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2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
70 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 19, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#233 of 395Among the 2023 models with a matured record, the 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness ranks #233, scoring higher than 39% of them. See the 2023 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (7) · Airbags (6) · Engine (5) · Lane Departure (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Driver assistance
17%12 complaints · typically near 13k mi · 7 in the last 2 years
“In three years I've had the Automatic Emergency Braking system engage and almost cause accidents several times. The breaking system engages when it's not needed. Going…”
Visibility & wipers
17%12 complaints · typically near 4k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“Got a crack on the windshield after owning the vehicle for under 5 months. There was no apparent pebble/stone and one morning i just saw that there was a crack on the …”
Electrical system
10%7 complaints · 5 in the last 2 years
“Currently suspected that the vehicle battery was installed incorrectly during assembly. Engine fire started at the battery wiring and vehicle was a total liss”
Airbags
9%6 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“The front passenger side air bag remains turned off when a 105 pound adult sits in it, but turns on when a 185 pound adult sits in it. Subaru service informs us that i…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 2 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 70 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 11 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Power Train · 23V754000
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.
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.
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 this recall is WRP-23.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Subaru before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report driver assistance problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 13k miles). Has this car shown any driver assistance symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report visibility & wipers problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 4k miles). Has this car shown any visibility & wipers symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2023 Subaru FORESTER WILDERNESS beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2023? See how every Forester Wilderness model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.