YearToAvoid

2021 Subaru Forester Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

47/100

#9 most-complained of 16 Forester years

The 2021 Subaru Forester ranks 9th worst out of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 47 and a 'Good' verdict relative to other Forester years. NHTSA lists 207 complaints, 0 recalls, and 16 crashes, with visibility/wiper issues as the top problem area.

Complaints
207
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
16 / 5
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29
26 city / 33 hwy

Top 2021 Subaru Forester problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Visibility & Wipers90 (43%)
  2. Engine42 (20%)
  3. Other42 (20%)
  4. Electrical System34 (16%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras18 (9%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain14 (7%)
  7. Lane Departure8 (4%)
  8. Brakes7 (3%)
  9. Fuel System6 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report unintended acceleration while shifting into drive, reverse, or park, sometimes crashing into walls or garages.
  • Some vehicles reportedly rolled backward down a sloped driveway after being placed in park.
  • Brake pedal reportedly failed to stop the vehicle during low-speed parking maneuvers, requiring the driver to shift into park to halt.
  • Engine reportedly stalled or lost power suddenly at a stoplight, accompanied by a loud clunking sound and multiple dashboard warnings.
  • Owners describe the vehicle hesitating when tapping the gas pedal at low speed, such as exiting a garage.
2021 Subaru Forester complaints: complaints filed per quarter232021 Q12021 Q42022 Q32023 Q22024 Q12024 Q42025 Q32026 Q2
276 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2021 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (23).

2021 Subaru Forester recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2021 Subaru Forester fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2021 compared with other Forester years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Avoid100833329
2020Avoid93601029
2021Good47207029
2022Good2798127.5
2023Good3373127.5

All Subaru Forester years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Subaru Forester reliable?
Compared to other Forester model years, 2021 ranks 9th worst out of 16 with a Complaint Index of 47, giving it a 'Good' verdict relative to the rest of the lineup.
Does the 2021 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2021 Subaru Forester.
What is the top complaint area for the 2021 Subaru Forester?
Visibility & Wipers is the top problem area, accounting for 90 of 207 complaints, or 43% of all reports, with a median failure mileage of 4,650 miles.
Are there unintended acceleration complaints for the 2021 Forester?
Yes, several sample complaints describe unintended acceleration while shifting gears, including incidents that resulted in crashes into garages, walls, and parked vehicles.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Subaru Forester?
The EPA rates the 2021 Forester at 29 mpg combined (26 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.