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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2023 Subaru Forester is associated with 73 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 1 safety recall campaign in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Other / Uncategorized, accounting for 11 reports (15% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 2 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2.5l 4-cyl powertrain configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 26 to 29 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 73 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 1 official campaign
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Other / Uncategorized (11 / 15%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 8 crash / 4 fire / 4 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 26–29 MPG across 2 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2023 Subaru Forester?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Forester AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S7) 26 MPG 33 MPG 29 MPG — $2,100 / yr
Forester Wilderness AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) 25 MPG 28 MPG 26 MPG — $2,350 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2023 Subaru Forester?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SUV AWD 16.900000000000002%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2023 Subaru Forester models.
View complete 2023 Subaru Forester crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2023 Subaru Forester?

Summary of 73 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
73
Crash Reports
8
Fire Reports
4
Complaints w/ Injury
4
Total Injuries
5

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Visibility & Wipers 10 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance 5 complaints (1 crash)
Air Bags 3 complaints
Engine 3 complaints (1 crash)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2023 Subaru Forester problems & component breakdown (36 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2023 Subaru Forester?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #23V754000 Active Recall
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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 this recall is WRP-23.
View all 2023 Subaru Forester recalls & campaign history (1 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2023 Subaru Forester

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2023 Subaru Forester

How many safety recalls does the 2023 Subaru Forester have?

The 2023 Subaru Forester is associated with 1 official NHTSA safety recall campaign in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 1 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2023 Subaru Forester?

NHTSA records list 73 consumer defect complaints for the 2023 Subaru Forester. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Other / Uncategorized, appearing in 11 filings (15% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2023 Subaru Forester defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2023 Subaru Forester?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2023 Subaru Forester earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 1 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2023 Subaru Forester get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2023 Subaru Forester range from 26 to 29 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.