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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2021 Subaru Forester
Common Problems

Ranked from 116 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

1
Safety
4
High severity
5
Medium
1
Low
1 problem on this vehicle involve a crash, fire, or injury risk. If you are experiencing one, stop driving and have it inspected.

11 Common Problems

Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.

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  1. 1

    Windshield Cracking Without Impact

    57complaints
    High severityOther

    The windshield cracks without any apparent impact or external cause.

  2. 2

    Battery Drain Without External Cause

    26complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The battery drains overnight without any external cause or warning signs.

    $150–$700est. parasitic-drain diagnosis + battery · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  3. 3

    Windshield Cracking After Minor Impact

    13complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Windshields develop large cracks after being hit by small stones or debris.

  4. 4

    Automatic Start/Stop System Failure

    11complaints
    High severityElectrical

    The automatic start/stop system intermittently fails to restart the engine, leading to unexpected stalls and requiring manual intervention.

  5. 5

    Unintended Acceleration

    10complaints
    Safety riskElectrical

    The vehicle experiences unintended acceleration, sometimes leading to dangerous situations and potential accidents.

  6. 6

    Automatic Emergency Braking System Malfunction

    6complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Automatic emergency braking system activates unexpectedly or fails to function properly.

  7. 7

    Unusual Electrical Interference

    6complaints
    Low severityElectrical

    Electrical systems interfere with the operation of the vehicle, such as affecting the visibility or warning systems.

  8. 8

    Windshield Cracking Due to Temperature Changes

    5complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Windshields crack or develop large cracks when the vehicle is parked overnight.

  9. 9

    Engine Stalling During Idling

    4complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    Engine stalling occurs frequently during idling, often due to stop-start system failure.

    $150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  10. 10

    Lane Departure Assistance Malfunction

    4complaints
    High severityOther

    The lane departure assistance system malfunctions, causing the vehicle to veer off course or into obstacles.

  11. 11

    Windshield Cracking

    4complaints
    High severityOther

    Multiple windshields cracked within weeks of purchase, likely due to manufacturing defects.

Other years & sources

2010 Subaru Forester2011 Subaru Forester2016 Subaru Forester2017 Subaru Forester2018 Subaru Forester2019 Subaru Forester2020 Subaru Forester2022 Subaru ForesterAll NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.

2021 Subaru Forester Problems & Recalls | WrenchConnect