2023 Subaru Forester Problems
Compared with other Subaru Forester years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
21/100 0.5× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.5× that of a typical Subaru Forester year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 61 of its 74 complaints were filed by the end of 2025.
- Most reported problem: Windshield chips and cracks easily (17 complaints, median 1,999 mi).
- 1 recall campaign on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 74filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 6,750miles, 8 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 / 5stars overall
- EPA fuel economy
- 29 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl AWD · 26 city / 33 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2023 Subaru Forester (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
On this model year, owners most often describe unexpected behavior from the EyeSight driver-assistance features, including automatic braking that engages with nothing in the road ahead and lane-keeping that steers when the driver does not expect it. Windshield damage — chips and cracks from small stones or appearing without an impact — is the other frequently repeated theme, and a smaller group of complaints concerns the front passenger seat sensor, which some owners say does not detect lighter adults.
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
Windshield chips and cracks easily
- 17 complaints (23%)
- median 1,999 mi at 1.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- filed 2023–2026
Owners report chips and cracks from small stones that would normally leave little damage, sometimes within weeks of buying the car. Others describe cracks appearing with no visible impact at all, often after a cold snap or a large temperature swing, and growing quickly. Several owners say the dealer declined to cover the glass under warranty, and some had the windshield replaced only to have it damaged again. Reported from a few hundred to about 15,000 miles, with several owners noting the car was only months old and some linking cracks to cold weather or rapid temperature changes.
What to check: Inspect the windshield closely for chips, short cracks and previous repairs, and ask whether the glass has been replaced. Note that replacement windshields typically require recalibration of the cameras mounted at the top of the glass.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Car only has 6,000 miles,had 2 tiny stones hit the windshield and put 2 pebble sized holes in windshield, got those fixed and a week later another stone hit and now it has a quarter size chip,hole ,never had any other car i owned have this happen too,I would think a #1 safety rated manufacturer would have better windshields”
NHTSA complaint #11570282, filed 2024-02“Just replaced my winshield for my 2023 suburu, first off safelite uses after market, also I haven't had the car for more than 3 months, the next day the winshield was hit with another pebble causing another crack. Like what the hell is the matter with these winshields and what is suburu go8ng to do about it. I'm missing work, and losing money here, not only that it's very dangerous to drive with these winshields.”
NHTSA complaint #11557651, filed 2023-11 - Forward collision avoidance
Automatic emergency braking engages unexpectedly
- 11 complaints (15%)
- median 15,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2023–2026
Owners describe the pre-collision braking system bringing the car to a hard stop with no obstacle in front — on open roads, in parking situations, near a garage door, and while backing up. Several mention the stop came without warning or with only a short beep, and some say the seat belts tensioned at the same time. A few reports note the opposite problem, with no alert or braking when a vehicle pulled in front, and some say repeated dealer recalibrations of the EyeSight cameras did not resolve it. Several owners describe turning the feature off or avoiding driving the vehicle. Reports are spread across the sample with no clear mileage pattern; several describe the car as nearly new, while others mention the behavior recurring over the first few years of ownership.
What to check: During a test drive, ask about the EyeSight camera history and whether any calibration or software work was done. Check for stored warning messages and confirm the system status in the settings before and after the drive.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“In three years I've had the Automatic Emergency Braking system engage and almost cause accidents several times. The breaking system engages when it's not needed. Going down a road driving straight at 25 MPH, no obstacles in road and breaks engage. Verry scarry, what if I was going 65 MPH on the highway! Another incident was on an off ramp in a curve, and another making a U-turn. This is not ok!”
NHTSA complaint #11706572, filed 2025-12“I was driving down the main street of a small city. There is a decent amount of traffic, so I’m not sure what speed I was going but likely no more than 25 mph. All of a sudden, for no apparent reason, the pre-collision braking went into effect and slammed me to a total stop. I wasn’t too close to the vehicle in front of me, there were no pedestrians in the road, etc. thankfully the vehicle behind me was able to stop and did not hit me. I was able to move forward and pulled into the closet parking lot. …”
NHTSA complaint #11602395, filed 2024-07 - Forward collision avoidance
Lane-keeping and EyeSight features steer or switch off
- 10 complaints (14%)
- typically at 2.2 yrs old
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2023–2026
Owners describe the lane-centering and lane-departure functions pulling the wheel when they did not intend it, including one report of the car steering across lanes on a mountain highway. Others say the EyeSight system, blind spot warning and other safety features shut off together while driving, with multiple warnings appearing on the dash, and that the features came back after restarting or after a dealer visit. Some owners report repeat visits with no lasting fix. Described across a wide mileage range, from low-mileage cars to vehicles with over 10,000 miles, and in a variety of road and weather conditions.
What to check: Ask whether any EyeSight warnings or camera-related service visits are recorded, and check the owner's manual settings for lane-centering so you know how to disable or adjust it. Test the features on a quiet road before relying on them.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I was driving on a two lane highway in the mountains and came around a small right-veering turn in the road. I straightened out the wheel to resume traveling straight, and my car’s auto-steer kicked in and pulled left into the center divider, and then right across two lanes and crashed into the side of the mountain. The auto-steer has pulled me out of lanes prior to this incident as well.”
NHTSA complaint #11625984, filed 2024-11“While driving on a highway, one lane in each direction, my lane was going to end. In front of me were painted yellow highway lines directing me to head right to the new lane on the right side of the steel railings. My adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assistance still had me heading straight instead of to the right. I had to strongly turn my steering wheel to the right to avoid hitting the railing. Also I was following a car into a rotary with my adaptive cruise control on. …”
NHTSA complaint #11618225, filed 2024-10 - Air bags
Front passenger seat sensor does not detect smaller adults
Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners describe the passenger airbag status light showing off with a lighter adult in the front passenger seat, roughly in the 100-110 pound range, while a heavier adult turns it on. Several say dealers reproduced the condition but told them the setting is fixed to protect children and cannot be adjusted. Others report seat covers splitting and hardware felt through the cushion, along with intermittent chimes the dealer linked to the seat sensors. Reported across the sample from new vehicles to those with several thousand miles, and the condition appears related to occupant weight rather than mileage.
What to check: With a passenger of the size who will normally ride in front, check the airbag status light before buying. Ask the dealer to document the occupant detection system check and whether any related repairs were done.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I purchased a new Subaru Forester on February 3, 2023 from Cross Creek Subaru in Fayetteville NC. I noticed that the passenger air bag was off at times with my wife in the passenger seat. I made an appointment to have this fixed, The air bag was always on for her in my F150, Honda CRV and all the other cars we have owned. When I took it in they put some weights on the seat, hooked up to a computer and said that the seat was measuring the weight properly. …”
NHTSA complaint #11518701, filed 2023-04“The front passenger side air bag remains turned off when a 105 pound adult sits in it, but turns on when a 185 pound adult sits in it. Subaru service informs us that it is factory set so that it will not deploy when a child is in the seat and cannot be adjusted. This puts any small adult or teenager sits in the front passenger seat.”
NHTSA complaint #11628405, filed 2024-12
Buying note. These cars are recent enough that most reports involve low mileage, so service history matters more than wear. Confirm the EyeSight camera and software status, inspect the windshield carefully, and test the passenger airbag indicator with a typical front passenger before committing.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 74 consumer complaints for the 2023 Subaru Forester. 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 6,750 miles. Of all complaints, 8 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 259 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 15 Subaru Forester model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 21 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Other or unknown20 27%
- Electrical system8 11%
- Air bags6 8.1%
- Brakes6 8.1%
- Vehicle speed control6 8.1%
- Engine5 6.8%
- Lane departure5 6.8%
Also reported: Exterior lighting (4), Seats (3), Body and structure (3), Suspension (3), Fuel system (2), Tires (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Engine cooling (1), Seat belts (1), Steering (1).
Example complaints
Other or unknown: “I am writing to formally report a critical safety defect regarding the driver-side footwell design in my 2023 Subaru Forester Sport, which poses an immediate and severe risk of a crash. A hard plastic lower extension for the HVAC air duct sits dangerously low directly above the brake and accelerator pedals. …”
NHTSA complaint #11754950, filed 2026-08Forward collision avoidance: “Traveling at approximately 45 mph through a green light at a 4-way intersection a car making a right on red turn turned into the outside lane in front of me. I had no warning sounds or automatic braking, to avoid a collision I had to steer to the left after an on coming car passed. There were no chimes or auto braking.I have had several instances similar with no alerts. My eyesight system has been problematic for the life of the car and required many diagnosis and recalibration with many trips to the dealership and no permanent repair. …”
NHTSA complaint #11700531, filed 2025-11Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “I have owned the vehicle less than 6 months. There is now a 6 inch crack in my front windshield for no apparent reason. It just appeared one day last week. I have heard from other Subaru owners that this is a common problem. They suggested I report the issue here.”
NHTSA complaint #11570435, filed 2024-02Electrical system: “The vehicles battery does not hold a charge during short term, (3-5 weeks of storage). I understand that some prior years of Subaru vehicles have this same problem and there is currently a recall for this. I wonder if this battery problem exists in newer Subaru Foresters. When we purchased this vehicle as new we observed that the Dealership was having problems maintaining the charge on at least two other new Forester vehicles on display and had to replace the battery in one of these to start the vehicle and show it to other customers. …”
NHTSA complaint #11568075, filed 2024-01Mileage when problems were reported
100% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 1,999 and 11,426 miles.
Complaints by year filed
This model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2023 Subaru Forester. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester · SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 16.9% risk |
| Forester Wilderness · SUV AWD | not rated | 5 / 5 | 5 | 5 | — |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2023 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard.
Neighbouring years: 2022: same overall rating; 2024: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2023 Subaru Forester version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | CVT | 26 | 33 | 29 | $2,300 |
| Forester Wilderness AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | CVT | 25 | 28 | 26 | $2,600 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 23V754000Nov 9, 2023Power train › Driveline › DriveshaftCovers: Subaru Forester 2023–2024, Impreza 2024, WRX 2023 +1 more
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
Recall details for the 2023 Subaru Forester → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 259 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037943Oct 5, 2026Other or unknown, Electrical system. This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
- 11037942Sep 28, 2026Electrical system, Transmission and drivetrain. This announcement provides information on an enhancement of the TechShare CVT diagnostic assitance application.
- 11037940Sep 18, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
- 11037938Sep 18, 2026Electrical system. "This Bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs: DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit"
- 11037930Sep 15, 2026Other or unknown. This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
- 11037929Sep 14, 2026Other or unknown, Electrical system. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11037928Sep 14, 2026Electrical system, Other or unknown. In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the CP1 & Gen 3.1 Head Unit used in the listed models and model years…
- 11037927Sep 14, 2026Electrical system. This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11037926Sep 10, 2026Electrical system, Other or unknown. This bulletin announces the service procedures to be followed when encountering instances of water intrusion from the sunroof area.This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11036824Aug 31, 2026Electrical system, Body and structure. This bulletin announces the service procedures to be followed when encountering instances of water intrusion from the sunroof area. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Other model years of the Subaru Forester
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 32 | 3,500 | 4 | 5 | 28 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2025 | 99 | 2,800 | 4 | 5 | 28 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 31 | 5,000 | 2 | 5 | 29 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 74 | 6,750 | 1 | 5 | 29 | 21 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 100 | 5,500 | 1 | 5 | 29 | 27 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2021 | 212 | 8,000 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 48 · Typical | Stable |
| 2020 | 603 | 5,800 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 94 · More | Falling |
| 2019 | 834 | 8,575 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2018 | 498 | 16,000 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 85 · More | Falling |
| 2017 | 592 | 30,000 | 1 | 5 | 25 | 69 · More | Falling |
| 2016 | 416 | 39,000 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 59 · Typical | Falling |
| 2015 | 615 | 43,919 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 74 · More | Falling |
| 2014 | 403 | 53,500 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 45 · Typical | Falling |
| 2013 | 78 | 50,000 | 12 | 4 | 23 | 8 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2012 | 106 | 45,702 | 15 | 4 | 23 | 28 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2011 | 147 | 60,000 | 16 | 4 | 23 | 30 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2010 | 262 | 65,000 | 17 | — | 22 | 55 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 178 | 57,000 | 17 | — | 22 | 52 · Typical | Falling |
| 2008 | 50 | 88,900 | 1 | — | 22 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2007 | 74 | 56,750 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2006 | 88 | 51,000 | 2 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 93 | 80,000 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 219 | 96,500 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 189 | 90,000 | 3 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 88 | 87,365 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 139 | 57,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 75 | 78,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 131 | 73,000 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 101 | 93,998 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
All Subaru Forester model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Subaru Forester?
On this model year, owners most often describe unexpected behavior from the EyeSight driver-assistance features, including automatic braking that engages with nothing in the road ahead and lane-keeping that steers when the driver does not expect it. The issues reported most often: Windshield chips and cracks easily; Automatic emergency braking engages unexpectedly; Lane-keeping and EyeSight features steer or switch off.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2023 Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA recorded 74 consumer complaints for the 2023 Subaru Forester as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2023 Subaru Forester is reported most often?
Other or unknown is named most often, in 20 complaints (27% of the total), followed by forward collision avoidance with 13.
Has the 2023 Subaru Forester been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2023 Subaru Forester do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2023 Subaru Forester 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Subaru Forester get?
The EPA rates the 2023 Subaru Forester (Forester AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 29 mpg combined, 26 city and 33 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2023 Subaru Forester reported?
Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 6,750 miles and the middle half falls between 1,999 and 11,426 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.