Head-to-head reliability
Subaru Forester vs Subaru Ascent
How the Subaru Forester and Subaru Ascent compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Subaru Forester vs Subaru Ascent: The Forester averages 305 complaints per year over 10 years, while the Ascent averages 129.1 over 8 years. The Forester has 2 deaths and 99 injuries reported; the Ascent has 0 deaths and 29 injuries. Both have visibility and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru Forester or Subaru Ascent more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is a compact SUV with a mixed reliability record. Over 10 years, it has averaged 305 complaints per year, with visibility/wiper issues (992 complaints) being the most common, often involving windshields that crack or shatter easily. Electrical system problems (476 complaints) and engine issues (319 complaints) also appear, including reports of oil leaks and fires. With 17 recalls and 2 deaths reported, buyers should be aware of these patterns.
Subaru Ascent
The Subaru Ascent is a midsize SUV that has averaged 129.1 complaints per year over 8 years, fewer than the Forester. Electrical system complaints (292) lead, with reports of battery failures and intermittent electrical issues. Power train problems (185) include transmission slippage and sudden wheel stoppage. Visibility/wiper issues (152) often involve cracked windshields and vibrating mirrors. It has 25 recalls and no reported deaths.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru Forester | Subaru Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,050 | 1,033 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 25 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 176 | 34 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 305.0 | 129.1 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 99 | 29 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 0 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Subaru Forester
- 01VISIBILITY/WIPER992
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER544
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM476
- 04ENGINE319
- 05AIR BAGS313
Owners frequently report windshields that crack or shatter from minor impacts, such as a bottle thrown from another vehicle, sending glass shards into the cabin. This is a safety concern because it can impair visibility and cause injuries.
Complaints include side mirrors melting, vehicle dying while driving with multiple dashboard lights flashing, and failure to restart. These issues can leave drivers stranded and may affect critical safety systems.
Reports include oil leaks after oil changes, and in one case, oil leaked onto the catalytic converter and caused a fire, totaling the car. This poses a risk of fire and unexpected breakdowns.
Owners describe sudden unexpected acceleration and a hard plastic HVAC duct in the driver-side footwell that could interfere with pedals. These defects could lead to loss of control or crashes.
“I was driving down the road and a bottle was thrown out of a vehicle going the opposite direction as me. Upon impact my windshield shattered and sent shards of glass flying into the cabin of my vehicle. The shards of glass were thrown into my face and would h…”
“Windshield cracked during rainstorm [XXX] in San Diego in upper right corner, After 3 days crack appeared which has now spread to 4 inches Dealer has confirmed that winsheild needs reapir and is not covered by bumper to bumber warranty Vehicle only has mileag…”
Subaru Ascent
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM292
- 02POWER TRAIN185
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER152
- 04VISIBILITY/WIPER152
- 05ENGINE104
Owners report intermittent electrical malfunctions, including batteries that fail repeatedly and voltage drops below 11.5V, causing the vehicle to die and become immobilized. This can strand drivers and require frequent jump-starts or replacements.
Complaints include transmission slippage without warning, followed by warning lights and disabling of front-wheel drive, and sudden wheel stoppage during a turn. These issues can lead to loss of power or control.
Windshields crack easily from minor rock strikes, sometimes requiring multiple replacements, and driver-side mirrors vibrate, making the view blurry and creating a safety hazard. This affects visibility and can be costly to repair.
Reports include unusual tire wear, with tires needing replacement at 15,000 miles, and other unspecified issues. Premature tire wear increases maintenance costs and may affect handling.
“2024 Subaru Ascent – Intermittent Electrical / Ignition-Control Malfunction Vehicle: 2024 Subaru Ascent Mileage: Approximately 29,000 miles Chronology of Events August 19 Vehicle had been operating normally. First occurrence – grocery store •Returned to vehic…”
“2023 Subaru Ascent, under manufacturer basic warranty. Factory OEM battery has repeatedly failed. Voltage drops below 11.5V in normal use. Three documented failures in six weeks. SAFETY INCIDENT: Vehicle died on a public street and became completely immobiliz…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Subaru Forester — 17 recalls
The defect: 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.
The risk: Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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. Owne…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
The risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
Subaru Ascent — 25 recalls
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with…
The risk: An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Subaru will mail a new certification label to owners, free of charge. Owners may also choose to have a dealer install the new label, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed August 27, 2026. Additional letter…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles equipped with 20-inch wheels. The internal tire bead may have been damaged during the wheel mounting process.
The risk: A damaged tire may experience a sudden loss of air pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace all four tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 6, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-23.
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles. The left or right front lower control arm may have an improperly tightened ball joint castle nut which can result in retention pin failure and separation of the ball joint from the lower control arm.
The risk: Ball joint separation while the vehicle is in motion can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 30, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
The risk: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Suba…
Buyer analysis
Subaru Forester or Subaru Ascent: which should you buy?
The Subaru Ascent has fewer issues per year (129.1 complaints/year) compared to the Forester (305.0 complaints/year). This means Ascent owners report fewer overall problems, but both models have notable electrical and visibility concerns. The Forester's higher complaint rate suggests a higher likelihood of encountering issues.
Key differences
- The Forester has more than double the annual complaint rate of the Ascent (305 vs. 129.1 per year).
- Visibility/wiper issues dominate Forester complaints (992), while Ascent's top issue is electrical (292).
- The Forester has 2 reported deaths and 99 injuries, while the Ascent has 0 deaths and 29 injuries.
- The Ascent has more recalls (25) than the Forester (17), but fewer complaints overall.
- Inspect the windshield for cracks or chips, as many owners report easy cracking or shattering.
- Check for oil leaks around the engine, especially after oil changes, and look for signs of oil on the catalytic converter.
- Test the battery and electrical system, as repeated battery failures and voltage drops are common.
- Listen for transmission slippage or hesitation during test drive, and check for warning lights related to the transmission.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the windshield and electrical system for the Forester, and the battery and transmission for the Ascent.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including turning and braking, to feel for transmission issues.
- Ask about any warranty coverage, especially for electrical and powertrain components.
- Check tire wear on the Ascent, as premature wear is reported.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Subaru Forester | Subaru Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 33 | 3 |
| 2025 | 95 | 15 |
| 2024 | 29 | 50 |
| 2023 | 73 | 45 |
| 2022 | 98 | 55 |
| 2021 | 207 | 102 |
| 2020 | 600 | 322 |
| 2019 | 833 | 441 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Subaru Forester or Subaru Ascent in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru Forester vs Subaru Ascent
- Subaru Forester total complaints
- 3,050
- Subaru Ascent total complaints
- 1,033
- Subaru Forester total recalls
- 17
- Subaru Ascent total recalls
- 25
- Subaru Forester avg complaints/year
- 305.0
- Subaru Ascent avg complaints/year
- 129.1
- More reliable overall
- Subaru Ascent
- Subaru Forester top complaint area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Subaru Ascent top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM