Forest River Forester Problems by Year
NHTSA has 34 owner complaints and 25 safety recalls on file for the Forest River Forester, across 28 model years (1997–2027). The 2016 model year has the most complaints (7). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Forest River Forester years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No Forester model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2016 Forester: 7 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2015 Forester: 6 complaints, 1 recall
- 2014 Forester: 3 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2001 Forester: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 2005 Forester: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 2006 Forester: 1 complaint, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Forest River Forester problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Structure | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Forest River Forester model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Forester | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2026 Forester | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2025 Forester | 1 | 2 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2024 Forester | 1 | 2 | — | Wheels | |
| 2023 Forester | 1 | 4 | — | Wheels | |
| 2022 Forester | 2 | 3 | — | Equipment | |
| 2021 Forester | 2 | 5 | — | Seat Belts | |
| 2020 Forester | 0 | 3 | — | — | |
| 2019 Forester | 1 | 2 | — | Visibility | |
| 2018 Forester | 1 | 3 | — | Structure | |
| 2017 Forester | 2 | 2 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2016 Forester | 7 | 3 | — | Structure | |
| 2015 Forester | 6 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2014 Forester | 3 | 3 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2013 Forester | 0 | 4 | — | — | |
| 2012 Forester | 1 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2011 Forester | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2010 Forester | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2006 Forester | 1 | 1 | — | Tires | |
| 2005 Forester | 1 | 1 | — | Tires | |
| 2004 Forester | 3 | 2 | — | Tires | |
| 2003 Forester | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2002 Forester | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2001 Forester | 1 | 1 | — | Equipment | |
| 2000 Forester | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1999 Forester | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1998 Forester | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1997 Forester | 0 | 1 | — | — |
More from Forest River: all Forest River models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Forest River Forester years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2016 (7), 2015 (6), 2014 (3). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Forest River Forester?
Electrical System, with 9 complaints across 6 model years.
How many recalls does the Forest River Forester have?
25 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.