RoadVitals

2010 Subaru Forester Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints 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.
13
Latest Aug 23, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 262 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Subaru Forester submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Fuel system
Filed Aug 23, 2021

Fuel pump failed (connection wiring harness burned up) inside the fuel tank. If this had happened a little later, we would have been in the middle of the interstate and could have been in a horrific wreck. Or if there had been any oxygen in the fuel tank, the car would have burned up completely. The fuel pump failure was found by my mechanic, and when I called Subaru to let them know that this occurred and that I felt unsafe, they said, well parts fail, your car has lots of miles on it and is fairly old, we can't do anything for you unless a recall is issued. I was driving and pulled up to get on to a highway (55MPH) and in construction there is a stop sign. When I stopped and then tried to pull out, my 2010 Subaru Forester died immediately. No gas pressure, no nothing. All the lights flashed and then the car stopped. I was in the middle of a big intersection and had to direct cars around me, push the car off the highway interchange and have it towed home. There were no lights/warning or anything that came on before the car failed. Australia has recalled this specific thing for subarus there, but despite many other people having this same issue, Subaru of America is not offering to back up the safety of their cars -- even tho they are 'supposidely the safest on the road, in collision or driving'. I urge you all do recall this. I cannot imagine if we had been 10 yards further in our drive and this happened, both myself and my passenger would be dead.

NHTSA ID
11430101
Incident
Aug 20, 2021
Body & structureFuel systemOther / unspecified
Filed Nov 17, 2019

ON AUGUST 2019 I PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM AN AUTO DEALERSHIP CALLED MOTOR CAR CONCEPT IN COLONIAL DRIVE IN ORLANDO, FL. THEY SCAM ME INTO BUYING A VEHICLE THAT THEY KNEW WAS NOT GOING TO BE RUNNING OR IN GOOD CONDITIONS WITHIN 6 MONTHS. I TRIED TO HAVE THEM FIX THE CAR WITHIN A DAY OF BUYING THE VEHICLE AS THE CHECK ENGINE TURNED ON. THEY WILL GIVE ME DAYS TO COME IN AND THEN I WILL SHOW UP AND NOTHING WILL BE DONE, TURNING ME DOWN AS THEY WHERE "TO BUSY". ON NOVEMBER I WAS PUT INTO A POSITION OF VOLUNTARY DOING A REPOSSESSION AS I WAS PAYING INSURANCE AND A CAR LOAN FOR A VEHICLE THAT COULD NOT BE USED. THE WHOLE PART OF THE THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR IS MOLDY AND RUSTY AND IT NEEDS TO BE FULLY REPLACED. I WENT TO GET AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS AND THE TOTAL WAS OVER $7,000. THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME FOR $13,000. IS A COMPLETE SCAM. BELOW PLEASE FIND THE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGES OF THE VEHICLE. VIN # FOR THIS CAR IS (XXXXX) REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
11280592
Incident
Aug 5, 2019
EngineFuel system
Filed May 9, 2019

WHILE DRIVING, "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT, CRUISE LIGHT & TRACTION LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. DEALER SAID CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR DONE & DEALER SAID, "IF IT DOESN'T 'TAKE,' WE'LL KNOW SOON." THREE WEEKS LATER, SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS REPAIR IS ON TOP OF A MAJOR GASKET REPLACEMENT DONE JUST A FEW MONTHS EARLIER BECAUSE THE GASKETS WERE LEAKING. CAR HAS ABOUT 115,000 MILES & HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY.

NHTSA ID
11206422
Incident
Apr 22, 2019
Mileage
115,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 15, 2019

ON ROUTINE OIL VISIT CHANGE, DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING SLIGHTLY BUT DIDN'T NEED IMMEDIATE REPAIR. I HAD NOTICED NO SYMPTOMS. ON NEXT VISIT FOR AN UNRELATED PROBLEM, WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPAIR AT A COST OF MORE THAN $2,000. A QUICK ONLINE SEARCH CONFIRMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG FORESTER OWNERS. I LET THE DEALER MAKE THE REPAIR BUT COMPLAINED TO SUBARU CORPORATE, WHICH WROTE OFF SOME OF THE COST BUT STILL COST ME HUNDREDS TO FIX.

NHTSA ID
11196457
Incident
Dec 6, 2018
Mileage
107,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 16, 2018

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR STARTS TO JERK AND HESITATE ALOT WHEN ACCELERATING HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY WHICH CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON SO THEN YOU TAKE IT GET IT PLUGGED IN ON LITTLE MACHINE TELLS YOU SOMETHING SO YOU FIX THAT ISSUE THINKING IT'S ALL BETTER BUT NOPE STILL CONTINUES TO HAPPEN MIGHT BE GOOD FOR A FEW WEEKS TO A MONTH BUT ALWAYS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GO UP HILLS OR ANYTHING BECAUSE THERE IS BARELY ANY ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ID
11151932
Incident
Nov 15, 2018
Mileage
184,320 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 11, 2017

WE NOTICED GAS LEAKING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUBARU AND WE WERE TOLD THE GAS TANK IS ROTTING AWAY AND THERE IS A HOLE AT THE SEAM OF THE TANK. VEHICLE IS 7 YEARS OLD WITH 67,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT OR FLOOD DAMAGED AND WE ARE THE ORGINAL OWNER'S.

NHTSA ID
11014623
Incident
Aug 7, 2017
Mileage
67,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 12, 2017

THE FUEL TANK DOOR JAMS AND REFUSES TO OPEN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS. I HAD TO ASK A GAS STATION ATTENDANT TO OPEN IT AND HE HAD TO USE A SCREWDRIVER. TOOK CAR TO DEALER ON MAY 3RD. DID NOT FIX IT. I READ ONLINE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS. I CALLED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND SHE SAID THAT SHE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING.. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL .

NHTSA ID
10985412
Incident
Jan 8, 2017
Mileage
30,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Jan 4, 2017

HELLO- I AM EXPERIENCING CONTINUED ISSUES AFTER RECALL: 16V-738. I BEGAN ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2016. THE ISSUE IMPACTS THE SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS CA SMOG. I HAVE TO HAVE A PASSING SMOG TO RENEW MY CA REGISTRATION. I FAILED SMOG AND SENT THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC PERFORMED DIAGNOSIS AND DETERMINED STORED P2441 AND P2443 CODES (SECONDARY AIR VALVES OPEN). AROUND THE SAME TIME, OCTOBER 2016, SUBARU RELEASED RECALL: 16V-738. THIS ADDRESSES A SINGLE RELAY IN THE SECONDARY AIR SERIES. I PROCEEDED TO SCHEDULE AND TAKE MY VEHICLE INTO RANCHO GRANDE SUBARU IN SAN LUIS OBISPO. I ALSO OPENED A CLAIM WITH SUBARU CORPORATE CUSTOMER SUPPORT SR #:1-19856672948). SUBARU BEGAN WORKING ON MY VEHICLE MID OCTOBER 2016 AND PLACED ME IN A RENTAL SUV. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COMMUNICATION FROM SUBARU, SO I FOLLOWED UP. THE TECH INFORMED ME THE VEHICLE IS READY TO BE PICKED UP MID NOVEMBER. I VISITED, PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, DROVE IT 3 MILES AND HEARD A LOUD SCREECH FROM THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE, INFORMED THE TECH AND HE RUDELY RESPONDED "WAS THAT NOISE HAPPENING WHEN YOU DROPPED IT OFF". NO, I RESPONDED AND THEY RESISTED PLACING ME IN A RENTAL FOR ANOTHER 3 WEEKS. LATE DECEMBER, I FOLLOWED UP ONCE AGAIN DUE TO LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND THE VEHICLE WAS READY 3 DAYS LATER. I DROVE THE VEHICLE 200 MILES AND NOW THE SAME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS FLASHING AND VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATED. I CHECKED THE CODES AND THE SAME CODES REMAIN. I FEEL THE SCOPE OF COMPONENTS REQUIRES ALL COMPONENTS IN THE SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED. THE FAULTY RELAY WAS ON THE ON POSITION AND HAS EXHAUSTED ALL THE COMPONENTS IN THE SERIES. THIS IS A NATION WIDE ISSUE DO HTTP://WWW.SUBARUFORESTER.ORG/VBULLETIN/F87/SECONDARY-AIR-VALVES-P2443-P2441-63347/. T

NHTSA ID
10939754
Incident
Jan 2, 2017
Mileage
17,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 23, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING IN THE GARAGE, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,516.

NHTSA ID
10690023
Incident
Feb 23, 2015
Mileage
124,516 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 13, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, A FUEL SMELL EMITTED. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT A RODENT CRAWLED INTO THE VEHICLE AND ATE THE GAS LINE AND THE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT RESPOND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID
10498062
Incident
Feb 8, 2013
Mileage
55,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 24, 2011

FUEL TANK DESIGN OF SUBARU FORESTER ALLOWS RODENTS TO CONSTRUCT NESTS ATOP THE TANK AND CHEW THROUGH PLASTIC FUEL LINES. LEAKING FUEL MAY PRODUCE EXPLOSIVE VAPOR ATMOSPHERES IN CLOSED GARAGES, WHICH COULD IGNITE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10408816
Incident
Jun 24, 2011
Mileage
10,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Dec 13, 2010
Crash reported

THE VEHICLE IS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL TO BACK UP, THE CAR ACCELERATED AS IF THE ACCELERATOR HAD BEEN FLOORED. THE CAR SHOT UP A SNOW BANK AND RESTED ON A GUARD RAIL STILL RUNNING FAST. THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE WINTER MAT THAT CAME WITH THE CAR WAS ON THE LOWER PART OF THE ACCELERATOR. WE DO NOT KNOW IF THE MAT CAUSED THE RAPID ACCELERATION OR THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE CAR. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN A BUSY PARKING LOT SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE MAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CAR. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE UNDER SIDE OF THE CAR AND FENDER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10370392
Incident
Dec 10, 2010
Mileage
15,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 6, 2010

WHEN I START MY 2010 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5L NON-TURBO IN THE MORNING, THERE IS A DISTINCT SMELL OF GAS. IT ONLY HAPPENS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING OVERNIGHT. I CALLED THE DEALER TO ASK ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE ASKING ABOUT IT. HE SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER WHICH AFFECTED THE METAL FUEL LINE TO ALLOW A SMALL AMOUNT OF VAPOR TO BE RELEASED, AND I SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT UNLESS IT GETS WORSE THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE MORE I REALIZED THAT I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT IN ANY OTHER CAR I HAD OWNED, EXCEPT WHEN THERE WAS SOME LEAK IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. HAVE YOU HAD ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM SUBARU OWNERS? IF SO, WHAT WAS THE SOLUTION RECOMMENDED TO THEM? *CN

NHTSA ID
10306874
Incident
Nov 15, 2009
Mileage
3,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .