RecallMyCar

2021 Subaru Forester Recalls, Complaints & Specs

No safety recalls list the 2021 Subaru Forester, and owners have filed 209 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

0
safety recalls
209
owner complaints to NHTSA
16 / 5
complaints citing a crash / fire
29
MPG combined (EPA)

No safety recalls on record

NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2021 Subaru Forester. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.

209 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2021 Subaru Forester have filed 209 complaints with NHTSA; 16 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 12,910 miles. Complaints peaked in 2021 with 58 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The transmission very suddenly (perfectly fine one day, bad the next) developed a severe transmission slip. Like getting rear ended feeling transmission slip. Dealership quotes the CVT control valve b”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2026 · Power train

“On two separate occasions, less than one year apart after Subaru Service replaced my battery with a “larger” battery without my knowledge my vehicle suffered sudden, catastrophic electrical failure wh”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 3, 2026 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2021 Subaru Forester (Forester AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined29 mpg
City / Highway26 / 33
FuelRegular
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine4 cyl, 2.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S7)

Compare Subaru Forester model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Forester model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1998 Subaru Forester1101
1999 Subaru Forester1131
2000 Subaru Forester075
2001 Subaru Forester0139
2002 Subaru Forester188
2003 Subaru Forester3189
2004 Subaru Forester2219
2005 Subaru Forester193
2006 Subaru Forester288
2007 Subaru Forester174
2008 Subaru Forester150
2009 Subaru Forester17178
2010 Subaru Forester17262
2011 Subaru Forester16147
2012 Subaru Forester15105
2013 Subaru Forester1277
2014 Subaru Forester2403
2015 Subaru Forester3615
2016 Subaru Forester3415
2017 Subaru Forester1587
2018 Subaru Forester3498
2019 Subaru Forester3833
2020 Subaru Forester0601
2021 Subaru Forester0209
2022 Subaru Forester198
2023 Subaru Forester174
2024 Subaru Forester229
2025 Subaru Forester396
2026 Subaru Forester324

Checking a specific 2021 Subaru Forester

How do I know if my 2021 Subaru Forester has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Subaru models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.