2020 Subaru Forester Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 105 engine-related complaints for the 2020 Subaru Forester, 17% of all 601 complaints filed for the year. Median mileage at failure was 26,050. No related recalls are listed for this engine issue.
- Engine complaints
- 105
- 17% of 601
- Crashes reported
- 14
- Fires reported
- 4
- Injuries reported
- 9
- Median mileage
- 26,050 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking or reversing at low speed, with the brake pedal depressed and the vehicle failing to stop before hitting a wall, building, or other vehicle.
- Some drivers describe the engine compartment catching fire, including one case where flames spread from the engine bay into the passenger compartment within minutes after a frontal crash.
- A separate fire report describes smoke coming from under the hood followed by the engine becoming engulfed in flames, after a thermal control valve had previously been replaced under warranty.
- Several incidents involve the vehicle continuing to accelerate even after the driver shifted into reverse or attempted to brake repeatedly.
- Reported failure mileages for these engine incidents ranged widely, with a median of 26,050 miles at the time of failure across the affected group.
When 2020 Subaru Forester engine complaints were filed
First complaint Jul 31, 2020, latest Sep 19, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2020 Subaru Forester
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Forester model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are engine problems in the 2020 Subaru Forester?
- NHTSA has logged 105 engine-related complaints for the 2020 Forester, which makes up 17% of the 601 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2020 Subaru Forester engine?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint category.
- At what mileage do 2020 Forester engine problems usually happen?
- The median mileage at failure among affected owners is 26,050 miles.
- Are the engine complaints linked to crashes or fires?
- Yes, NHTSA data tied to this engine issue includes 14 crashes, 4 fires, and 9 injuries.
- How does 2020 compare to other Forester model years for engine complaints?
- The 2020 Forester's 17% share of engine-related complaints is close to the 2019 figure of 16% but higher than 2017's 13% and 2018's 12%.