Diagsheet

Compact SUVs · 12 model years, 2014 to 2026

Honda CR-V vs Subaru Forester: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the CR-V and the Forester split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call).

Honda CR-V

Honda CR-V

8,412 complaints · 20 recalls

Subaru Forester

Subaru Forester

4,392 complaints · 16 recalls

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026

Counts are not adjusted for sales. The more cars of a model there are on the road, the more complaints it draws, so the raw totals above say a lot about sales. Everything below compares shares of each model's own complaints, the mileage problems start at, recalls per model year and each model's years against its own median.

Scorecard

Measure, 2014 to 2026CR-VForester
Complaints that report a crash3.9%6.8%
Complaints that report a fire0.4%1.2%
Complaints that report an injury2.7%3.1%
Median miles when problems are reported20,00025,000
Recall campaigns per model year1.71.3
Do-not-drive recalls00
NHTSA investigations61

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 CR-V owners complain about most is engine; for the Forester it is windshield and wipers. Complaints citing steering make up 16% of all CR-V complaints, against 3.1% on the Forester. The Forester leans the other way on windshield and wipers: 24% of its complaints, against 2.8% for the CR-V.

Honda CR-VSubaru Forester

Engine22%13%
Electrical14%16%
Windshield and wipers2.8%24%
Collision avoidance15%4.0%
Steering16%3.1%
Fuel and propulsion13%4.3%
Airbags3.6%13%
Transmission and drivetrain6.7%7.8%
Brakes7.9%4.0%
Speed control3.2%6.4%

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 CR-V is phantom braking (9.4% of its complaints). On the Forester it is windshield problems (26% of its complaints), against 2.3% on the CR-V.

ProblemCR-VForester
Windshield cracks or distorts2.3% 196most in 2018 · 16k mi26% 1,153most in 2019 · 10k mi
Engine stalls or loses power while driving8.8% 738most in 2018 · 26k mi7.3% 322most in 2015 · 42k mi
Airbag warning light or recall3.5% 294most in 2019 · 19k mi12% 548most in 2017 · 40k mi
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early8.2% 687most in 2018 · 17k mi4.3% 187most in 2015 · 32k mi
Battery dies or the car will not start4.5% 378most in 2017 · 23k mi6.6% 289most in 2019 · 25k mi
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)9.4% 794most in 2018 · 24k mi1.1% 5023k mi
Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks9.4% 792most in 2023 · 36k mi0
Check engine light or misfire5.2% 435most in 2017 · 56k mi2.9% 129most in 2019 · 46k mi

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

CR-V owners report problems earlier. Half the CR-V complaints that give a mileage come before 20,000 miles; for the Forester the halfway point is 25,000. 77% of CR-V reports and 73% 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.

Honda CR-VSubaru Forester

Under 25k55%49%
25k to 50k22%24%
50k to 75k12%15%
75k to 100k5.7%6.4%
100k to 150k4.1%4.6%
Over 150k1.2%1.1%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 3,789 for the CR-V and 2,430 for the Forester.

Worst and best years

The 2018 CR-V draws 4.3 times the complaints of a typical CR-V year for its age. The 2019 Forester draws 2.8 times the complaints of a typical Forester year for its age.

Honda CR-V

Every CR-V model year

Subaru Forester

Every Forester model year

Honda CR-VSubaru Forester

Each model year against its own model's median. CR-V: 2014 0.7, 2015 1.0, 2016 0.6, 2017 3.2, 2018 4.3, 2019 2.5, 2020 0.9, 2021 1.0, 2022 0.9, 2023 2.3, 2024 2.4. Forester: 2014 0.7, 2015 1.3, 2016 1.0, 2017 1.6, 2018 1.5, 2019 2.8, 2020 2.3, 2021 0.9, 2022 0.5, 2023 0.5, 2024 0.3.2014 CR-V: 0.7 times its median2014 Forester: 0.7 times its median'142015 CR-V: 1.0 times its median2015 Forester: 1.3 times its median'152016 CR-V: 0.6 times its median2016 Forester: 1.0 times its median'162017 CR-V: 3.2 times its median2017 Forester: 1.6 times its median'172018 CR-V: 4.3 times its median2018 Forester: 1.5 times its median'182019 CR-V: 2.5 times its median2019 Forester: 2.8 times its median'192020 CR-V: 0.9 times its median2020 Forester: 2.3 times its median'202021 CR-V: 1.0 times its median2021 Forester: 0.9 times its median'212022 CR-V: 0.9 times its median2022 Forester: 0.5 times its median'222023 CR-V: 2.3 times its median2023 Forester: 0.5 times its median'232024 CR-V: 2.4 times its median2024 Forester: 0.3 times its median'241x

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 CR-V draws more recalls: 1.7 campaigns per model year against 1.3 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.

Honda CR-V

20 recall campaigns and 6 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (5), airbags (4) and equipment (3).

  • 23V-858 (fuel system) covers 10 model years
  • 26V-332 (airbags) covers 6 model years

Investigations

  • EA24002: Inadvertent automatic emergency braking (open)
  • EA23003: Momentary increased steering effort (closed, led to a recall)
  • PE22011: Rear differential seizure (closed)

Subaru Forester

16 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: equipment (2), engine and engine cooling (2) and transmission and drivetrain (2).

  • 19V-701 (airbags) covers 4 model years
  • 19V-149 (exterior lighting) covers 3 model years

Investigations

  • PE19009: Occupant detection system (ods) failure (closed, led to a recall)

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: 6.8%, against 3.9% for the CR-V. Fire reports: 36 for the CR-V and 52 for the Forester. Complaints on file report 5 deaths in the CR-V and 2 in the Forester for these model years.

Honda CR-VSubaru Forester

Report a crash3.9%6.8%
Report a fire0.4%1.2%
Report someone hurt2.7%3.1%

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 Honda CR-V or the Subaru Forester more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the CR-V and the Forester split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call). NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the CR-V has 8,412 complaints and the Forester 4,392 for the 12 model years from 2014 to 2026 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.

Which has more recalls, the CR-V or the Forester?

The CR-V has 20 recall campaigns and the Forester 16 across the 12 model years from 2014 to 2026 that both have on file. The CR-V draws more recalls: 1.7 campaigns per model year against 1.3 for the Forester.

What are the most common problems on the CR-V and the Forester?

The most reported problem on the CR-V is phantom braking (9.4% of its complaints). On the Forester it is windshield problems (26% of its complaints), against 2.3% on the CR-V.

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