2020 Subaru Forester reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2020 Subaru Forester — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 794
- 590 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- 252 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 44 reported crashes · 35 injuries · 11 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#571
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+612
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2018-2022
+530
median 265 complaints in 474 records
Top component share
32%
Visibility/Wiper: 252 complaints
What owners report fails — 2020 Subaru Forester
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 252
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 104
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 95
- ENGINE 72
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD 46
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2020 Subaru Forester
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2020 Subaru Forester units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Subaru Forester reliable?
NHTSA has 794 consumer complaints on record for the 2020 Subaru Forester. The most-reported problem area is visibility/wiper (252 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2020 Subaru Forester units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Subaru Forester?
Owners most often report problems with: visibility/wiper (252), unknown or other (104), electrical system (95), engine (72). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2020 Subaru Forester?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.