2021 Subaru Forester problems and complaints
Owners have filed 207 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Forester. The most-reported areas: Visibility/Wiper (76), Unknown Or Other (41), Electrical System (33).
Key takeaways
- 207 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 16 involve a crash, 5 a fire, 8 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 76 | 37% |
| Unknown Or Other | 41 | 20% |
| Electrical System | 33 | 16% |
| Engine | 32 | 15% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 17 | 8% |
| Power Train | 14 | 7% |
| Visibility | 14 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 6% |
| Lane Departure | 8 | 4% |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 3% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 | 3% |
| Suspension | 4 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Subaru Forester SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Electrical System - filed 2026-07-07
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while trying to roll up vehicle windows from driver sits and passenger sit they would roll up to 3/4th all the way up and they would roll back down after. The contact stated this was a recurring event. The dealer was aware of failure and diagnosed issu...
Power Train,electrical System,engine - filed 2026-07-02
My 2021 Subaru Forester has a recurring, worsening defect in the Idle Stop/Start (ISS) system that creates a stalling hazard. When ISS shuts the engine off at a stop, the engine intermittently fails to restart when I try to move again. It cranks progressively slower, warning lights illuminate, a continuous alert sounds...
Electrical System - filed 2026-06-17
Persistent Battery Drain on a 2021 Subaru Forester Limited. Problems began in year 4 of ownership (~17,000 mileage), after Subaru Starlink Subscription services expired. Red (Error) Starlink SOS indicator light was evident, where a normal light would show green. Battery would fully drain after about 3-4 days of inactiv...
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More for the 2021 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.