CarRecallWatchThe 2009 Subaru Forester has 17 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 178 complaints with NHTSA, including 19 crashes, 7 fires, 5 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Air Bags (40 reports).
2009 Subaru Forester recalls
Front Seat Belts May Not Restrain Occupants in a Crash
The front seat belt assembly's force limiter may not operate correctly in a crash.
Passenger Airbag May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
Some vehicles had their passenger frontal airbag inflators replaced under an earlier recall, but the replacement inflators use the same design.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal shrapnel
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture.
Ignition Switch May Turn Off Engine, Disabling Airbags
The ignition switch on these vehicles may have a ball spring inside that can break, weakening the switch.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
The passenger-side frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Passenger airbag inflator may rupture in a crash
The passenger-side front airbag inflator in certain vehicles may explode when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
Certain 2009 Subaru vehicles have a passenger-side frontal airbag inflator that may rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Passenger airbag inflator may rupture and spray metal fragments
The passenger-side front airbag inflator in certain Subaru vehicles may rupture during a crash that requires the front airbags to deploy.
Passenger airbag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments at occupants
The passenger-side front airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Relay can fail, causing pump overheating and fire risk
A relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to run continuously and overheat.
Passenger airbag inflator may rupture, spraying metal fragments
The passenger-side frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles may rupture during a crash that requires the front airbags to deploy.
Most common 2009 Subaru Forester problems
Problem areas named in the 178 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 40 |
| Engine | 27 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Seats | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Visibility | 7 |
What owners report
Airbag lights have been going on and off ever since I took it into to get my airbags recalled and Subaru will not take a look at it with out me signing a form saying I am liable to pay 200 dollars if it happens to be anything else unrelated to the recall warranty.
- I bought a set of 4 Cooper Adventurer P225 55 R17 tires from Pep Boys in La Habra , CA on [XXX]. - On [XXX], I had to replace one due to a flat, and they noticed that I had a serious bulge in another. I replaced those two tires, putting the new ones in the front. - On around [XXX], friends helping me with adjusting my side mirror noticed that I had two serious bulges, one in each of the front tires that had been replaced. - They were suspicious about the same damage in two tires, so they checked & found that similar number Cooper Adventurers sold at Pep Boys at the same time as mine were among a number of Cooper tires that had been recalled for sidewall separation bulges. They suggeste
No local dealer to complete recall NHTSA Recall Number 20V002000. Vehicle is too old, too high miles to be trusted to take on an extended road trip to a dealer. Contacting Subaru wasnât any help.
fuel tank leaking gasoline from tanks seams and hose nipple, second owned vehicle with same problem. now the vehicle has strong gas smell and is leaking gasoline when driven in a incline. It threw a p0442 "evap leak small" thats why i checked the fault. All these steel tanks seem to rust where the seam of the tank is, and also the filler neck tube connects to the tank, one of the evap hoses was just hanging next to the fuel tank, the nipple that holds it to the tank rusted and came off.
* Fuel tank leak * Could have exploded or caught fire * Confirmed at independent service center * Inspected by independent service center * Check engine light and gas tank icon on dash. Appeared 1/31/2023 This car has had so many recalls and has been a problem for a long time. We have contacted Subaru and will contact them today regarding this issue.
2009 Subaru Forester questions
Does the 2009 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 17 safety recalls for the 2009 Subaru Forester: Front Seat Belts May Not Restrain Occupants in a Crash; Passenger Airbag May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments; Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments; Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal shrapnel; Ignition Switch May Turn Off Engine, Disabling Airbags. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Subaru Forester?
Based on 178 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (40), Engine (27), Electrical System (22).
How do I check if a recall on my 2009 Subaru Forester has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.