RoadVitals

2009 Subaru Forester

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
178
Latest Mar 12, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
18
Latest Nov 10, 2022
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
26
5 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 178 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Subaru Forester, most frequently naming the airbags, engine and driver assistance categories. 18 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 219 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

18 campaigns cover this model year

View all 18

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
22V838000

SEAT BELTS

Nov 10, 2022
16 units potentially affected
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles. The front seat belt assembly force-limiter may not operate correctly in the event of a crash.
The risk: The seat belt assembly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRJ-22.
Subaru of America, Inc.Manufacturer number WRJ-22View on NHTSA.gov
20V001000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 2, 2020
258,813 units potentially affected
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
Subaru of America, Inc.Manufacturer number TKA-20View on NHTSA.gov
20V003000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 2, 2020
111,562 units potentially affected
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
Subaru of America, Inc.Manufacturer number TKC-20View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 178
Airbags
Filed Mar 12, 2025

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 ID
11647932
Incident
Apr 10, 2024
Tires & wheels
Filed May 10, 2024

- 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 ID
11588146
Incident
May 1, 2024
Airbags
Filed Apr 30, 2024

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 ID
11586148
Incident
Apr 30, 2024
Fuel system
Filed Jul 31, 2023

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 ID
11535637
Incident
Jul 31, 2023
Fuel system
Filed Feb 1, 2023

* 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 ID
11504933
Incident
Jan 31, 2023
Brakes
Filed Nov 8, 2022

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 ID
11492713
Incident
Nov 3, 2022
Mileage
76,340 mi
Interior & seats
Filed May 22, 2021

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

NHTSA ID
11418144
Incident
May 1, 2021
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 22, 2021

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 ID
11404303
Incident
Mar 11, 2021
Mileage
160,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SubaruNet Annoucement (E

This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.

01-167-08R

This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

SubaruNet Announcement (R

POWER TRAIN

This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.

07-240-26R

This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20.

03-97-26

POWER TRAIN

This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.

01-167-08R

This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Subaru Forester by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026143050.5
2025873062.7
2024282055.0
2023731053.0
2022951050.3
20212070043.8
20205950038.0
20198313049.4
20184913155.8
20175811151.8
20164093159.7
20156133053.6
20144032052.4
20137712058.1
201210515058.3
201114716057.3
201026217054.7
2009Viewing17818056.0
2008501148.1
2007721147.8
2006882156.3
2005931148.8
20042192152.6
20031893155.0
2002881047.9
20011390043.3
2000750039.0
19991311143.3
19981011044.6
1997000—
1996000—
1995000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.