Photo: Chanokchon / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2026 Subaru Forester: common problems and reliability
Too new to grade yet.
31 owner complaints, most about forward collision avoidance. 3 recalls.
Should I buy a 2026 Forester?The 2026 Subaru Forester has 31 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are forward collision avoidance and visibility/wiper. Owners most often flag hybrid model spare tire: the 2025+ forester hybrid does not include a spare tire due to battery placement, cited as a significant disadvantage.
Safety record for the 2026 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2026 Subaru Forester vehicles (US, public record).
Too new to grade: we score a model year once it has been on the road for 3 years. How we score it
Is 2026 a good year for the Forester?
Across the 29 Forester model years we track, complaint volume runs from 50 (2008) to 833 (2019). With 31 complaints, the 2026 Forester sits below the model's median of 141.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2026 Forester
structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments
Campaign 25V889000Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester vehicles. These vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect and/or incorrectly oriented rear hatch support bracket which can detach without prior warning.
visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Campaign 26V346000Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester and Forester Hybrid vehicles. The sliding glass panel of the power moonroof assembly may have been improperly bonded to the sliding frame, allowing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.
equipment:other:labels
Campaign 26V436000Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire selection and rims."
What owners say across generations
Overwhelmingly positive sentiment across multiple generations, with the Forester consistently praised for its practicality, safety, all-weather capability, and long-term reliability when properly maintained.
- IsolatedHybrid model spare tire
The 2025+ Forester Hybrid does not include a spare tire due to battery placement, cited as a significant disadvantage.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Forester. See the full Forester owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Forester listings typically run $15,000–$24,194.
Other Forester model years
Compare every Forester year side by side to see how 2026 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Forester against its rivals
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