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2024 Subaru Forester

Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age — inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist — a shareable PDF

28 owner complaints · 2 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)93
Severity (30%)79
Recall load (20%)90
Trend (10%)60

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20242026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2024 Subaru Forester, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k mi

Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (6) · Visibility & wipers (5)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.

Airbags

21%

6 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years

The passenager airbag on won't activate at the 88lb weight per local Subaru of Gallatin dealership where I purchased the car from. They did a test with 88lbs in anothe…

Visibility & wipers

18%

5 complaints · 5 in the last 2 years

4 Subarus and this is my 5th spontainious windshield crack (2nd on this vehicle).

Driver assistance

11%

3 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years

The eyesight system fails on almost a daily basis. When this happens, multiple safety features shutdown. Lane assist and departure warning stops working. Collision avo…

Lights

7%

2 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

When the daytime running lights are on in normal conditions, the instrument panel little green headlight indicator does not illuminate. But in low light conditions suc…

Recalls (2)

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling · 23V723000

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.

Risk: Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Subaru’s 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. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRO-23.

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–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2024 Subaru FORESTER beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2024? See how every Forester model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2024 Subaru Forester 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.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2024 Subaru Forester as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only — always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.