2020 Subaru FORESTER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
598 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
5,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 272 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 252 of 598 complaints (42.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 62 | 10.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 60 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 28 | 4.7% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 1.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 252 |
| Unknown Or Other | 107 |
| Electrical System | 99 |
| Engine | 77 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 46 |
| Power Train | 31 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 27 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 |
Visibility/Wiper: 252; Unknown Or Other: 107; Electrical System: 99; Engine: 77; Visibility:Windshield: 46; Power Train: 31; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 27; Vehicle Speed Control: 21
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 240 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 23 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 240; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (240). 326 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 124 |
| 2021 | 171 |
| 2022 | 103 |
| 2023 | 83 |
| 2024 | 64 |
| 2025 | 28 |
| 2026 | 14 |
2019: 11; 2020: 124; 2021: 171; 2022: 103; 2023: 83; 2024: 64; 2025: 28; 2026: 14
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 62 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 60 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 28 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11289740 · 2019-12-17 (December 17, 2019)
I WAS DRIVING MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER SPORT IN THE LEFT LANE ALONG AN ON-RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY, WHICH CONSISTS OF A ROAD THAT CURVES TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS SNOW ON THE GROUND BUT THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND DRY. SUDDENLY AND IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS, THE CAR BEGAN TO BEEP CONTINUOUSLY WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE LEFT AND LOCKED, AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED IN AS I TRIED TO CORRECT THE WHEEL AND BRAKE THE CAR. I WAS SUDDENLY COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE CAR DROVE ME OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN INTO THE SNOWY …
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11383225 · 2020-12-13 (December 13, 2020)
ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 1, 2020, I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF MY GARAGE. I WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT,. THE CAR WAS PARKED FACING THE WALL, ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE GARAGE DOOR, AND I HAD TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE INTO MY DRIVEWAY, PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE. I THEN HAD TO TURN RIGHT, INTO MY DRIVEWAY LEADING TO THE STREET. AFTER I SHIFTED THE GEAR FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE, THE CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD SPONTANEOUSLY, AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT, NOR STEER THE STEERING WHEEL. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEH…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11383225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11315779 · 2020-03-03 (March 3, 2020)
VEHICLE IGNITION IS OFF AND IN PARK. THE SAFETY ISSUE OCCURS WHEN THE REAR TAILGATE IS LEFT OPEN. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF LEAVING THE REAR TAILGATE OPEN, ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TURN OFF CORRECTLY AS A PUBLISHED SAFETY FEATURE TO HELP PREVENT A DEAD BATTERY UPON DEPARTURE. THE USER THINKS EVERYTHING HAS SHUT OFF WHEN THE LIGHTS TURN OFF, HOWEVER, THE REAR TAILGATE ECU DOES NOT TURN OFF OR GO TO A LOW POWER STATE AFTER THE INITIAL 20 MINUTES CAUSING A HIGH DRAIN ON THE BATTERY. THE HATCH ECU CONTINUES TO DRAW IN EXCESS OF 4 AMPS WHILE THE HATCH …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11315779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11324201 · 2020-05-11 (May 11, 2020)
THE LIFT GATE MOTOR ON MY 2020 FORESTER DOES NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE LIFT GATE IS OPEN, IT CONTINUES TO CYCLE UNTIL THE BATTERY IS DEAD. SUBARU DEALER SAYS THEY'RE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH A SIMPLE COMPUTER SEARCH FOUND DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11324201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11426285 · 2021-07-24 (July 24, 2021)
My car shut down while stopped at a traffic light. Several dashboard lights flashed or lit up, including the battery indicator, the EyeSight indicator said it was turned off, and many others I don’t know. It felt as if the battery had died. The car was in standby mode while stopped and the air conditioning was running. The car stalled and died when I took my foot off the brake to drive. The battery has died 6 times in the past year. If the door was ajar, the hatch left open, or the engine turned off while parked in drive, the battery was dead t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11426285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11454653 · 2022-03-01 (March 1, 2022)
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle stalled and then went into sleep mode. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle also experienced failures with the electrical system. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle was operating as desi…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11454653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11292190 · 2019-12-30 (December 30, 2019)
VEHICLE VIBRATE STARTING AT 50 MPH AND GETS EXCESSIVE AT 65MPH AND UP, WHILE CRUISING IN THE HIGHWAY. THE VIBRATION CAN BE FELT ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DRIVER SEAT SEAT.
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 11292190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11365833 · 2020-10-22 (October 22, 2020)
WIRING HARNESS, TRANSMISSION, SOY BASED - DESTROYED BY RODENTS AT 600 MILES, 9 MONTHS. VEHICLE ON HOME DRIVE, DAYLIGHT, AS OUR BASEMENT WAS REPAIRED FROM FLOOD DAMAGE. 1 WEEK ON DRIVEWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11365833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11399133 · 2021-03-04 (March 4, 2021)
DRIVING ON STRAIGHT MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY ~2:00 PM IN THE DAYTIME AT ~55 MPH; CLEAR, DRY WEATHER, DRY ROAD. NO VEHICLES OR OBSTRUCTIONS OF ANY KIND IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, FORTUNATELY NO VEHICLES BEHIND. AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM TRIGGERED FULLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING, BRINGING CAR TO SUDDEN STOP IN HIGH SPEED TRAVEL LANE; COULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERE REAR END COLLISION HAD THERE BEEN ANYONE BEHIND. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK AND BACK INTO DRIVE. SUBARU COULD FIND NO REASON FOR ERRONEOUS SUDDEN ST…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11399133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11506728 · 2023-02-11 (February 11, 2023)
Much like the 2018 Outback issue I had, my 2020 Forester is having the same issue with fuel indication inaccuracy and mpg increasing when fuel level gets under a quarter of a tank. My local Suburu dealership said this is not an issue for this model. I have reported this to Suburu as well. Previously, Subaru found that the software that controls the fuel system can cause the fuel gauge to show that there is still fuel left in the tank when there isn’t. More specifically, the low fuel warning light may not actually come on, and the miles to em…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11506728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11615927 · 2024-09-23 (September 23, 2024)
Vehicle traveling W on [XXX] Bryan TX. Automobile suddenly started shaking and not developing power, Driver was able to pull off on the shoulder barely clearing the #2 lane. The engine would crank but not sustain operation. The auto required transport to the home garaging location. Subsequent analysis of the fuel showed it to be gasoline, no water, lacked appearance of any foreign matter. With the ignition on 12V were detected at the gas tank terminal, however the in tank pump would not produce fuel flow at the connection at the top of the tan…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11615927 at NHTSA ↗