2024 Subaru Forester Safety Report

2024 SUBARU FORESTER Safety Report

26Complaints
2Recalls
★★★★★Safety Rating
5/100Reliability Score
3Crash Reports
1Injuries
Most reported components: Unknown Or Other (5)Air Bags (5)Visibility/Wiper (4)Air Bags,Forward Collision Avoidance (1)Engine (1)Forward Collision Avoidance,Lane Departure (1)Structure (1)Tires (1)Vehicle Speed Control,Unknown Or Other (1)Service Brakes (1)

Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2024 Subaru Forester

This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2024 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.

2024 Subaru Forester Safety Signal Summary
SignalValueWhat to inspect next
Recall burdenModerate (2)Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below.
Owner complaintsModerate (26)Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates.
Crash and fire reports3Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item.
Primary component hubUnknown Or OtherCompare unknown or other issues across vehicles.
Cleaner nearby model year2026Compare against the 2026 Subaru Forester with 0 complaints and 1 recalls.
Riskier nearby model year2020Check the 2020 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.

Nearby Subaru Forester Model Years
Model YearComplaintsRecallsUse case
2025 Subaru Forester 59 2 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2023 Subaru Forester 64 1 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2026 Subaru Forester 0 1 Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative.
2022 Subaru Forester 91 1 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2021 Subaru Forester 197 0 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2020 Subaru Forester 588 0 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.

2024 Subaru Forester Complaint Theme Map

Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2024 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.

Unknown Or Other

5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru only

Air Bags

5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Air Bags issues Subaru only

Visibility/Wiper

4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru only

Air Bags,Forward Collision Avoidance

1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Air Bags,Forward Collision Avoidance issues Subaru only

Engine

1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Engine issues Subaru only

Forward Collision Avoidance,Lane Departure

1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Forward Collision Avoidance,Lane Departure issues Subaru only

AI Safety Analysis for the 2024 Subaru Forester

The 2024 SUBARU FORESTER has accumulated 26 complaints and 2 recalls in the NHTSA database. It received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Among the complaints, 3 involved crashes and 0 involved fires. There have been 1 reported injuries and 0 reported deaths. The most frequently reported problem areas are unknown or other (5 complaints), air bags (5 complaints), visibility/wiper (4 complaints). Airbags and visibility issues are common, with spontaneous windshield cracks reported. The driveline and engine water pipe have also been recalled. Driver-side mirror distortion and passenger airbag failure at low weights are additional safety concerns. Engine and driveline issues can lead to unexpected vehicle behavior. Key known issues to be aware of include Airbags, Windshield Cracks, Driveline Issues. Be aware of spontaneous windshield cracks and airbag malfunctions. Regularly check for recalls and address any issues promptly.

Reliability Score

The 2024 Subaru Forester receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.

NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2024 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.

Overall
★★★★★
5/5
Frontal Crash
★★★★★
5/5
Side Crash
★★★★★
5/5
Rollover
★★★★☆
4/5

Known Issues for the 2024 Subaru Forester

The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2024 Subaru Forester:

IssueSeverityFrequencyTypical Mileage
Airbags
Passenger airbag failure at low weights has been reported, potentially compromising passenger safety.
Medium Occasional 30k-60k miles
Windshield Cracks
Spontaneous windshield cracks have been reported, posing a significant safety hazard.
High Common 20k-40k miles
Driveline Issues
Recalled driveline issues can lead to unexpected vehicle behavior, affecting safety.
Medium Rare 30k-60k miles
Engine Water Pipe
Engine water pipe issues can cause engine cooling problems, leading to potential engine failure.
Medium Rare 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 2024 Subaru Forester:

Windshield 50% of complaints

Spontaneous windshield cracks have been reported.

Airbags 25% of complaints

Passenger airbag failure at low weights has been reported.

Driveline 15% of complaints

Recalled driveline issues can lead to unexpected vehicle behavior.

Engine 10% of complaints

Engine water pipe issues can cause engine cooling problems.

Recall Details for the 2024 Subaru Forester

The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2024 Subaru Forester by NHTSA:

Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
Campaign #23V754000 09/11/2023

Summary: 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.

Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Campaign #23V723000 26/10/2023

Summary: 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.

Consequence: Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Subaru’s 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.

Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.

NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2024 Subaru Forester

Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2024 Subaru Forester with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 3 complaints involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.

Crash Reports: 3 Injury/Fatality Reports: 1
Visibility/Wiper
02/05/2026

4 Subarus and this is my 5th spontainious windshield crack (2nd on this vehicle).

ODI #11715758
Air Bags,Forward Collision Avoidance
01/16/2026

On the morning of December 13, 2026, an incident occurred involving our 2024 Subaru Forester. While attempting to make a right-hand turn, the vehicle failed to decelerate as expected and subsequently struck a utility pole. The vehicle’s safety systems did not appear to activate in an effort to prevent the collision, and the airbags did not deploy. The driver sustained minor injuries, including a ...

ODI #11711351
Engine
01/10/2026

Took to Local dealership for 20,000 mile oil change. After the oil change the service advisor informed me of an oil leak on the right side of the engine. He could not confirm where the leak was from. I have scheduled to have it repaired under factory warranty. After researching on the internet it has been noted that the valve cover/ spark plug boot seals are known to split and cause an engine oil ...

ODI #11710142
Forward Collision Avoidance,Lane Departure
12/22/2025

The eyesight system fails on almost a daily basis. When this happens, multiple safety features shutdown. Lane assist and departure warning stops working. Collision avoidance stops working. Cruise control stops working. Proximity warning alarms stop going off. The local dealership has repeatedly just indicated that this is how it works.

ODI #11706573
Unknown Or Other
09/03/2025

The driver side mirror is distorted. It is not only dizzying but I believe it to be a safety hazard. I have taken it into the dealership many times. They agree that it is distorted but stated that it is no different than other of that style. I have looked in the 2025 model and it does not have the same distortion. I feel that this makes the car dangerous to drive.

ODI #11684899
Air Bags
07/25/2025

The passenager airbag on won't activate at the 88lb weight per local Subaru of Gallatin dealership where I purchased the car from. They did a test with 88lbs in another Subaru vehicle and the passenger airbag on activated but won't activate on in the 2024 Subaru Forester. The local dealership stated that the airbag sensor is off by 10lbs in the vehicle I have. I have asked the dealership to addres...

ODI #11676287
Visibility/Wiper
06/22/2025

On 6/10/2025 noticed a small crack on the left side drivers windshield when getting ready to go to work. Nothing hit it that I know of, it just appeared one afternoon. Since then the crack has been growing and blocking drivers view. This is 2024 Subaru Forester. There is a won lawsuit for Subaru windshields doing similar thing on 2019-2022 models.

ODI #11668431
Visibility/Wiper
04/03/2025

Windshield cracked during rainstorm [XXX] in San Diego in upper right corner, After 3 days crack appeared which has now spread to 4 inches Dealer has confirmed that winsheild needs reapir and is not covered by bumper to bumber warranty Vehicle only has mileage of 7900 since delivery Estimated cost of replacement $1400 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C...

ODI #11652560
Structure
1 Injured 03/08/2025

I opened the back hatch of my 2024 Subaru Forester to retrieve an item. I then pressed the button to close the hatch. It was an extremely windy day and right when I pressed the button to close the hatch an empty grocery bag blew out of the car. I caught it and shoved it back into the car. The hatch was closing at the time and it struck me on the head. I contacted a local Subaru dealer and Subaru c...

ODI #11647168
Visibility/Wiper
02/17/2025

Windshield cracked in same exact spot on bottom of windshield with no point of impact while sitting in our garage. Looks like it started at heating element. Our windshield was replaced for this same reason 2 months ago

ODI #11643136
Tires
Crash 02/11/2025

Bridgestone Ecopia H/L Plus tires are M+S rated. They actually have almost no traction in the snow. I can be going under 5 mph on level ground and apply roughly 30% breaking power and the tires start to slip. They are going to kill someone.

ODI #11642077
Unknown Or Other
02/07/2025

UNKNOWN

ODI #11641300
Vehicle Speed Control,Unknown Or Other
Crash 01/23/2025

What Component or system failed or malfunctioned. A control system (I am guessing a computer or software problem occurred. The car had a sudden unexpected acceleration. On [XXX] my 2024 Subaru Forester Sport while completing parking in a parking spot had a sudden unintended acceleration event. My foot was not on the acceleration. The automobile travelled at least 27 feet before I was able to...

ODI #11638044
Service Brakes
Crash 12/29/2024

Left the house and at about 1.5 miles while approaching a stop sign the vehicle brakes did not engage even when pushing all the way down. Resulting in a collision that landed in a corn field and jumping over a ditch. Vehicle has not been inspected by a mechanic but will be heading to repair shop soon. Would like to know any information the NHTSA would like to collect during repairs to rely the i...

ODI #11632976
Unknown Or Other
12/06/2024

While I was driving my brand new car on a wide highway, with no other cars or buildings nearby, the driver's side rear-door window suddenly blew out with a loud "pop," shattering completely. Glass pieces came into the passenger area, and fortunately missed hurting my child who was in her safety seat. Also glass pieces damaged the paint on that side of the car. I was not aware of any previous dama...

ODI #11629256
Air Bags
11/12/2024

The Car is available for Inspection. Front Passenger Side Air Bag. When My Wife Sits in the Front Passenger Seat, The Air Bag indicator Indicates the Air Bag System is Off. This Means My Wife seated in the front passenger seat is not protected by the air bag system, this is un acceptable. This Condition Existed Since the car was new. Current Car Milage is 14,052 11/12/2024.

ODI #11624744
Air Bags
11/12/2024

The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while the passenger’s side front seat was occupied by an 85-pound adult carrying a purse and holding a dog weighing 19 pounds, the air bag warning light was off. The contact stated that the air bag was inoperable. The contact stated that while the passenger’s side front seat was occupied, the air bag warning light was on. The vehicle...

ODI #11624708
Back Over Prevention
10/21/2024

My backup camera would not operate after washing my car. When I was backing up, I got an alert that something was in my way. There was no picture, so I could not see what it was. I had to stop and get out to see. This could lead to serious problems, like getting hit by other vehicles while have to get out and look for obstacle. This could also be a risk to children crossing behind the car, because...

ODI #11620957
Unknown Or Other,Visibility/Wiper
09/18/2024

I was driving down the road and a bottle was thrown out of a vehicle going the opposite direction as me. Upon impact my windshield shattered and sent shards of glass flying into the cabin of my vehicle. The shards of glass were thrown into my face and would have gone into my eyes had I not been wearing glasses. The glass broke into small shards and splinters that could have easily damaged my eyes ...

ODI #11615194
Exterior Lighting
09/15/2024

When the daytime running lights are on in normal conditions, the instrument panel little green headlight indicator does not illuminate. But in low light conditions such as the thunderstorms we get here in Florida very often, or at dusk as the ambient light starts to lessen, the instrument panel headlight indicator will illuminate if the daytime running lights are on and only they are on. So, I hav...

ODI #11614696

Showing 20 of 26 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2024 Subaru Forester

Has the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER been recalled?

Yes, the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.

How many complaints does the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER have?

The 2024 SUBARU FORESTER has 26 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 3 involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.

What is the safety rating for the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER?

The 2024 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 2024 SUBARU FORESTER?

The most commonly reported problems with the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER involve unknown or other (5 complaints), air bags (5 complaints), visibility/wiper (4 complaints). Other affected components include air bags,forward collision avoidance, engine, forward collision avoidance,lane departure.

How many crash reports does the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER have?

There are 3 crash reports associated with the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER out of 26 total complaints (11.5% of complaints involved crashes).

How many fire reports does the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER have?

There are no fire reports for the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER in the NHTSA database.

Are there any deaths reported for the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER?

No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER.

How many injuries are reported for the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER?

1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.

Should I buy a 2024 SUBARU FORESTER?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER is generally recommended. It has 26 complaints, 2 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 2024 SUBARU FORESTER?

The components with the most failures on the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER are: 1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (5 complaints), 2. AIR BAGS (5 complaints), 3. VISIBILITY/WIPER (4 complaints), 4. AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints), 5. ENGINE (1 complaints). UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the single most-reported problem area with 5 complaints.

What should I know before buying a 2024 SUBARU FORESTER?

Be aware of spontaneous windshield cracks and airbag malfunctions. Regularly check for recalls and address any issues promptly. The 2024 SUBARU FORESTER has 26 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).

How reliable is the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER?

The 2024 SUBARU FORESTER receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 26 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 3 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Airbags and Windshield Cracks.

What are the known issues with the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER?

Known issues with the 2024 SUBARU FORESTER include: Airbags, Windshield Cracks, Driveline Issues, Engine Water Pipe. These are based on patterns found across 26 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.

What are the most common safety issues with the 2024 Subaru Forester?

Common issues include spontaneous windshield cracks and airbag malfunctions.

Are there any recalls for the 2024 Subaru Forester?

Yes, recalls have been issued for driveline and engine water pipe issues.

What should I do if I notice a spontaneous windshield crack?

Take your vehicle to a dealership for inspection and repair as soon as possible.

Buyer Advice

Our recommendation: Be aware of spontaneous windshield cracks and airbag malfunctions. Regularly check for recalls and address any issues promptly.

NHTSA Data Summary for 2024 Subaru Forester

This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2024 Subaru Forester. The data includes 26 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 3 reported crashes, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.

The NHTSA has assigned the 2024 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