2021 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Subaru Forester
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Honda CR-V | 2021 Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 314 | 207 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 124 | 351 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 16 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 29–38 | 29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 33,233 mi | 8,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda CR-V | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 103 | 3 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 86 | 17 |
| Visibility/wiper | 10 | 76 |
| Electrical System | 33 | 33 |
| Engine | 31 | 32 |
| Service Brakes | 25 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 19 | 6 |
| Power Train | 11 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 16 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 0 |
| Stalling | 11 | 15 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 8 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 5 |
| Battery drain | 0 | 5 |
2021 Honda CR-V
2021 Subaru Forester
Compare all Honda CR-V vs Subaru Forester years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.