UsedScore

2020 Subaru Forester: Avoid

Owners filed 546 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Forester in its first five years on the road, about 307 for every 100,000 sold: 2.4× the rate of a typical Forester year. That's more than twice a typical year, across more than one problem area.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (55% of complaints, median 6,000 miles).

Complaint index
2.4×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Forester year
Rank
14th of 15
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
546
first five years; 307 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
0
campaigns
5th generation, 2019–2024 · Updated November 9, 2026 · How we rate
2019 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring

Photo: 2019 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Visibility55% · 299 complaints · median 6,000 miles
  2. Electrical13% · 73 complaints · median 2,000 miles
  3. Engine10% · 57 complaints · median 37,000 miles
  4. Driver assistance9% · 48 complaints · median 5,000 miles
  5. Speed control4% · 23 complaints · median 26,000 miles
  6. Brakes3% · 14 complaints · median 8,000 miles
  7. Air bags2% · 9 complaints
  8. Powertrain5% · 30 complaints
  9. Fuel and propulsion2% · 10 complaints
  10. Steering2% · 9 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Electrical

Many 2020 Forester owners describe frustrating battery drain problems and an auto stop/start feature that sometimes leaves the car stalled after stopping, occasionally alongside a thermo control valve failure causing engine shutdown. Dealers have replaced batteries and parts repeatedly, but owners often say the issue returns.

Warning signs:
Owners report dashboard warning lights, check engine and eyesight alerts, radio or infotainment glitches, flickering gauges, and the engine failing to restart after auto stop/start engages at a light or stop sign.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced or recharged batteries, sometimes multiple times, replaced radios or thermo control valves, or told owners no problem was found and to disable auto stop/start manually.
Mileage:
most under 5,000 miles, among 20 complaints that give it

“the AS/S system failed. A "No Eyesight" warning flashed and disappeared; various symbol lights blinked across the instrument panel”

“every dash light was suddenly activated and remained on -- and as a result all safety features were deactivated”

Engine

Many owners of this Forester describe the thermo control valve failing, which triggers warning lights, loss of heat, and disabling of driver-assist safety features, sometimes accompanied by stalling or sudden power loss. Others report separate stalling episodes tied to the auto start/stop system or battery problems, with dealers replacing the valve or battery with mixed results.

Warning signs:
Owners commonly noticed the check engine light, a flashing "S," cold engine or low coolant temperature readings, loss of heat, and disabled EyeSight, cruise control, and collision-avoidance features before or during the failure.
What shops did:
Dealers most often diagnosed a failed thermo control valve and replaced it, sometimes under warranty or an extended warranty, though some owners report parts backorders, repeat failures, or repairs not covered due to mileage.
Mileage:
most between 25,000 and 45,000 miles, among 9 complaints that give it

“the check engine light turned on, the eye site and cruise shut down and the car slowed down quickly to 60 mph almost getting rear ended”

“The defrost and heater stopped working immediately making visibility extremely difficult”

Visibility

Owners of the 2020 Forester describe windshields that crack or chip easily, sometimes with no visible impact, and cracks that spread quickly across the glass. Many say dealers denied warranty coverage, blaming rock damage, leaving owners to pay for replacement and recalibration themselves.

Warning signs:
Many report hearing a pop, snap, or ping sound, or simply noticing a small chip or crack that then spread within minutes to hours into a large crack.
What shops did:
Owners describe dealers often replacing the windshield and recalibrating the EyeSight camera system, though many say the repair wasn't covered under warranty and blamed rock impacts.
Mileage:
most under 10,000 miles, among 188 complaints that give it

“I noticed a crack in the bottom, middle of my windshield. It was about 6 inches long with no impact mark.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2020 Subaru Forester.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Subaru sent NHTSA 495 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2020 Forester. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 09-122-24R · October 2026This bulletin the announces diagnostic procedures and availability of new Engine Control Module (ECM) reprogramming files to address DTC P2404 (Evap System Leak Detection Pump Sense Circuit…
  • SubaruNet Announcement (T · October 2026This is an update announcement regarding the TechShare & NorthStar Integration - CVT Diag.
  • SubaruNet Announcement (S · October 2026This announcement provides information on the connected services platform for Subaru EVs.
  • 15-344-26 · October 2026This bulletin provides a step-by-step diagnostic procedure for resolving Remote Engine Start (RES) failures for both Telematics and remote engine start equipped vehicles.
  • 15-304-22R · October 2026This Service Information Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.
  • SubaruNet Announcement (Q · October 2026This announcement provides information on DCM replacememts due to a parasitic draw.
  • SubaruNet Announcement (M · October 2026This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
  • 09-119-24R · October 2026In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the Thermo Control Valve (TCV) used in the listed models and model years…

All 2020 Forester bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2020 Subaru Forester reliable?
Owners filed 546 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Forester in its first five years on the road, about 307 for every 100,000 sold: 2.4× the rate of a typical Forester year. That's more than twice a typical year, across more than one problem area. Ratings compare Forester years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2020 Forester problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (55%), the electrical system (13%) and the engine (10%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2020 Subaru Forester been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2020 Subaru Forester.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of November 9, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. The 2020 Subaru Forester on NHTSA.gov · How we rate