Subaru Forester Structure Problems
Owners have filed 212 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Subaru Forester across 27 model years. The 2014 model year has the most (27). The words owners use most often: “parking space” (6% of reports).
- 212structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 49mention a crash
- 26mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 37%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Parking space: mentioned in 13 of 212 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 135 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 212 complaints, 49 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 26 an injury.
Subaru Forester structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Forester | 2 | 7% | — |
| 2025 Forester | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2024 Forester | 2 | 7% | — |
| 2023 Forester | 3 | 4% | — |
| 2022 Forester | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2021 Forester | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2020 Forester | 15 | 2% | 6,642 |
| 2019 Forester | 25 | 3% | 5,345 |
| 2018 Forester | 14 | 3% | 12,000 |
| 2017 Forester | 15 | 3% | 20,000 |
| 2016 Forester | 11 | 3% | 24,750 |
| 2015 Forester | 20 | 3% | 29,000 |
| 2014 Forester | 27 | 7% | 34,069 |
| 2013 Forester | 4 | 5% | 4,000 |
| 2012 Forester | 5 | 5% | 3,000 |
| 2011 Forester | 8 | 5% | 60,000 |
| 2010 Forester | 7 | 3% | 22,800 |
| 2009 Forester | 2 | 1% | 49,831 |
| 2008 Forester | 1 | 2% | 56,000 |
| 2007 Forester | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2006 Forester | 7 | 8% | 25,000 |
| 2005 Forester | 4 | 4% | 40,800 |
| 2004 Forester | 4 | 2% | 45,102 |
| 2003 Forester | 19 | 10% | 131,679 |
| 2002 Forester | 3 | 3% | 86,656 |
| 2001 Forester | 4 | 3% | 100,000 |
| 1999 Forester | 3 | 2% | 96,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments
Model years: 2026
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester vehicles. These vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect and/or incorrectly oriented rear hatch support bracket which can detach without prior warning.
Risk: A rear hatch support bracket that detaches can allow the rear hatch to fall unexpectedly during use and increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear hatch support brackets and, if necessary, replace the stay and support bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2026. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-25. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 20, 2025.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I opened the hood all the way to add washer fluid. While doing so, the hood came crashing down on my head.
"My 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness is subject to safety recall Campaign 26V346000 for moonroof adhesive failure. A yellow chemical fluid leaked out from the driver's side moonroof seal assembly and ran down the body panel, burning completely through the factory clear coat down to bare metal. While…
Sunroof cracked completely on its own while vehicle was parked. No surface impact, chip, marking or exterior imperfection in the glass was present. There were small air bubbles in the pane mould around the corner where the crack appeared and spread across the pane. Dealership replaced it under…
While driving my grandbaby home I was unable to avoid hitting a deer when it ran into the road. Neither the automatic braking nor the airbags deployed when I hit the deer at the front left side. It destroyed the headlight and damaged the fender and quarterpanel lightly and slightly bent the hood. I…
I was parking at the dentist office in their parking lot going slow, turned into a parking space and thought i was slowly braking but my car lunged forward and hit a tree. I would normally be minimally braking, so I'm not sure what happened but it was sudden. I could have hit the gas pedal but i…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Subaru Foresters have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 212 owner complaints about structure for the Subaru Forester. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Subaru Forester structure?
Yes: 1 safety recall list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Subaru Forester?
The most frequent phrase is “parking space”, in 13 of 212 complaints.
Other Subaru Forester problems
- Visibility/wiper problems (1,061)
- Engine problems (827)
- Air Bags problems (817)
- Electrical System problems (797)
- Power Train problems (556)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (532)
- Suspension problems (415)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (350)
See all Subaru Forester problems.