2023 Subaru Forester: Engine random misfire
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2023 Forester report: engine random misfire. CarComplaints.com lists 1 owner complaints, average mileage 39,600 miles.
NHTSA has 6 owner complaints for the 2023 Forester in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11743185 (filed 06/10/2026): “Vehicle caught fire after oil change. oil leaked from engine onto catalytic converter and causes catastrophic engine fire…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11698669 (filed 11/10/2025): “Vehicle had just received an oil change at the dealership and the car caught fire. oil leaked onto the catalytic converter and ignited. car was a total loss. after my own review, there are several instances of this happening and many customers have experienced…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: none clearly reported. Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range: get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .