Is the 2021 Subaru Forester a bad year?
215 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Forester years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2021 Subaru Forester are in line with other Forester years. Visibility and wipers stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 Forester owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 5,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 90 (42%) | 2k–9k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 35 (16%) | 1k–19k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 12 (6%) | 3k–31k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 36 (17%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 17 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 17 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 5,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 215 complaints: 16 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 6 report an injury · 8 say the car was towed.
24 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2021 Subaru Forester: 0
No recall campaign lists this model year.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Subaru: 173
Repair instructions Subaru sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Subaru Forester. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Diagnostic procedures and availability of new Engine Control Module (ECM) reprogramming files to address DTC P2404…
Step-by-step diagnostic procedure for resolving Remote Engine Start (RES) failures for both Telematics and remote engine start equipped vehicles
Diagnostic procedures to follow and a brief questionnaire to complete when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT…
When diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR580 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed
Neighbouring years
2020 Forester: 604 complaints, keep it · 2022 Forester: 100 complaints, keep it.
Every Subaru Forester year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Forester years side by side
Other Subaru models: Subaru Ascent · Subaru Crosstrek · Subaru Impreza · Subaru Legacy · Subaru Outback · Subaru WRX · Subaru XV Crosstrek. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2021 Subaru Forester a bad year?
215 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Forester years. At 5,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Subaru Forester?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (90), electrical system (35), speed control (12), engine (36), collision avoidance (17).
How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru Forester have?
No recall campaign lists this model year in NHTSA data. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.