Subaru Forester 2009–2013
3rd generation (SH)
NHTSA data through 12 August 2026964 complaints, 682 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 23,400 and 89,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 7 complaints (1.0%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 4,000
- 25%
- 23,400
- Median
- 56,000
- 75%
- 89,000
- 90%
- 124,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 104 | 15.2% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 41 | 6.0% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 57 | 8.4% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 52 | 7.6% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 52 | 7.6% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 46 | 6.7% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 59 | 8.7% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 43 | 6.3% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 62 | 9.1% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 33 | 4.8% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 32 | 4.7% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 21 | 3.1% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 27 | 4.0% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 10 | 1.5% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 11 | 1.6% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 8 | 1.2% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 4 | 0.6% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 7 | 1.0% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 4 | 0.6% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 7 | 1.0% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 964 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009–2013 Subaru Forester, and 682 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 23,400 and 89,000 miles. The median is 56,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (18.0% of complaints, typically around 85,000 miles), the airbag system (14.9% of complaints, typically around 44,000 miles), seats (10.2% of complaints, typically around 78,000 miles).
19 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine85,000median 85,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 108,000
- Airbag system44,000median 44,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 99,000
- Seats78,000median 78,139 miles, middle half 51,000 to 91,000
- Throttle and speed control30,000median 29,600 miles, middle half 7,000 to 66,000
- Brakes38,000median 38,062 miles, middle half 25,000 to 75,000
- Electrical system60,000median 60,000 miles, middle half 31,000 to 87,000
- Problems owners could not categorise89,000median 88,763 miles, middle half 55,000 to 125,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 174 | 18.0% | 85,000 | 60,000–108,000 |
| Airbag system | 144 | 14.9% | 44,000 | 30,000–99,000 |
| Seats | 98 | 10.2% | 78,000 | 51,000–91,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 81 | 8.4% | 30,000 | 7,000–66,000 |
| Brakes | 76 | 7.9% | 38,000 | 25,000–75,000 |
| Electrical system | 59 | 6.1% | 60,000 | 31,000–87,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 50 | 5.2% | 89,000 | 55,000–125,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 43 | 4.5% | 59,000 | 10,000–99,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 29 | 3.0% | 65,000 | 50,000–107,000 |
| Body structure | 27 | 2.8% | 28,000 | 3,000–61,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 56,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 18.0% of complaints (174 reports, 129 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 85,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 108,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 14.9% of complaints (144 reports, 35 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 44,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 99,000 miles.
Seats account for 10.2% of complaints (98 reports, 83 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 78,139 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,000 and 91,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 8.4% of complaints (81 reports, 75 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 29,600 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,200 and 66,000 miles.
The brakes account for 7.9% of complaints (76 reports, 55 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 38,062 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 25,000 and 75,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.1% of complaints (59 reports, 49 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,517 and 86,700 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2010 model year drew the most — 307 complaints — while 2013 drew the fewest at 94. The median year sits at 195.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 19 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (12), the seat belts (2), the electrical system (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 964 complaints filed against this generation, 134 reported a crash; 31 reported a fire; 52 reported an injury; 1 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 13.9% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 23,400 and 89,000 miles, with a median of 56,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 44,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine (fb25 Oil Consumption) 2011–2013
The FB25 introduced for MY2011 consumes oil excessively due to piston ring design, in some cases a quart every 1,000-1,200 miles, with owners reporting oil starvation risk between service intervals. Subject of a class action settlement covering the affected build window; Subaru extended coverage and offered a short-block ring repair.
Head Gaskets (ej253) 2009–2010
External head gasket coolant seepage on the carry-over SOHC EJ253 in the first two model years, before the FB25 replaced it.
Airbags (takata Inflator) 2009–2013
Takata ammonium-nitrate inflator recall population; rupture risk propelling metal fragments into the cabin.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 228 | 161 |
| 2010 | 307 | 236 |
| 2011 | 195 | 127 |
| 2012 | 140 | 89 |
| 2013 | 94 | 69 |
Recalls (19)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 22V838000 | 2022-12-01 | Seat Belts |
| 20V003000 | 2020-01-07 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 20V002000 | 2020-01-07 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 20V001000 | 2020-01-07 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 19V297000 | 2019-05-10 | Electrical System:ignition:switch |
| 19V009000 | 2019-01-25 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 19V008000 | 2019-01-25 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 19V007000 | 2019-01-25 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 18V014000 | 2018-02-09 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 18V013000 | 2018-02-09 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 18V012000 | 2018-02-09 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 17V026000 | 2017-03-06 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 17V014000 | 2017-03-06 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 16V738000 | 2016-12-16 | Electrical System |
| 16V358000 | 2016-07-22 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 14V830000 | 2015-01-27 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic |
| 14V311000 | 2014-07-23 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings |
| 12V602000 | 2013-02-19 | Exterior Lighting |
| 12V099000 | 2012-03-26 | Seat Belts:rear/Other |
What owners reported
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 Subaru Forester. When engaging the clutch, the manual transmission revved up to approximately 4000 RPM's and seemed as if it would surge. The failure occurred 85% of the time. The dealer also duplicated the failure. The manufacturer advised the dealer that they would write a computer program…
2009 · 100 miles · Transmission and driveline
The Subaru moonroof system roof cavity is completely open to the elements, there is no containment of rain water, leaves, or any other debris- like insects and small animals that can all end up down between the headliner and interior walls and the outside body. This can result in all kinds of molds and fungi…
2009 · 600 miles · Body structure
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 Subaru Forester. While driving approximately 15 MPH on normal road conditions, there was sudden, aggressive, and forceful acceleration. The driver immediately depressed the brake pedal, but there was no response. The driver placed the gear shifter into park, but the vehicle failed to slow…
2009 · 650 miles · Throttle and speed control
The 2009 Subaru Forester has the light at the top of cargo inside and if it is dark you cannot see anything but the reflection of what is in the cargo area due to the brake light being inside rather than on the outside like other models i feel this is very dangerous, you might run over anything or anybody when you…
2009 · 675 miles · Exterior lighting
Built from 682 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page