2011 SUBARU FORESTER Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Subaru Forester. This model year has 147 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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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 2011 Subaru Forester Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Airbag Malfunctions
Brake System
Considering a 2011 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 2011 Subaru Forester. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 67 | 6 | 4 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 29 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 20 | 7 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 13 | 11 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 12 | 3 | 2 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 11 | 3 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 8 | 4 | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 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 2011 Subaru Forester. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 147 most recent complaints
Concerned over oil being burnt up at a significant rate, have to add a quart per tank of gas. Theres distinct burnt oil smell after driving. Concerned my car needs to be included in the oil consumption recall.
I have a single-owner 2011 automatic-transmission Subaru Forester [145k miles]. In a parking lot, I started the car as usual and shifted into reverse. I immediately noticed another car was approaching behind me and reflexively pushed on the brake to give the oncoming vehicle the …
The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment, and the vehicle began to fill with smoke, prompting her to immediately stop and exit the vehicle. Upon exiting the veh…
My car randomly turns off when reducing speed. It caused an accident a few days ago. I have had multiple mechanics try to figure out the problem but the only thing that comes up on the diagnostic tool is it needed 1 coil replaced. They have all been replaced and still won't go a…
unintended sudden acceleration defects without warning without driver input. I could kill & be killed. It can happen again! I backed up a little in an angle moving away from parking. Suddenly, without any warning, the car took off and frantically flew backward, passing a stop sig…
We have come to learn that our 2011 Forester with 95,229 miles is now burning (internally) oil at an alarming rate. The car was making a funny noise so we had it towed to the dealership and they found it was low by 4.8 quarts of oil. The last oil change was at 91,749 and this i…
I bought my vehicle new from Oakland Subaru. From the beginning I had to add about a quart of oil every month and a half to two months. I thought this was normal. When my vehicle had approximately 73,800miles, I went to Fremont Subaru for a regular motor oil change. I was asked a…
The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that his wife used the parking brake to stop vehicle. The service brake wa…
The contact's daughter owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, there was a rattling noise coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Findlay Subaru St. George (1453 Sunland Dr, St. George, UT…
The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormally loud sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer performed an oil consumption test and determined that the engine needed to be repla…
I have tried to get the recall on airbag replaced to no avail, just alot of lip service and never any follow-up on repair of air bag. I am extremely ticked off that the very last current notification by mail this july 2022. I included a copy of it where it states DO NOT ALLOW …
Driving a 2011 Subaru Forester, about 5mph in traffic on city street when car suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated at full gas and rammed into truck in front of me, with no pressure on the gas pedal. Slamming on brakes and pulling on hand brake was not enough to override the un…
Thousands of Subarus are developing leaking cam carriers which can cause the vehicles to stall due to oil loss. There are online threads with many, many owners reporting their vehicles developed this problem - many with low mileage. My vehicle developed the problem with about 40,…
The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that she noticed an abnormal odor coming from the exhaust. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was inf…
Front right side of driver’s seat has collapsed. Possibly due to a broken bracket or weld.
I have received multiple letters to fix my Subarus air bag. It was fixed once after a long wait for parts. The second required fix is proving hard to set up. I called a Subaru fix line, waited an hour while they try to schedule, then was disconnected. I called back, same long…
As I drove into my driveway smoke started coming out of engine compartment. Behind and under vehicle was a massive leak of either oil or transmission fluid. No warning lights were observed and vehicle was running fine while we were out. The entire vehicle was quickly engulfed in …
LEAKY CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS MADE OIL LEAK INTO COOLING SYSTEM. CAR BEGAN RATTLING AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. SUBARU KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUES WITH THIS AND MAY OTHER YEARS CARS YET REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. LOOKING AT A COSTLY $3K FIX. NOT DRIVABLE OTHERWISE. LUC…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A. CRIVELLI SUBARU (768 ALLEGHENY BLVD, FRANKLIN, PA 16323) AND AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE RESULT CONFIRMED T…
THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH COLORADO, FROM CRESTED BUTTE TO TELLURIDE. I WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVE. AS THE CAR WENT UP HILLS IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT DOWN, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV INTO THE 4,000 RPM RANGE, WHICH IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE SUSTAINED. IN OR…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2011 Subaru Forester.
Recalls for 2011 Subaru Forester
16 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2011 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.
2011 Subaru Forester — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2011 Subaru Forester reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2011 Subaru Forester has 147 NHTSA owner complaints, 21 crash-related, and 16 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (67 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Subaru Forester?▾
#1: Engine Problems (67 complaints). #2: Airbag Malfunctions (29 complaints). #3: Brake System (20 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Subaru Forester?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2011 Subaru Forester?▾
The 2011 Subaru Forester has 21 crash-related complaints and 6 fire reports out of 147 total NHTSA complaints. 4 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2011 Subaru Forester have any recalls?▾
Yes — 16 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2011 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 2011 Subaru Forester?▾
The 2011 Subaru Forester has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems 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 2011 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.