2020 Subaru Forester engine problems
79 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2020 Subaru Forester — 13% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“Three times within 30 minutes on short drive, the engine stalled at stop sign or stop light. The car had a half tank of gas, and at the same time as the engine stalled, the miles remaining until empty display showed an anomalous 0.3miles to empty reading. Put the car in park allowed the engine to…”
filed Sep 13, 2026
“Component/System Defect: Failed Thermo Control Valve (TCV) leading to sudden vehicle power loss / limp mode. Description of Safety Incident: While operating my vehicle at highway speeds late at night, the Thermo Control Valve (TCV) failed catastrophically without warning. The vehicle instantly…”
filed Sep 10, 2026
“Car stalls when it shouldn't i.e. when stopped at traffic light Transmission Control Module (TCM) Software Issue”
filed Sep 5, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Engine problems in other Forester years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Forester | 3 | 3% |
| 2024 Forester | 1 | 3% |
| 2023 Forester | 5 | 7% |
| 2022 Forester | 10 | 10% |
| 2021 Forester | 32 | 15% |
| 2019 Forester | 106 | 13% |
| 2018 Forester | 32 | 6% |
| 2017 Forester | 47 | 8% |
| 2016 Forester | 60 | 15% |
| 2015 Forester | 131 | 21% |
| 2014 Forester | 69 | 17% |
| 2013 Forester | 26 | 34% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2020 Subaru Forester
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.