Last updated: 2026-03-04
Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4: Reliability Compared
Subaru Forester
Toyota RAV4
Choosing between the Subaru Forester and the Toyota RAV4? 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 RAV4 currently leads with an average score of 76/100 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 RAV4 Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota RAV4 is more reliable than the Subaru Forester, scoring 76/100 vs 74/100.
The Toyota RAV4 outperforms the Subaru Forester in reliability with an average score of 85/100 compared to the Forester's 77/100. While the RAV4 has had more recalls, with 53 over eight years, it has a lower owner complaint rate at 4.4 per 10,000 units sold versus the Forester's 8.7. Additionally, the RAV4 benefits from lower estimated annual repair costs, averaging $429 compared to the Forester's $632. These factors make the RAV4 a more reliable choice in the compact SUV segment.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota RAV4 costs $203 less per year to repair
- 2Subaru Forester has 40 fewer total recalls
- 3Toyota RAV4 has 4.3 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Subaru Forester | Toyota RAV4 |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 74/100 | 76/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 8 |
| Total Recalls | 13 | 53 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 8.7 | 4.4 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $632/yr | $429/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.4/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 13% | 10% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2025 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 2 | 6 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4?
The Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester exhibit distinct problem profiles, with the RAV4 having a higher number of complaints related to the electrical system and air bags, where the latter is particularly concerning due to 71 crash-linked incidents. In contrast, the Subaru Forester's most significant issue lies in visibility/wiper complaints, though these are not crash-linked, suggesting less immediate safety implications. Both models have notable concerns in the "unknown or other" category, but the RAV4 has a slightly higher frequency of crash-linked incidents. Additionally, the Forester's vehicle speed control issues, with 26 crash-linked complaints, highlight a critical area of concern that is not as pronounced in the RAV4.
| Component | Subaru Forester | Toyota RAV4 |
|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 3.1Average | —None |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.2Low | 0.7Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1.2Low | 0.7Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.5Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.4Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.4Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.5Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —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 RAV4?
How Does Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4 Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Subaru Forester | Toyota RAV4 | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 79/1002R / 48C | 84/1005R / 49C | Toyota RAV4 |
| 2024 | 78/1002R / 26C | 80/1006R / 150C | Toyota RAV4 |
| 2023 | 79/1001R / 61C | 80/1006R / 147C | Toyota RAV4 |
| 2022 | 77/1001R / 86C | 80/1006R / 133C | Toyota RAV4 |
| 2021 | 76/1000R / 196C | 73/1006R / 450C | Subaru Forester |
| 2020 | 71/1000R / 584C | 70/10011R / 611C | Subaru Forester |
| 2019 | 63/1003R / 825C | 66/10010R / 864C | Toyota RAV4 |
| 2018 | 66/1003R / 475C | 76/1003R / 330C | Toyota RAV4 |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Subaru Forester scored 79/100 and the 2025 Toyota RAV4 scored 84/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Subaru Forester vs the Toyota RAV4?
Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4: Common Questions
- Is the Subaru Forester more reliable than the Toyota RAV4?
- Based on our data, the Toyota RAV4 is more reliable with an average score of 76/100 compared to 74/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Subaru Forester or the Toyota RAV4?
- The Toyota RAV4 has more recalls (53) 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 RAV4?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Toyota RAV4 has a lower complaint rate at 4.4 per 10,000 sold versus 8.7 for the Subaru Forester. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Subaru Forester or the Toyota RAV4?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Toyota RAV4 is cheaper to maintain at $429/year versus $632/year for the Subaru Forester.
- Is the Subaru Forester or Toyota RAV4 safer?
- Both the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 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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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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