Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA
The 2021 Subaru Forester has 0 recalls, 199 complaints, and a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.
0
Recalls
199
Complaints
★★★★★
Safety Rating
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 7, 2026
Overall
★★★★★
Front Crash
★★★★★
Side Crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rating for: 2021 Subaru Forester SUV AWD
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | Automatic start/stop fails to turn car on - intermittent. Taken it to Subaru detailer miltiple times... |
| Mar 25, 2026 | ENGINE | While driving the car, the engine stops completely. After a few seconds, it can be restarted. It d... |
| Mar 4, 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | The contact owned a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 4 M... |
| Jan 16, 2026 | ENGINE | On January16,2026 while driving from Houston,TX to Austin TX the vehicle experienced a complete loss... |
| Jan 6, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS,ENGINE | Car drains battery. 45,000 miles and has had 3 batteries and have been told it needs another. Deal... |
| Dec 1, 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Vehicle was delivered with the wrong battery - reserve capacity. The car stalls out in idle positio... |
| Dec 1, 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding repeated, severe, and dangerous malfunctions of th... |
| Oct 29, 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My Subaru has an auto start/stop. I was at a complete stop, making a left-hand turn, and my car comp... |
| Oct 23, 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | The vehicle has experienced four separate engine shutdowns while stopped in traffic. Each time, the ... |
| Sep 20, 2025 | LANE DEPARTURE | I was going down a highway using the lane keeping assistance feature. Suddenly the vehicle stopped f... |
| Sep 17, 2025 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | Unintentional Acceleration - 2 times within 4 days of each incident. 9/17/25 while stopped to pull ... |
| Aug 12, 2025 | SUSPENSION | Issue started with hearing a clunking noise from the front of the car, had the dealer inspect at 37,... |
| Aug 12, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | On 8/12/15, I had stopped at a stoplight. When the light changed and I attempted to move forward wit... |
| Aug 12, 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On August 12, 2025, at approximately 10:16 AM, while driving at normal speed on CR-43 NW southbound ... |
| Aug 12, 2025 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Vehicle began surging during acceleration. Dealer stated that the Engine Intake Valves had carbon de... |
| Aug 12, 2025 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Vehicle unexpectedly brakes for no apparent reason, has almost caused us to be rear ended. Subaru in... |
| Aug 11, 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | After arriving home from a short drive to the grocery store I parked my car in the drive way and wen... |
| Aug 1, 2025 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | driving on [XXX] in NJ on [XXX] at approximately [XXX] my car just stopped in traffic and steering l... |
| Jul 18, 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | We purchased a 2021 Subaru Forester Touring SUV on [XXX] at the El Cajon Subaru dealer and this Ju... |
| Jul 18, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The Thermo Control Valve failed and the engine overheated in April 2025. The car has only been driv... |