280 of the 2,453 complaints about the Subaru Forester (11.4%) concern Engine, making it the model's #4 problem area. That share is 0.5× the Engine share across all tracked vehicles.
280Complaints · Engine
11.4%Share of complaints
0.51×vs. all vehicles
38Last 12 months
12.5%Share involving a crash or fire
2Related recalls
Analysis
38 Engine complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 42 in the 12 months before — down 10%.
43 of these reports (12.5%) describe a crash or fire, with 10 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 23V723000 (2023-10-26, model year 2024).
Smoke and fire occurred in the engine and spread into the car while the car was being driven. The car has not been inspected yet.
Engine · 2026-09-19 · ODI 11765530 · Fire
Vehicle caught fire after oil change. Oil leaked from engine onto catalytic converter and causes catastrophic engine fire
Engine · 2026-06-10 · ODI 11743185 · Fire
On two separate occasions, less than one year apart after Subaru Service replaced my battery with a “larger” battery without my knowledge my vehicle suffered sudden, catastrophic electrical failure while moving in active highway traffic, causing an immediate…
Engine · 2026-10-03 · ODI 11768776
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while her husband was driving on a road trip at interstate speed with the contact and her daughter inside the vehicle, the vehicle started shaking violently from side to side.
Engine · 2026-09-28 · ODI 11767533
On July 31, 2026, I was driving with my daughter when the a/c compressor clutch seized up and experienced a catastrophic compressor failure that also blew out the expansion valve o-rings.
Engine · 2026-09-17 · ODI 11764982
Three times within 30 minutes on short drive, the engine stalled at stop sign or stop light. The car had a half tank of gas, and at the same time as the engine stalled, the miles remaining until empty display showed an anomalous 0.3miles to empty reading.
Engine · 2026-09-13 · ODI 11763869
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Campaign 23V723000 · 2023-10-26 · Model years: 2024
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.
Remedy: Subarus independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts. The affected vehicles have not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners and therefore, no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRO-23.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV) Campaign 19V856000 · 2019-12-02 · Model years: 2019
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUW-08.
Why modern engines burn oil, and what owner complaints revealDesign choices linked to oil consumption in recent engines, the warning signs owners describe, what counts as normal, and which tracked models currently have the highest engine share in their complaints.
