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#BS-2023-SUBFOR-326B

2023 Subaru ForesterProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 114 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
114
Crashes
11
Fires
7
Recalls
1
TSBs
259
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 114 complaints, 11 crashes, 7 fires, and 1 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

engine oil leak

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
2

engine random misfire

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
3

rear tires bald due to alignment issue

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the VisibilityHIGH

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

!Inspect the Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency BrakingMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

11
0–30K
30–60K
60–90K
90–120K
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (11 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 (12 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

Other20 (18%)
Visibility12 (11%)
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking8 (7%)
Electrical7 (6%)
Airbags6 (5%)
Brakes6 (5%)
Engine6 (5%)
Drivetrain5 (4%)

2023 Subaru Forester: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Visibility Issues

Visibility complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2023 Subaru Forester, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 9,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 9K-mile mark.

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking Issues

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2023 Subaru Forester, with 8 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.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2023 Subaru Forester, with 7 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2023 Subaru Forester, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-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

20
23
44
24
27
25
23
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2023 Subaru Forester. Recent trend: stable.

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

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

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Recall History (1 recall)

23V754000Jan 2024

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2023 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.

2023 Subaru Forester vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD)

This vehicle

114

Class avg

111

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other small sport utility vehicle 4wd vehicles from 2023.

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. 114 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

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

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Subaru Forester Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998
View all Subaru Forester years →

2023 Subaru Forester: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2023 Subaru Forester?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2023 Subaru Forester is related to the visibility, with 12 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2023 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2023 Subaru Forester has 114 complaints, 11 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 safe is the 2023 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA rates the 2023 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 2023 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 2023 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes, the 2023 Subaru Forester has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Subaru Forester problems start?
Based on 11 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 9,000 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.
When was the 2023 Subaru Forester data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 13, 2026.
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 114 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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