MotorCaliberNHTSA Safety Index

NHTSA // CRASH-TESTED

2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness

Federal crash-test performance, recalls, and complaints, scored into one NHTSA Safety Index.

1Recalls
69Complaints
0Investigations
ABOUT THE SUBARU FORESTER WILDERNESS

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.

VERDICT

The 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness earns an NHTSA Safety Index of 93 out of 100, an exceptional result driven by its federal crash-test stars and its recall record. Both frontal and side crash protection reached the full 5 stars. It has 1 recall on record, reflected in the score.

WHO IT IS FOR
  • new and teen drivers who want standard crash-avoidance tech
  • urban drivers exposed to side-impact risk
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY

Reviewers 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.

READ MORE REVIEWSExpert reviewsEdmundsCar and DriverCheck recalls at NHTSARead our full Forester Wilderness review

NCAP // CRASH TESTCrash-test breakdown

OverallNot rated
Frontal
Side
RolloverNot rated
Rollover risk 0%

Source: NHTSA NCAP, VehicleId 18434

Index breakdown

Crash protection70/70
Avoidance tech10/10
Defect record13/20
Forward collision warning: StandardLane departure warning: StandardStability control: Standard

NHTSA // RECALLSRecall record

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT23V754000

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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported 2023-11-09

NHTSA // COMPLAINTSOwner complaints

69 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.

7reported crash
4reported fire
5reported injuries
0reported deaths
Most-reported systemsUnknown Or Other 19Forward Collision Avoidance 11Visibility/Wiper 11Electrical System 7Air Bags 6Engine 5

Other Forester Wilderness years

Rivals in SUV (2023)

2023 Tesla Model X Later ReleaseSUV100Exceptional2023 Tesla Model Y Later ReleaseSUV100Exceptional2023 Tesla Model Y Rwd Early ReleaseSUV100Exceptional2023 Tesla Model Y Rwd Later ReleaseSUV100Exceptional2023 Buick EnvisionSUV96Exceptional2023 Kia EV6SUV96Exceptional
Last verified 2026-07-02. Sources: NHTSA SafetyRatings (VehicleId 18434), recallsByVehicle, complaintsByVehicle for Subaru Forester Wilderness 2023. Class rank 20 of 139 in SUV 2023. Methodology · Disclosure