Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA
The 2020 Subaru Forester has 0 recalls, 602 complaints, and a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.
0
Recalls
602
Complaints
★★★★★
Safety Rating
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated October 23, 2026
Overall
★★★★★
Front Crash
★★★★★
Side Crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rating for: 2020 Subaru Forester SUV AWD
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2026 | ENGINE | Experience a total engine stall while stopped/accelerating at an intersection. The stall triggered i... |
| Sep 14, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Smoke and fire occurred in the engine and spread into the car while the car was being driven. The ca... |
| Sep 4, 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | Component/System Defect: Failed Thermo Control Valve (TCV) leading to sudden vehicle power loss / li... |
| Sep 2, 2026 | ENGINE | Three times within 30 minutes on short drive, the engine stalled at stop sign or stop light. The car... |
| Sep 1, 2026 | ENGINE | Car stalls when it shouldn't i.e. when stopped at traffic light Transmission Control Module (TCM) S... |
| Aug 11, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | While driving my girfriend's 2020 Subaru Forester on August 11, 2026 at approximately 65 to 70 mph, ... |
| Jun 26, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | **Component or System:** Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist System (specifically the Pre-Collision Thrott... |
| Jun 19, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | My 2020 Subaru Forester Sport suffered catastrophic engine failure on 6/19/2026 at 156,322 miles, 15... |
| Jun 16, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The thermo control valve (TCV) failed on my Forester (2020 model year). The failure first manifeste... |
| May 28, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | My car is violently shaking and completely stalling out in intersections when attempting to restart ... |
| May 24, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Experienced parasitic battery drain which disabled the vehicle. The drain is tied to a 30 amp fuse l... |
| May 5, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | I have owned this vehicle since 2019 and the auto start has ALWAYS stalled out when I stop at a ligh... |
| Apr 13, 2026 | ENGINE | Vehicle entered limp mode at highway speed (approximately 70 mph) on [XXX] freeway in Washington Sta... |
| Mar 14, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | My Apple Car Play has never worked since I bought the car new in 2020. The dealership's solution eac... |
| Mar 6, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | stalling/shutting down at stoplights with the auto start-stop feature has occurred continuously for ... |
| Feb 20, 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | This 2020 Subaru Forester has experienced repeated failures involving the Auto Start/Stop system. Wh... |
| Feb 19, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | My son, [XXX] is currently driving this car. The car only has 29,200 miles so far. Last week, while ... |
| Dec 1, 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Since I purchased my Subaru Forester new in 2020, people regularly flash their high beams at me at n... |
| Nov 23, 2025 | ENGINE | While driving my 2020 Subaru Forester at approximately 15 mph, the engine unexpectedly shut off, res... |
| Oct 23, 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving on public roads, all dash warning lights illuminated simultaneously. The instrument cl... |