2023 Subaru Forester
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Driver Assistance & Speed Control
Driver Assistance & Speed Control leads by volume: 23 of 73 complaints (32%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 97 in 2022 to 73 in 2023.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | vs. 2023 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,150 | 2,150–2,400 | 2,150–2,400 | 2,150–2,400 | 1,800–2,400 | |
| Combined MPG | 29 | 26–29 | 26–29 | 26–29 | 26–35 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 26 / 33 | 25–26 / 28–33 | 25–26 / 28–33 | 25–26 / 28–33 | 25–35 / 28–34 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 309 | 310–338 | 310–338 | 310–338 | 255–338 | |
| Complaints filed | 207 | 97 | 73 | 29 | 91 | |
| Recalls issued | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 16 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 11 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
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 2023 Subaru Forester have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2023 Subaru Forester?
Driver Assistance & Speed Control: 23 of 73 NHTSA complaints (32%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Subaru Forester get?
EPA rates it 26–29 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2023 Subaru Forester?
EPA estimates $2,150–$2,400 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| 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 (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | $2,150 (low) | 310 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 25 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $2,400 (high) | 338 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 23 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 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 (1)
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT · Campaign 23V754000 · Nov 13, 2023
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
Consequence: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRP-23.