2020 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 54owner reports
- 4,748median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
102 of the 601 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 54 of those describe dead battery. Only windshield is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 54 reports
Dead battery on other Forester years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These owners walk out to a car that's dead. Some find it drained after sitting only a day or two, some need a jump start every week, and some have had the battery replaced more than once without the problem going away. A good number describe the dealer testing the battery, calling it fine, and sending them home.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (49 reports) and the alternator (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the electrical system covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 1,800 and 25,000 miles, from the 15 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 Subaru Forester that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.This is an revised ...
Subaru Battery Drain Product Liability Litigation.
Battery Drain Class Action Settlement- Warranty Extension Training.
Announcement to Subaru Retailers regarding the preliminary settlement in a class action lawsuit regarding battery drain in certain Subaru vehicles.
What owners wrote
“Battery drained, towed to dealership twice within a month battery replaced then failed within 2 weeks everything checked out ok but battery still drained very frustrating”
Filed Jul 29, 2022
“Battery constantly dying. Significant safety concern. Never no when the car is going to not start. Unreliable”
Filed May 23, 2022
“Electrical defect in recent Subarus causes parasitic battery drain when the car is not in use. Our battery drained to the point that the vehicle couldnât start without a jump due to this defect.”
Filed Apr 17, 2022
“The battery drains regularly, causing the vehicle to be inoperable. Battery is dead after 3 days of non use, leaving vehicle unable to be used.”
Filed Apr 5, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 54 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Windshield cracks or distorts 301 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 47 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 30 reports