The Lemon Index2022 Subaru Forester.
The 2022 Subaru Forester is better than average by owner complaints: 83 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 55, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about wipers & visibility, it has 1 recall, and it gets 26 to 29 mpg combined. The best Subaru Forester year is 2013.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 99 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Subaru Forester year. 2022 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 1K to 24K miles on the car (14 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 1
- transmission & drivetrain 2023
An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Subaru told dealers about
Subaru sent dealers 321 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- This Bulletin announces design changes to the engine oil and CVT fluid drain plugs
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Forester SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–2450 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Windshield Cracked while in the hot sun. I was sitting inside my car and started hearing a cracking noise and noticed my windshield was cracking. Eventually it developed a 7 inch crack.
2022 Subaru Forester owner · NHTSA complaint 11476572
More owner reports
Woke up this morning to a cracked windshield. Car was garaged over night and I drove it around 8:30pm the evening before and their was no crack. Now have a 4â crack in the passenger side windshield.
NHTSA complaint 11496858
Driving through a parking lot under 5mph, and the glass cracked with no warning or sign of anything hitting the windscreen.
NHTSA complaint 11480160
Quick answers
Is the 2022 Subaru Forester reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.8× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 55; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Subaru Forester year by this measure is 2013.
What are the most common 2022 Subaru Forester problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wipers & visibility (23%), automatic emergency braking (19%) and engine (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2022 Subaru Forester have?
1 safety recall (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2022 Subaru Forester get?
26 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2022 Subaru Forester safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2022 Subaru Forester have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2022 Subaru Forester cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $2450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2022 Subaru Forester have?
2.5L 4-cyl.
What Subaru Forester year is better than the 2022?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2013, 2011 and 2012.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works