Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2025 | 4 | 4% | 15,000 miles |
| 2024 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2023 | 6 | 8% | 11,000 miles |
| 2022 | 11 | 11% | 5,000 miles |
| 2021 | 33 | 16% | 30,000 miles |
| 2020 | 84 | 14% | 37,000 miles |
| 2019 | 111 | 13% | 30,000 miles |
| 2018 | 32 | 6% | 21,000 miles |
| 2017 | 48 | 8% | 20,000 miles |
| 2016 | 60 | 14% | 42,000 miles |
| 2015 | 135 | 22% | 44,000 miles |
| 2014 | 72 | 18% | 37,000 miles |
| 2013 | 27 | 35% | 86,000 miles |
| 2012 | 29 | 28% | 86,000 miles |
| 2011 | 67 | 46% | 66,000 miles |
| 2010 | 40 | 15% | 80,000 miles |
| 2009 | 39 | 22% | 73,000 miles |
| 2008 | 9 | 18% | 100,000 miles |
| 2007 | 15 | 20% | 95,000 miles |
| 2006 | 22 | 25% | 54,000 miles |
| 2005 | 10 | 11% | 95,000 miles |
| 2004 | 39 | 18% | 96,000 miles |
| 2003 | 31 | 16% | 78,000 miles |
| 2002 | 15 | 17% | 84,000 miles |
| 2001 | 18 | 13% | 75,000 miles |
| 2000 | 12 | 16% | 115,000 miles |
| 1999 | 28 | 21% | 87,000 miles |
| 1998 | 15 | 15% | 100,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
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. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was test driven, and the failure was duplicated. The vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone and by email. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
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. Apparently this has been reported all over different on-line forums. The dealer informed us that they would need to order a valve cleaning kit as referenced un service bulletin 02-193-24 and the engine would require walnut blasting. …
The contact owned a 2023 Subaru Forrester. The contact stated that while his wife was driving in reverse mode, the vehicle independently accelerated, which caused a crash. The contact stated that the vehicle simultaneously crashed into a parked vehicle and a concrete wall. The vehicle was towed to a collision center and then towed to a tow yard. A police report was filed. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss by the insurance company. The contact also stated that damage was caused to the parked vehicle and to the wall. The vehicle was diagnosed by Subaru Headquarters which advised the contact that they do not share the diagnosis details with the customer. The contact stated that the Subaru Headquarters representative advised him that all their systems for the vehicle worked as designed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. …
The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while at a stop light, the brake pedal was released, but the vehicle failed to move. The accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle jolted forward. The contact was able to drive to a parking lot. After shifting to drive, the vehicle unexpectedly reversed. While in reverse, the vehicle would shift to drive erroneously. The vehicle jolted forward. The vehicle was shaking, jerking, and skipping gear. The engine and oil warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 11,426.
The vehicle was started with the remote start to warm up. It was about -15F. It ran for 10 minutes and then shut off as it is supposed to. The driver got in the car, started the car, all the gauges went crazy and all the dash lights lit up. The driver heard a popping sound and then there was smoke under the hood. The vehicle became engulfed in flames. The vehicle was a total loss as was the car sitting next due to the heat from the fire. The house that the vehicle was parked near sustained minor damage (bubbling paint on porch). Two fire departments responded to the call. Prior to the incident, the vehicle had been running normally and no recent work had been done on the vehicle. The fire chief/inspector and the insurance company were both unable to determine the source, as all that was left was a burnt out frame. …
-Engine failure: fuel line issue causing 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness to catch fire and explode - beforehand rod bearing was pulverized in separate incident a few months prior - engine was then replaced and car exploded 600 miles later causing total loss of vehicle. -Car exploded while driving in it, lost all personal belongings in car, barely got out of vehicle in time before explosion. -Investigation completed by Subaru of America and confirmed as a fuel line issue a few weeks later. -Smelt gas on highway while driving a few moments prior to car exploding.
The contact owned a 2021 Subaru Forester Sport. The contact stated while driving at 75 MPH, the front end of the vehicle crashed into a small deer. The air bags did not deploy. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact's friend who was occupying the front passenger seat exited the vehicle and inspected the front end of the vehicle. The contact's friend then advised her to immediately exit the vehicle as there were flames underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated while she was exiting the vehicle and letting her three dogs who were occupying the rear seats out of the vehicle, the fire expanded to the entire front end of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle burned significantly. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. A police report was filed. …
The contact owned a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 4 MPH and slowing to park, the vehicle accelerated on its own. The contact stated that the vehicle drove out of the parking lot and crashed into a wall. The contact stated that the air bags deployed and that the vehicle had then shifted into reverse (R) and driven out away from the wall and crashed into a parked vehicle and stopped. The contact stated she was unaware of any warning lights. The contact stated that she had 1 passenger in the front seat and 2 passengers in the rear seat. The contact stated that everyone was shaken and achy, but no cuts or other injuries. The contact stated later that the passengers went on their own to seek medical attention. …
Related recalls (5)
Engine and engine cooling
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.
Remedy: Subaru's independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts. The affected vehicles have not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners and therefore, no owner notification…
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/supercharger
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Subaru is recalling 16,715 my 2007-2008 legacy sedans and wagons, my 2008 impreza sedans and wagons, and my 2009 forester vehicles. Some vehicles May have the cylinder head-side oil supply pipe and turbocharger-side pipe improperly assembled.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for cracking or an oil leak at the oil supply pipe at the cylinder head-side. An additional bracket will be installed to increase rigidity of the pipe and the pipe assembly will be replaced with a…
Engine and engine cooling
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the cover bolts for the engine oil control valve May not be sufficiently tightened, allowing oil to leak from around the cover gasket.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and retighten the oil-flow control valve cover bolts. The recall began on October 8, 2004. Owners should contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru Forester years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2015 (135), 2019 (111), 2020 (84), 2014 (72) and 2011 (67) model years. Engine complaints make up 22% of all complaints for the 2015.
Is there a recall for Subaru Forester engine problems?
Yes — 5 recalls, including 23V-723 (engine and engine cooling, Oct 26, 2023); 19V-856 (crankcase (pcv), Dec 2, 2019); 16V-162 (turbo/supercharger, Mar 21, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Subaru Forester engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles; 44% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (47 mentions), followed by the engine › gasoline (22).
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.