2021 Subaru FORESTER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
207 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
8,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 76 of 207 complaints (36.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 30 | 14.5% |
| Braking behavior | 25 | 12.1% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 3.9% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.9% |
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 | 76 |
| Unknown Or Other | 41 |
| Electrical System | 33 |
| Engine | 32 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 13 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 13 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
Visibility/Wiper: 76; Unknown Or Other: 41; Electrical System: 33; Engine: 32; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 13; Visibility:Windshield: 13; Power Train: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 170 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 58 |
| 2022 | 49 |
| 2023 | 26 |
| 2024 | 24 |
| 2025 | 37 |
| 2026 | 13 |
2021: 58; 2022: 49; 2023: 26; 2024: 24; 2025: 37; 2026: 13
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 30 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 13 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 11395055 · 2021-02-07 (February 7, 2021)
THE CAR IS TWO MONTHS OLD AND THE BATTERY DIED (NOTHING WAS LEFT ON)!
Owner-reported narrative. 6,252 miles reported. Look up ODI 11395055 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11406803 · 2021-04-06 (April 6, 2021)
ON MARCH 2, 2021 I NEEDED TO GET TO AN APPOINTMENT AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START, NOR WOULD MY FOB WORK TO EVEN OPEN THE DOORS. AFTER CALLING FOR ASSISTANCE THEY JUMPED THE BATTERY. THEN I BROUGHT IT TO SUBARU WHERE THEY DID A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS TEST AND FOUND THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR NOV. 25, 2020, ONLY THREE MONTHS BEFORE! THEY REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME KIND OF BATTERY. I WAS DISMAYED TO FIND THAT I HAD BEEN SOLD A NEW CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE BATTERY.
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11438965 · 2021-11-01 (November 1, 2021)
1. July 15, 2021 the brakes didn’t fully engage three times. Twice within 30 minutes while driving to work and once on my drive home. 2. Unknown 3. Yes. Car was at dealership put through all kinds of tests and field engineer checked it out. They had me come out on Monday, 9 August and drive it with the head mechanic while hooked up to a computer trying to see if the problem replicated. 4. Yes. 5. Yes. Eyesight technology picked up there was a problem – light came on, a text and an email were sent to me. Subaru got the message too. A speci…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11438965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11458296 · 2022-03-25 (March 25, 2022)
Purchased brand new from dealer. Less than 3 months later a tiny pebble came up and hit the center of the windshield, immediately you could see an indentation and a spider web. Now the whole windshield has multiple spider web cracks. The splits go from edge of driver's side all the way to edge of passenger side of the car. As well as 3 separate rings going around center indentation. Only had the car 3 months when this occured. Have had 3 instances that I could not start the car. Now the cigarette lighter charge port will not work. Moon roof ma…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11458296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11494718 · 2022-11-23 (November 23, 2022)
Engine stalled 2x within 8 days at major intersections (both times), therefore blocking a lane in the intersections. Was told 1st time it was a gliche by dealership. Upon researching prior recalls for this make and model, engine stalls have been an issue. Dealership still can’t figure out issue.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11494718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11504591 · 2023-01-31 (January 31, 2023)
My vehicle stalls at stop signs and red lights at Least once or twice a day regularly I’ve taken to the dealer and they said I was the reason it does that but the car is barely 2 years old bought new it has been doing that since last year it needs to be fixed
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11504591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11440297 · 2021-11-12 (November 12, 2021)
The vehicle gets a shudder at different speeds and it feels like it's either the transmission is slipping or its coming from the motor but it NEVER THROWS a Trouble Code so as the dealership says if its not throwing a trouble code they can't diagnose it until it does. So that's why I don't like these vehicles because no one know how to fix it old school by being a real mechanic and going old school to find the issue.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11440297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11496649 · 2022-12-08 (December 8, 2022)
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while depressing the brake pedal and attempting to park in the driveway, the vehicle excessively independently accelerated in speed. The brake pedal failed to stop the vehicle and the vehicle was shifted into Park in order to come to a stop. The vehicle caused damage to the door and garage. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was contacted, and they stated they were not aware of any recalls or complaints for the failure. The manufacturer was not c…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11496649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11529998 · 2023-07-02 (July 2, 2023)
I was driving my 2021 Subaru Forester on the highway and suddenly I saw with my own eyes a crack appear in the front window shield glass. A thin crack, about 2 feet long. curved shape. in the section in front of the steering wheel. It was out of nowhere; there was no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I was terrified and shocked, as my car was just 2 years old. No one was hurt, and other cars were not affected as I continued to drive stably. But I was a bit shaken, as I was worried the crack might b…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11529998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11643583 · 2025-02-18 (February 18, 2025)
1. The car shut off several times, with the steering wheel locking up and becoming stiff, the brakes failing to respond, and loud, erratic sounds emanating from the vehicle. The car is available for inspection. 2. Yes, the car crashed resulting in damage to the car, driver, and other driver (e.g. car in front). 3. This is the second time the car has been brought to the dealership (the second time being Subaru South Hill in Pennsylvania) and they cannot identify the problem. 4. The vehicle was not inspected by police, or insurance, as far as…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11643583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11462054 · 2022-04-25 (April 25, 2022)
On 04/02/2022, several minutes after having filled the gas tank, I was driving at about 35 mph on a two lane road at constant throttle, when the engine suddenly lost power for several seconds before it regained acceleration. There was a pickup truck following me very closely and it swerved around me to avoid hitting me. On 04/13/2022 , several minutes after leaving my driveway, at about 27 mph on a two lane road, the engine again lost power for several seconds before resuming power. In the first case the engine was at operating temp., in the …
Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11462054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11573729 · 2024-02-23 (February 23, 2024)
Vehicle was parked and idling unoccupied for under 5 minutes when an extremely noxious, hot blast of fumes came from underneath the back. Black smoke immediately entered the passenger cabin through the vents and flames were visible in the engine compartment and running onto the ground. Entire vehicle was burned beyond recognition in a matter of minutes. Ten days earlier the TCV, a known problem, had been replaced at a dealership per TSB 09-80-21. The vehicle had been driven under 300 miles since the replacement. Afterwards, a manufacturer rep…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11573729 at NHTSA ↗