Compact SUVs · 4 model years, 2016 to 2021
Subaru Forester vs Subaru Crosstrek: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Crosstrek looks better on 4 and the Forester on 2, with 1 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2016 to 2021 | Forester | Crosstrek |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 6.1% | 3.9% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.0% | 1.2% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 2.2% | 1.4% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 16,000 | 18,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 2.0 | 2.8 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 1 | 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 Forester owners complain about most is windshield and wipers, and it is the same for the Crosstrek. Complaints citing airbags make up 11% of all Forester complaints, against 1.2% on the Crosstrek. The Crosstrek leans the other way on transmission and drivetrain: 9.8% of its complaints, against 6.5% for the Forester.
Subaru ForesterSubaru Crosstrek
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 Forester is windshield problems (34% of its complaints), and the Crosstrek shares it (31%).
| Problem | Forester | Crosstrek |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield cracks or distorts | 34% 659most in 2019 · 11k mi | 31% 228most in 2019 · 15k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 7.2% 141most in 2019 · 35k mi | 9.6% 70most in 2019 · 17k mi |
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 8.2% 160most in 2019 · 28k mi | 7.2% 52most in 2019 · 23k mi |
| Airbag warning light or recall | 11% 213most in 2016 · 34k mi | 0 |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 3.8% 75most in 2019 · 12k mi | 5.0% 3615k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 3.0% 58most in 2019 · 48k mi | 2.8% 2013k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 3.9% 76most in 2016 · 30k mi | 1.5% 11 |
| Multiple warning lights come on at once | 2.1% 41most in 2019 · 43k mi | 3.3% 2423k 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
Forester owners report problems earlier. Half the Forester complaints that give a mileage come before 16,000 miles; for the Crosstrek the halfway point is 18,000. 85% of Forester reports and 83% of Crosstrek 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.
Subaru ForesterSubaru Crosstrek
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 1,033 for the Forester and 399 for the Crosstrek.
Worst and best years
The 2019 Forester draws 2.8 times the complaints of a typical Forester year for its age. The 2024 Crosstrek draws 4.0 times the complaints of a typical Crosstrek year for its age.
Subaru Forester
Subaru ForesterSubaru Crosstrek
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 Crosstrek draws more recalls: 2.8 campaigns per model year against 2.0 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.
Subaru Forester
8 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: engine and engine cooling (2), exterior lighting (1) and airbags (1).
- 19V-701 (airbags) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- PE19009: Occupant detection system (ods) failure (closed, led to a recall)
Subaru Crosstrek
11 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: engine and engine cooling (2), electrical (2) and exterior lighting (1).
- 21V-263 (suspension) covers 2 model years
- 21V-264 (electrical) covers 2 model years
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: 6.1%, against 3.9% for the Crosstrek. Fire reports: 20 for the Forester and 9 for the Crosstrek. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Forester and 0 in the Crosstrek for these model years.
Subaru ForesterSubaru Crosstrek
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 Subaru Forester or the Subaru Crosstrek more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Crosstrek looks better on 4 and the Forester on 2, with 1 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Forester has 1,949 complaints and the Crosstrek 727 for the 4 model years from 2016 to 2021 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Forester or the Crosstrek?
The Forester has 8 recall campaigns and the Crosstrek 11 across the 4 model years from 2016 to 2021 that both have on file. The Crosstrek draws more recalls: 2.8 campaigns per model year against 2.0 for the Forester.
What are the most common problems on the Forester and the Crosstrek?
The most reported problem on the Forester is windshield problems (34% of its complaints), and the Crosstrek shares it (31%).
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