2020 Subaru Forester electrical problems
102 of the 601 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Forester name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 288 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 102 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 17 · 2022: 21 · 2023: 15 · 2024: 18 · 2025: 15 · 2026: 10
Half of the 18 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 1,000 and 9,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
601 complaints in all about the 2020 Subaru Forester, 10 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Subaru Forester electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Battery was drained for no reason and car would not start. When tried to start dash lights etc., went crazy. Gauge for tachometer and speed whipped from side to side, lights flashed on and off. The starter gave the clicking noise you hear when battery is dead. Called aaa to jump and they could not get it to start.
Multiple dead batteries over past year. When rear lift gate is left open for less then an hour with all lights including interior off it drains battery. 2019 lift gate module recalled due to 'dark draw' but didn't include earlier 2020 models which did not have new module incorporated yet.
Went to start car after being parked for 3 hours. Doors opened with fob but keyless ignition would not start car and all idiot lights came on locking steering wheel, brakes, gas pedal, etc. Subaru service came and jumped car; not sure if fob had died; car only 11 months old, under 9000 miles. Temperature in high 20's, low 30's.
Vehicle has some electrical issue with the TPMS that less than a year in, one of them is seems to be going out. Thee head unit (infotainment sys) also had connection issue that was aware and known by subura dealer rep when called and as to bring in for maintenance.
Wiring harness, transmission, soy based - destroyed by rodents at 600 miles, 9 months. Vehicle on home drive, daylight, as our basement was repaired from flood damage. 1 week on driveway
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications288 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 12-269-25R Service bulletinAug 31, 2026
- This bulletin announces the service procedures to be followed when encountering instances of water intrusion from the sunroof area. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- SubaruNet Announcement (C OtherAug 21, 2026
- This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
- 15-308-23R Service bulletinAug 20, 2026
- This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
The 3 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
B2A16 B2255 P2404 P0087 B2A20 P0128 P0137 P0138
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2020 Subaru Forester names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2020 Subaru Forester
Source: the same files- engine problems 84 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2020 Subaru Forester?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 102 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (17% of everything owners filed about it), and 288 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2020 Subaru Forester?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2020 Subaru Forester?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 2,000 miles; half of them between 1,000 and 9,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.