2021 Subaru Forester Safety Report
2021 Subaru Forester Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2021 Subaru Forester
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2021 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 (197) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 20 | 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 | 2024 | Compare against the 2024 Subaru Forester with 26 complaints and 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Subaru Forester | 91 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Subaru Forester | 588 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2023 Subaru Forester | 64 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Subaru Forester | 828 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2024 Subaru Forester | 26 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Subaru Forester | 480 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2021 Subaru Forester Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2021 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
67 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru onlyUnknown Or Other
19 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru onlyVisibility
13 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility issues Subaru onlyElectrical System
12 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Subaru onlyEngine
10 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Subaru onlyVehicle Speed Control
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Vehicle Speed Control issues Subaru onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2021 Subaru Forester
Reliability Score
The 2021 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 2021 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 2021 Subaru Forester
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2021 Subaru Forester:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unintentional Acceleration The vehicle has experienced unintentional acceleration, with two incidents reported within four days. This can be dangerous, especially in traffic. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Shutdowns In Traffic The vehicle has experienced multiple engine shutdowns while stopped in traffic, requiring a manual restart each time. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Clunking Noise From Front A clunking noise from the front of the car was reported at 37,000 miles, with no resolution found by the dealer. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Battery Drain The vehicle has a battery drain issue, requiring frequent battery replacements, with the latest battery needing to be replaced at 45,000 miles. |
Medium | Occasional | 45k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2021 Subaru Forester:
Engine shutdowns and unintentional acceleration are the most common issues reported.
Battery drain and replacement are frequent problems.
Electrical system issues, including wiper problems, are also common.
Visibility issues, such as wiper problems, have been reported.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2021 Subaru Forester
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2021 Subaru Forester with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 5 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 3 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owned a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 4 MPH and slowing to park, the vehicle accelerated on its own. The contact stated that the vehicle drove out of the parking lot and crashed into a wall. The contact stated that the air bags deployed and that the vehicle had then shifted into reverse (R) and driven out away from the wall and crashed int...
Car drains battery. 45,000 miles and has had 3 batteries and have been told it needs another. Dealer says start stop switch, requires a battery of 750 CCA and not the Subaru recommend battery. Car will die in traffic and driver seat adjusts to different positions by itself. Told that these problems will never stop unless I get a higher rated battery than required.
On January16,2026 while driving from Houston,TX to Austin TX the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power on Highway 71 W. We were traveling at approximately 70 MPH when the engine completely failed. We were forced to immediately pull over onto a narrow shoulder Our situation at that point was dire: we could not exit the vehicle as other cars were speeding by. Fortunately an emergency vehicle...
Vehicle was delivered with the wrong battery - reserve capacity. The car stalls out in idle position creating safety issues. My wife was stranded and we had the original battery replaced with the specs from the previous battery…causing the same issues to occur. Finally, we were informed of the improper battery installation
I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding repeated, severe, and dangerous malfunctions of the vehicle's engine Start/Stop (Idle Stop) feature. The system is failing to operate as intended, resulting in the engine stalling while the vehicle is in motion or under crucial driving circumstances, creating significant safety hazards. History of Incidents I have experienced four separate inciden...
My Subaru has an auto start/stop. I was at a complete stop, making a left-hand turn, and my car completely shuts off with the following message: For safety, auto restart disabled; eyesight with a \ through the words, put car in park and restart vehicle. In the time it took me to put the car in park and restart, I was almost T-bone. This was terrifying. This had happened on previous occasion in st...
The vehicle has experienced four separate engine shutdowns while stopped in traffic. Each time, the engine turned off unexpectedly, requiring a manual restart. One incident occurred near a railroad crossing with my child in the car. The vehicle also lurches forward at low speeds and hesitates when accelerating after being stopped. These issues persist despite service visits. I believe they may rel...
Issue started with hearing a clunking noise from the front of the car, had the dealer inspect at 37,000 miles. They said they the clunking was caused by ECU issue and reprogrammed the ECU to correct it. Obviously, a software update did not correct the noise. Had an independent repair shop inspect the vehicle and found both front control arm bushings were cracked and torn allowing the control arm t...
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic signal, the vehicle stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving over railroad tracks, the vehicle stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact cont...
Unintentional Acceleration - 2 times within 4 days of each incident. 9/17/25 while stopped to pull into a parking lot my 2021 Subaru Forester accelerated as I was stopped. I had to slam on the brakes, take a deep breath and was shocked at the pull and speed the car wanted to go. 9/20/25 Pulled into a parking spot, not moving and the car again pulled and accelerated. Again I slammed on the br...
I was going down a highway using the lane keeping assistance feature. Suddenly the vehicle stopped following the road and ran me into a ditch. I was able to steer back onto the road, but if the ditch had been deeper I believe there would have been a rollover accident. The root cause is that when the audio system is turned up in the vehicle, the warning chimes do not interrupt the music or sound lo...
driving on [XXX] in NJ on [XXX] at approximately [XXX] my car just stopped in traffic and steering locked up and all lights came on dashboard along with a constant beeping sound-I was in the middle of a four lane highway traveling south-I could not get out of my car and feared someone would hit me as I was a "sitting duck" while cars were swerving around me-my only saving grace was that my flasher...
After arriving home from a short drive to the grocery store I parked my car in the drive way and went inside. On the drive home I could hear a low humming coming from the speakers and the car was decelerating when the accelerator was not being pressed, no warning lights or sounds came on. About 10 minutes after I parked a neighbor knocked on the door letting me know my car was smoking from insid...
On 8/12/15, I had stopped at a stoplight. When the light changed and I attempted to move forward with traffic, the Eyesight Disabled warning came on and my car completely stalled and refused to move. The car prompted me to put it into park, I attempted this and it did not resolve the issue. After this, the car prompted to press the start/stop button. This also did not work. I eventually had to com...
Vehicle unexpectedly brakes for no apparent reason, has almost caused us to be rear ended. Subaru inspected vehicle, says the Eyesight ADA camera needs to be replaced at our cost. This vehicle is only 4 years old and has 38,000 miles. This is clearly a safety defect.
Vehicle began surging during acceleration. Dealer stated that the Engine Intake Valves had carbon deposits that were causing performance issues including poor fuel economy, increased emissions and running concerns. The valves required a cleaning to correct the issue. This is a 4 year old vehicle with only 38,000 miles, this is unacceptable for issues like this so soon. Estimated cleaning cost is ...
On August 12, 2025, at approximately 10:16 AM, while driving at normal speed on CR-43 NW southbound just past Minnesota Ave in Big Lake, MN, my Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist System, specifically the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) / Pre-Collision Braking System, suddenly activated without warning and with no obstacle present. The braking was abrupt and unnecessary, causing the vehicle behind m...
We purchased a 2021 Subaru Forester Touring SUV on [XXX] at the El Cajon Subaru dealer and this July, I experienced the transmission (CVT) inadvertently shift from drive to neutral twice in one day. This was a concern to me and after I did research online, I was very surprised to discover that this has been an apparent issue with the CVT transmission. We then arranged to have the vehicle to...
At signal/stop sign or in stop and go traffic, Engine shuts down. Car is in park. Engine (or Car) makes beeping noise when this happens. Eyesight disabled shows on the screen (however this has nothing to do with that) There's existing lawsuit for cars until 2020. This problem exists for some 2021 model as well. Similar problem: [XXX] This is a recurring intermittent issue. Can't reproduce con...
The Thermo Control Valve failed and the engine overheated in April 2025. The car has only been driven 1,200 miles since then and the engine failed at 65,000 miles likely due to the TCV failure and engine damage.
Showing 20 of 197 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2021 Subaru Forester
Has the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER been recalled?
No, the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER has no recalls on record with NHTSA as of our latest data update.
How many complaints does the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER have?
The 2021 SUBARU FORESTER has 197 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 16 involved crashes. 8 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER?
The 2021 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 2021 SUBARU FORESTER?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER involve visibility/wiper (67 complaints), unknown or other (19 complaints), visibility (13 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, engine, vehicle speed control.
How many crash reports does the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER have?
There are 16 crash reports associated with the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER out of 197 total complaints (8.1% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER have?
There are 4 fire reports for the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER out of 197 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER.
How many injuries are reported for the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER?
8 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2021 SUBARU FORESTER?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER is acceptable with caveats. It has 197 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 2021 SUBARU FORESTER?
The components with the most failures on the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER are: 1. VISIBILITY/WIPER (67 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (19 complaints), 3. VISIBILITY (13 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (12 complaints), 5. ENGINE (10 complaints). VISIBILITY/WIPER is the single most-reported problem area with 67 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2021 SUBARU FORESTER?
Be cautious of potential unintentional acceleration and engine shutdowns in traffic. Regularly check the battery and electrical system for issues. The 2021 SUBARU FORESTER has 197 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER?
The 2021 SUBARU FORESTER receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 197 owner complaints, 0 recalls, and 20 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Unintentional Acceleration and Engine Shutdowns in Traffic.
What are the known issues with the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER?
Known issues with the 2021 SUBARU FORESTER include: Unintentional Acceleration, Engine Shutdowns in Traffic, Clunking Noise from Front, Battery Drain. These are based on patterns found across 197 NHTSA complaints.
What are the most common safety issues with the 2021 Subaru Forester?
The most common safety issues are unintentional acceleration and engine shutdowns in traffic.
How often do these issues occur?
These issues have been reported frequently, with some customers experiencing them multiple times.
What should I do if I experience unintentional acceleration?
Immediately apply the brakes and pull over to a safe location. Contact a professional for further assistance.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of potential unintentional acceleration and engine shutdowns in traffic. Regularly check the battery and electrical system for issues.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2021 Subaru Forester
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2021 Subaru Forester. The data includes 197 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 0 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 16 reported crashes, 4 fire incidents, 8 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2021 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