AI Damage2024 Subaru Forester: common problems
Owners of the 2024 Subaru Forester filed 31 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and forward collision avoidance. The maker issued 184 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 31
- involving a crash
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 184
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 23% of all complaints
- 2 Forward collision avoidance 16% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 16% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 6% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 6% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 3% of all complaints
- 7 Engine 3% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 3% of all complaints
- Air bags: 7 complaints (23% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Forward collision avoidance: 5 complaints (16% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Visibility: 5 complaints (16% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (6% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Exterior lighting: 2 complaints (6% of all); 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 31 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 5 | 2 | 5 |
| Visibility | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 117 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 38 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Driving in stop and go traffic. Cruise control wouldn't work. Forward collision warning didn't work. Auto braking didn't work.
It destroyed the headlight and damaged the fender and quarterpanel lightly and slightly bent the hood. I was able to pull over safely. When I got out to look at the damage, I could not open the hood but I could see a small flame on the passsenger side of the engine (this would be on the other side of the engine from…
Bridgestone Ecopia H/L Plus tires are M+S rated. They actually have almost no traction in the snow. I can be going under 5 mph on level ground and apply roughly 30% breaking power and the tires start to slip. They are going to kill someone.
The car had a sudden unexpected acceleration. On [XXX] my 2024 Subaru Forester Sport while completing parking in a parking spot had a sudden unintended acceleration event. My foot was not on the acceleration. The automobile travelled at least 27 feet before I was able to stop the vehicle.
Left the house and at about 1.5 miles while approaching a stop sign the vehicle brakes did not engage even when pushing all the way down. Resulting in a collision that landed in a corn field and jumping over a ditch. Vehicle has not been inspected by a mechanic but will be heading to repair shop soon.
While the mechanic was attempting to mount the wheel to the vehicle, the lug nuts sheared off, and the contact was unable to be tightened to secure the wheel. The contact was informed of the failure, and the lug nuts were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,000.
Given EyeSight’s role in collision avoidance and driver assistance, any defect poses an elevated risk of accidents. I believe this issue may be systemic rather than isolated and warrants independent review. I respectfully request that the NTSB investigate this matter and determine whether further action is necessary.
The vehicle’s safety systems did not appear to activate in an effort to prevent the collision, and the airbags did not deploy. The driver sustained minor injuries, including a concussion. No vehicle inspections have been completed at this time.
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 1,072 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 49% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Forester has 314 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 31, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
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.
- 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 Service Information Bulletin announces the release of a new diagnostic assistance application for…
This Service Information Bulletin announces the release of a new diagnostic assistance application for TR690 and TR580 CVT-equipped vehicles. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw…
This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or…
NHTSA lists 184 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 2024 Subaru Forester?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, forward collision avoidance, visibility. Total complaints: 31. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (10%), smoke, burning smell, fire (10%), headlights and tail lights (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2024 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA lists 184 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 2024 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 2024 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.