BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-2021-SUBFOR-326B

2021 Subaru Forester

Based on reports from 265 owners and 0 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
265
Crashes
26
Fires
7
Recalls
0
TSBs
330
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 265 complaints, 26 crashes, 7 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

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $1.20

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the VisibilityHIGH

77 owners reported visibility issues — failures commonly reported around 8K miles.

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

Failure Timeline by Mileage

33
0–30K
5
30–60K
60–90K
90–120K
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (33 reports) • Median: 8K 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 (29%)
Other38 (14%)
Electrical27 (10%)
Engine27 (10%)
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking13 (5%)
Visibility:windshield13 (5%)
Speed Control11 (4%)
Drivetrain10 (4%)

2021 Subaru Forester: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Visibility Issues

Visibility complaints account for 29% of all reports filed for the 2021 Subaru Forester, with 77 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 8,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 8K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2021 Subaru Forester, with 27 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2021 Subaru Forester, with 27 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-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 5% 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
4
26

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

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

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

Get Report — From $1.20

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

265

Class avg

247

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. 265 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.

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 265 complaints, 26 crash reports, and 7 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
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 38 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 8,000 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.
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.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 2021 Subaru Forester Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 265 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $1.20Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees