YearToAvoid

2024 Subaru Forester Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#16 most-complained of 16 Forester years

The 2024 Subaru Forester ranks 16th out of 16 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 0, making it the Best year in the lineup. It has 29 complaints, 2 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls.

Complaints
29
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
27.5
25.5 city / 30.5 hwy

Top 2024 Subaru Forester problems

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

  1. Other9 (31%)
  2. Airbags7 (24%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (17%)
  4. Visibility & Wipers5 (17%)
  5. Electrical System2 (7%)
  6. Engine2 (7%)
  7. Structure & Body2 (7%)
  8. Brakes1 (3%)
  9. Lane Departure1 (3%)
  10. Steering1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Passenger airbag warning light stays off for smaller adult occupants, even after dealer inspection found no fault.
  • Backup camera loses picture after the car is washed, showing an obstacle alert with no image displayed.
  • Steering wheel pulls to the right and power steering assist is lost at various speeds, reported around 5,000 miles.
  • Automatic braking and airbags failed to activate during a low-speed collision with an animal.
  • Windshield develops a crack at the same spot near the heating element with no impact, recurring after a prior replacement.
  • Rear hatch continues closing and strikes a person after the close button was pressed.
2024 Subaru Forester complaints: complaints filed per month3Jan 2024Jul 2024Nov 2024Feb 2025Jun 2025Dec 2025Apr 2026
36 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2024 to Aug 2026; peak Jul 2024 (3).

2024 Subaru Forester recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V754000Nov 9, 2023Transmission & Powertrain4,701 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:driveshaft

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.

    Risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRP-23.

  2. NHTSA 23V723000Oct 26, 2023Engine49 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.

    Risk: Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Subaru’s independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts. The affected vehicles have not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners and therefore, no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRO-23.

2024 Subaru Forester fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25.5 MPG
Highway
30.5 MPG
Combined
27.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,375
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.

2024 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
2022Good2798127.5
2023Good3373127.5
2024Best029227.5
2025Avoid8093328.5

All Subaru Forester years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2024 Subaru Forester reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2024 Forester ranks 16th out of 16 model years with a complaint index of 0, earning a Best verdict relative to other Forester years.
Does the 2024 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for front driveshaft outer race cracking (campaign 23V754000) and one for loose engine water pipe attachment bolts that can leak coolant (campaign 23V723000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
What are the most common complaints for the 2024 Subaru Forester?
Airbags are the top problem area with 7 complaints (24% share), followed by Collision Avoidance & Cameras and Visibility & Wipers, each with 5 complaints (17% share).
How does the 2024 Forester compare to other Forester model years?
The 2024 Forester has 29 complaints and a complaint index of 0, far below years like 2019 (833 complaints, index 100) and 2015 (613 complaints, index 87), both rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2024 Subaru Forester?
EPA rates the 2024 Forester at 27.5 mpg combined (25.5 city / 30.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,375.

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.