2021 Subaru Forester
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 91 of 207 complaints (44%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Engine include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 599 in 2020 to 207 in 2021.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,150 | 2,150 | 2,150 | 2,150–2,400 | 2,150–2,400 | |
| Combined MPG | 29 | 29 | 29 | 26–29 | 26–29 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 26 / 33 | 26 / 33 | 26 / 33 | 25–26 / 28–33 | 25–26 / 28–33 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 310 | 309 | 309 | 310–338 | 310–338 | |
| Complaints filed | 833 | 599 | 207 | 97 | 73 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 37 | 26 | 16 | 8 | 8 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 11 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 21 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru Forester have?
No NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Subaru Forester?
Visibility & Lighting: 91 of 207 NHTSA complaints (44%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Subaru Forester get?
EPA rates it 29 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Subaru Forester?
EPA estimates $2,150 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (1)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 26 mpg | 33 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,150 | 309 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 32 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 14 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 33 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 31 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 91 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 41 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls
No recalls have been issued for this model-year.