2023 Subaru Forester Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Forester years
- Fewer complaints than other years 25th of 29 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Subaru Forester. That ranks 25th out of 29 Forester model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is unknown or other (20 complaints, 27%). Complaints mention 8 crashes, 4 fires, 6 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 74owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 8complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2023 Subaru Forester problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown or Other | 20 | 27% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 13 | 18% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 11 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 8% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 8% | 6,750 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 7% | 200 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 5 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 7% | 11,426 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1% | 11,426 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 1% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 1,999 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2023 Subaru Forester recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Problem: 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 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRP-23.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Transmission slipped, stranded me in the middle of a road XXX. Stopped wouldnât go. Started locking down in reverse 1 month after I purchased the vehicle. XXX, my husband was backing down a road that had no turnaround. The RAB locked down, slammed so hard, the car slid six feet and the motor shut…
I am writing to formally report a critical safety defect regarding the driver-side footwell design in my 2023 Subaru Forester Sport, which poses an immediate and severe risk of a crash. A hard plastic lower extension for the HVAC air duct sits dangerously low directly above the brake and…
Eyesight collision braking system engaged as I was rolling up my driveway to go into garage. Garage door was rolling up and was about 5 feet off the ground when Anti Collision system engaged and slammed the brakes on. I was going under 1 mph and would not have hit the door. It beeped right before…
Tires are wearing badly on the inside edge only. Suspension and drive train components make noise during normal operation.
The contact owned a 2023 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently accelerated, and the Forward Collision Avoidance system was inoperative, causing the front center of the vehicle to crash into five other vehicles while trying to stop…
Other Subaru Forester years
← 2022 Forester · 2024 Forester →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Forester | 28 | 3 |
| 2025 Forester | 97 | 3 |
| 2024 Forester | 30 | 2 |
| 2023 | 74 | 1 |
| 2022 Forester | 98 | 1 |
| 2021 Forester | 210 | 0 |
| 2020 Forester | 603 | 0 |
| 2019 Forester | 834 | 3 |
| 2018 Forester | 498 | 3 |
| 2017 Forester | 590 | 1 |
| 2016 Forester | 415 | 3 |
| 2015 Forester | 615 | 3 |
| 2014 Forester | 403 | 2 |
| 2013 Forester | 78 | 12 |
| 2012 Forester | 105 | 15 |
| 2011 Forester | 147 | 16 |
| 2010 Forester | 262 | 17 |
| 2009 Forester | 178 | 17 |
| 2008 Forester | 50 | 1 |
| 2007 Forester | 74 | 1 |
| 2006 Forester | 88 | 2 |
| 2005 Forester | 93 | 1 |
| 2004 Forester | 219 | 2 |
| 2003 Forester | 189 | 3 |
| 2002 Forester | 88 | 1 |
| 2001 Forester | 139 | 0 |
| 2000 Forester | 75 | 0 |
| 1999 Forester | 131 | 1 |
| 1998 Forester | 101 | 1 |
See all Subaru Forester problems by year, every Subaru model, or the Subaru VIN decoder.
Similar Subaru models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Subaru Forester?
Owners most often report unknown or other, forward collision avoidance, visibility/wiper problems. The top one, unknown or other, accounts for 20 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2023 Subaru Forester?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2023 Subaru Forester a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Forester model years, the 2023 has fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.