Complaint volume
207 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Subaru Forester Complaints
207 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Subaru Forester, grouped by component category.
207 Total complaints
16 Crash reports
5 Fire reports
5 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are visibility/wiper, unknown or other, electrical system. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 16 crash reports, 5 fire reports, 5 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 37 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 12,910 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to visibility/wiper, unknown or other, electrical system?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Subaru Forester?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Subaru Forester
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Subaru Forester complaints?
16 Crash
5 Fire
5 Injury
0 Fatality
8 Towed
4 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Subaru Forester complaint categories?
VISIBILITY/WIPER 67
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16
VISIBILITY 13
ENGINE 11
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6
POWER TRAIN 5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 4
SUSPENSION 4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3
207 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN VEHICLE WAS 5 WEEKS OLD | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,200 |
| Apr 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT MY FORESTER LUNGED FORWARD EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. ALSO, WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES FEELS AS THOUGH IT WANTS TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TOO HARD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 155 |
| Mar 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHILE PARKED AT WORK, MY WINDOW CRACKED ABOUT 10-12' RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. IT LOOKS LIKE IT FORMED FROM A SMALL PIT IN THE WINDOW. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS MAYBE 5 WEEKS OLD, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE A BUNCH OF THESE SMALL PITS ALL OVER THE WINDOW WHICH COULD BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY FRIEND HAS A 2020 FORESTER THAT HAD THE WINDOW CRACK IN THE SAME FASHION AFTER ABOUT 5 WEEKS OF OWNING THE CAR AS WELL. I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF THE DAMAGE TO THE WINDOW. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,750 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I HAVE OWNED THE CAR ONLY SINCE NOV AND ON MY FIRST ROAD TRIP LAST MONTH THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING HOME TO NEW ORLEANS FROM MOBILE, AL. A COLD FRONT WAS COMING THROUGH AND IT WAS RAINING. WE DROVE FROM A WARMER AIR MASS INTO THE COLDER AIR BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. AT FIRST WE COULD NOT SEE THE CRACK BUT WHEN WE NOTICED THE CRACK IT WAS ALREADY ABOUT 5 INCHES LONG AND BY THE TIME WE COULD STOP TO LOOK AT THE WINDSHIELD IT HAD GROWN TO OVER 18 INCHES LONG.03 | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Feb 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WITH LESS THAT 800 MILES I CAUGHT A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD, SAFELITE REPAIRED THAT CRACK AND FILLED IT, THEN LATER THAT NIGHT WITH NO CARS AROUND ME ANOTHER ROCK HITS THE WINDSHIELD AND IT'S GOT A HUGE CRACK...THE CAR IS A 2021 WITH LESS THAT 800 MILES ON AND IT AND I NEED A NEW WINDSHIELD ALREADY!! I'VE OWNED CARS FOR YEARS AND THIS HASN'T HAPPENED. I FEEL THE GLASS IS DEFECTIVE OR WEAK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 805 |
| Feb 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE CAR IS TWO MONTHS OLD AND THE BATTERY DIED (NOTHING WAS LEFT ON)! | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,252 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I HAVE A 2021 SUBARU FORESTER, BOUGHT IN OCT. 2020. THE VEHICLE WAS PARK IN THE GARAGE. I WENT TO GET INTO THE CAR AND NOTICE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,400 |