2023 Subaru Forester problems and complaints
Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Subaru Forester. The most-reported areas: Unknown Or Other (20), Forward Collision Avoidance (13), Visibility/Wiper (11).
Key takeaways
- 73 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 8 involve a crash, 4 a fire, 5 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 20 | 27% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 13 | 18% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 11 | 15% |
| Electrical System | 7 | 10% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 8% |
| Air Bags | 6 | 8% |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 7% |
| Engine | 5 | 7% |
| Lane Departure | 5 | 7% |
| Power Train | 4 | 5% |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 5% |
| Suspension | 3 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Subaru Forester SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Vehicle Speed Control,unknown Or Other,service Brakes - filed 2026-08-05
I am writing to formally report a critical safety defect regarding the driver-side footwell design in my 2023 Subaru Forester Sport, which poses an immediate and severe risk of a crash. A hard plastic lower extension for the HVAC air duct sits dangerously low directly above the brake and accelerator pedals. For driver...
Service Brakes,forward Collision Avoidance - filed 2026-07-27
Eyesight collision braking system engaged as I was rolling up my driveway to go into garage. Garage door was rolling up and was about 5 feet off the ground when Anti Collision system engaged and slammed the brakes on. I was going under 1 mph and would not have hit the door. It beeped right before brakes engaged. Thi...
Suspension,power Train - filed 2026-07-19
Tires are wearing badly on the inside edge only. Suspension and drive train components make noise during normal operation.
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More for the 2023 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.