CarRecallWatchThe 2010 Subaru Forester has 17 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 262 complaints with NHTSA, including 21 crashes, 6 fires, 9 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Seats (76 reports).
2010 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 in a crash
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles may rupture during deployment in a crash.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
Certain Subaru vehicles have a passenger-side frontal airbag inflator that can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Passenger airbag may explode and send metal fragments into occupants
The passenger-side front airbag inflator can degrade over time from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
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 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 2010 Subaru Forester problems
Problem areas named in the 262 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Seats | 76 |
| Air Bags | 42 |
| Engine | 34 |
| Service Brakes | 28 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Structure | 7 |
What owners report
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 accelerated forward causing damage to both the Subaru and my neighbor's Honda. Had this happened if someone was walking by and there was not a car to block the Subaru, they would have likely been killed. Once the Subaru stopped, the gear shift was in park and I did not move it there. Then it was very challenging to put the gear shift in reverse to back the Subaru off the Honda. There
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 in traffic or at highway speeds, it could have caused a collision. The vehicle was inspected the next business day by Wiygul Automotive. Their technicians found no measurable oil on the dipstick and added three quarts just to restart the engine. They confirmed no external oil leaks, and diagnosed the failure as a catastrophic internal oil consumption defect that had been occur
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 rolled back (mileage going from approx. 171,000 to 91,000) prior to my purchase. I filed a report July 03, 2025 with the PSP in Carlisle, PA: Trooper Stevens, badge 12980, Case [XXX]. I am filing this complaint with NHTSA as part of the initial report. Please refer to the PSP Case [XXX] for more details & information regarding the ongoing investigation (which includes NJ). The
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
2010 Subaru Forester questions
Does the 2010 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 17 safety recalls for the 2010 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 2010 Subaru Forester?
Based on 262 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Seats (76), Air Bags (42), Engine (34).
How do I check if a recall on my 2010 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.