Is the Hyundai Tucson more reliable than the Subaru Forester?

No, they are effectively tied. Both stand in the good range and draw complaints at nearly the same rate per car sold. The Tucson is cheaper to repair, while the Forester has fewer recalls. Choose by the specific problems you would rather risk, not by an overall winner.

Which has more recalls, the Tucson or the Forester?

The Tucson has more. Federal recall records show 23 across model years 2018 to 2026, against 13 for the Forester. One Tucson recall covers an ABS electrical short that can start a fire, and owners reported waiting weeks or months for parts.

Which is cheaper to repair, the Tucson or the Forester?

The Tucson is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates $426 a year for it and $632 for the Forester. Over five years that gap is about $1,030. The Tucson also has fewer unscheduled shop visits and a lower chance that a repair is major.

Do Subaru Foresters have a windshield cracking problem?

Yes, it is the biggest complaint area. Owners report glass cracking with no impact, sometimes within the first few thousand miles and while parked. Some are on a second or third windshield. Replacement was quoted at over $1000, and a cracked windshield can disable the EyeSight system.

What are the main engine problems on the Hyundai Tucson?

Oil consumption is the main one. Owners report losing a quart every 1,000 miles or worse, often starting around 70,000 to 85,000 miles. Others report clogged catalytic converters, limp mode, and some full engine failures. Check the oil level and service history closely before buying.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Hyundai Tucson vs Subaru Forester: Reliability Compared

Hyundai Tucson

Good

More Reliable

Subaru Forester

Good

Reliability is effectively tied between the Hyundai Tucson and Subaru Forester, though the Tucson costs less to repair. Tucson owners report oil loss and a long recall list. Forester owners mostly report cracked windshields and engines that stall at stops.

How Do the Hyundai Tucson and Subaru Forester Generations Compare?

Most Forester shoppers are choosing between two generations, and the older one has the weaker record. The 2018 model was the last year of the fourth generation, which ran 2014 to 2018. The fifth generation ran 2019 to 2025 and received a facelift for 2022. Its first year, 2019, is among the weakest on record, so be cautious there. Cars from 2022 onward are the facelifted fifth generation, which makes 2023 a sensible target. The sixth generation started in 2025, so a 2025 car is a very new design with a short complaint history, however good it looks on paper.

Verdict

The Subaru Forester is more reliable than the Hyundai Tucson, scoring 74/100 vs 73/100.

Reliability is effectively tied. Both stand in the good range, and owners file complaints at nearly the same rate per car sold. The Tucson is cheaper to run and needs fewer unscheduled shop trips. The Forester has fewer recalls. Neither edge is large enough to name a winner. Your choice comes down to which risk you would rather live with: the Tucson's oil loss and ABS fire recall backlog, or the Forester's cracking windshields and stalling at stops.

Key Differences

1Hyundai Tucson costs $206 less per year to repair
2Subaru Forester has 10 fewer total recalls
3Hyundai Tucson has 3% lower major repair risk

Category Scoreboard

3Hyundai Tucson

—

3Subaru Forester

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Hyundai Tucson vs Subaru Forester: Which Is More Reliable?

Hyundai Tucson vs Subaru Forester at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Hyundai Tucson	Subaru Forester
Reliability Score	73/100	74/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	23	13
Complaints per 10k Sold	8.9	8.7
Annual Repair Cost	$426/yr	$632/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.4/yr
Major Repair Risk	10%	13%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	5	4

What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Tucson and Subaru Forester?

Drivetrain and safety-system failures dominate the Tucson's complaints. Engines burn oil, clog catalytic converters, and sometimes fail outright. Owners report limp mode, stalling, and an ABS short that can start a fire, with long waits for recall parts. Engine, power train, brake, and forward collision areas all have crash-linked reports, and the collision system can brake hard with nothing ahead. Forester complaints center on glass. Windshields crack with no impact, and those filings have no crash links. Its serious reports involve start/stop stalls and battery trouble. Its air bag crash reports describe a car lurching forward, not an air bag failure.

Hyundai Tucson vs Subaru Forester common problem areas comparison
Component	Hyundai Tucson	Subaru Forester
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	3.1Average
ENGINE	1.9Low	0.4Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.1Low	1.2Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1Very Low	1.2Low
POWER TRAIN	1.3Low	0.4Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	1.1Low	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.5Very Low	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.5Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.3Very Low	0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	0.5Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Hyundai Tucson or Subaru Forester?

Repair costs favor the Tucson. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $426 a year, against $632 for the Forester. That gap is $206 a year, or about $1,030 over five years. The Tucson also averages 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, against 0.4 for the Forester. Only 10% of Tucson repairs are major, compared with 13% for the Forester. The difference is real but modest.

How Does Hyundai Tucson vs Subaru Forester Reliability Compare by Year?

Hyundai Tucson vs Subaru Forester year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Hyundai Tucson	Subaru Forester	Edge
2026	80/1004R / 3C	77/1001R / 0C	Hyundai Tucson
2025	75/1006R / 251C	79/1002R / 48C	Subaru Forester
2024	77/1004R / 87C	78/1002R / 26C	Subaru Forester
2023	75/1002R / 142C	79/1001R / 61C	Subaru Forester
2022	66/1003R / 433C	77/1001R / 86C	Subaru Forester
2021	78/1001R / 58C	76/1000R / 196C	Hyundai Tucson
2020	73/1001R / 153C	71/1000R / 584C	Hyundai Tucson
2019	68/1001R / 349C	63/1003R / 825C	Hyundai Tucson
2018	68/1001R / 362C	66/1003R / 475C	Hyundai Tucson

Best years to cross-shop: The 2021 Hyundai Tucson scored 78/100 and the 2023 Subaru Forester scored 79/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Hyundai Tucson vs the Subaru Forester?

Pick the Tucson if repair bills matter most. It costs less each year to maintain and visits the shop less often. Target 2021, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2022 and 2019. Ask for proof that the ABS recall work is done, and check the oil level history, since consumption tends to show up around 70,000 to 85,000 miles. Skip any car with a history of oil top-ups between changes. Pick the Forester if you want fewer recalls and can accept a higher repair budget. Target 2023, a strong year, and avoid 2019 and 2018, its weakest. Inspect the windshield for chips or cracks, since replacement was quoted at over $1000 and a crack can knock out the EyeSight system. Test the auto start/stop at a few stops, and ask whether the battery has been replaced. The newest cars, the 2025 and 2026 model years, have had little time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven.

Hyundai Tucson vs Subaru Forester: Common Questions

Is the Hyundai Tucson more reliable than the Subaru Forester?: No, they are effectively tied. Both stand in the good range and draw complaints at nearly the same rate per car sold. The Tucson is cheaper to repair, while the Forester has fewer recalls. Choose by the specific problems you would rather risk, not by an overall winner.
Which has more recalls, the Tucson or the Forester?: The Tucson has more. Federal recall records show 23 across model years 2018 to 2026, against 13 for the Forester. One Tucson recall covers an ABS electrical short that can start a fire, and owners reported waiting weeks or months for parts.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Tucson or the Forester?: The Tucson is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates $426 a year for it and $632 for the Forester. Over five years that gap is about $1,030. The Tucson also has fewer unscheduled shop visits and a lower chance that a repair is major.
Do Subaru Foresters have a windshield cracking problem?: Yes, it is the biggest complaint area. Owners report glass cracking with no impact, sometimes within the first few thousand miles and while parked. Some are on a second or third windshield. Replacement was quoted at over $1000, and a cracked windshield can disable the EyeSight system.
What are the main engine problems on the Hyundai Tucson?: Oil consumption is the main one. Owners report losing a quart every 1,000 miles or worse, often starting around 70,000 to 85,000 miles. Others report clogged catalytic converters, limp mode, and some full engine failures. Check the oil level and service history closely before buying.

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Decided between Hyundai Tucson and Subaru Forester? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Hyundai Tucson and Subaru Forester

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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