2009 Subaru Forester

178 complaints on file, page 1 of 9.

1. Filed Mar 12, 2025Failure Apr 10, 2024Asbury Park, NJAir bags

   Airbag lights have been going on and off ever since I took it into to get my airbags recalled and Subaru will not take a look at it with out me signing a form saying I am liable to pay 200 dollars if it happens to be anything else unrelated to the recall warranty.

   NHTSA complaint 11647932
2. Filed May 10, 2024Failure May 1, 2024Whittier, CASidewall

   - I bought a set of 4 Cooper Adventurer P225 55 R17 tires from Pep Boys in La Habra , CA on [XXX]. - On [XXX], I had to replace one due to a flat, and they noticed that I had a serious bulge in another. I replaced those two tires, putting the new ones in the front. - On around [XXX], friends helping me with adjusting my side mirror noticed that I had two serious bulges, one in each of the front tires that had been replaced. - They were suspicious about the same damage in two tires, so they checked & found that similar number Cooper Adventurers sold at Pep Boys at the same time as mine were among a number of Cooper tires that had been recalled for sidewall separation bulges. They suggested I contact you. - There are already 5 complaints about these particular tires for sidewall bulges; mine will make 6. Yet one of the recalled tires only had 2 complaints. - I have photographs of the tire bulges in my phone, but I'm having trouble sending them to my laptop. I will contact you to add the pictures to this report as soon as I sort out the difficulty. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

   NHTSA complaint 11588146
3. Filed Apr 30, 2024Failure Apr 30, 2024Houghton, MIAir bags

   No local dealer to complete recall NHTSA Recall Number 20V002000. Vehicle is too old, too high miles to be trusted to take on an extended road trip to a dealer. Contacting Subaru wasn’t any help.

   NHTSA complaint 11586148
4. Filed Jul 31, 2023Failure Jul 31, 2023hazleton, PAFuel/propulsion system

   fuel tank leaking gasoline from tanks seams and hose nipple, second owned vehicle with same problem. now the vehicle has strong gas smell and is leaking gasoline when driven in a incline. It threw a p0442 "evap leak small" thats why i checked the fault. All these steel tanks seem to rust where the seam of the tank is, and also the filler neck tube connects to the tank, one of the evap hoses was just hanging next to the fuel tank, the nipple that holds it to the tank rusted and came off.

   NHTSA complaint 11535637
5. Filed Feb 1, 2023Failure Jan 31, 2023Newton, NJFuel/propulsion system

   * Fuel tank leak * Could have exploded or caught fire * Confirmed at independent service center * Inspected by independent service center * Check engine light and gas tank icon on dash. Appeared 1/31/2023 This car has had so many recalls and has been a problem for a long time. We have contacted Subaru and will contact them today regarding this issue.

   NHTSA complaint 11504933
6. Filed Nov 8, 2022Failure Nov 3, 202276,340 milesBethel Park, PAService brakes, Hydraulic

   The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that he had initially received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V830000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was serviced. Recently, the contact stated that while going downhill in the reverse(R) position, he heard an abnormal popping sound upon depression of the brake pedal without warning. The brake pedal failed as it depressed to the floorboard; the contact managed to stop the vehicle with his hand brake. The contact called the dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who discovered that the brake lines had failed. The mechanic also informed him that there was no evidence that any rust prevention sealant was applied to the brake lines. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 76,340.

   NHTSA complaint 11492713
7. Filed May 22, 2021Failure May 1, 2021Hamburg, NJSeats

   Sudden collapse of drivers seat bottom cushion. Now lower on one side.

   NHTSA complaint 11418144
8. Filed Mar 22, 2021Failure Mar 11, 2021160,000 milesFort Smith, AREngine, Fuel/propulsion system

   TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE AT 70MPH, CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR LOST ALL POWER. WAS ABLE TO LIMP OFF THE ROAD AND WAIT 3 HOURS FOR A TOW TO DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSIS; STAGE 4 BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OR SYMPTOMS AND COULD HAVE BEEN A GREATER DANGER IF HEAVIER TRAFFIC. HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS KNOW ON EARLY MODEL SUBARU'S.

   NHTSA complaint 11404303
9. Filed Feb 3, 2021Failure Feb 3, 2021Lanai City, HIAir bags

   2009 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUE WITH AIRBAG. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG IS ON RECALL AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII. THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO SEND A CERTIFIED REPAIR TECHNICIAN TO THE CONSUMERS. INSTEAD, THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMERS SEND THE VEHICLE FRO LANA'I, HAWAII TO OAHU, HAWAII TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRIP WOULD COST AT LEAST 900.00 PER OWNER. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE A REPAIR TECHNICIAN TO COME TO LANA'I. *JS *JS

   NHTSA complaint 11394234
10. Filed Jan 26, 2021Failure Jan 26, 2021170,000 milesRutland, VTService brakes, Suspension, Unknown or other

    I HAVE LOVE IN TOWN AND HAVE BEEN REPLACING ROTORS AND PADS EVERY 6 MONTHS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2018 AND HAVE PUT UNDER 30000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACING WHEEL BEARINGS CONSTANTLY.

    NHTSA complaint 11389948
11. Filed Jan 23, 2021Failure Jan 21, 2021175,000 milesMeriden, NHUnknown or other

    YOU REALLY NEED TO REIGN IN THE NEW HEADLIGHTS AND HOW BRIGHT THEY ARE. THEY MIGHT BE OK IN FLAT PLACES, BUT I'M HILLY AREAS, WHEN AN ONCOMING CAR IS AT A HIGHER LEVEL, IT'S LIKE GETTING HIGH BEAMED IN THE FACE. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. IT'S GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. ALSO, I DON'T KNOW IF NEW CARD HAVE AUTOMATICALLY CHANGING HIGH AND LOW BEAMS, BUT I HAVE NOTICED THAT PEOPLE ARE BECOMING VERY LAST IN TURNING DOWN THERE LIGHTS WHEN APPROACHING ME. IT'S CROSSED MY MIND THAT IT'S PROBABLY A NEW AUTOMATIC SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T WORK VERY WELL. BUT THE NEW HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE REALLY BRIGHT DOWN LOW, THAT IS HUGE SAFETY RISK. AT THE RIGHT SPOTS IN THE ROAD, IT'S ABSOLUTELY BLINDING. CARS WITH THE OLDER STYLE LIGHTS, NO PROBLEM. NEW ONES, BUT PROBLEM.

    NHTSA complaint 11389620
12. Filed Sep 14, 2020Failure Sep 1, 2020100,000 milesLakewood, CAEngine

    TURBO FAILURE CAUSED BY DESIGN FLAWS IN LUBRICATION DELIVERY SYSTEM IDENTIFIED BY MULTIPLE TSB WVF-16, TSB#02-103-07, TSB # 02-97-05. MANUFACTURE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE TSB AND CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT ABOUT 2.5 LITER TURBO CAR. LEADING $3500.00 REPAIR BEING FORCED ON CONSUMERS IN SPITE OF THIS CONDITION BEING A ENGINEERING DEFECT.MY CAR HAD THE TURBO REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP AT 50,000 MILES NAD NOW 50,000 MILES LATER THE TURBO HAS FAILED AGAIN. CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA, WHO STATED THAT SOA WOULD NOT BE ASSISTING IN REPAIRS OF THE SAME FAILURE.

    NHTSA complaint 11354992
13. Filed Jul 23, 2020Failure Jul 23, 2020Milton, MAElectrical system

    THE ENGINE TURNS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE MY CAR WAS IN MOTION. I STARTED MY CAR AND THEN IT SHUT OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON MY RESIDENTIAL STREET. I BELIEVE MY CAR IS AFFECTED BY RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 19V297000.

    NHTSA complaint 11341132
14. Filed Jul 22, 2020Failure Jul 22, 2020140,000 milesPhiladelphia, PAElectrical system, Engine, Unknown or other

    MY 2009 SUBARU FORESTER HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. IN THE PAST MONTH I'VE PUT $3,000 IN PARTS AND MAINTENANCE. RADIATOR BLEW, COOLANT SENSOR, WHOLE NEW EXHAUST, ALL NEW HUB BARINGS, 2 NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND MY MAIN PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED!!! THE CAR IDLES AT THE STOP LIGHT AND DURING THE ACCELERATION IT STALLS! I TOOK IT TO 4 DEALERS AND THEY TELL ME MY GAS IS TO RICH???? WHAT IS THAT???? I'M UPSET WITH THIS CAR AND IT SUCKS. I'VE HAD THIS CAR NOT EVEN A YEAR.

    NHTSA complaint 11340821
15. Filed Jun 23, 2020Failure Jun 23, 2020118,800 milesGarden City Park, NYVisibility/wiper

    THE REAR WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED/SHATTERED. WHEN ENTERING THE CAR THE REAR WINDOW WAS IN ONE PIECE. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE A CHUNK OF MY WINDOW FELL IN. THE PATTERN AROUND THE CRACKED WINDOW APPEARS AS A CLUSTER OF THERMAL BREAKS. I HAVE LOOKED AND THERE ARE MORE SUBARU'S REPORTED WITH THIS ISSUE AS WELL WHICH HAS TO DEAL WITH HOW THE CAR DE-FROSTS THE GLASS. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 11330268
16. Filed Mar 3, 2020Failure Feb 27, 2020106,000 milesThornton, COAir bags

    SUBARU DEALER (MARK SHAW SUBARU 1650 W 104TH AVE, DENVER, CO 80234, PHONE (720) 724-9280) REFUSES TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT IS ON RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS DEPLOYED. THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE ANY WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION ON WHY OR WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THEM TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK.

    NHTSA complaint 11315933
17. Filed Nov 12, 2019Failure Nov 11, 2019SLC, UTElectronic stability control (esc), Engine, Service brakes

    WEIRD THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WITH MY CAR, I KNOW THAT SOMEONE IS USING THE SATELLITE RADIO PORT TO TAMPER WITH THE SAFETY OF MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP IT HAS A BRAND NEW ENGINE IN IT, THE STEERING LIGHT SYSTEM FLASHING ISN'T EVEN RELEVANT TO A PROBLEM THAT IT COULD HAVE. EVERYTHING LISTED ON TARGETED CARS, HAS HAPPENED WITH MY CAR.

    NHTSA complaint 11279714
18. Filed Sep 19, 2019Failure Sep 16, 201984,350 milesMonterey Park, CAElectrical system, Visibility/wiper

    THE FUNCTION OF THE RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS IS INTERMITTENT. UPON START THESE DEVICES DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ELECTRICAL POWER AND DO NOT FUNCTION. I SUSPECT THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS THAT DO NOT WORK EITHER, BUT I HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THEM. THEY BOTH FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS RESTARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 2 OCCASIONS OVER A 1 WEEK PERIOD. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IN A RAINSTORM, THE VISIBILITY WOULD BE NIL. OTHERWISE THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONS NORMALLY.

    NHTSA complaint 11256759
19. Filed Jun 21, 2019Failure Jun 20, 2019108,000 milesKenduskeag, MEEngine

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11221748
20. Filed May 8, 2019Failure May 5, 2019224,000 milesHarrisburg, PAEngine, Unknown or other, Vehicle speed control

    I KEEP GETTING A TIMING OVER-ADVANCED CODE WITH A BAD CAT CODE.

    NHTSA complaint 11206339