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#BS-2021-SUBFOR-326B

2021 Subaru ForesterProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 293 owners and 0 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
293
Crashes
28
Fires
10
Recalls
0
TSBs
371
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 293 complaints, 28 crashes, 10 fires, and 0 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

soy based wiring in my car is being eaten by rats

2 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
2

chipped windshield immediately

2 complaints • Severity 5/10

$X,XXX
3

drivers side windows doesnt roll up

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the VisibilityHIGH

77 owners reported visibility issues — failures commonly reported around 9K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

34
0–30K
7
30–60K
60–90K
90–120K
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (34 reports) • Median: 9K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Visibility (77 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Visibility77 (26%)
Other42 (14%)
Engine35 (12%)
Electrical34 (12%)
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking13 (4%)
Drivetrain13 (4%)
Visibility:windshield13 (4%)
Speed Control11 (4%)

2021 Subaru Forester: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Visibility Issues

Visibility complaints account for 26% of all reports filed for the 2021 Subaru Forester, with 77 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 8,500 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 9K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2021 Subaru Forester, with 35 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2021 Subaru Forester, with 34 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking Issues

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2021 Subaru Forester, with 13 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

65
21
62
22
36
23
36
24
62
25
32
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Subaru Forester. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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2021 Subaru Forester NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

The worst model year for the Subaru Forester is the 2014 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2021 Subaru Forester vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD)

This vehicle

293

Class avg

228

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other small sport utility vehicle 4wd vehicles from 2021.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 293 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 0 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Subaru Forester Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998
View all Subaru Forester years →

2021 Subaru Forester: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Subaru Forester?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Subaru Forester is related to the visibility, with 77 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2021 Subaru Forester has 293 complaints, 28 crash reports, and 10 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How safe is the 2021 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA rates the 2021 Subaru Forester 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Subaru Forester problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2021 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
No recalls have been issued for the 2021 Subaru Forester according to NHTSA records.
What mileage do Subaru Forester problems start?
Based on 41 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 8,500 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2021 Subaru Forester data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 293 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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