VehicleVerdict

2020 Subaru Forester engine problems

The 2020 Subaru Forester has 76 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

76

Engine complaints

10%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Forester engine complaints by model year135 complaints1998: 17 complaints1999: 29 complaints2000: 19 complaints2001: 18 complaints2002: 15 complaints2003: 31 complaints2004: 40 complaints2005: 10 complaints2006: 22 complaints2007: 15 complaints2008: 9 complaints2009: 39 complaints2010: 40 complaints2011: 67 complaints2012: 29 complaints2013: 26 complaints2014: 72 complaints2015: 135 complaints2016: 60 complaints2017: 47 complaints2018: 31 complaints2019: 111 complaints2020: 76 complaints2021: 31 complaints2022: 10 complaints2023: 6 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 2 complaints
Forester engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“Daughter was driving vehicle on the morning of September 15, 2023, when smoke came from under hood. Immediately pulled over and engine was engulfed in flames. Got out of vehicle and moved a safe distance away as glass started to break and fire department arrived on scene. Picked up vehicle on…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 15, 2023 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2020 Subaru Forester have?

NHTSA has 76 complaints about the 2020 Subaru Forester engine — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.