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What 77 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Subaru Forester Wilderness

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (77)Crash / fire / injury (15)Engine (26)Airbags (13)Brakes (9)Speed control (7)Transmission & drivetrain (6)Visibility & wipers (5)Body & structure (4)Lights (4)Electrical system (3)Seat belts (3)

3 of 77 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters

Apr 23, 2021Electrical system

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE THAT CLAIMS TO BE REPAIRED- THE IGNITION TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED A FEW MINUTES AGO WHILE DRIVING 65+ ON THE FREEWAY AND WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER BECAUSE OF IT. ZERO POWER WHATSOEVER. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY A FEW TIMES AND RESTART IT. AFTERWARDS, THE CHECK ENGINE, STABILITY CONTROL, TIRE PRESSURE, SEATBELT LIGHTS ARE ALL ON, CRUISE CONTROL IS FLASHING (I DON'T USE CRUISE). I DON'T KNOW HOW THE INCLUDED PICTURE HELPS. I FEEL LIKE THIS ISSUE WAS EITHER ABSOLUTELY NOT ADDRESSED, OR IF IT WAS, THE REPAIR HAS DEFINITELY FAILED. EITHER WAY, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO BECAUSE THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE, MY KIDS HAVE TO RIDE IN IT AND I CAN'T TRUST IT NOT TO KILL EVERYONE NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11413533

Jul 31, 2014Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER HE DROVE THE VEHICLE DURING THE DAYTIME THERE WAS NO VISIBILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY PANEL. HOWEVER, AT NIGHT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY PANEL WOULD AUTO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE PROBLEM OCCURRED EVERY TIME HE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT-DISPLAY PANEL BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10617834

Mar 18, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN A BURNING ODOR BECAME PRESENT. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A IMPOUND LOT AND WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10573062

Working with the data? Download all 77 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Subaru Forester Wilderness verdict →