AI Damage2023 Subaru Forester: common problems
Owners of the 2023 Subaru Forester filed 74 complaints with NHTSA, most often about forward collision avoidance and visibility. The maker issued 250 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 74
- involving a crash
- 8
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 250
What fails most often
- 1 Forward collision avoidance 18% of all complaints
- 2 Visibility 16% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 8% of all complaints
- 7 Engine 7% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- Forward collision avoidance: 13 complaints (18% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Visibility: 12 complaints (16% of all).
- Electrical system: 8 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 169.
- Service brakes: 6 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Air bags: 6 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- CVT
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 74 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward collision avoidance | 13 | 2 | 5 |
| Visibility | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 169 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| Air bags | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine | 5 | 1 | 43 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 29 |
| Lane departure | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 13 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently accelerated, and the Forward Collision Avoidance system was inoperative, causing the front center of the vehicle to crash into five other vehicles while trying to stop the vehicle. The air bags deployed as needed.
The air bags did not deploy. A police officer later informed the contact that the vehicle had hit another vehicle, but the other driver did not sustain injury. Triple A transported both the contact and the contact's sister, who was occupying the front passenger's seat, to the residence, and the vehicle was towed to…
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.
There was no warning light illuminated. The contact shifted to park(P) and turned off the vehicle, and the vehicle decelerated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as needed.
Hit a deer the vehicle immediately was on fire and burnt to the ground. It had 3000 miles on it
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 air bags did not deploy. The contact did not recall whether a warning light was illuminated. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired.
Transmission slipped, stranded me in the middle of a road XXX. Stopped wouldn’t go. Started locking down in reverse 1 month after I purchased the vehicle. XXX, my husband was backing down a road that had no turnaround. The RAB locked down, slammed so hard, the car slid six feet and the motor shut down.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 708 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Forester has 314 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 74, below average.
What to check before buying
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines
- This announcement provides information on an enhancement of the TechShare CVT diagnostic assitance application
- This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles
- "This Bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs
DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit"
- This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and…
- This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a…
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.
- 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 to (8) eight years / 150,000 miles to cover certain qualifying repairs to the…
- This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during…
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.
- This bulletin announces the service procedures to be followed when encountering instances of water…
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.
- This bulletin announces the service procedures to be followed when encountering instances of water…
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.
- This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on…
This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR580 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
- This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body
The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
NHTSA lists 250 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Subaru Forester?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: forward collision avoidance, visibility, electrical system. Total complaints: 74. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (18%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (9%), infotainment or screen glitches (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2023 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA lists 250 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2023 Subaru Forester from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2023 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.