Model year 2021 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
2021 Subaru Forester: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2021 Subaru Forester at 29 mpg combined across 1 version. NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 212 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
0
EPA combined mpg
29
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Subaru dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2021 Subaru Forester recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 0 safety recalls for the 2021 Subaru Forester, newest first.
No recalls are listed for the 2021 Subaru Forester in NHTSA's recall file as of Oct 27, 2026.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2021 Subaru Forester fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | City/Hwy/Comb | Fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | CVT (7 modes) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | 26/33/29 mpg | $2,300 | 309 |
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2021 Subaru Forester crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Tested vehicle | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk | Forward collision warning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Subaru Forester SUV AWD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars | 16.9% | Standard |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2021 Subaru Forester owner complaints
Owners have filed 212 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Forester, most recently on Oct 25, 2026. 16 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 9 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
| Component named in complaints | Mentions |
|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 76 |
| Unknown or other | 42 |
| Electrical system | 34 |
| Engine | 34 |
| Forward collision avoidance: Automatic emergency braking | 13 |
| Power train | 13 |
| Visibility: Windshield | 13 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 |
| Forward collision avoidance: Warnings | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 |
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.
Other Subaru Forester model years
| Year | Combined | Recalls | Complaints | Overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Forester | 26–35 mpg | 4 | 32 | 5/5 |
| 2025 Forester | 26–35 mpg | 4 | 99 | 5/5 |
| 2024 Forester | 26–29 mpg | 2 | 31 | 5/5 |
| 2023 Forester | 26–29 mpg | 1 | 74 | 5/5 |
| 2022 Forester | 26–29 mpg | 1 | 100 | 5/5 |
| 2020 Forester | 29 mpg | 0 | 603 | 5/5 |
| 2019 Forester | 29 mpg | 3 | 834 | 5/5 |
| 2018 Forester | 24–28 mpg | 3 | 498 | 5/5 |
| 2017 Forester | 24–28 mpg | 1 | 592 | 5/5 |
| 2016 Forester | 25–27 mpg | 3 | 416 | 5/5 |
| 2015 Forester | 25–27 mpg | 3 | 608 | 5/5 |
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Other 2021 Subaru models
Sources
- Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
- Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
- Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
- Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
- NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Subaru.