2023 Subaru Forester: Electrical System complaints
Owner-reported issue (NHTSA complaints, not a recall)
Symptoms
NHTSA has 8 owner complaints for the 2023 Subaru Forester that list the electrical system component. Complaints are individual owner reports, not verified defects.
Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11768438 (filed 10/02/2026): “Transmission slipped, stranded me in the middle of a road xxx. stopped wouldn’t go. started locking down in reverse 1 month after i purchased the vehicle. xxx, my husband was backing down a road that had no turnaround. the rab locked down, slammed so hard, the car slid six feet and the motor shut d…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11730548 (filed 04/11/2026): “This vehicle has died 4 times in one week. when this happens, multiple lights have flashed in the dash board, including the "eye sight" warning. then, it would not restart but continued to "turn over" when the ignition button was pushed. one instance was on a busy street at a stop light, another at …”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11700531 (filed 11/20/2025): “Traveling at approximately 45 mph through a green light at a 4-way intersection a car making a right on red turn turned into the outside lane in front of me. i had no warning sounds or automatic braking, to avoid a collision i had to steer to the left after an on coming car passed. there were no chi…”
Likely causes
These complaints do not establish a single root cause; read the examples above and get a diagnosis.
Fix, in plain English
No single fix is established by these reports. Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask a dealer about technical service bulletins (TSBs) or extended warranty coverage, then have the system diagnosed.
DIY difficulty: Moderate
Finding and splicing chewed wiring is doable with a multimeter and patience but can be time-consuming; harness replacement is pro work. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range for this issue. Get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .