Subaru Forester Years to Avoid — not where the reputation says.
The Forester's biggest complaint isn't the engine: 461 of the 2019's 834 complaints describe a cracked windshield, and the 2019 drew the most of any year. The 2014–2015 come next, for snapping springs and oil use. Head gaskets, the old reputation, barely register in NHTSA's records.
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Quick Answer
- What Subaru Forester years should you avoid?
- The 2019–2020 for windshields that crack, often with nothing hitting them: 461 and 356 complaints. The 2014–2015 for broken rear coil springs, oil use and the CVT; the 2015 drew 617 complaints, the second-most of any year. A Reddit commenter also warns off the first year of any generation.
- What are the best years for a used Forester?
- Among Foresters from 1998 to 2021, 2008 (50), 2007 (74), 2013 (78) drew the fewest complaints. Owners on Reddit call 2011–2013 the "Goldilocks" years; NHTSA's record for those three is 147, 107 and 78 complaints.
- Which Forester years have head gasket problems?
- Owners tie head gaskets to the older engines, before 2011. NHTSA's records are thin: 88 of 1,980 complaints on 1998–2012 Foresters mention a head gasket. Either way, ask any seller of a pre-2011 Forester whether the gaskets have been done.
Five checks for a used Forester, starting with its generation code
A Forester's VIN carries its generation in plain sight. Start there, then check what that generation is known for.
- 1Read characters 4 and 5SH is a 2009–2013 Forester, SJ 2014–2018, SK 2019–2024.
- 22017–2021: look at the windshieldOwners describe cracks appearing with no impact; check for chips and lines.
- 32014–2015: look behind the rear wheelsOwners found pieces of coil spring on the road; a broken coil is visible.
- 42011–2015: check the oil levelAsk how often it's topped up; one owner adds about half a quart every 4,000 miles.
- 5Check title and mileage recordsA Forester with high mileage is normal; a gap in its records is not.
The Forester's Surprise: Windshields, Not Engines
Ask most people about Forester problems and they say head gaskets. NHTSA's records tell a different story. The 2019, a new design, drew 834 complaints, the most of any Forester, and 461 of them describe the windshield. The 2020 adds 356, and the 2017, 2018 and 2021 another 415 between them.
Owners describe cracks spreading across the glass on the highway with no stone or debris, sometimes weeks after delivery, and waits for replacement glass. No recall on NHTSA's list covers the Forester's windshield. A crack is cheaper to fix than an engine, but on a 2017–2021 it is worth checking the glass and asking whether it has been replaced.
The 2019 also drew 86 complaints about EyeSight or the automatic emergency braking, and the 2020 drew 70.
Every Subaru Forester Model Year Compared
NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns for every Forester from 1998 to 2026, read on 12 November 2026. The generation code is characters 4 and 5 of the VIN.
| Year | Generation (VIN code) | Complaints | Crash · fire reports | Recalls | Most-cited component |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1st (SF) | 112 | 7 · 5 | 1 | Power Train |
| 1999 | 1st (SF) | 141 | 5 · 1 | 1 | Power Train |
| 2000 | 1st (SF) | 79 | 7 · 0 | 0 | Power Train |
| 2001 | 1st (SF) | 146 | 32 · 0 | 0 | Vehicle Speed Control |
| 2002 | 1st (SF) | 93 | 22 · 1 | 1 | Vehicle Speed Control |
| 2003 | 2nd (SG) | 191 | 17 · 0 | 3 | Fuel System |
| 2004 | 2nd (SG) | 219 | 13 · 4 | 2 | Fuel/Propulsion System |
| 2005 | 2nd (SG) | 93 | 15 · 1 | 1 | Suspension |
| 2006 | 2nd (SG) | 88 | 12 · 7 | 2 | Vehicle Speed Control |
| 2007 | 2nd (SG) | 74 | 13 · 1 | 1 | Suspension |
| 2008 | 2nd (SG) | 50 | 5 · 3 | 1 | Suspension |
| 2009 | 3rd (SH) | 178 | 19 · 7 | 18 | Air Bags |
| 2010 | 3rd (SH) | 262 | 21 · 6 | 17 | Seats |
| 2011 | 3rd (SH) | 147 | 21 · 6 | 16 | Engine |
| 2012 | 3rd (SH) | 107 | 15 · 5 | 15 | Engine |
| 2013 | 3rd (SH) | 78 | 13 · 3 | 12 | Engine |
| 2014 | 4th (SJ) | 403 | 48 · 3 | 2 | Suspension |
| 2015 | 4th (SJ) | 617 | 53 · 7 | 3 | Engine |
| 2016 | 4th (SJ) | 416 | 40 · 3 | 3 | Air Bags |
| 2017 | 4th (SJ) | 593 | 40 · 1 | 1 | Air Bags |
| 2018 | 4th (SJ) | 499 | 26 · 1 | 3 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 2019 | 5th (SK) | 834 | 37 · 11 | 3 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 2020 | 5th (SK) | 603 | 26 · 9 | 0 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 2021 | 5th (SK) | 215 | 16 · 5 | 0 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 2022 | 5th (SK) | 100 | 8 · 6 | 1 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 2023 | 5th (SK) | 76 | 8 · 4 | 1 | Forward Collision Avoidance |
| 2024 | 5th (SK) | 31 | 5 · 1 | 2 | Air Bags |
| 2025 | 6th (SL) | 102 | 13 · 2 | 3 | Forward Collision Avoidance |
| 2026 | 6th (SL) | 35 | 0 · 0 | 4 | Electrical System |
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not divided by sales. Hybrids NHTSA files under a separate model name are not included.
Be Careful With: the 2014–2015 Forester
The fourth generation arrived for 2014 with a CVT in place of the old automatic, and the 2014 drew 403 complaints and the 2015 617, the second-most of any Forester. The suspension is the component named most on the 2014 (94 complaints).
The fault behind it is unusual: 38 complaints on the 2014 and 26 on the 2015 describe a rear coil spring breaking, with owners finding pieces of it in the driveway or hearing a bang as they park. Oil use is the other: 26 and 22 complaints describe the engine using oil, as do 28 on the 2011, the first year of the newer engine.
On the 2015, 59 complaints mention the CVT or transmission. Owners in the comments below report 2014–2015 Foresters past 165,000 miles, but several mention oil top-ups and A/C compressors along the way.
2014–2015 by the numbers
- 403 · 617 complaints on the 2014 and 2015.
- 38 · 26 describe a broken rear coil spring.
- 26 · 22 describe the engine using oil.
- Recall 19V701000: 2015–2018 Foresters with heated seats: a loose connection in the passenger seat's occupant sensor can switch the airbag off.
Head Gaskets: What Owners Say and What NHTSA Shows
The Forester's head-gasket reputation comes from its older engines, and owners on Reddit draw the line at 2011, when the third generation should have had upgraded gaskets. Their advice: no first-year models, and check whether the engine has a timing belt or a chain.
NHTSA's records are much quieter than the reputation. Across 1998–2012, 88 of 1,980 complaints mention a head gasket. A complaint count only shows who filed one, so read that figure as a floor. It does mean the gasket years don't stand out in the federal record the way the 2019 windshields do.
Older Foresters in NHTSA's records
- 88 of 1,980 complaints on 1998–2012 Foresters mention a head gasket.
- 50 on the 2008 the fewest of any Forester from 1998 to 2021.
- Recall 11V464000: 2003–2008 Foresters from salt-belt states: the front lower control arm can corrode and break.
- Recall 19V297000: 2009–2013 Foresters with a replacement ignition switch whose spring can break and shut the engine off.
Other Forester Years With a Weak Spot
Smaller clusters in NHTSA's records, and the recalls behind them.
2010: seats
76 of the 2010's 262 complaints name the seats; owners describe a driver's-seat bracket breaking.
2009–2013: airbag inflators
12 inflator recall campaigns name Foresters from these years.
2019: power steering
Recall 19V065000: a connector inside the power-steering unit can cut the assist.
2019–2020: EyeSight
86 and 70 complaints about EyeSight or automatic braking.
2024: coolant pipe
Recall 23V723000: an engine water pipe with loose bolts can leak coolant.
2022 onward: quiet so far
100 complaints on the 2022 and 76 on the 2023.
What Forester Owners Say on Reddit and YouTube
Forester owners are loyal and practical. The comments run to very high mileage on 2001–2015 cars, with recurring notes about oil top-ups, A/C compressors and wheel bearings rather than engine failures.
One Reddit commenter names the 2008 among the worst Foresters. NHTSA's record disagrees: the 2008 drew 50 complaints, the fewest of any year from 1998 to 2021.
In owners' words (paraphrased)
- r/SubaruForester, best years: a commenter says their research points to 2011–2013 as the Goldilocks years, with 2008 and 2014 the worst.
- r/SubaruForester, first Forester: a commenter says avoid first-year models; 2011-on third-generation cars should have the upgraded head gaskets.
- r/SubaruForester, 2015 owner: an original owner traded in their 2015 at 149,859 miles for a 2024.
- YouTube, 2015 Forester: an owner reports 265,000 miles and kept it after buying a 2023, because nothing was wrong with it.
- YouTube, 2014 2.5: an owner says it uses some oil depending on how it's driven, and at 168,000 miles has needed only rear wheel bearings.
- YouTube, 2015 2.5i Premium: an owner at 170,000 miles is on the car's third A/C compressor.
- YouTube, 2015 2.5i: an owner adds about half a quart of oil every 4,000 miles and had the valve body replaced under warranty.
- YouTube, 2020 Premium: an owner credits EyeSight with braking before a head-on crash with a drunk driver.
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Forester Complaints by Generation
By generation, the fifth (2019–2024) carries the most complaints, driven by windshields, and the fourth (2014–2018) the next most. The first three generations, where the head-gasket stories come from, are the quietest in NHTSA's records.
The Foresters Our Visitors Check
Between 13 June 2026 and 11 November 2026, visitors ran 756 different Subaru Forester VINs through our free preview. Read by the VIN's generation code, 347 (46%) were SJ Foresters from 2014–2018, 196 (26%) SK models from 2019–2024 and 111 (15%) SH models from 2009–2013.
The most-checked single year was the 2017, at 82 VINs. The SJ years carry the spring and oil complaints, so they are the ones to look under and dipstick before you buy.
Fewest vs. Most Forester Complaints
The five Forester years from 1998 to 2021 with the fewest NHTSA complaints, against the five with the most.
Fewest complaints (1998–2021)
- 2008: 50 complaints, 1 recall
- 2007: 74 complaints, 1 recall
- 2013: 78 complaints, 12 recalls
- 2000: 79 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2006: 88 complaints, 2 recalls
Most complaints
- 2019: 834 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2015: 617 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2020: 603 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2017: 593 complaints, 1 recall
- 2018: 499 complaints, 3 recalls
Recall counts include multi-model campaigns.
What to Check on a Used Forester
By generation, the faults to look for.
2017–2021: the windshield
Look for chips and cracks, and ask whether the glass was replaced.
2014–2015: rear springs
Look behind each rear wheel for a broken coil.
2011–2015: oil use
Check the dipstick and ask how often it's topped up.
2014–2016: the CVT
Drive it warm; no shudder, whine or hesitation.
Before 2011: head gaskets
Look for oil or coolant seepage and ask for gasket receipts.
Any year: VIN records
Open recalls, title brands and odometer history.
Reading Forester Complaint Numbers
NHTSA complaints are owner reports, not verified and not divided by sales. Compare years with each other: 499 for the 2018 against 834 for the 2019 is the jump, and most of it is glass.
The fault counts come from searching the words owners used. An owner who wrote "the rear end collapsed" without mentioning a spring is not counted, so treat these figures as a minimum. The newest Foresters have had a year or two to collect complaints, which is why the "fewest" list stops at 2021.
Related Checks and Guides
Recalls, history checks and the Forester's rivals.
Where These Facts Come From
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's own records; owner experiences are linked so you can read them in full.
NHTSA records read 12 November 2026. Written by the CarCheckerVIN editorial team with AI assistance, from NHTSA's complaint and recall records, our own preview logs and the owner posts linked above; figures checked November 2026. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Subaru.
Subaru Forester Years to Avoid — Frequently Asked Questions
Windshields, springs, oil and head gaskets.
What is the worst year for the Subaru Forester?+
By NHTSA complaint count, the 2019 (834), then the 2015 (617) and the 2020 (603). Most 2019 complaints are about the windshield.
Why do 2019 Forester windshields crack?+
NHTSA's complaints don't say, and no recall covers it. 461 owners of 2019 Foresters describe the windshield, many saying it cracked with nothing hitting it.
Does the Forester have head gasket problems?+
Owners tie them to the pre-2011 engines. In NHTSA's records, 88 of 1,980 complaints on 1998–2012 Foresters mention a head gasket.
Do 2014–2015 Foresters burn oil?+
Some do: 26 and 22 complaints describe oil use, and owners in the comments below report top-ups between changes. Check the dipstick and ask the seller.
Is the 2008 Forester a good used buy?+
On NHTSA's record, yes: 50 complaints, the fewest of any Forester from 1998 to 2021. It predates the 2011 engine change, so ask about the head gaskets, and confirm recall 11V464000 if it came from a salt-belt state.
Will your report show these problems?+
No history report can see a cracked windshield or a worn gasket. Ours lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos for the VIN. Recalls are free to check on NHTSA's site.
Check the Forester, Then the Reputation
The year tells you what to look at; the VIN and a look underneath tell you the rest. Free preview first; the full report is $14.99 and lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's public records as read on 12 November 2026; complaints are unverified owner reports. Owner comments are paraphrased from the linked posts. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Subaru. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
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