2010 Subaru Forester problems
Owners have filed 307 complaints about the 2010 Subaru Forester with NHTSA. Seats account for 24.8% of them — the clear leader, ahead of air bags at 13.7%.
Complaints307
Crashes29
Fires8
Injuries12
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Seats 24.8% · 76
Air bags 13.7% · 42
Engine 11.1% · 34
Service brakes 9.1% · 28
Vehicle speed control 7.8% · 24
Electrical system 4.2% · 13
Unknown or other 3.9% · 12
Service brakes, hydraulic 3.3% · 10
Severity
Of those complaints, 29 describe a crash, 8 describe a fire and 12 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 23 model years of the Subaru Forester in this data, 2010 sits 8th by complaint volume. 2019 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 6 in the last three years against 26 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 60,000 miles.
In owners' own words
While sitting on the driver's seat, the front left portion of the seat collapsed downward, and now has no support from the frame of the seat. Dealer has confirmed that the welds on the seat bracket have failed. This seems likely to be the result of a factory defect, as this seat has not been abused or had an abnormal amount of weight supported on it. My concern now is in the safety of the restraint system. Seats · reported at 71,000 miles
The drivers seat causes pain in my back, hip, ankle and foot on numerous occasions my right leg has gone numb or cramped up and I have to pull over so that I can walk off the cramps and numbness. My husband avoids driving the Subaru because of the pain he experiences. Even folks in their 20's that have driven my Subaru experience pain in some part of their lower body. Seats · reported at 200 miles
Entered vehicle and sat down on drivers seat and there was a loud pop and the left front corner of the driver seat dropped. Removed side cover and found two welds broken from bracket that goes to the seat bottom. After looking on safercar.Gov found same issue with other foresters. The car was bought new and was never abused. Never had a problem with it until now. Seats · reported at 100,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…