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2021 Subaru Forester Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 0 NHTSA recalls and 203 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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55/100

Use Caution — 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester has elevated complaints or recalls that warrant careful consideration. Have any open recalls resolved before purchase and inspect the vehicle thoroughly.

0
NHTSA Recalls
No known recalls
203
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
16
Crashes + Injuries
5 fire reports

Own or buying a 2021 Subaru Forester?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Subaru Forester

No NHTSA recalls found for the 2021 Subaru Forester.

While this is a positive sign, recall status can change. Always verify at NHTSA.gov before purchasing.

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Most Common Problems — 2021 Subaru Forester

Based on 203 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Visibility/wiper
69
Unknown Or Other
30
Electrical System
27
Engine
15
Visibility
13
Power Train
12
Vehicle Speed Control
9
Suspension
4
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Subaru Forester — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

2015 608 complaints 2016 405 complaints 2017 571 complaints 2018 482 complaints 2019 831 complaints 2020 590 complaints 2021 203 complaints 2022 92 complaints 2023 68 complaints 2024 28 complaints 2025 73 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2019 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2022, 2023, 2024 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Subaru Forester

Is the 2021 Subaru Forester reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Subaru Forester has no open recalls and 203 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru Forester have?
There are currently no NHTSA recalls on file for the 2021 Subaru Forester. Always verify at NHTSA.gov before purchasing as recalls can be added at any time.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Subaru Forester?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Subaru Forester are: Visibility/wiper, Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Subaru Forester safe to buy?
The 2021 Subaru Forester has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Forester should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Forester are: 2022, 2023, 2024. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2019.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.