2020 Subaru Forester recalls and problems
No recalls and 603 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2020 Subaru Forester.
Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.
2020 Subaru Forester recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Most reported problems
Areas named in owner complaints to NHTSA. One complaint can name several areas.
What owners report
Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.
Experience a total engine stall while stopped/accelerating at an intersection. The stall triggered immediate 'EyeSight Disabled' and 'Engine Oil' dashboard warnings, requiring a manual button restart in traffic. Had concerns of permanently being stalled in intersection. Taking to dealer for inspection.
Experienced parasitic battery drain which disabled the vehicle. The drain is tied to a 30 amp fuse labeled "BACKUP" under the hood of the vehicle. This fuse controls the touchscreen, backup camera, interior lights, key fob and radio. There were no warning lights or trouble codes associated with this issue. The problem…
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.
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. Put the car in park allowed the engine to restart and the range…
Component/System Defect: Failed Thermo Control Valve (TCV) leading to sudden vehicle power loss / limp mode. Description of Safety Incident: While operating my vehicle at highway speeds late at night, the Thermo Control Valve (TCV) failed catastrophically without warning. The vehicle instantly experienced a massive…
Forester model years compared
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 592 | 40 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 | 498 | 26 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 | 834 | 37 | 11 |
| 2020 | 0 | 603 | 26 | 9 |
| 2021 | 0 | 212 | 16 | 5 |
| 2022 | 1 | 100 | 8 | 6 |
| 2023 | 1 | 74 | 8 | 4 |
Across all years, the 2019 Forester has the most complaints (834). All Subaru Forester years →
Questions
- Does the 2020 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2020 Subaru Forester as of October 27, 2026.
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Subaru Forester?
- Owners have filed 603 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is visibility/wiper (252 complaints), followed by unknown or other (107).
- How many 2020 Subaru Forester complaints mention a crash or fire?
- 26 of 603 complaints report a crash and 9 a fire; 16 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received October 14, 2026.