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Jeep Cherokee vs Subaru Forester: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 848 complaints per model year about the Jeep Cherokee and 262 about the Subaru Forester.

Side by side

Jeep CherokeeSubaru Forester
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints10,1795,510
Complaints per model year848262
Recalls4340
Years to avoid2014201520162019201520162017201820192020
Best yearsNone stand out200720082013
Most common problemTransmissionVisibility
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy37 mpg combined (2026)26-35 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Jeep Cherokee: 172006 Subaru Forester: 8820062007 Subaru Forester: 742008 Subaru Forester: 5020082009 Subaru Forester: 1782010 Subaru Forester: 26220102011 Subaru Forester: 1472012 Subaru Forester: 10720122013 Subaru Forester: 782014 Jeep Cherokee: 2,6522014 Subaru Forester: 40320142015 Jeep Cherokee: 1,7942015 Subaru Forester: 6172016 Jeep Cherokee: 1,4152016 Subaru Forester: 41620162017 Jeep Cherokee: 1,3422017 Subaru Forester: 5942018 Jeep Cherokee: 6922018 Subaru Forester: 49920182019 Jeep Cherokee: 1,6832019 Subaru Forester: 8342020 Jeep Cherokee: 3372020 Subaru Forester: 60420202021 Jeep Cherokee: 1832021 Subaru Forester: 2152022 Jeep Cherokee: 522022 Subaru Forester: 10020222023 Jeep Cherokee: 32023 Subaru Forester: 762024 Subaru Forester: 3120242025 Subaru Forester: 1022026 Jeep Cherokee: 92026 Subaru Forester: 352026
Jeep CherokeeSubaru Forester

Problems compared

CherokeeForester
Transmission5,256418
Engine2,204851
Electrical2,020783
Brakes714303
Acceleration558412
Steering455164
Visibility1371,237
Airbags225739

Questions about the Jeep Cherokee vs Subaru Forester

Which is more reliable, the Jeep Cherokee or the Subaru Forester?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Jeep Cherokee has 4 years to avoid and the Subaru Forester 6. The Jeep Cherokee has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Subaru Forester drew fewer complaints per model year (262 vs 848), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Jeep Cherokee or the Subaru Forester?

From 2006 to 2026, the Jeep Cherokee was covered by 43 recalls and the Subaru Forester by 40.

What years of the Jeep Cherokee and Subaru Forester should you avoid?

Jeep Cherokee: 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019. Subaru Forester: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

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