10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,562 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Subaru Forester engine problems

engine problem

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2010 Subaru Forester Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #24

Jan 112023

Forester

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 a stop. During the incident, the driver sustained a mild concussion which did not require medical attention. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to the local collision center. The contact was unsure if the failure occurred while in the reverse or drive position. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Oak Park, IL, USA

problem #23

Oct 232021

Forester

  • 73,000 miles
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 contact was able to drive the vehicle home but had not driven the vehicle since the failure. The contact called the manufacturer and they informed her to tow the vehicle to a dealer for an inspection. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it remained in their possession and was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

- Middle Village, NY, USA

problem #22

Nov 252020

Forester

  • 95,000 miles
My 2010 Subaru Forester suddenly accelerated in reverse for the 3rd time. This last time it hit another vehicle damaging it and knocked down a person that required evaluation at the er. I was in a church parking lot this last time. I do not have any pictures as I was concerned about the person hit.

- Franklin, NC, USA

problem #21

Feb 102020

Forester

  • 208,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At highway speed above 60 mph suddenly several dash warning lights illuminate. Traction control, cruise, transmission overheat, check engine all became illuminated. No affects to the operation of the vehicle. Disconnect the battery overnight resolves the problem for a day or two. Situation repeats on dry or wet roadways for no apparent reason. Online google-yahoo chat rooms has hundreds of similar issues discussed with no fixes from dealer or corporate Subaru. Its a bit unnerving when at highway speed all or most of the warning lights illuminate. Any assistance is most appreciated.

- Waynesburg, PA, USA

problem #20

Jun 292018

Forester

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. While attempting to park the vehicle at a low speed with the brake pedal slightly depressed, the vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into an electrical junction box. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was not injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Newtown, PA, USA

problem #19

Apr 132018

Forester

  • 72,000 miles
While backing slowly into a parking space (2-3 mph) in my apartment parking lot. Car accelerated rapidly out of control. Brakes failed. Car accelerated ftom 3mp to 20-35 mph jumped a curb and hit car parked in street (impact so high that the car ended up in the middle of the street). Impact was the only thing that stopped the car.

- Long Beach, NY, USA

problem #18

Jan 022017

Forester

  • 17,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Hello- I am experiencing continued issues after recall: 16V-738. I began attempting to resolve this issue in September of 2016. The issue impacts the secondary air system and my vehicle would not pass ca smog. I have to have a passing smog to renew my ca registration. I failed smog and sent the vehicle to my mechanic. My mechanic performed diagnosis and determined stored P2441 and P2443 codes (secondary air valves open). Around the same time, October 2016, Subaru released recall: 16V-738. This addresses a single relay in the secondary air series. I proceeded to schedule and take my vehicle into rancho grande Subaru in san luis obispo. I also opened a claim with Subaru corporate customer support sr #:1-19856672948). Subaru began working on my vehicle mid October 2016 and placed me in a rental SUV. I did not receive any communication from Subaru, so I followed up. The tech informed me the vehicle is ready to be picked up mid November. I visited, picked up the vehicle, drove it 3 miles and heard a loud screech from the secondary air pump. I returned the vehicle, informed the tech and he rudely responded "was that noise happening when you dropped it off". no, I responded and they resisted placing me in a rental for another 3 weeks. Late December, I followed up once again due to lack of communication and the vehicle was ready 3 days later. I drove the vehicle 200 miles and now the same check engine light is on, traction control light is flashing and vehicle intermittently accelerated. I checked the codes and the same codes remain. I feel the scope of components requires all components in the secondary air system to be replaced. The faulty relay was on the on position and has exhausted all the components in the series. This is a nation wide issue do www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/F87/secondary-air-valves-P2443-P2441-63347/. T

- Pismo Beach, CA, USA

problem #17

Jun 272016

Forester

  • 80,000 miles
While parking my 2010 Subaru Forester suddenly accelerated causing it to jump over a curb sideswiping a hedge jumping another curb then hitting a large Ram 150 truck. The whole time I was standing on the brakes trying to avoid parked cars. Upon impact the engine was still running at high RPM's. after shutting it off I looked to see if the mats were the cause and they were not. Could not determine what the cause of acceleration. There was over $120 damage to the Forester.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #16

Sep 132015

Forester

  • 90,000 miles
A family member was re-parking our car next to the house. She put the car in reverse, pressed the accelerator lightly, and the car suddenly lurched backwards and kept going even after she took her foot off the accelerator, and hit the house, causing damage to both the car and the house (and causing my daughter a concussion). Earlier, my son had a similar experience with the same car. He had the car in reverse, lightly tapped the accelerator, the car jolted backward but he did not hit anything because he was not close to any objects or structures.

- Larchmont, NY, USA

problem #15

Jan 282010

Forester

  • 50 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate, the engine RPM's increased but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50. The VIN was unavailable.

- Cicero, IL, USA

problem #14

Jul 072014

Forester 4-cyl

  • 68,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While in my driveway, I started the engine, stepped on the brake, put the vehicle in drive and it accelerated. I swerved to miss a trailer parked in front of me, pushed harder on the brake, the vehicle stopped, the engine raced for a few seconds and then idled normally. I got out, looked at the floor mat and it wasn't touching the accelerator. It hasn't happened since, but the car doesn't get driven much.

- Rapid River, MI, USA

problem #13

May 112014

Forester

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving slowly in reverse, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration and crashed into a residential home. A police report was filed but there were no injuries. The failure was not diagnosed and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #12

Nov 182013

Forester 4-cyl

  • 40,430 miles
Sudden acceleration incident. Parked at the county recycling center, when placed into drive (full brake pressure required to shift out of park), the engine accelerated to maximum power causing the car to drive away uncontrollably and overriding the previously applied brake. Immediately shifting to neutral, the car was brought under control and then functioned normally. Driver and passenger were witnesses and unharmed. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. No cause was found.

- Trenton, NJ, USA

problem #11

Dec 082013

Forester 4-cyl

  • 41,000 miles
Sudden acceleration from full stop. The vehicle had exhibited sudden acceleration 3 weeks prior but the dealer did not find any problem. From a full stop, the vehicle was placed into reverse at which time the engine revved to full throttle, overriding the brakes, resulting in the vehicle backing uncontrollably and stopping on top of a boulder with the back wheels off the ground approximately 4 feet. The incident was witnessed by a bystander. The vehicle undercarriage severely damaged and not drive-able. Photos and a police report were submitted.

- Trenton, NJ, USA

problem #10

Feb 042013

Forester

  • 22,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, it erroneously accelerated while still in park. The vehicle then crashed into a building. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

- Kent, WA, USA

problem #9

Jul 022011

Forester 4-cyl

  • 23,400 miles
The vehicle is a 2010 Subaru Forester. When the car was put in reverse to back into a parking space and the gas pedal was pressed the car accelerated as if the gas pedal had been floored. The brakes were slammed on and no damage was done. This is the second time this has happened with this vehicle. The floor mat was in the normal position and was not involved. I was driving the car. This same thing happened with my wife driving the car on 12/10/2010. See id# 10370392.

- Oriskany, NY, USA

problem #8

Feb 282011

Forester 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. While the contact was driving approximately 60 mph with the cruise control activated, a rapid increase in speed occurred and vehicle failed to slow down. The emergency brake was engaged and the engine was turned off to stop the vehicle. The contact restarted the engine and resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to duplicate the problem. The failure mileage was 38,000 updated 03/31/11 the consumer was able to turn off the ignition and used the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. Updated 04/28/11

- Burnsville , NC, USA

problem #7

Feb 192011

Forester 4-cyl

  • 5,800 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. The contact shifted into reverse and the vehicle abnormally accelerated backward, crashing into a building. A police report was filed and a bystander was reported as injured. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was then taken to an independent repair shop where the body damage was repaired. Approximately one month later the failure recurred, again upon shifting the vehicle into reverse. The vehicle continued to accelerate backward until heavy pressure was applied to the brake pedal and the ignition was turned off. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed because the authorized dealer refused to examine the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also stated that there were no floor mats present in the vehicle during either failure. The failure mileage was 5,800 and the current mileage was 5,900. Updated 06/06/11 the consumer stated the dealer notified her to come in to have the ECM reprogrammed#wvu31. Updated 09/23/11 updated 01/13/2012

- Auburn, NY, USA

problem #6

Mar 032010

Forester

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. The contact was driving 5 mph and attempting to accelerate when the vehicle would either not respond or would abnormally accelerate at a rapid pace. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted via mail but had not yet responded to the contact. The failure mileage was 15,000. Updated 05/13/11 updated 12/30/11

- Midlothian, VA, USA

problem #5

Dec 102010

Forester

  • 15,000 miles
The vehicle is a 2010 Subaru Forester. When stepping on the gas pedal to back up, the car accelerated as if the accelerator had been floored. The car shot up a snow bank and rested on a guard rail still running fast. The car was turned off and the winter mat that came with the car was on the lower part of the accelerator. We do not know if the mat caused the rapid acceleration or there was a malfunction with the car. If this had happened in a busy parking lot someone could have been killed. The mat has been removed from the car. There was damage to the under side of the car and fender.

- Oriskany, NY, USA

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