Most common 2020 Subaru Forester problems
Share of the 603 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru Forester complaints by model year
Best Forester years: 2013, 2024. Years to avoid: 2019, 2020, 2017, 2015, 2018. Compare all years →
What 2020 Subaru Forester owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 301 →
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, a crack had formed on her windshield obstructing her vision. All cracks to the windshield had formed after minor or no impact. The first crack was detected upon the entrance of the vehicle on the lower driver-side corner; the crack had spread from one edge to another. The second crack had formed while the contact was driving at 65 MPH when a pebble struck the passenger's side windshield at eye level. The crack initially started off as a chip and then formed into a spider web within seconds; the crack then spread horizontally across the windshield within days. The third crack formed without incident on the top edge of the passenger's side windshield; the crack had formed into a J-like shape right underneath the rear-view mirror. …
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact became aware of a crack on the windshield on the far-left driver's side about three inches above where the VIN was located. The contact had taken the vehicle to a glass shop where it was diagnosed that there were several cracks and determined that the windshield needed to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired. The contact stated that the new windshield had developed a crack and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,500.
Electrical system all 103 →
I was in a parking lot at the time driving very slowly to pick a spot. When I went to turn right into the spot my car accelerated at an alarming speed. I had not control over it as it kept turning. It hit the car parked in front of my space pushing it and went on to hit the car parked to the right damaging both the front left and right sides of my vehicle and the 2 parked cars before coming to a stop. Fortunately it was 9am and not very crowded, there were no passengers in both vehicles and no one walking in between or by the cars which could have been tragic. I was wearing a seatbelt. The police were called and completed a report. The Subaru dealership was called and Subaru of America was called. The car was inspected by a Bosch.-EAA representative for Subaru on 8/4/2021. I have not heard back from Subaru so far although I was told it could take several weeks. …
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the auto START/STOP feature was malfunctioning. The contact stated that upon coming to a complete stop, the engine turned off, but failed to restart after releasing the brake pedal. The message "Engine Disabled" was displayed. The contact depressed the brake pedal and pressed the Push to Start button and was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to manually deactivate the auto Start-Stop feature by pressing a button. The contact stated that she followed the dealer's instructions; however, the feature had been engaging independently and the failure had been recurring while at a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
Engine & cooling all 84 →
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH, a deer jumped in the roadway causing damage to the front driver-side engine compartment. No air bags had deployed. The contact had managed to pull onto the side of the road. The contact stated she and the front passenger exited the vehicle safely when shortly afterward a fire started in the front driver-side engine compartment. No injury was sustained. A police report was filed but was unavailable. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot where it was then taken by the insurance company. The contact stated the insurance company had the vehicle in their possession for an investigation. The origin of the fire was unknown. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.
I was in a parking lot at the time driving very slowly to pick a spot. When I went to turn right into the spot my car accelerated at an alarming speed. I had not control over it as it kept turning. It hit the car parked in front of my space pushing it and went on to hit the car parked to the right damaging both the front left and right sides of my vehicle and the 2 parked cars before coming to a stop. Fortunately it was 9am and not very crowded, there were no passengers in both vehicles and no one walking in between or by the cars which could have been tragic. I was wearing a seatbelt. The police were called and completed a report. The Subaru dealership was called and Subaru of America was called. The car was inspected by a Bosch.-EAA representative for Subaru on 8/4/2021. I have not heard back from Subaru so far although I was told it could take several weeks. …
2020 Subaru Forester engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | CVT | AWD | 26 / 33 / 29 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Subaru Forester a good car?
Based on 603 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Forester rates avoid: 7.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Forester at the same age. It is one of the Forester years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Subaru Forester?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 301 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year, most often about windshield. Next are the electrical system (103) and engine & cooling (84).
How many recalls does the 2020 Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2020 Subaru Forester. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Subaru Forester?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2020, 2017, 2015 and 2018. See the full Subaru Forester years comparison.
At what mileage do 2020 Subaru Forester problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 6,000 miles; 97% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.