2010 Subaru Forester problems and complaints
Owners have filed 262 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Subaru Forester. The most-reported areas: Seats (76), Air Bags (42), Service Brakes (38).
Key takeaways
- 262 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 21 involve a crash, 6 a fire, 9 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 76 | 29% |
| Air Bags | 42 | 16% |
| Service Brakes | 38 | 15% |
| Engine | 34 | 13% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 | 9% |
| Electrical System | 13 | 5% |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 | 5% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 | 4% |
| Hydraulic | 10 | 4% |
| Power Train | 7 | 3% |
| Structure | 7 | 3% |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Subaru Forester 4-DR. w/SAB | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-04-13
The 2010 Subaru Forester when the Subaru was in reverse while being parked it accelerated (lunged) forward at a high speed and I DID NOT put the gear shift in forward! The 2010 Subaru Forester crashed into the back of a neighbor's Honda. My personal safety was put at risk due to without me doing so, the Subaru accele...
Engine - filed 2025-12-09
The engine in my 2010 Subaru Forester (VIN: [XXX] ) suffered a sudden and complete mechanical failure on November 15, 2025. While driving, the vehicle abruptly lost power without any warning lights or messages. I was able to pull off the roadway, but the loss of power posed a significant safety risk. Had this occurred ...
Unknown Or Other,engine - filed 2025-07-14
In brief: I purchased a used 2010 Subaru Forester in Nov. 2022. Because the vehicle gave me many problems, I decided to purchase another vehicle. In June 2025 I went to Fred Beans in Mechanicsburg, PA. They ran a Car Fax on my 2010 Subaru & found, among other things, the odometer of my 2010 Subaru had potentially been ...
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More for the 2010 Subaru Forester
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.