2023 Subaru Forester Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2023 Subaru Forester. Part of Generation 5 — 2019–2024.

20222024
Complaints
100
Crashes
10
Fires
6
Injuries
6
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1

Worst 2023 Subaru Forester Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#111 complaints

Wipers & Visibility

#27 complaints

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking

Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#36 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:9,000 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2023 Subaru Forester.

Wipers & Visibility
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
9,000
Electrical Faults
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Lane Departure: Assist
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Lane Departure: Warning
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Adas:Blindspot:Software
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Interior Panels:Dashboard
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2023 Subaru Forester. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2023 Subaru Forester

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~4,701 vehicles.

23V754000Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
~4,701 affected

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.

Other Subaru Forester Years

19981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026

2023 Subaru Forester — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2023 Subaru Forester reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2023 Subaru Forester has 100 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Wipers & Visibility with 11 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2023 Subaru Forester?
Top reported problems: Wipers & Visibility (11 complaints); Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking (7 complaints); Airbags (6 complaints, avg 9,000 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2023 Subaru Forester?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 9,000 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2023 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Subaru Forester include 10 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2023 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 4,701 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2023 Subaru Forester?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Subaru Forester reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2023 Subaru Forester

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