2020 Subaru Forester Safety Report
2020 SUBARU FORESTER Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2020 Subaru Forester
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2020 Subaru Forester. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Low (0) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (588) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 32 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Visibility/Wiper | Compare visibility/wiper issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2023 | Compare against the 2023 Subaru Forester with 64 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Subaru Forester before buying across this generation. |
Subaru Forester Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Subaru Forester years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Subaru Forester | 197 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Subaru Forester | 828 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2022 Subaru Forester | 91 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Subaru Forester | 480 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2023 Subaru Forester | 64 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Subaru Forester | 564 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2020 Subaru Forester Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2020 Subaru Forester, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Visibility/Wiper
234 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru onlyUnknown Or Other
67 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru onlyVisibility
49 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility issues Subaru onlyElectrical System
44 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Subaru onlyEngine
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Subaru onlyElectrical System,Engine
14 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Engine issues Subaru onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2020 Subaru Forester
Reliability Score
The 2020 Subaru Forester receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2020 Subaru Forester
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2020 Subaru Forester
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2020 Subaru Forester:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System Issues The electrical system is prone to issues, including stalling and unexpected shutdowns, which can occur at 30,000 to 60,000 miles. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Airbag System Malfunction The airbag system has a critical sensor issue, affecting seatbelt functionality and requiring immediate attention. |
High | Common | 0-10k miles |
| Visibility And Wiper Problems Visibility and wiper malfunctions are common, with reports of poor visibility and wiper blade failure. |
Medium | Occasional | 0-10k miles |
| Engine Stalling Engine stalling and unexpected shutdowns are frequent, especially at 30,000 to 60,000 miles, posing safety risks. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2020 Subaru Forester:
44% of reported issues are related to the electrical system, including stalling and unexpected shutdowns.
15% of reported issues are related to the airbag system, with critical sensor issues.
49% of reported issues are related to visibility and wipers, including poor visibility and wiper blade failure.
15% of reported issues are related to the engine, with stalling and unexpected shutdowns.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2020 Subaru Forester
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2020 Subaru Forester with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 complaints involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
My Apple Car Play has never worked since I bought the car new in 2020. The dealership's solution each time I asked about it was for me to get a new plug in cord, update my iPhone settings, and then they can update the system manually. I have taken it in multiple times, and each time it has worked for 2-3 weeks before it no longer works again. This is dangerous because it usually happens mid-drive,...
stalling/shutting down at stoplights with the auto start-stop feature has occurred continuously for the last 2 years I’ve taken to dealer, and multiple mechanics and they can’t find a problem
My son, [XXX] is currently driving this car. The car only has 29,200 miles so far. Last week, while at the stop light on the hill, he had near fatal accident! Forester suddenly completed shut down. The only functioning part was the brake. My son had to put the car in park and restart the engine. I reported the incident to customer advocate at Subaru and taking the car in for inspection. We never s...
The airbag system has a sensor issue and I keep getting warnings from Subaru to get it fixed because it affects the seatbelts. The garage where I take my car says they are unable to get the part needed for the passenger sensor. And, Subaru says they need to replace the whole harness for $6000. Makes me wonder why a safety issue like this one seen in other Subaru’s have been recalled but not my m...
While driving my 2020 Subaru Forester at approximately 15 mph, the engine unexpectedly shut off, resulting in an immediate loss of propulsion (vehicle stall while in motion). This created a safety risk because the vehicle was in traffic and could have been struck from behind or lost the ability to accelerate out of danger. No crash occurred and there were no injuries. There were no warning lamps, ...
Since I purchased my Subaru Forester new in 2020, people regularly flash their high beams at me at night when my low beams are on, because they think I have my high beams on. I also flash my high beams at cars when I think they have their high beams on then they do the same, to show me they have their low beams on. It needs to be illegal for manufacturers of cars and/or headlights to manufacture l...
While driving on public roads, all dash warning lights illuminated simultaneously. The instrument cluster displayed “EyeSight OFF.” At the same time, the electronic parking brake engaged / the vehicle would not accelerate and required me to stop and shift to Park. The only way to restore drivability was to turn the vehicle off and restart. This has occurred intermittently, including in traffic, cr...
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while his wife was stopped at a red traffic light in the middle lane and surrounded by other vehicles, the auto START/STOP system engaged; however, when the brake pedal was released, the vehicle failed to restart. After several attempts, the vehicle eventually restarted, allowing the driver to safely pull over. There were no warning ...
Car frequently dies and won't want to start. Have changed the battery already. Will come to a stop and it will just randomly shut down. Have had to shift to park and restart the car. This is unsafe.
2020 Subaru Forester periodically will stall out at a light or stop sign in heavy traffic. It then takes several attempts to restart. (Sometimes completely dead) My mechanic hasI changed the battery and checked the alternator, all in working order. It’s hard to figure out what is wrong because it doesn’t happen all the time.
We were traveling in rural California, 1 hour north of Bishop, CA on [XXX] when our vehicle's "Check Engine" light, "Parking Break" light, and several other lights lit up on our dashboard. Our car began to stall out immediately. We were able to pull off to the side of the road as best as we could as we were towing a camper at the time as well. We waited for 4 hours to get our vehicle and camper to...
I, the owner of a 2020 Subaru Forester am writing to you in regards to an issue with my vehicle’s Eyesight program. Over the past month, there have been several instances where the Eyesight program fails and caused the vehicle to suddenly stop without warning. This prevents me from safely moving the vehicle to the side of the road as the car stops. In other words, the car abruptly stops on the spo...
When stopped at an intersection the car stalled. It would not restart for three minutes and caused a dangerous situation for my family and children in the car while traffic was moving. There were no warning signs, lights, or engine codes. The problem is random and cannot reproduced. The car is available for inspection.
Parasitic battery drain
As I was driving my 2020 Subaru Forester a cracked suddenly appeared across the driver side of the windshield, possibly from a small pebble. The sunlight reflection off the crack sent blinding sunlight into my eyes which nearly caused a collision with the car stopped in front of me. I now have another crack that started from the other side making my car unsafe to drive. Both cracks continue to...
I was stopped at a red light and the engine stalled. It read "FOR SAFETY, AUTO RESTART DISABLED". All warning lights on the dashboard lit up. I had to put the car in park and restart it in order to drive. I was honked at and put in a dangerous position. This has happened at least twice now.
This has happened 8 times in a month span. The car is currently being looked at by the dealership and so far they can’t find anything wrong. When I’m stopped in traffic, my car’s engine turns off. Once the light turns green and I press on the accelerator I hear a beep and the car doesn’t move . The dashboard shows a few error messages and a message stating that the eyesight has been turned off. ...
my Subaru suddenly had numerous warning lights go on. Took it to the dealer and they said it was due to a recalled part: thermo control valve. They replaced it for free but said my head gaskets needed to be replaced after checking my oil for $4000 plus. I believe the recalled part caused the head gasket issue and shouldn’t have to pay also the mileage is only 66k
While driving, the vehicle's Automatic Stop-Start System Engaged as usual when the car came to a stop (e.g., at a red light or in traffic). However, when releasing the brake, the Automatic Stop-Start System failed to restart the engine. Not only it failed to restart the engine, but multiple attempts of manually start the engine all failed. And the car became stranded in the middle of road with hea...
I was on cruise control, and it randomly decided to go 81 MPH instead of 50 mph i set it to, it did not respond when I tried to turn off the cruise control, and I ended up crashing into a semi, I survived but my [XXX] daughter died. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Showing 20 of 588 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2020 Subaru Forester
Has the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER been recalled?
No, the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER has no recalls on record with NHTSA as of our latest data update.
How many complaints does the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER have?
The 2020 SUBARU FORESTER has 588 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 25 involved crashes. 16 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER?
The 2020 SUBARU FORESTER received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER involve visibility/wiper (234 complaints), unknown or other (67 complaints), visibility (49 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, engine, electrical system,engine.
How many crash reports does the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER have?
There are 25 crash reports associated with the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER out of 588 total complaints (4.3% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER have?
There are 7 fire reports for the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER out of 588 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER.
How many injuries are reported for the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER?
16 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2020 SUBARU FORESTER?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER is proceed with caution. It has 588 complaints, 0 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER?
The components with the most failures on the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER are: 1. VISIBILITY/WIPER (234 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (67 complaints), 3. VISIBILITY (49 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (44 complaints), 5. ENGINE (15 complaints). VISIBILITY/WIPER is the single most-reported problem area with 234 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2020 SUBARU FORESTER?
Be cautious of electrical system and engine issues, as they can pose safety risks. Regular maintenance is crucial, especially for the airbag system and windshield wipers. The 2020 SUBARU FORESTER has 588 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER?
The 2020 SUBARU FORESTER receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 588 owner complaints, 0 recalls, and 32 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Electrical System Issues and Airbag System Malfunction.
What are the known issues with the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER?
Known issues with the 2020 SUBARU FORESTER include: Electrical System Issues, Airbag System Malfunction, Visibility and Wiper Problems, Engine Stalling. These are based on patterns found across 588 NHTSA complaints.
What are the most common issues with the 2020 Subaru Forester?
The most common issues are electrical system problems, engine stalling, visibility and wiper malfunctions, and airbag system malfunctions.
How often do electrical system issues occur?
Electrical system issues occur frequently, with 44% of reported issues related to this component.
What should I do if I experience unexpected engine shutdowns?
If you experience unexpected engine shutdowns, have the vehicle inspected by a professional to ensure safety.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of electrical system and engine issues, as they can pose safety risks. Regular maintenance is crucial, especially for the airbag system and windshield wipers.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2020 Subaru Forester
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2020 Subaru Forester. The data includes 588 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 0 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 25 reported crashes, 7 fire incidents, 16 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2020 Subaru Forester an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16