Car Defect Radar

Subaru Forester vs Subaru Outback: problems, recalls & years to avoid

NHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Subaru Forester and the Subaru Outback, with the 17 model years both have (2010–2026) set side by side. Each model is measured against its own typical year, not against the other model.

Years to avoid and years with the fewest complaints

Subaru Forester

Years to avoid
20152017201820192020
Fewest complaints
202120222023

The typical Subaru Forester year has 207 complaints on file, across 17 model years (2010–2026).

Subaru Outback

Years to avoid
2017201820192020
Fewest complaints
201220142023

The typical Subaru Outback year has 360 complaints on file, across 17 model years (2010–2026).

A year is one to avoid when it drew at least 2 times the complaints of its model's typical year (the median across the model's years on this site) and at least 200 complaints, or when its complaints include 5 or more reports of a death. The years with the fewest complaints have no such flag and are from 2023 or earlier: newer years have not been on the road long enough to compare. Each model is measured only against its own years. Source: NHTSA owner complaints, as of October 26, 2026.

The 17 model years both have, side by side

Complaints by model year

Subaru Forester

4.0× its typical year in 2019, its worst year

833 complaints against a typical year of 207.

Years to avoid: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. Fewest complaints: 2021, 2022, 2023.

Subaru Outback

2.9× its typical year in 2019, its worst year

1,033 complaints against a typical year of 360.

Years to avoid: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. Fewest complaints: 2012, 2014, 2023.

typical yearavoid zonesolid bar = a year to avoid

Subaru Forester5 years to avoid · typical year 207avoid zone: 414+02004006008001,0002010Subaru Forester 2010: 262 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2011Subaru Forester 2011: 147 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2012Subaru Forester 2012: 105 complaints, 0.5× its typical year2013Subaru Forester 2013: 77 complaints, 0.4× its typical year2014Subaru Forester 2014: 403 complaints, 1.9× its typical year2015Subaru Forester 2015: 613 complaints, 3.0× its typical year, a year to avoid613avoid2016Subaru Forester 2016: 413 complaints, 2.0× its typical year2017Subaru Forester 2017: 585 complaints, 2.8× its typical year, a year to avoid585avoid2018Subaru Forester 2018: 494 complaints, 2.4× its typical year, a year to avoid494avoid2019Subaru Forester 2019: 833 complaints, 4.0× its typical year, a year to avoid833avoid2020Subaru Forester 2020: 599 complaints, 2.9× its typical year, a year to avoid599avoid2021Subaru Forester 2021: 207 complaints, 1.0× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints207fewest2022Subaru Forester 2022: 98 complaints, 0.5× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints98fewest2023Subaru Forester 2023: 73 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints73fewest2024Subaru Forester 2024: 29 complaints, 0.1× its typical year2025Subaru Forester 2025: 93 complaints, 0.4× its typical year2026Subaru Forester 2026: 21 complaints, 0.1× its typical yearSubaru Foresteravoid zone: 414+typical 2072026Subaru Forester 2026: 21 complaints, 0.1× its typical year212025Subaru Forester 2025: 93 complaints, 0.4× its typical year932024Subaru Forester 2024: 29 complaints, 0.1× its typical year292023Subaru Forester 2023: 73 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints73fewest2022Subaru Forester 2022: 98 complaints, 0.5× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints98fewest2021Subaru Forester 2021: 207 complaints, 1.0× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints207fewest2020Subaru Forester 2020: 599 complaints, 2.9× its typical year, a year to avoid599avoid2019Subaru Forester 2019: 833 complaints, 4.0× its typical year, a year to avoid833avoid2018Subaru Forester 2018: 494 complaints, 2.4× its typical year, a year to avoid494avoid2017Subaru Forester 2017: 585 complaints, 2.8× its typical year, a year to avoid585avoid2016Subaru Forester 2016: 413 complaints, 2.0× its typical year4132015Subaru Forester 2015: 613 complaints, 3.0× its typical year, a year to avoid613avoid2014Subaru Forester 2014: 403 complaints, 1.9× its typical year4032013Subaru Forester 2013: 77 complaints, 0.4× its typical year772012Subaru Forester 2012: 105 complaints, 0.5× its typical year1052011Subaru Forester 2011: 147 complaints, 0.7× its typical year1472010Subaru Forester 2010: 262 complaints, 1.3× its typical year262
Subaru Outback4 years to avoid · typical year 360avoid zone: 720+02505007501,0001,2502010Subaru Outback 2010: 360 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2011Subaru Outback 2011: 651 complaints, 1.8× its typical year2012Subaru Outback 2012: 292 complaints, 0.8× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints292fewest2013Subaru Outback 2013: 296 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2014Subaru Outback 2014: 208 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints208fewest2015Subaru Outback 2015: 509 complaints, 1.4× its typical year2016Subaru Outback 2016: 642 complaints, 1.8× its typical year2017Subaru Outback 2017: 917 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid917avoid2018Subaru Outback 2018: 811 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid811avoid2019Subaru Outback 2019: 1,033 complaints, 2.9× its typical year, a year to avoid1,033avoid2020Subaru Outback 2020: 896 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid896avoid2021Subaru Outback 2021: 296 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2022Subaru Outback 2022: 463 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2023Subaru Outback 2023: 89 complaints, 0.2× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints89fewest2024Subaru Outback 2024: 97 complaints, 0.3× its typical year2025Subaru Outback 2025: 80 complaints, 0.2× its typical year2026Subaru Outback 2026: 16 complaints, 0.0× its typical yearSubaru Outbackavoid zone: 720+typical 3602026Subaru Outback 2026: 16 complaints, 0.0× its typical year162025Subaru Outback 2025: 80 complaints, 0.2× its typical year802024Subaru Outback 2024: 97 complaints, 0.3× its typical year972023Subaru Outback 2023: 89 complaints, 0.2× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints89fewest2022Subaru Outback 2022: 463 complaints, 1.3× its typical year4632021Subaru Outback 2021: 296 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2962020Subaru Outback 2020: 896 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid896avoid2019Subaru Outback 2019: 1,033 complaints, 2.9× its typical year, a year to avoid1,033avoid2018Subaru Outback 2018: 811 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid811avoid2017Subaru Outback 2017: 917 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid917avoid2016Subaru Outback 2016: 642 complaints, 1.8× its typical year6422015Subaru Outback 2015: 509 complaints, 1.4× its typical year5092014Subaru Outback 2014: 208 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints208fewest2013Subaru Outback 2013: 296 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2962012Subaru Outback 2012: 292 complaints, 0.8× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints292fewest2011Subaru Outback 2011: 651 complaints, 1.8× its typical year6512010Subaru Outback 2010: 360 complaints, 1.0× its typical year360
Bars are NHTSA owner complaints per model year. The dashed line is the model's typical year (the median of its years on this site). A year that reaches the hatched avoid zone, twice the typical year and at least 200 complaints, is a year to avoid. The two panels have different scales. Each model is measured only against its own years: the counts are not adjusted for sales, so the chart does not say one model has more problems than the other. Hover a bar for its numbers; every value is also in the table below.
Model yearSubaru ForesterSubaru Outback
ComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur readComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur read
2026210.1×3Few red flags160.0×0Few red flags
2025930.4×3Some concerns to check800.2×0Few red flags
2024290.1×2Few red flags970.3×0Few red flags
2023730.4×1Few red flags890.2×2Few red flags
2022980.5×1Few red flags4631.3×4Some concerns to check
20212071.0×0Few red flags2960.8×4Few red flags
20205992.9×0Approach with caution8962.5×6Approach with caution
20198334.0×3Approach with caution1,0332.9×3Approach with caution
20184942.4×3Approach with caution8112.3×3Approach with caution
20175852.8×1Approach with caution9172.5×4Approach with caution
20164132.0×3Some concerns to check6421.8×4Some concerns to check
20156133.0×3Approach with caution5091.4×5Some concerns to check
20144031.9×2Some concerns to check2080.6×10Few red flags
2013770.4×12Some concerns to check2960.8×12Some concerns to check
20121050.5×15Some concerns to check2920.8×16Few red flags
20111470.7×16Some concerns to check6511.8×16Some concerns to check
20102621.3×17Few red flags3601.0×18Few red flags

Complaints link to each model year's report. "Times its typical year" sets a year against the same model's typical year. The two models' counts can't be compared directly: they are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

Most reported problem, by model year

Model yearSubaru ForesterSubaru Outback
2026Wipers and visibilityElectrical system
2025Wipers and visibilityForward collision avoidance system
2024AirbagsWipers and visibility
2023Forward collision avoidance systemForward collision avoidance system
2022Wipers and visibilityWipers and visibility
2021Wipers and visibilityWipers and visibility
2020Wipers and visibilityWipers and visibility
2019Wipers and visibilityWipers and visibility
2018Wipers and visibilityWipers and visibility
2017AirbagsElectrical system
2016AirbagsElectrical system
2015EngineWipers and visibility
2014SuspensionAirbags
2013EngineEngine
2012EngineTransmission and drivetrain
2011EngineTransmission and drivetrain
2010SeatsTransmission and drivetrain

Top problems of each model

The areas of the car NHTSA owner complaints name most, all model years together. A complaint can name more than one area.

Subaru Forester

Subaru Outback

Recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns. A campaign that covers several model years is counted once.

What the data can't show