Last updated: 2026-10-10

2024 Subaru Forester
RELIABILITY SCORE: 78/100 (GOOD)

2024 Subaru Forester Reliability Report

The 2024 Subaru Forester rates good for reliability. Owners' main complaint is a passenger airbag that shows off for lighter adults.

Recalls

2

Complaints

26

Complaint Rate

1.5per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$632

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,050–$2,300

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity82/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact80/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity82/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Rated good with a 5-star crash rating, but owners report the passenger airbag staying off for lighter adults and windshields cracking without impact.

Top Issues to Watch

  • AIR BAGS (6)
  • VISIBILITY/WIPER (4)
  • ENGINE (1)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Post-Refresh

2024 is 2 years after the facelift refresh.

  • Year 6 in the Fifth generation (SK) (2019–2025).
  • Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
  • 5th generation Forester (US).

What this means for buyers

Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.

2019: Fifth generation (SK) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2022: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2024: This Model Year

2024 is 2 years after the facelift refresh.

Should You Buy the 2024 Subaru Forester?

Good reliability puts this year above average among 2024 SUVs and among the stronger of the Forester's nine scored years. It carries a 5 of 5 star federal crash-test rating. The 2023 and 2025 models rate about the same, so neither neighbor has a reliability edge. Model-wide repair costs run $632 a year against $521 for the class.

The main complaint is the front passenger airbag. Owners say the dash indicator shows it off when a light adult, about 85 to 100 pounds, sits there, sometimes since the car was new. Dealers often find no fault. Windshields also crack with no impact and spread over days, and some cracked again after replacement. Dealers say the bumper-to-bumper warranty does not cover it. Two recalls cover the power train and engine and engine cooling.

Ask for proof both recalls were completed. Check the airbag indicator with a lighter adult seated, and look over the windshield edges.

Compared to the 2025 Subaru Forester, which scored 1 points higher. See also the 2023 Subaru Forester for an earlier comparison.

Pros

  • +Acceptable reliability score
  • +Low major repair risk (13%)
  • +Low recall count
  • +Below-average complaint rate for SUV

Cons

  • −Above-average repair costs for its class
  • −AIR BAGS: Front passenger airbag stays switched off, according to the dash indicator,... (6 complaints)
  • −UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Most of these reports describe glass breaking unexpectedly (6 complaints)

Compare 2024 Subaru Forester With

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK
  • 2 manufacturer recalls issued

Other

HIGH RISK
  • AIR BAGS (6)
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER (6)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

2

recalls on record

The 2024 Subaru Forester carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

1.5

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 6.9

LowAvgHigh
Very Low

Safety Incidents

3

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2024 Subaru Forester Recall Details

2 recalls have been issued for the 2024 Subaru Forester. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

23V7540002023-11-09

POWER TRAIN

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.

23V7230002023-10-26

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2024 Subaru Forester? Check its history first

Air bags problems lead owner complaints about the 2024 Subaru Forester, and 2 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

2024 Subaru Forester NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 16.9%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver)Additional Air Bags (n/a)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger)
View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Subaru ForesterRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$632

vs $521 avg for compact SUVs

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.4

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

13%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

Forester
$632
Category Avg
$521
All Vehicles
$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Subaru Forester Resale Value

The Subaru Forester is estimated to retain about 75% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.

This benchmark covers the Subaru Forester model overall and is not specific to the 2024 model year.

Value Retained
75%

after 5 years

Depreciation
25%

over the same period

Listings Analyzed
600

U.S. used-car listings

Listings observed in . Actual resale value varies by trim, mileage, condition, and location.

Explore Subaru Forester depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

26–29 MPG

Running cost: $2,700–$2,950/yr

Fuel + repair

25–26 city / 28–33 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2024 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims
TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
Forester AWD 2.5L 4-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic (AV-S8)263329$2,050
Forester Wilderness AWD 2.5L 4-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic (AV-S8)252826$2,300

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2024 Subaru Forester.

  • Have a light adult sit in the front passenger seat and confirm the passenger airbag indicator shows on.

  • Inspect the whole windshield for cracks, especially the bottom edge near the heating element and the corners.

  • Ask for records of any windshield replacement and whether a crack came back afterward.

  • Check every side window for chips, cracks, or glass that looks newer than the rest.

  • Sit in the driver's seat and check the driver side mirror for distortion.

  • Plan for glass coverage, since owners say the factory warranty does not pay for windshield cracks.

2024 Subaru Forester Common Problems by Component

26 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

6
6
4
5
AIR BAGS (6)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (6)VISIBILITY/WIPER (4)ENGINE (1)FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1)STRUCTURE (1)TIRES (1)VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1)Other (5)

AIR BAGS

6 complaints

The front passenger airbag stays switched off, according to the dash indicator, when a light adult sits in the seat. Reports involve passengers of roughly 85 to 100 pounds, and some say the problem has been present since the car was new. Dealers often find no fault. One said the system needs 105 pounds to turn on, a limit owners say the manual does not mention. Others report that Subaru knows about it but has no fix. The risk is an unprotected passenger in a crash. One separate report describes a collision with a pole where the airbags did not deploy. That car had not been inspected yet.

6 complaints total

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

6 complaints

Most of these reports describe glass breaking unexpectedly. Windshields crack overnight or grow from a small crack, sometimes more than once on the same car. In one case a thrown plastic bottle shattered a windshield and sent glass shards into the cabin. A rear door window also burst while driving and threw glass inside. Owners say the new-car warranty does not cover glass. Another complaint describes a distorted driver side mirror. Dealers agree it is distorted but call it normal for that mirror style.

6 complaints total

VISIBILITY/WIPER

4 complaints

Forester wiper and visibility problems across all model years

Windshields crack with no sign of impact, including on cars parked in a garage. Cracks show up along the bottom edge near the heating element or in a corner. They spread over days until they block the driver's view. Several owners report a second crack after the windshield was already replaced. Dealers confirm the damage but say the bumper-to-bumper warranty does not cover it, and one replacement estimate was about $1400. One crack appeared at 7900 miles.

4 complaints total
ENGINE (1 complaints)

ENGINE

1 complaint
2026-01-10

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 leak. I am concerned that this oil leak could come in contact with the exhaust manifold which may lead to an engine compartment fire. Would your administration department please check into this concern.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints)

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint
2025-12-17

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.

STRUCTURE (1 complaints)

STRUCTURE

1 complaint
2025-03-011 injury

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 corporate to confirm that the hatch was supposed to stop and reverse when encountering an obstruction. It did not. I have been suffering from a severe headache since this happened a week ago. I will be taking my car in to have it repaired as well as seeing a doctor since my headache has not resolved. Please investigate and ensure this safety issue is corrected by Subaru.

TIRES (1 complaints)

TIRES

1 complaintSafety-related
2025-02-11Crash reported

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1 complaints)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaintSafety-related
2024-11-30Crash reported

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 stop the vehicle. The car skidded when I depressed the brakes. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The car accelerated over curbs and a planter and onto a wide sidewalk with a bus stop. The car hit the bus stop structure and a sign. If there had been a pedestrian on the sidewalk, the pedestrian might have been killed. If the car had travelled another 10 feet, I would have been crossing a busy boulevard. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The car was taken to Dalton Subaru dealership in National City, California. Dalton Subaru did an initial test of systems with their computer. Subaru of America investigated. The Subaru of America corporation stated the accident was due to driver's error and that my foot was not on the accelerator. THIS STATEMENT IS NOT TRUE! I am 100% sure that my foot was not on the accelerator when the car had a sudden unintended acceleration. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. The Subaru of America Corporation has inspected the car. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning signs. The Sudden Unintended Acceleration event happened only once. It occurred on [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints)

SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaintSafety-related
2024-12-28Crash reported

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 information to the shop. Safety was put at risk by crossing an intersection and running a stop sign. Luckily no other vehicles were impacted. Problem has not been able to be reproduced as the vehicle is not drivable. It has not been inspected by manufacturer but is not drivable. Police report available and provided on this form. No warning or signs. Vehicle is new purchased January 2024. Currently many warning signs on dashboard post accident. Additional information needed for this report (Repair cost, insurance claim etc) will be provided once available.

BACK OVER PREVENTION (1 complaints)

BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint
2024-10-11

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 eventually the driver will tire of getting out and walking around the car. When I went to take the vehicle to the dealer the next day, the car had dried off, and the camera came back on. I looked at other Subaru forums and found many NHTSA recalls on cameras on different year Subaru's. The problem still seems to persist on my model, but no recall.

Best & Worst Subaru Forester Years

Best Subaru Forester Years to Buy

Subaru Forester Years to Avoid

Subaru Forester Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Subaru Forester reliability scores by year
YearScoreRating
201866/100Good
201963/100Good
202071/100Good
202176/100Good
202277/100Good
202379/100Good
202478/100Good
202579/100Good
202677/100Good

Subaru Forester Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
202677/100-2Good10
202579/100+1Good248
2024(selected)78/100-1Good226
202379/100+2Good161
202277/100+1Good186
202176/100+5Good0196
202071/100+8Good0584
201963/100-3Good3825
201866/100—Good3475

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2024 Subaru Forester reliable?
Yes, it rates good for reliability and above average among 2024 SUVs. It is among the stronger of the Forester's nine scored model years. Owners filed 26 complaints, and the 2023 and 2025 models rate about the same. Repair costs for the model run higher than the class average.
What are the most common problems with the 2024 Subaru Forester?
Two patterns lead the complaints. Six owners say the front passenger airbag stays switched off for lighter adults. Four report windshields cracking with no impact, often spreading over days until they block the driver's view.
Why does the 2024 Subaru Forester passenger airbag say it is off?
Owners report the dash indicator shows the passenger airbag off when an adult of roughly 85 to 100 pounds sits in the seat. One dealer said the system needs 105 pounds. Owners say the manual does not mention that limit, and dealers often find no fault.
Does the 2024 Subaru Forester have windshield cracking problems?
Some owners say so. Cracks appear without impact, even on cars parked in a garage, along the bottom edge or in a corner. Several had a second crack after replacement. Dealers told owners the warranty does not cover it, and one estimate was about $1400.
Does the 2024 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Federal records list 2 recalls for this model year. They cover the power train and the engine and engine cooling. Ask the seller or a dealer to confirm both were completed before you buy.

Don’t buy a 2024 Subaru Forester without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2024 Subaru Forester

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2024 Subaru Forester does best on complaint severity (82/100) and worst on repair costs (70/100). 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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