: frontal2006crash, fire and injury7,004
04V473000October 1, 2004engine and engine cooling2004fire26
03V047000February 20, 2003seat belts: front: buckle assembly2003crash and injury326
02V282000October 30, 2002power train: automatic transmission2002–2003crash172,564
09E011000equipment2009crash—

Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Subaru Forester. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.

Check your VIN on NHTSACall NHTSA 1-888-327-4236

Newest record on this page: October 22, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted

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