2025 Subaru Forester Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 4%of 99 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 15,000miles
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine of the 2025 Subaru Forester, 4% of the 99 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 15,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Exhaust gas smell from the engine compartment when parked after driving. Garage smells like exhaust gases when left in enclosed garage - ongoing problem. Smell dissipates overnight. It has been inspected by Subaru dealers in Albuquerque and Santa Fe New Mexico. They report no error codes and so no problem. Have not had this issue on any other vehicle we've ever owned. There are no warning lamps or messages.”
NHTSA complaint #11725611, filed 2026-03“My new vehicle, with under 4,000 miles, has already suffered multiple chewed wires due to rodents attracted to the soy-based wire coatings used by the manufacturer. This is not a minor inconvenience — it is a serious safety issue. Damaged wiring can cause loss of power steering mid-drive, ABS and braking system malfunctions, airbag deployment failures, engine stalling on highways, and electrical fires — any of which can result in injury or death. …”
NHTSA complaint #11744455, filed 2026-06“The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while her husband was driving on a road trip at interstate speed with the contact and her daughter inside the vehicle, the vehicle started shaking violently from side to side. The driver pulled over to the side of the road momentarily. The driver resumed driving, and upon accelerating to overtake a vehicle, the engine made an abnormal sound; the vehicle started shaking violently and pulling from side to side and made abnormally loud and rumbling sounds. The driver pulled over to the side of the road. …”
NHTSA complaint #11767533, filed 2026-09, 15,000 miles“Engine is misfiring, causing in ability to accelerate properly and loads multiple error codes. Upon taking it to the dealership for services, we were told that there is a significant amount of carbon built-up inside the engine. The car has only 6,800 miles on it. The dealership stated that it is an issue that Subaru engineering is aware of but has yet to figure a way to resolve it. The dealership informed us that hybrid engines have had severe carbon build-up on the in-take valves that causes misfiring, loss of power, bucking and stumbling of the engine. …”
NHTSA complaint #11754515, filed 2026-08Related service bulletins
- 11035637Jul 15, 2026This bulletin outlines a repair procedure to be performed if DTC B2781 is set in the steering lock control module.
- 11034269Jun 30, 2026This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11034264Jun 26, 2026This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11034237Jun 1, 2026"This bulletin provides a new diagnostic procedure for vehicles equipped with a Denso CP 1, 1.5 and 2.5 head units to provide an enhanced version of the troubleshooting steps for…
- 11033051May 1, 2026This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs B1571(REFERENCE CODE INCOMPATIBILITY IMMOBILIZER CM TO ECM) and B1572(IMM CIRCUIT EXCEPT ANTENNA CIRCUIT)…
- 11027982Jan 12, 2026This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
- 11027090Dec 12, 2025This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11027083Dec 8, 2025This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
- 11027081Dec 8, 2025This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs P2096 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO LEAN BANK 1) and P2097 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO RICH…
- 11025790Nov 20, 2025This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs P2096 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO LEAN BANK 1) and P2097 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO RICH…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% |
| 2025 | 4 | 4% |
| 2024 | 1 | 3% |
| 2023 | 5 | 7% |
| 2022 | 11 | 11% |
| 2021 | 34 | 16% |
| 2020 | 81 | 13% |
| 2019 | 106 | 13% |
| 2018 | 32 | 6% |
| 2017 | 47 | 8% |
| 2016 | 60 | 14% |
| 2015 | 131 | 21% |
| 2014 | 69 | 17% |
| 2013 | 27 | 35% |
| 2012 | 27 | 25% |
| 2011 | 60 | 41% |
| 2010 | 34 | 13% |
| 2009 | 27 | 15% |
| 2008 | 7 | 14% |
| 2007 | 9 | 12% |
| 2006 | 11 | 13% |
| 2005 | 3 | 3% |
| 2004 | 23 | 11% |
| 2003 | 12 | 6% |
| 2002 | 1 | 1% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
| 1999 | 3 | 2% |
| 1998 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2025 Subaru Forester
21 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
20 complaintsFuel system
17 complaintsForward collision avoidance
13 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsExterior lighting
8 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsWheels
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2025 Subaru Forester
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology