The Lemon Index

All cars · Subaru Forester · 2020

2020 Subaru Forester. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index297100 = average car
Complaints492NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold176,996U.S. model year
Per 100K sold278complaints
Year rank#15 of 16#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 1

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.5L 4-cylAuto (AV-S7)AWD26 / 33 / 29Regular$2,150

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 1,900 and 11,000 miles. Median 5,800, from 272 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Wipers & visibility5,0001,700–8,100140
Electrical2,0001,000–7,80020
Engine29,30010,100–37,2006
Visibility13,2004,800–29,40048
Automatic emergency braking5,2003,800–17,8009

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Wipers & visibility49%
Electrical12%
Visibility9%
Automatic emergency braking7%
Engine7%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
60326913024

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Manufacturer communications 481

Subaru filed 481 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • This Service Information Bulletin provides helpful tips and precautions to use whenever removing
  • Announcement to Subaru Retailers regarding the preliminary settlement in a class action…
  • Battery Drain Class Action Settlement- Warranty Extension Training

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Subaru Forester SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardStandardStandard

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2017158296177,563Airbags
2018166291171,613Wipers & visibility
2019349641180,179Wipers & visibility
2020297492176,996Wipers & visibility
2021100157154,723Wipers & visibility
20225583114,096Wipers & visibility
20234174152,566Automatic emergency braking

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data