2020 Subaru Forester Recalls and Problems
NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 601 owner complaints for the 2020 Subaru Forester.
Most-reported area: visibility/wiper (252 complaints, 42%; median mileage when it happened: 5,000). Includes the Forester Hybrid.
0 safety recalls for the 2020 Subaru Forester
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2020 Subaru Forester in its recall file dated Sep 27, 2026. Recalls can still be issued later, so check your VIN from time to time.
What owners report
The areas named in the 601 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Forester. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Subaru Forester recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2020 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 Forester drew the most (525) and the 2020 drew 409.
Owner complaints
2020: 601 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 414 |
| 2017 | 587 |
| 2018 | 495 |
| 2019 | 833 |
| 2020 | 601 |
| 2021 | 207 |
| 2022 | 98 |
| 2023 | 73 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 93 |
| 2026 | 21 |
Safety recalls
2020: 0 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Recalls |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Tested version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Subaru Forester SUV AWD Rollover risk 16.9% |
Questions
What are the most common 2020 Forester problems?
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: visibility/wiper (252), electrical system (102), engine (80). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2020 Subaru Forester safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2020 Subaru Forester earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
How do I check if my Forester has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Subaru dealers.
Sources and method
- NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Sep 27, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
- NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Sep 26, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
- NHTSA model names covered: FORESTER.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.