2020 Subaru Forester problems and complaints
Owners have filed 602 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Forester. The most-reported areas: Visibility/Wiper (252), Unknown Or Other (107), Electrical System (103).
Key takeaways
- 602 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 26 involve a crash, 9 a fire, 16 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 252 | 42% |
| Unknown Or Other | 107 | 18% |
| Electrical System | 103 | 17% |
| Engine | 81 | 13% |
| Visibility | 49 | 8% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 42 | 7% |
| Power Train | 32 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 | 4% |
| Lane Departure | 22 | 4% |
| Structure | 15 | 2% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 13 | 2% |
| Service Brakes | 13 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Subaru Forester SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-10-14
Experience a total engine stall while stopped/accelerating at an intersection. The stall triggered immediate 'EyeSight Disabled' and 'Engine Oil' dashboard warnings, requiring a manual button restart in traffic. Had concerns of permanently being stalled in intersection. Taking to dealer for inspection.
Electrical System - filed 2026-10-08
Experienced parasitic battery drain which disabled the vehicle. The drain is tied to a 30 amp fuse labeled "BACKUP" under the hood of the vehicle. This fuse controls the touchscreen, backup camera, interior lights, key fob and radio. There were no warning lights or trouble codes associated with this issue. The problem ...
Electrical System,engine,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-09-19
Smoke and fire occurred in the engine and spread into the car while the car was being driven. The car has not been inspected yet.
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More for the 2020 Subaru Forester
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.