2013 SUBARU FORESTER

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    engine oil consumption

    10 unsafe, 2 annoyance

    12
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=10, median 46,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "2013 SUBARU FORESTER - CONSTANTLY BURNING OIL. NEEDS TO BE REPLENISHED OFTEN. *JS"~19,600 mi, complaint #1155278
    • "IN JUNE WHILE DRIVING TO LA FROM YOSEMITE, MY OIL LIGHT BEGAN FLICKERING, ENGINE HAD ABOUT 46K, THEN CAME ON AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING FROM SAN DIEGO TO LA. SUBARU TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY OIL SWITCH. REPLACED WITH AUTOZONE PS309. DROVE FROM DENVER TO BISMARCK…"~43,000 mi, complaint #1311299
    • "FAILED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST ,ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED .I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY SECOND SUBARU FORESTER 2011 ITS ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED TOO. IN BOTH CARS I FOUND THE PROBLEMS ACCIDENTALLY WHEN I TOOK THE2011 TO HVE NEW TIERS I ASKED THEM TO CHECK OI…"~69,324 mi, complaint #1508897
    • "I JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM MECHANIC AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR OIL CHANGE. THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE PAN, DIPSTICK CLEAN! I DO NOT HAVE A LEAK AS I PARK IN GARAGE AND WOULD SEE IT. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON DASH, WHICH IS A HUGE CONCERN! LOOKING BACK SUBARU H…"~78,000 mi, complaint #1498074
    • "The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Forester. While the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle…"~150,000 mi, complaint #2062746
  2. #2

    airbag system

    7 unsafe

    7
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "I HAD A SIDE IMPACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT CRUSHED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS AND BLEW OUT THE DRIVER'S WINDOW. THE IMPACT NEARLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND AGAIN THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED BUT THERE WERE SERIOUS IN…"~3,200 mi, complaint #1006173
    • "DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DID NOT SEE A UPS TRUCK PARKED ALONG SIDE OF. ROAD . REAR ENDED THE TRUCK HAD SEAT BELT ON AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND HEAD STILL HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHY DIDN'T. THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT PREVENT THIS?"~28,000 mi, complaint #1197110
    • "The contact owned a 2013 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at 58 mph, another vehicle behind the contact rear-ended their vehicle which caused the vehicle to spun out of control and hit a concrete barrier between highways twice causing damages…"~60,698 mi, complaint #1765339
  3. #3

    engine internal

    3 stranded, 3 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH OTHER UNKNOWN INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT OPENED…"~55,000 mi, complaint #1483072
    • "1. CARS SHORT BLOCK IS REPLACED 4 DAYS AGO UNDER WARRANTY. THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO -20 CELCIUS (-25 CELSIUS WITH WIND CHILL) I STARTED THE CAR AND IT IS MAKING RATTLING NOISE. ALTHOUGH I ALWAYS WARM THE CAR BY FOR APPROX 5 MIN LIKE LAST DAY, YET A CONTINUO…"~65,250 mi, complaint #1650266
    • "SUBARU HAS 86K MILES ON IT. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60MPH AND THE CAR STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE CLACKING NOISE. THE CAR DIED. WE STARTED IT AGAIN, ALL THE LIGHTS WENT ON AND THE CAR DIED. IT HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF INTO A PARKING LOT. CAR HAS B…"~86,000 mi, complaint #1442625
    • "I'M SORRY, BUT I'M SENDING IN ANOTHER INCIDENT REPORT AS I JUST WANT TO AMEND MY PRIOR INCIDENT REPORT # 11064585. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT YOU WILL SEE THAT MY ENGINE FAILED ON MY 2013 SUBARU FORRESTER. IN THE DESCRIPTION I SENT TO YOU, I COMPLETELY F…"~86,000 mi, complaint #1442639
    • "VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WITH A BAD MOTOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE FAILURE CORRELATES WITH THE ISSUES THAT SUBARU HAS WITH THIS YEAR MODEL. I HAVE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO COME TO TERMS WITH SUBARU, I AM MOVING FORWARD WIT…"~130,000 mi, complaint #1514270
  4. #4

    engine stall or no start

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND…"~70,000 mi, complaint #1566484
    • "I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE THAT CLAIMS TO BE REPAIRED- THE IGNITION TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED A FEW MINUTES AGO WHILE DRIVING 65+ ON THE FREEWAY AND WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER BECAUSE OF IT. ZERO POWER WHATSOE…"~124,150 mi, complaint #1743086
  5. #5

    lighting exterior

    2 unsafe, 2 annoyance

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE WE HAVE REPLACED THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT 6 TIMES. IN THIS SAME TIME PERIOD WE HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ONLY ONCE. THIS CONCERNS ME, AS IT MAKES ME THINK THERE IS A WIRING PROBLEM & A POSSIBILITY OF A MORE SEV…"~3,000 mi, complaint #1434412
    • "REAR TAIL LIGHTS CONSTANTLY HAVE MOISTURE IN THEM. THEY SAY THIS WILL EVAPORATE WHEN IT WARMS UP. DOESN'T WARM UP IN WISCONSIN DURING LONG WINTERS - HELLO! *JS"~15,300 mi, complaint #1155373
    • "HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES IN A YEAR. ONE TIME I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH JUST MY BRIGHTS ON BECAUSE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BULBS BLOWN OUT AT THE SAME TIME."~50,000 mi, complaint #1361925
    • "The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the headlights and taillights became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who changed the taillight light bulbs approximately 10 times. Th…"~70,000 mi, complaint #1852746
  6. #6

    mirror

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "THE MIRROR ON MY CAR FELL OFF WHEN I WENT TO ADJUST IT. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED HOW TO REATTACH IT, THE SERVICE CENTER WAS EVASIVE, I WAS ASKED TO BRING THE CAR IN. ONCE I ARRIVED I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT A RETRO FITTED BRACKET WOULD…"~2,988 mi, complaint #996657
    • "HI, DURING MY DRIVING TO OFFICE THIS MORNING, THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. I DROVE THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO AUSTIN SUBARU ([REDACTED ADDRESS], AUSTIN TX 78752) AND AFTER THE INITIAL CHECKING, I WAS TOLD THAT LATER THAT THE PART FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM IS NOW ON…"~14,000 mi, complaint #992124
    • "WHEN TURNING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. STARTED SWINGING WILDLY UNTIL WE STOPPED IT. *JS"~16,200 mi, complaint #1155280
    • "THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR ON MY SUBARU FORESTER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS NOT EVEN TOUCHING IT AT THE TIME. THE IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE, THE FIRST TIME WITHIN 1 YEAR OF PURCHASE. THE MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING THE MI…"~20,500 mi, complaint #1152168
  7. #7

    other

    4 annoyance

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "MY CAR WAS RECALLED AND I NEVER GOT THE NOTIFICATION THAT I COULD GET IT FIXED - IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR!"complaint #1239580
    • "TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF…"complaint #1548125
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME F…"complaint #1548952
    • "THE ?LOOKUP? FOR THE VIN NO. ON YOUR WEBSITES IS DYSFUNCTIONAL. MY VIN IS [XXX] (SUBARU FORESTER) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR"complaint #1635514
  8. #8

    unintended acceleration

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "WHILE BACKING INTO A GARAGE THERE WAS A UNCONTROLABLE ACCELERATION CAUSING DAMAGE THE THE REAR END OF THE CAR AND ITEMS STORED IN THE GARAGE. 8JS"~4,365 mi, complaint #1006308
    • "CAME OUT OF A CAR WASH AND SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE THE SUBARU FORESTER ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY PEDALS. STARTED PUMPING BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOTHING. STEERED CAR THRU PARKING LOT NEXT TO CAR WASH AND SIDE-SWIPED THREE CARS AND SOMEH…"~21,000 mi, complaint #1163551
    • "I WAS DOING ROUGHLY 25/30 MILES AND MY CAR ACCELERATED TO A MUCH FASTER SPEED AND HIGHER RPM'S CAUSING ME TO JAM ON THE BRAKES. *TR"~26,000 mi, complaint #1108310
    • "The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while coasting downhill into his carport to park his vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated forward and crashed his camper. The vehicle became wedged underneath the camper and all four le…"~140,000 mi, complaint #1850986
  9. #9

    brake hydraulics

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "2013 SUBARU FORESTER. 07/25/14 CAR HAD DIFFICULTY TIME ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY.REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING AND GETTING VERY HOT. DEALER INSPECTED R/F WHEEL, ROTOR WAS BLUE AND HARD TO TURN. INSPECTED BRAKES AND FOUND PADS ST…"~21,206 mi, complaint #1099183
    • "ON DEC 28,2014 I AM GOING TO MERILAND,MA FROM PHILADELPHIA. I WAS DRIVING MY SAID VEHICLE AT REGAL SPEED 65. JUST AFTER REST AREA MARILEND HOSE, TRAFFIC SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN, I APPLIED MY BRAKE BUT ITS WONT STOP IN TIME, I SWITCH DRIVING LINE AND AVOID ACCIDENT,…"~21,603 mi, complaint #1153725
  10. #10

    brake pads and rotors

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "MY VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN APRIL AND APPROVED, BUT BY OCTOBER OF THE SAME YEAR MY BRAKING SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND STUCK. MY MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE REAR PADS WERE INTO STEEL, ROTORS DEEPLY GROOVED, FRONT BRAKE PADS STUCK…"~24,000 mi, complaint #1132613
  11. #11

    throttle and pedal

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "AS I BEGAN TO BACK MY BOSSES CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I LOOKED OUT OF MY LEFT MIRROR TO FOLLOW THE CURVE OF THE DRIVEWAY IN ORDER TO DIRECT ME. I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING BEHIND ME, SO I PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, AND THEN I FELT A BUMP. THEN I SAW I…"~70,000 mi, complaint #1595281
  12. #12

    torque converter

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "THE CAR ENGINE WANTS TO STALL OUT WHEN CHANGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE WHILE PULLING ONTO THE STREET. IT USUALLY DOES THIS WITHIN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. IT ALSO WANTS TO STALL OUT WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP-IT WILL SHUDDER AND SHAKE AND CATCH ITS…"~56,000 mi, complaint #1719010
    • "THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO COMPLAINT NUMBER 11387558. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER..THE CAR WAS GETTING WORSE WITH SHAKING, SHUDDERING AND STALLING. THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND CHARGED ME $1,029.25. THE SER…"~56,000 mi, complaint #1720236
  13. #13

    acceleration loss or hesitation

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "LACK OF POWER WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE FEEL DOES'T GO WHEN I PRESS THE GAS FROM GETTING OUT OF STOP FOR A 10 SECONDS."~120,000 mi, complaint #1595206
  14. #14

    backup camera

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "IN MY VEHICLE, I HAVE A BACKUP CAMERA AND I'M THANKFUL FOR IT BUT ALSO I STRONGLY WISH THAT VEHICLE HAD THAT BACKUP SENSOR SYSTEM AS WELL WITH THE INCREASING BEEPING SOUND AS THE VEHICLE GETS CLOSER TO AN OBJECT. VEHICLES REALLY NEED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH BOT…"complaint #1051363
  15. #15

    catalytic converter

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "MY MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AFTER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. IT SHOWED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS FAILING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED OR IT WOULD CONTINUE TO SHOW 'CHECK ENGINE', AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NO LONGER WORK. IT HAS 117,000…"~117,000 mi, complaint #1552213
  16. #16

    cruise control conventional

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS COME ON BY ITSELF AND IS FLASHING CONSTANTLY AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON. IT CANNOT BE TURNED OFF OR ON WITH THE CONTROLS. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE UNEVEN TRACTION LIGHT TO COME ON…"~47,000 mi, complaint #1622331
  17. #17

    driveshaft axle cv

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "ON 4/3/21 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 PM, THE 2013 SUBARU FORRESTER WAS SLOWLY BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE, GEAR WAS IN REVERSE, FOOT ON ACCELERATOR WITH SPEED OF <1 MPH; JUST ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET CAR OUT OF GARAGE, DOWN DRIVEWAY AND ONTO THE STREET. WHILE STILL IN R…"~60,000 mi, complaint #1740331
  18. #18

    engine head gasket

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE A BUSTED RADIATOR HOSE REPAIRED. THEY FOUND OIL IN THE COOLANT TANK, WATER IN THE OIL TANK, AKA FLUID CROSS-CONTAMINATION AND TOLD ME THAT I'D NEED A NEW ENGINE. THEN I GOT A SECOND MECHANIC TO CONCUR. THEN, I TOOK TO A…"~107,000 mi, complaint #1620951
  19. #19

    glass and windshield

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY SNOW AND USING THE HEATER FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, WHICH IS BUILT INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE ICE AND SLUSH CONTINUED TO BUILD ON THE WIPERS AND I CONTINUED TO USE THE HEATER. AT ONE POINT, THE SNOW HAD BUILT UP ON THE LOWER WINDSHIELD AN…"~27,000 mi, complaint #1260860
  20. #20

    instrument cluster

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER HE DROVE THE VEHICLE DURING THE DAYTIME THERE WAS NO VISIBILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY PANEL. HOWEVER, AT NIGHT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY PANEL WOULD AUTO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT…"~10,000 mi, complaint #1092729
  21. #21

    key fob and immobilizer

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "MY FORESTER WILL NOT RELEASE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION, EVEN WHEN I AM VERY CAREFUL TO PUT IT IN PARK. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, AS THEY HAVE A TSB 16-112-18R ABOUT IT. WHEN I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA, THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE COST O…"~36,816 mi, complaint #1698584
  22. #22

    parking brake

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH HAS A SLIGHT INCLINE, PUT CAR IN PARK BUT LEFT IGNITION RUNNING AND HEADLIGHTS ON. I HAVE PARKED IN THIS SPACE SEVEN YEARS AND WAS NOT IN HABIT OF PULLING THE PARKING BRAKE. I HAD A VISITOR WHO NEEDED TO SEE DECK STEPS AS IT WA…"~20,500 mi, complaint #1332294
  23. #23

    transmission automatic

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN A BURNING ODOR BECAME PRESENT. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE…"~10,000 mi, complaint #1047031
  24. #24

    transmission manual clutch

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY UP GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOORMAT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WOULD CATCH ON THE CLUTCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION…"~4,000 mi, complaint #1170781

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for SUBARU FORESTER directly.