no report yet
Control arm: lower ball joint
Do not driveNewRisk. A ball joint that separates from the lower control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
2026 Subaru ForesterProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 35 owner complaints about the 2026 Subaru Forester, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 2, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2026 Subaru Forester has problems
35 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
9Electrical system
8Forward collision avoidance
6Visibility/wiper
4Structure1 crash/fire/injury
2Power train
2Visibility
2Fuel/propulsion system
1Service brakes
1Exterior lighting
55 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 9 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 8 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 1 |
| Power train | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 |
| 5 other systems | 5 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2026 Subaru Forester recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Other: labels
NewRisk. An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
NewRisk. A detached glass panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments
NewRisk. A rear hatch support bracket that detaches can allow the rear hatch to fall unexpectedly during use and increase the risk of injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Best & worst years
2026 vs. every other Forester year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Forester median. How we score
'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2026 Subaru Forester safety ratings
2026 SUBARU FORESTER SUV N/A AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Standard
In owners' words
What Forester owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
• Symptom: Total electrical and mechanical shutdown at highway speed (70 mph) immediately following the manual disengagement/deactivation of the cruise control system. • Behavior: Complete loss of engine power, power steering assist, braking assist, and all instrument cluster functionality. •…
UPDATE TO EXISTING ODI 11761974 - 2026 Forester Wilderness - WRF-26 Power Moonroof Glass Adhesion Recall / 26V346000 Component/system failed: Power moonroof tracking assembly bonding area / roof panel paint. Available for inspection upon request, garaged, unrepaired with exposed bare metal. On…
On Thursday October 1st upon leaving work the dashboard and infotainment system glitched and rebooted while driving. I thought I was seeing things. I was stopping at a stop sign ad paying attention to the road. Everything seemed fine at that point. On October 3rd while driving approximately 45 MPH…
Own a 2026 Forester?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.