Compact SUVs · model years 2021 to 2023
Ford Bronco Sport vs Subaru Forester: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Bronco Sport looks better on 4 and the Forester on 3.
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2021 to 2023 | Bronco Sport | Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 3.3% | 8.5% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 2.8% | 4.0% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 2.4% | 3.2% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 36,000 | 10,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 7.3 | 0.7 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 1 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 3 | 0 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Bronco Sport owners complain about most is electrical; for the Forester it is windshield and wipers. Complaints citing transmission and drivetrain make up 22% of all Bronco Sport complaints, against 5.8% on the Forester. The Forester leans the other way on windshield and wipers: 28% of its complaints, against 1.7% for the Bronco Sport.
Ford Bronco SportSubaru Forester
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Bronco Sport is stalling (16% of its complaints). On the Forester it is windshield problems (32% of its complaints), against 2.8% on the Bronco Sport.
| Problem | Bronco Sport | Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield cracks or distorts | 2.8% 3410k mi | 32% 120most in 2021 · 5k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 16% 194most in 2021 · 38k mi | 6.6% 25 |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 15% 186most in 2021 · 11k mi | 5.8% 22 |
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 13% 153most in 2021 · 40k mi | 6.6% 25 |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 9.5% 114most in 2021 · 36k mi | 5.6% 21 |
| Multiple warning lights come on at once | 4.1% 49most in 2021 · 40k mi | 1.3% 5 |
| Vehicle fire | 2.3% 2846k mi | 2.6% 10 |
| Check engine light or misfire | 4.9% 59most in 2021 · 54k mi | 0 |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Forester owners report problems earlier. Half the Forester complaints that give a mileage come before 10,000 miles; for the Bronco Sport the halfway point is 36,000. 66% of Bronco Sport reports and 94% of Forester reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Ford Bronco SportSubaru Forester
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 416 for the Bronco Sport and 104 for the Forester.
Worst and best years
The 2021 Bronco Sport draws 2.1 times the complaints of a typical Bronco Sport year for its age. The 2019 Forester draws 2.8 times the complaints of a typical Forester year for its age.
Ford Bronco SportSubaru Forester
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Bronco Sport draws more recalls: 7.3 campaigns per model year against 0.7 for the Forester. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Ford Bronco Sport
22 recall campaigns and 3 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (6), suspension (3) and visibility (2).
- Do not drive 26V-340 (suspension), model years 2021, 2022 and 2023
- 22V-859 (fuel system) covers 3 model years
- 24V-267 (electrical) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- RQ24014: Loss of motive power (closed, led to a recall)
- RQ24008: Underhood fires caused by fuel leak (closed, led to a recall)
- PE24002: Loss of motive power (closed, led to a recall)
Subaru Forester
2 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: transmission and drivetrain (2).
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Forester complaints report a crash: 8.5%, against 3.3% for the Bronco Sport. Fire reports: 34 for the Bronco Sport and 15 for the Forester.
Ford Bronco SportSubaru Forester
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Ford Bronco Sport or the Subaru Forester more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Bronco Sport looks better on 4 and the Forester on 3. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Bronco Sport has 1,203 complaints and the Forester 378 for model years 2021 to 2023, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Bronco Sport or the Forester?
The Bronco Sport has 22 recall campaigns and the Forester 2 across model years 2021 to 2023. The Bronco Sport draws more recalls: 7.3 campaigns per model year against 0.7 for the Forester.
What are the most common problems on the Bronco Sport and the Forester?
The most reported problem on the Bronco Sport is stalling (16% of its complaints). On the Forester it is windshield problems (32% of its complaints), against 2.8% on the Bronco Sport.
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