2010 SUBARU FORESTER Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Subaru Forester. This model year has 262 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Seat-Related Issues.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2010 Subaru Forester Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Seat-Related Issues
Airbag Malfunctions
Engine Problems
Considering a 2010 Subaru Forester?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2010 Subaru Forester. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat-Related Issues | 76 | — | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 42 | 4 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 40 | 3 | 2 | — | |
| Brake System | 38 | 5 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 24 | 11 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 13 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 12 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 7 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2010 Subaru Forester. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 262 most recent complaints
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 t…
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 sig…
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…
Had a collision with another vehicle and my airbags never deployed. The other vehicles airbags did deploy.
Subaru of America refuses to authorize dealer Beyer Subaru of Alexandria Virginia to do the stipulated safety repair
The bracket on the front right side of the drivers seat (if you're looking at the seat from the sunroof) that connects the seat (where you sit) to the seat frame (which moves the seat forward and back) has separated from the seat frame. The two tack welds have failed so the seat …
Left front of drivers seat collapsed while driving 60mph on freeway. This caused a surprise that could have resulted in an accident. This has been reported numerous times as can be referenced here: [XXX] and appears it will be an expensive replacement at my cost for a known iss…
On 5/24/2023 while driving with a front passenger, the passenger seat belt warning light, chime and airbag warning came on for no reason. Stopped the car at a red traffic light and turned ignition off and then on to hopefully clear the warning. There was no power to any system. T…
My 2010 Subaru Forester's driver seat does not raise up on with the power buttons. I can hear the motor but the front of the seat will not move. Last week, the right side was not moving and now both sides are not. I can physically move the front half of the seat up and down. …
The weld on the left side of the seat broken causing the seat cushion to be loose. After quick internet searching, this seems to a be a somewhat common occurrence. I weight 170 Lbs and the car has 140K miles. This issue makes it lean far left causing an unsafe seating position an…
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while reversing out of a garage parking space, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash into several other parked vehicles before coming to…
Power adjustment of Driver's seat front left corner does not raise in synch with right side. This causes the seat to be uneven, resulting in an unsafe driving position. Apparently the weld of the adjustment arm breaking is a well known and documented issue based on even a cursory…
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the rear brakes were replaced by an independent mechanic. After 6 months, the contact noticed that the brakes needed to be replaced again. The mechanic stated that the automatic braking system was not releasing the …
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving, the check engine warning light had illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who advised him that the fuel tank was rusted and needed to be repaired as well as fuel lines. The vehicle was repaire…
The left side of drivers seat collapsed. Upon inspection, the metal tab that was spot welded to the seat frame failed. The metal tab connects the left front of the seat to the power seat motor components and rail. The power seat no longer works and the seat sags noticeably to the…
The Subaru Bracket for the Sun Visor and the Rod on the Sun visor itself are made very poorly and will break very often, I had to replace my driver side once a year because I went to use it when the sun was glaring in my face on the highway and it just fell off onto my hands and …
I bought a 2010 Subaru Forester vehicle on 05/22/2021 from AutoFair Subaru dealer at 503 Broadway, Haverhill, MA 01832. The car engine was making noises from the day 1 of this purchase. I reported this to the dealership but they denied the facts. Rather they said that I did not k…
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that as she attempted to park her vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated forward at a high rate of speed without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped on its own before hitting another vehicle. The…
Head gasket suddenly failed on the highway. This is a known problem Subaru has yet to address and has been present on all their models up to 2010. This is something that Subaru should have addressed years ago but are allowing people to put the safety at risk due to negligence
Fuel pump failed (connection wiring harness burned up) inside the fuel tank. If this had happened a little later, we would have been in the middle of the interstate and could have been in a horrific wreck. Or if there had been any oxygen in the fuel tank, the car would have bur…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2010 Subaru Forester.
Recalls for 2010 Subaru Forester
17 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2010 Subaru Forester. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2010 Subaru Forester — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2010 Subaru Forester reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2010 Subaru Forester has 262 NHTSA owner complaints, 21 crash-related, and 17 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Seat-Related Issues (76 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Subaru Forester?▾
#1: Seat-Related Issues (76 complaints). #2: Airbag Malfunctions (42 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (40 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2010 Subaru Forester?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2010 Subaru Forester?▾
The 2010 Subaru Forester has 21 crash-related complaints and 6 fire reports out of 262 total NHTSA complaints. 9 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2010 Subaru Forester have any recalls?▾
Yes — 17 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2010 Subaru Forester. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2010 Subaru Forester?▾
The 2010 Subaru Forester has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Seat-Related Issues issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Subaru Forester reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2010 Subaru Forester
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.