Home · 2021 Subaru Forester Wilderness · Complaints

What 207 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 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 (207)Crash / fire / injury (19)Visibility & wipers (90)Electrical system (33)Engine (32)Driver assistance (17)Transmission & drivetrain (14)Speed control (12)Lane Departure (8)Brakes (7)Fuel system (6)Suspension (4)

33 of 207 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 2 of 2

Jan 12, 2022Electrical system

My windshield shattered when hit by a small rock that apparently came from across and bounced up and hit the windshield. Subaru does not replace windshields... so you have to get Insurance to cover. The wiring in a Subaru is attractive to rodents - what the wiring is made of depends on who you speak with - most common answer is Oat Based Covering. I have spent over $4000.00 to have the wring in the front and fuel area. This is a 2021 Subaru Forester with less than 12K miles. Subaru can not give a straight answer on material in the wiring and says I need to build a shed. There are 4 other vehicles at my location that are there 20 hours a day - I go to an office 5 days a week so my car is gone over 50 hours a week - still my fault!

NHTSA ODI 11447193

Dec 14, 2021Electrical system

The wiring system fails when the wiring - SOY BASED - is eaten by rats. SUBARU refuses to take responsibility for this. My car has less the 9500 miles and has had over $3500.00 work done to replace the wiring eaten by Rodents as this is considered "my fault?.

NHTSA ODI 11443767

Dec 8, 2021Electrical system

I have had the wiring in my 2021 Subaru Forrester having to be replaced 2 times - once in front of car, once in fuel parts - due to Rodents eating the wiring. I have been told by Subaru Customer Service staff that the wiring is Soy Based. Subaru has a Class Action Suite in Hawaii for this exact reason yet Subaru in Macon continues to insist this is MY problem not theirs. I have Rodent repellant devices in my car. I am very frustrated, upset with being misled and no concern for the customer being offered.

NHTSA ODI 11443138

Dec 1, 2021Electrical system

Several instances of parasitic drain of the battery resulting in vehicle not being able to be started without a jump. Nothing was left on in the vehicle. Each time it was parked with the alarm set for approx 3-4 hours. The battery was completely dead. This vehicle is only 8 months old and this has happened around 8-9 times. Dealer does nothing about it except to charge the battery. This is unacceptable.

NHTSA ODI 11442252

Aug 15, 2021Electrical system

The batteries drained overnight 3 times within 7 months after the purchase of the new vehicle. Battery was jumped each time by Subaru Roadside Assistant. The dealer checked the battery and it was fine. It is the electrical (CAN) problem that drained the battery.

NHTSA ODI 11429155

Jul 25, 2021Electrical system

I parked in the parking lot yesterday afternoon. But when I try to start my car this morning, the battery dead!I just bought this new Subaru three months with 5000 miles. Very disappointed.

NHTSA ODI 11426384

Apr 6, 2021Electrical system

ON MARCH 2, 2021 I NEEDED TO GET TO AN APPOINTMENT AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START, NOR WOULD MY FOB WORK TO EVEN OPEN THE DOORS. AFTER CALLING FOR ASSISTANCE THEY JUMPED THE BATTERY. THEN I BROUGHT IT TO SUBARU WHERE THEY DID A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS TEST AND FOUND THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR NOV. 25, 2020, ONLY THREE MONTHS BEFORE! THEY REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME KIND OF BATTERY. I WAS DISMAYED TO FIND THAT I HAD BEEN SOLD A NEW CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11406803

Feb 7, 2021Electrical system

THE CAR IS TWO MONTHS OLD AND THE BATTERY DIED (NOTHING WAS LEFT ON)!

NHTSA ODI 11395055

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Working with the data? Download all 207 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 2021 Subaru Forester Wilderness verdict →