MODEL
Subaru Forester Wilderness
NHTSA safety across every Subaru Forester Wilderness model year we cover.
Across the 4 model years of the Subaru Forester Wilderness we cover (2023 to 2026), the strongest crash-test showing is the 2026 at 98 on the NHTSA Safety Index, and the lowest is the 2025 at 92. 5 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Subaru Forester Wilderness is a rugged, trail-ready variant of Subaru's long-running compact SUV, pitched at outdoor enthusiasts who want genuine off-road capability without leaving the mainstream SUV segment. With raised suspension, all-terrain tires, and standard symmetrical all-wheel drive, it targets active buyers who need a capable daily driver that can also handle dirt roads and light trails on the weekend.
At MotorCaliber, we measure safety, and the 2023 to 2025 Subaru Forester Wilderness gives shoppers a genuinely strong foundation to work from. The 2024 model year earns our best-in-class recognition with a 98 out of 100 Safety Index score, landing it firmly in the Exceptional band. Crash-test hardware backs that up: the best-performing year records a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in both frontal and side impact testing from NHTSA. Rollover, however, carries no rating across covered years, which is a meaningful gap for a taller, lifted SUV that shoppers should not overlook. Across the 2023 to 2025 model years, NHTSA records 3 recalls, a low count for a three-year window that suggests Subaru has kept production quality reasonably tight on this variant. Owner complaints tell a more cautious story. The 173 total complaints include 19 alleged crashes, 6 fire-related allegations, 12 reported injuries, and 1 reported death. These are unverified allegations, but the fire-related claims in particular are worth tracking as NHTSA investigates over time. The bottom line: the Forester Wilderness posts some of the strongest crash scores in the compact SUV segment, and its recall count is low. The absence of a rollover rating and the complaint profile, particularly fire allegations, are the two areas where shoppers should stay alert to developing NHTSA activity before buying.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally regard the Forester Wilderness as a well-rounded compact SUV that punches above its weight in off-road capability for the segment. They tend to praise its standard all-wheel drive, driver-assistance technology, and practical packaging, while noting that the lifted ride height and all-terrain focus come with some trade-offs in on-road refinement compared to the standard Forester.
- The 2024 Forester Wilderness earns a 98 out of 100 NHTSA Safety Index score, placing it in the Exceptional band, the highest tier in our rating system.
- Frontal and side crash-test scores reach a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in the best-performing year, but rollover carries no NHTSA star rating across all covered model years, a notable gap for a raised-suspension SUV.
- Three recalls are recorded across the 2023 to 2025 model years. Shoppers should run their VIN through NHTSA's recall database before purchase to confirm any open recall work has been completed.
- Owner complaints across covered years include 6 fire-related allegations and 19 alleged crashes. These are unverified, but the fire claims in particular are worth monitoring through NHTSA's complaint and investigation portal as the model matures.
Most-recalled year on record: 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness with 2 recalls.