10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,100 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2010 Subaru Forester:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2010 Subaru Forester Owner Comments

problem #10

Dec 102021

Forester

  • miles

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

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 other time in my face. This event of having something unexpected distract my focus and trigger a startled response while driving at a time the requires focus, attention, and awareness is altered in a way my and other lives are serioulsy at risk. II have almost been I near serious accidents each time this happens; I have gotten really lucky and that's only because im always on guard bc of my anxiety, cant say anyone else would be as lucky as me. The issue is the brace uses cheap plastic and also instead of making the piece that is known to break thicker they made it as thin as possible to save money most likely. the bracket should be completely metal in my professional option considering how much force the sun visor rod that plugged into it requires. No ones life should be a risk like this, nor should any customer have to pay $100 for a new retail cost of one that is unjust for a company to make a customer pay for a defective flawed part of there vehicle that should have been recalled long ago and never was. the first one was replaced under warranty when the Subaru dealer I went to was part of Nissan, then I bought one from the new store a year later, and then from the Rafferty store, and again this week from the new Concordville part store. (I dont have my invoice from the current part I just ordered) There is more then one day of incident, one in 2017, one in 2018, 2019, 2020, and again this year 12/10/2021. cant find other invoiced. The date of incident for the previous would be same day or next day for invoice dates for new visor. Video of Flaw parts: (with audio) https://www.dropbox.com/s/yxgi9qge3q487q6/Live%20Demo%20of%20flaw.mp4?dl=0

- Chadds Ford , PA, USA

problem #9

Jul 062019

Forester

  • 80,000 miles
My car isn't even fully paid off and out of no where the transmission went! I bought a Subaru because they're supposed to be the most reliable but now I have a car with less than 100,000 miles on it that doesn't even move. Not only is the transmission broke. But a gear is missing.

- Warminster, PA, USA

problem #8

Aug 092018

Forester

  • 55,000 miles
I just want to know if anything needs to be taken care of on my Subaru"?? turning has been hard and I don't know if it's a recall or not. I just had all my struts replace, and I heard that suspension was recalled???"

- Newaygo, MI, USA

problem #7

Jul 122018

Forester

  • miles

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

Trying to park the car in driveway reversing noticed sudden acceleration, immediately triedto break and park couldnot stop the car.it stopped after hitting the garagewall. Big damage to garage wall. Impact shattered the the back window damaged the exhaust and dent the rear driver side, bumper and side light. Prior to this incident two instances noted some unexpected acceleration.didnt think much about it. Looking back some issue may be there.

- Canonsburg, PA, USA

problem #6

Feb 262018

Forester

  • 100,000 miles
Glass from sunroof separated, flew off and smashed into pieces on a clear, sunny 50 degree day. It was on a small route in the country and there was no wind. I was going 40-45 mph. I had not opened the window of sunroof in 5 years I owned it as I have had skin cancers. This was a big safety issue. Fortunately there were no cars behind me or we could have had a pile up with serious injuries and deaths. I will attach a pdf file with my notes to date. I believe webasto should replace this at no charge as it was clearly put in after market and was not installed safely.

- Duncansville, PA, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #5

Mar 072018

Forester

  • 125,000 miles
Driving along freeway when check engine light came on, as well as, blinking cruise control light, traction light, and blinking between blue and red on temperature gauge light. Car started to accelerate oddly and make chirping noise. Noticed smoke billowing behind me and getting worse to the point of not being able to see behind me. Smoke started a light yellow, mostly white, became white and grey, and impossible to see through. Turned on hazards, pulled onto shoulder, turned off vehicle. Vehicle continued to smoke. I got out of the vehicle saw flames under the hood and moved a good distance away to call 911.

- Olympia, WA, USA

problem #4

Aug 202016

Forester

  • 126,000 miles

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

Transmission shift cable is failing due to rust making the transmission almost impossible to shift - soon to brake - dealership could not estimate how long it had before it brakes - not sure what would happen if it broke - still driving - getting quotes to fix - dealership said $480 plus tax

- Prairie Village, KS, USA

problem #3

Apr 102014

Forester

  • 35,000 miles
The heat shields on my 2010 Subaru Forester have had to be clamped twice due to the heat shields becoming loose from the exhaust system. This could be a fire danger if a heat shield cake loose and ruptured the gas tank. This appears to be a design issue.

- Saco, ME, USA

problem #2

Aug 292010

Forester

  • 12,000 miles
The body control module - which is held in place by double-stick tape(!) - dropped from its place under the dashboard and obstructed the brake pedal. It took 20 feet to figure out that there was something in the way of the brake pedal and get my foot around and under it and stop the car. Fortunately I was in a fairly empty parking garage and driving 15 mph. Had I been driving on the highway at speed people could have died. My mechanic resecured it w/a heavier duty adhesive, but said it wasn't possible (for him) to put a bolt or strap on it. I have asked Subaru to please figure a way to bolt or strap it for me.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #1

Feb 282011

Forester

  • 8,000 miles
Subaru Forester 2010 engine went dead while pulling into driveway. Attempts were made to restart the car. A strong rubber odor filled the car along with smoke coming from the trunk of the car. The driver had to get herself and her two children (5 month old baby and a two year old toddler) out of the car. Within minutes, the car was in flames. The car burnt down to its frame.

- Providence, RI, USA

Not what you are looking for?