Last updated: 2026-07-26
Subaru Forester vs Toyota Corolla: Reliability Compared
Subaru Forester
Toyota Corolla
Choosing between the Subaru Forester and the Toyota Corolla? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Toyota Corolla currently leads with an average score of 81/100 compared to 74/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Subaru Forester and Toyota Corolla Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota Corolla is more reliable than the Subaru Forester, scoring 81/100 vs 74/100.
The Toyota Corolla demonstrates superior reliability with an average score of 94/100 compared to the Subaru Forester's 77/100. While the Forester has fewer recalls over nine years, the Corolla has a lower owner complaint rate at 5.6 per 10,000 units sold versus the Forester's 8.7. Additionally, independent repair cost estimates favor the Corolla, with an annual cost of $362 against the Forester's $632. The Corolla's consistent reliability performance and lower maintenance costs make it the more dependable choice.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota Corolla costs $270 less per year to repair
- 2Subaru Forester has 31 fewer total recalls
- 3Toyota Corolla scores 7 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Subaru Forester vs Toyota Corolla: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Subaru Forester | Toyota Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 74/100 | 81/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 13 | 44 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 8.7 | 5.6 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $632/yr | $362/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.4/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 13% | 7% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 1 | 8 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Subaru Forester and Toyota Corolla?
The Toyota Corolla and Subaru Forester exhibit distinct problem profiles, with the Corolla showing a broader distribution of issues across multiple categories. Notably, the Corolla has significant concerns with air bags, accounting for 145 complaints with 62 crash-linked incidents, whereas the Forester's primary issue is concentrated in visibility/wiper problems with 819 complaints, although these are not crash-linked. Both models have substantial electrical system complaints, but the Forester also presents a higher number of vehicle speed control issues, with 61 complaints resulting in 26 crash-linked events. While the Corolla's issues are more evenly spread, the Forester's visibility and speed control problems could indicate specific areas requiring attention.
| Component | Subaru Forester | Toyota Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 3.1Average | —None |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.2Low | 0.8Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1.2Low | 0.6Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.4Very Low | 0.8Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.5Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.4Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| WHEELS | —None | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Subaru Forester or Toyota Corolla?
How Does Subaru Forester vs Toyota Corolla Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Subaru Forester | Toyota Corolla | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 77/1001R / 0C | 94/1000R / 0C | Toyota Corolla |
| 2025 | 79/1002R / 48C | 84/1002R / 37C | Toyota Corolla |
| 2024 | 78/1002R / 26C | 81/1008R / 97C | Toyota Corolla |
| 2023 | 79/1001R / 61C | 73/10015R / 243C | Subaru Forester |
| 2022 | 77/1001R / 86C | 82/1002R / 120C | Toyota Corolla |
| 2021 | 76/1000R / 196C | 83/1001R / 160C | Toyota Corolla |
| 2020 | 71/1000R / 584C | 74/1007R / 290C | Toyota Corolla |
| 2019 | 63/1003R / 825C | 77/1006R / 190C | Toyota Corolla |
| 2018 | 66/1003R / 475C | 80/1003R / 137C | Toyota Corolla |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Subaru Forester scored 79/100 and the 2026 Toyota Corolla scored 94/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Subaru Forester vs the Toyota Corolla?
Subaru Forester vs Toyota Corolla: Common Questions
- Is the Subaru Forester more reliable than the Toyota Corolla?
- Based on our data, the Toyota Corolla is more reliable with an average score of 81/100 compared to 74/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Subaru Forester or the Toyota Corolla?
- The Toyota Corolla has more recalls (44) compared to the Subaru Forester (13). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Subaru Forester or the Toyota Corolla?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Toyota Corolla has a lower complaint rate at 5.6 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 8.7 for the Subaru Forester. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Subaru Forester or the Toyota Corolla?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Toyota Corolla is cheaper to maintain at $362/year versus $632/year for the Subaru Forester.
- Is the Subaru Forester or Toyota Corolla safer?
- Both the Subaru Forester and Toyota Corolla received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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Decided between Subaru Forester and Toyota Corolla? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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