2020 Subaru Forester problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (252) · Visibility:windshield (46) · Electrical System (44)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Subaru Forester model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
272 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (481)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-05 · SubaruNet Announcement (M · Other
this announcement provides information on a new software update for the midtronics dss and dca machines.
Power Train 2026-09-28 · SubaruNet Announcement (T · Other
this announcement provides information on an enhancement of the techshare cvt diagnostic assitance application.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-18 · 13-109-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
Electrical System 2026-09-18 · 18-244-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"this bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following dtcs: dtc c1956: rh actuator circuit dtc c1957: lh actuator circuit"
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · SubaruNet Announcement (C · Other
this announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-14 · 15-333-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 481 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-26 · Fuel/Propulsion System“on xxx, while driving my 2020 subaru forester sport (vin [xxx]) at approximately 35 mph on [xxx], the check engine light came on and eyesight, adaptive cruise control, and pre-collision braking were disabled / other warning lights appeared / engine temperature issues. a diagnostic scan showed code [p2682 / p26a3 / p26a5], and the thermo control val…”
2026-10-14 · Engine“experience a total engine stall while stopped/accelerating at an intersection. the stall triggered immediate 'eyesight disabled' and 'engine oil' dashboard warnings, requiring a manual button restart in traffic. had concerns of permanently being stalled in intersection. taking to dealer for inspection. …”
2026-10-08 · Electrical System“experienced parasitic battery drain which disabled the vehicle. the drain is tied to a 30 amp fuse labeled "backup" under the hood of the vehicle. this fuse controls the touchscreen, backup camera, interior lights, key fob and radio. there were no warning lights or trouble codes associated with this issue. the problem was replicated by both a subar…”
2026-09-19 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 🔥 fire“smoke and fire occurred in the engine and spread into the car while the car was being driven. the car has not been inspected yet.…”
2026-09-13 · Engine“three times within 30 minutes on short drive, the engine stalled at stop sign or stop light. the car had a half tank of gas, and at the same time as the engine stalled, the miles remaining until empty display showed an anomalous 0.3miles to empty reading. put the car in park allowed the engine to restart and the range remaining display to return to…”
2026-09-10 · Power Train“component/system defect: failed thermo control valve (tcv) leading to sudden vehicle power loss / limp mode. description of safety incident: while operating my vehicle at highway speeds late at night, the thermo control valve (tcv) failed catastrophically without warning. the vehicle instantly experienced a massive loss of engine power and entered…”
2026-09-05 · Engine“car stalls when it shouldn't i.e. when stopped at traffic light transmission control module (tcm) software issue…”
2026-08-27 · Engine“24th february 2020 - bought the car from subaru dealer. couple of service records prior to may 24, 2022. - may 24, 2022 (9,037 miles) | ro# 806326: the lower oil pan leaked prematurely and had to be completely replaced under warranty. during the same visit, explained long brake pedal issue, and was given an estimate. - - june 1, 2022 (9,039 miles) …”
2026-08-19 · Power Train“this 2020 subaru forester has experienced repeated failures involving the auto start/stop system. when stopped in traffic, the system shuts the engine off as designed, but on multiple occasions the engine has failed to restart normally when the driver needed to proceed. this has left the vehicle unable to move in active traffic and created a seriou…”
2026-08-11 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash · 🔥 fire“while driving my girfriend's 2020 subaru forester on august 11, 2026 at approximately 65 to 70 mph, i struck a deer on a highway. the airbags deployed immediately, and i temporarily lost all forward visibility due to the airbag deploy, and smoke or steam coming from the front of the vehicle as it decelerated to a stop. within moments of stopping, s…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.