2010 Subaru FORESTER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Subaru FORESTER has 307 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is seats/restraints problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: the front passenger seat belt storage spool will not release. the shoulder part of the belt was across the front side of the back rest and the lap part of the belt was flipped to the back side of the back rest and then buckled to keep the warning light from flashing while my dog was riding in the se. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.

7 fire reports 28 crash reports 11 injuries

307

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

82 complaints

27%

• THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT STORAGE SPOOL WILL NOT RELEASE. THE SHOULDER PART OF THE BELT WAS ACROSS THE FRONT SIDE OF THE BACK REST AND THE LAP PART OF THE BELT WAS FLIPPED TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE BACK REST AND THEN BUCKLED TO KEEP THE WARNING LIGHT FROM FLASHING WHILE MY DOG WAS RIDING IN THE SE
• SUBARU WAS SLOWING TO A STOP BEHIND A CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WHEN IT WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A MERCEDES SUV. THE MERCEDES WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 - 35 MPH. THE SUBARU WAS DRIVEN INTO THE REAR OF THE SUBURBAN CAUSING THE SUBARU'S AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. THE IMPACT SITE OF THE AIRBAG WAS IN THE C
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORRESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT CAUSED PAIN TO ANYONE THAT DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT STORAGE SPOOL WILL NOT RELEASE. THE SHOULDER PART OF THE BELT WAS ACROSS THE FRONT SIDE OF THE BACK REST AND THE LAP PART OF THE BELT WAS FLIPPED TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE BACK REST AND THEN BUCKLED TO KEEP THE WARNING LIGHT FROM FLASHING WHILE MY DOG WAS RIDING IN THE SE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

42 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED WHILE STILL IN PARK. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTU
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE VEHICLE TRAVELED INTO AN EMBANKMENT, CRASHING INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN SHARDS, FAILING TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, SEIZURE
• WE HAVE RECEIVED THE MANDATORY RECALL LETTER OF JULY 2016. THE OPEN-ENDED STATEMENT: "WE WILL NOTIFY YOU WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE" IS INSUFFICIENT. WHY? BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE A RECALL NOTICE FOR OUR 2013 LEAF WHICH IS ALREADY THREE MONTHS OLD AND THUS FAR NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE WITH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED WHILE STILL IN PARK. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

40 complaints

13%

• I HAVE A NEW 2020 SUBARU FORESTER THAT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO START----I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO START DUE TO THE NEW EMISSIONS ON THE CAR--I HAD A FORESTER BEFORE AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM--BUYER BEWARE--I CALLED THE HEAD OFFICE AND THEY P
• I HAVE A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE WITH (1) THE STEERING PULLS TO THE RIGHT, (2) THE ENGINE LOSES POWER INTERMITTENTLY AND (3) THE CAR SHAKES AND SHIMMIES WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALL THREE OF THE ISSUES HAVE BEEN WITH THE CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT AT 6 MILES ON THE ODO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD, CRASHING INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND A BYSTANDER WAS REPORTED AS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“I HAVE A NEW 2020 SUBARU FORESTER THAT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO START----I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO START DUE TO THE NEW EMISSIONS ON THE CAR--I HAD A FORESTER BEFORE AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM--BUYER BEWARE--I CALLED THE HEAD OFFICE AND THEY P”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

38 complaints

12%

• WHILE DRIVING A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER AROUND A CORNER UP A STEEP DRIVEWAY I ENCOUNTERED A VEHICLE COMING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FORESTER IS MANUAL AND THERE WAS A SHOULDER IN THE DRIVEWAY BEHIND THE CORNER I HAD ROUNDED; I APPLIED THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE WHEN I SAW THE VEHICLE AND RELEASED THE BRAKE WH
• WE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE TWICE ON A TRIP 11/4/10 - 11/6/10. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 11/4 WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL. TO SLOW FOR A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US, I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONSIVE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL REMAINED ACTIVE. PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL IN A FEW SE
• AT LOW SPEEDS NEAR INTERSECTIONS WITH LIGHT SNOW OR SLUSH ON THE ROAD VEHICLE'S ABS SYSTEM CAUSES LOSS OF STOPPING ABILITY AND LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING AND/OR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AT STOP SIGNS AND ON SLICK ROADS. PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF ABS SYSTEM IN SNOWY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER AROUND A CORNER UP A STEEP DRIVEWAY I ENCOUNTERED A VEHICLE COMING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FORESTER IS MANUAL AND THERE WAS A SHOULDER IN THE DRIVEWAY BEHIND THE CORNER I HAD ROUNDED; I APPLIED THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE WHEN I SAW THE VEHICLE AND RELEASED THE BRAKE WH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

24 complaints

• I PURCHASED A 2010 SUBRAU FORESTER IN AUGUST 2009,,I BOUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER CITY SIDE SUBRAU FOR THE 3500 MILE CHECKUP, AND TO HAVE E.C.M. ADJUSTED UNDER A RECALL. THIS WAS DONE ON 1/14/2010 THE NEXT DAY I WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAR BACK TO DEALER ON1/16/2010 THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND TWO RESIDENTIAL BACKYARDS BEFORE TRAVELING OVER A THICK PA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND BEGAN INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTING GEARS. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH OR LESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FIVE TIMES BUT THE DEALER C

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 11 crashes

“I PURCHASED A 2010 SUBRAU FORESTER IN AUGUST 2009,,I BOUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER CITY SIDE SUBRAU FOR THE 3500 MILE CHECKUP, AND TO HAVE E.C.M. ADJUSTED UNDER A RECALL. THIS WAS DONE ON 1/14/2010 THE NEXT DAY I WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAR BACK TO DEALER ON1/16/2010 THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 307 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT STORAGE SPOOL WILL NOT RELEASE. THE SHOULDER PART OF THE BELT WAS ACROSS THE FRONT SIDE OF THE BACK REST AND THE LAP PART OF THE BELT WAS FLIPPED TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE BACK REST AND THEN BUCKLED TO KEEP THE WARNING LIGHT FROM FLASHING WHILE MY DOG WAS RIDING IN THE SE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED WHILE STILL IN PARK. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I HAVE A NEW 2020 SUBARU FORESTER THAT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO START----I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO START DUE TO THE NEW EMISSIONS ON THE CAR--I HAD A FORESTER BEFORE AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM--BUYER BEWARE--I CALLED THE HEAD OFFICE AND THEY P
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: WHILE DRIVING A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER AROUND A CORNER UP A STEEP DRIVEWAY I ENCOUNTERED A VEHICLE COMING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FORESTER IS MANUAL AND THERE WAS A SHOULDER IN THE DRIVEWAY BEHIND THE CORNER I HAD ROUNDED; I APPLIED THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE WHEN I SAW THE VEHICLE AND RELEASED THE BRAKE WH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)