2020 Subaru Forester parts and specs

Known problems with the 2020 Subaru Forester

5 of the 5 issues we track for the 2019–2024 generation are documented against the 2020 model year, and 4 carry a recall or service bulletin.

• Thermo Control Valve (TCV) failure

  moderateSubaru Service Bulletin 09-119-24 (Thermo Control Valve Warranty Extension)

  Coolant vapor can intrude into the sensor portion of the engine's Thermo Control Valve, tripping check-engine codes P2682 and/or P26A and, in some cases, causing coolant leaks or rough running. It's frequent enough that Subaru issued a factory-wide warranty extension to 15 years/150,000 miles for the TCV on affected VINs, and will reimburse owners who already paid for the repair out of pocket. A redesigned valve with a stainless-steel shaft and better sensor waterproofing addresses the root cause.

  Typical cost: Free if within the 15-yr/150k warranty extension (most affected vehicles still qualify); roughly $800–$1,300 out of pocket otherwise

• Spontaneous windshield cracking (class action settlement)

  moderatePowell v. Subaru of America, Inc.

  Owners of 2019–2022 Forester (and Legacy/Outback/Ascent) reported windshields cracking or chipping with no apparent impact. A class action (Powell v. Subaru of America, Inc.) settled with an extended warranty for qualifying windshield claims experienced on or after the settlement's notice date, plus reimbursement options for prior repairs.

  Typical cost: Covered under the settlement's extended warranty for qualifying cracks; $400–$1,200+ out of pocket including ADAS/EyeSight camera recalibration

• Parasitic battery drain

  moderateIn re Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation, No. 1:20-cv-03095-JHR-MJS (D.N.J.); Taylor, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-4935 (D.N.J.), pending as of 2026

  Owners report the 12V battery draining dead after the car sits for a day or two, often traced to a control module failing to enter its low-power sleep state. A 2015–2020-model settlement (In re Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation) covers 2019–2020 model-year Foresters; a newer proposed class action (Taylor, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc., filed May 2026) alleges the same defect persists across 2019–2025 Subaru vehicles broadly and is still working through the courts as of this writing. It is not yet a settled claim for later SK-generation model years.

  Typical cost: $0 (covered under the 2015–2020 settlement for eligible 2019–2020 VINs) to $300 for a battery swap that often doesn't fix the underlying drain on later model years

• CVT chain slip / shudder carried into early production

  moderateSubaru CVT customer support program (10-yr/100k extension)

  Some 2019–2020 model-year vehicles built on the outgoing platform's CVT hardware exhibit the same shudder/hesitation symptoms documented on the prior generation. Subaru's 10-year/100,000-mile CVT warranty extension applies to many of these VINs. Check eligibility with Subaru before paying for a CVT repair out of pocket.

  Typical cost: Free if within the CVT warranty extension; $3,500–$6,000 for a CVT replacement otherwise

• Starlink infotainment glitches and backup camera delay

  minor

  The 11.6-in (or 6.5/8-in on base trims) touchscreen occasionally freezes, reboots, or shows a delayed backup camera feed. Software updates resolve most cases; persistent issues need a head unit reflash or replacement at the dealer.

  Typical cost: $0 (software update) to $1,500+ (head unit replacement)

Full detail, costs and sources on the Subaru Forester problems and years to avoid guide.