2011 Subaru FORESTER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Subaru FORESTER has 195 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: check engine light came on after driving the car about 472 miles. called dealer repair, which instated that it was just the gas cap loose, which he had us remove and retighten. we were advised to keep driving it and that the check engine light would eventually go out. we drove it for a few more . ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 34 crash reports 4 injuries

195

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

67 complaints

34%

• CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 472 MILES. CALLED DEALER REPAIR, WHICH INSTATED THAT IT WAS JUST THE GAS CAP LOOSE, WHICH HE HAD US REMOVE AND RETIGHTEN. WE WERE ADVISED TO KEEP DRIVING IT AND THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO OUT. WE DROVE IT FOR A FEW MORE
• ON 5/24/11, WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, MY FORESTER WAS HIT BROADSIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT RAN A RED LIGHT. THE IMPACT OF THE SPEEDING VEHICLE CAUSED THE FORESTER TO SPIN 360 DEGREES AND FLIP-OVER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I WAS LEFT TRAPPED INSIDE THE FORESTER AND WITNESSES POINTED OUT TH
• I AM BEING TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LACK OF OIL CHANGES. I CHANGED THE OIL ON 7/6/11 AT 10,639 MILES. THE ENGINE THEN FAILED AT 22241 ON 2/1/12. THE ENGINE HOLDS 5.5 QUARTS OF OIL BUT PER THE MANUFACTURER HAD NONE IN IT AT THE ENGINE FAILURE. HOW DOES A NEW VEHICLE BURN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 472 MILES. CALLED DEALER REPAIR, WHICH INSTATED THAT IT WAS JUST THE GAS CAP LOOSE, WHICH HE HAD US REMOVE AND RETIGHTEN. WE WERE ADVISED TO KEEP DRIVING IT AND THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO OUT. WE DROVE IT FOR A FEW MORE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

29 complaints

15%

• PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT THE CVS DRUG STORE, PINE ISLAND RD AND DEL PRADO BLVD IN CAPE CORAL FL., PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS ON ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, HITTING A PARKED CAR HEAD ON. MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND MY CAR HIT THE PARKED CAR SO HARD IT DROVE IT OVER A CONC
• VEHICLES HORN STARTED ALARMING AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WAS MOVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. PASSERBY ATTEMPTED TO HELP THE DRIVER BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND THE HORN STILL SOUNDED. A SECOND PERSON HELPED REMOVE A FUSE WHICH FINALLY STOPPED THE HORN. WE
• TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM SUBARU REGARDING MY FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG. THE NOTICE INCLUDED A NOTE THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS UNSAFE FOR USE UNTIL THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE NOTICE ALSO STATED THAT NO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. I HAVE TRIED SE

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

“PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT THE CVS DRUG STORE, PINE ISLAND RD AND DEL PRADO BLVD IN CAPE CORAL FL., PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS ON ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, HITTING A PARKED CAR HEAD ON. MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND MY CAR HIT THE PARKED CAR SO HARD IT DROVE IT OVER A CONC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

20 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AT 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED APPROXIMATELY FIVE FEET BEYOND WHERE SHE INTENDED TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY
• I HAD PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU FORESTER IN AUGUST OF 2011 WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS. IT WAS A BIG INVESTMENT FOR ME AND I HAD HOPED TO DRIVE MY NEW SUBARU FORESTER 2011 FOR SEVERAL YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT, I NOTICED THE BRAKES TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT STOP THE
• TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR 30K MAINTENANCE. WHEN I PICKED IT UP DEALER HAD CHANGED BRAKE FLUID (BRAKES HAD BEEN FUNCTIONING PERFECTLY PRIOR). WHEN LEAVING DEALER LOT BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND I WENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY ONCOMING VEHICLE DODGED ME. I PUMPED PEDAL AND GOT BRAKES AND WENT BACK I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AT 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED APPROXIMATELY FIVE FEET BEYOND WHERE SHE INTENDED TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

13 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOU
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE. ON ONE OCCASION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN OCCURRENCE OF ABNORMAL ACCELERATION AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FOUNDA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AT 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED APPROXIMATELY FIVE FEET BEYOND WHERE SHE INTENDED TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY

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

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

13 complaints

• LATCH SYSTEM IN A 2.5X BASE MODEL IS INAPPROPRIATELY PLACED FOR AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT COMMON CAR SEAT BASES. UNABLE TO USE LOWER LATCH ANCHORS WITH A GRACO SNUGRIDE 30 OR 35 BASE. IN ADDITION, THE SUBARU FORESTER DOG GUARD ACCESSORY WHICH INSTALLS BETWEEN THE CARGO AREA AND THE REAR SEAT INAPPR
• MY HUSBAND PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU FORESTER IN MAY OF 2011 FOR ME WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS. IT WAS A BIG INVESTMENT FOR US AND I HAD HOPED TO DRIVE MY NEW SUBARU FORESTER 2011 FOR SEVERAL YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT, I NOTICED THE BRAKES TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT
• DRIVEWAY ACROSS FROM TWO WAY STREETS, CHURCH AND MAIN STS. CARS PARKED ON EITHER SIDE OF DRIVEWAY, MAKING EXITING DIFFICULT AND PRECAUSIONS MUST BE TAKEN. UPDATED 5/1/15 *JS

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

“LATCH SYSTEM IN A 2.5X BASE MODEL IS INAPPROPRIATELY PLACED FOR AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT COMMON CAR SEAT BASES. UNABLE TO USE LOWER LATCH ANCHORS WITH A GRACO SNUGRIDE 30 OR 35 BASE. IN ADDITION, THE SUBARU FORESTER DOG GUARD ACCESSORY WHICH INSTALLS BETWEEN THE CARGO AREA AND THE REAR SEAT INAPPR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 195 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 472 MILES. CALLED DEALER REPAIR, WHICH INSTATED THAT IT WAS JUST THE GAS CAP LOOSE, WHICH HE HAD US REMOVE AND RETIGHTEN. WE WERE ADVISED TO KEEP DRIVING IT AND THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO OUT. WE DROVE IT FOR A FEW MORE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT THE CVS DRUG STORE, PINE ISLAND RD AND DEL PRADO BLVD IN CAPE CORAL FL., PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS ON ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, HITTING A PARKED CAR HEAD ON. MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND MY CAR HIT THE PARKED CAR SO HARD IT DROVE IT OVER A CONC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AT 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED APPROXIMATELY FIVE FEET BEYOND WHERE SHE INTENDED TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)