Verdict
2024 Subaru Forester: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2024 Subaru Forester — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for SUV.
Owners filed 28 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 57% of 2024 SUVs. Unknown Or Other leads the reports (25%). 2 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2024 SUVs, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
28
Reports to NHTSA, 2024
Safety recalls
2
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
27.5
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
Fewer complaints than 57% of 2024 SUVs
The bar is this car's percentile among 2024 SUVs by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Unknown Or Other issues lead owner complaints (25% of 28 reports), followed by air bags (21%).
+ 5 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 28 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11733227, ODI 11684899, ODI 11641300, ODI 11629256, ODI 11615194.
Recalls(2)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
Power TrainSep 2023 · 23V754000Details +Close −
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.
Risk: 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling · 23V723000Details +Close −
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.
Risk: Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Subarus independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts. The affected vehicles have not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners and therefore, no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRO-23.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2024 Subaru Forester SUV AWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 26 | 33 | 29 |
| Forester Wilderness AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 25 | 28 | 26 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2024 Subaru Forester: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2024 Subaru Forester?
Owners filed 28 NHTSA complaints about the 2024 Subaru Forester — fewer complaints than 57% of comparable 2024 SUVs, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2024 Subaru Forester?
The most-reported problem areas are Unknown Or Other (25% of complaints) and air bags (21%).
How many recalls does the 2024 Subaru Forester have?
2 recalls have been issued that affect the 2024 Subaru Forester, covering components such as power train. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2024 Subaru Forester get?
The EPA rates the 2024 Subaru Forester between 26 and 29 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.