Short answer
Among Subaru Forester model years through 2024, 2000, 2001, 2020 and 2021 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2009 and 2010 have the most (17). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Subaru Forester: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 27 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 43
- Fewest recalls
- 2000, 2001, 2020 and 2021 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2009 and 2010 (17)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (48)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2014, 2015, 2016 and 10 more years
Subaru Forester Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 3 | 5 stars | Equipment, Structure, Visibility |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 4 | 5 stars | Child seat, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2024 | 2 | 5 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Power train |
| 2023 | 1 | 5 stars | Power train |
| 2022 | 1 | 5 stars | Power train |
| 2021 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2020 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2019 | 3 | 5 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Steering, Suspension |
| 2018 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2017 | 1 | 5 stars | Air bags |
| 2016 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting |
| 2015 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting |
| 2014 | 2 | 5 stars | Equipment, Exterior lighting |
| 2013 | 12 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2012 | 15 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2011 | 16 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2010 | 17 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2009 | 17 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2008 | 1 | Not rated | Suspension |
| 2007 | 1 | Not rated | Suspension |
| 2006 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Suspension |
| 2005 | 1 | Not rated | Suspension |
| 2004 | 2 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Suspension |
| 2003 | 3 | Not rated | Power train, Seat belts, Suspension |
| 2002 | 1 | Not rated | Power train |
| 2001 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2000 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20263 recalls
- 20254 recalls
- 20242 recalls
- 20231 recall
- 20221 recall
- 20210 recalls
- 20200 recalls
- 20193 recalls
- 20183 recalls
- 20171 recall
- 20163 recalls
- 20153 recalls
- 20142 recalls
- 201312 recalls
- 201215 recalls
- 201116 recalls
- 201017 recalls
- 200917 recalls
- 20081 recall
- 20071 recall
- 20062 recalls
- 20051 recall
- 20042 recalls
- 20033 recalls
- 20021 recall
- 20010 recalls
- 20000 recalls
Subaru Forester: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Subaru Forester recalls are air bags (48), electrical system (10), seat belts (10), service brakes, hydraulic (10) and exterior lighting (7). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 16 of these 27 model years, and 2014, 2015, 2016 and 10 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Subaru Forester Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Subaru Forester?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2000, 2001, 2020 and 2021 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Subaru Forester model years have the most recalls?
2009 and 2010 have the most, with 17 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Forester", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy