2009 Subaru FORESTER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
178 owner complaints analyzed
17 distinct recall campaigns
57,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 121 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 178 complaints (21.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 15.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 7.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 3.9% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.8% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 39 |
| Engine | 27 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
| Seats | 15 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
Air Bags: 39; Engine: 27; Electrical System: 22; Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Seats: 15; Power Train: 11; Service Brakes: 11; Unknown Or Other: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 9
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 57 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 29 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2008: 3; 2009: 15; 2010: 13; 2011: 3; 2012: 10; 2013: 18; 2014: 15; 2015: 13; 2016: 18; 2017: 29; 2018: 17; 2019: 8; 2020: 5; 2021: 5; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10258195 · 2009-02-10 (February 10, 2009)
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 DOWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274421 · 2009-06-20 (June 20, 2009)
VEHICLE: 2009 SUBARU FORESTER LIMITED, ON 6/20/09 I EXPERIENCED AN INCIDENT OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. BEFORE OUR EXIT I CANCELED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT LEFT IT "ON". ON THE RAMP, I LET THE CAR SLOW. AT ABOUT 40 MPH I MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER INTO 'SPORT' MODE, DOWNSHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR, THEN 2ND, THEN BRAKED TO A STOP. THE CAR WAS STOPPED, IN GEAR, IDLING. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE RACED AND THE CAR JOLTED FORWARD ABOUT A FOOT; IT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED BUT I INCREASED PRESSURE…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,064 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10228730 · 2008-05-23 (May 23, 2008)
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 TO REMEDY THE ISSUE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER HAS NOT FOLLOWED UP WITH THE CONTACT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2200 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/30/08.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340035 · 2010-06-23 (June 23, 2010)
2009 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS REMOTE STARTED AN WITHIN SECONDS, THE WIRE HARNESS BURNT, MELTING SOME PLASTIC PARTS *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS GOING TO THE SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS AND OTHER COMPONENTS HAD BURNED OUT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,411 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10564037 · 2014-02-12 (February 12, 2014)
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE, NOTICED SIDE LIGHTS WERE ON, CAR WAS NOT ON. AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE NOTICED A SMELL OF BURNED PLASTIC. TRIED MULTIPLE WAYS TO SHUT OFF THE SIDE LIGHTS, COULDN'T DO IT. FINALLY TRACED THE SMELL OF THE BURNING PLASTIC TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, BY THE LIFT GATE, BY THE SPARE TIRE. THE ELECTRICAL CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE VEHICLE TO THE TRAILER HITCH WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNING AND SMOKING. DISCONNECTED IT AND THE POWER FAILURE STOPPED, BY THEN THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED AND WIRES BURNT. TOOK PHOTOS OF THE WI…
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10317585 · 2010-03-10 (March 10, 2010)
2009 SUBARU FORESTER BAD EXPERIENCE ENGINE STALL*CW WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE GARAGE FLOOR WAS FILLED WITH OIL, WHICH WAS DRIPPING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. HOWEVER, ON NOVEMBER 29TH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. IT STARTED MAKING ODD SOUNDS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND JUST WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENGINE WAS DEAD. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. UPON DIAGNOSES, THE DEALER STATED A PART NEAR THE ENGINE WAS NOT WORKING, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10317585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10660313 · 2014-11-23 (November 23, 2014)
I HAVE A SUBARU 2009 THAT I BOUGHT LAST YEAY WITH AROUND 25000 MILES UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY . VIN [XXX] . AND THIS AS HAPPENED TE TIMES SO FAR . WHILE DRIVING OR JUST STARTING OF THE CAR SHAKES VERY HARD , AND THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON THE CHECK ENGINE AD CRUISE CONTROL AND AS THE CAR TRIES TO SHIFT THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES . THEN AS YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT LOSES POWER ALMOST AS IF IT IS STALLING OUT . IT DID THIS TO ME ON INTERSTATE 85 AT 65 MPH AND I BARELY MISSED A TRUCK. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER SHIP TWICE AND TAKE…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,312 miles reported. Look up ODI 10660313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10311193 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)
THE TIRE WELLS OF MY 2009 SUBARU FORRESTER FILL WITH SNOW AND ICE TO THE POINT THAT THE STEERING IS AFFECTED- IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE SAME AREA FOR MANY YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS WITH A VEHICLE (PREVIOUSLY I HAVE DRIVEN AN ALTIMA, JETTA, CIVIC AND CELICA) AND THE PREVIOUS VEHICLES HAVE NOT BEEN ADVERTISED AS 'SNOW CONDITION' VEHICLES. I DRIVE IN PLOWED LANES (NOT IN THE MESS) AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS LACK OF CONTROL WHEN THE WEATHER GETS A LITTLE NASTY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450265 · 2012-03-05 (March 5, 2012)
STOPPED TO FILL UP CAR WITH GAS ON WAY TO WORK AND WHEN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE I HEARD A REAL LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. AS I PULLED AWAY THE CAR WAS VERY SLUGGISH AND THE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE STARTED GETTING LOUDER. I WENT TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE CAR DIED AND I NARROWLY MISSED HITTING A BALTIMORE CITY WORK TRUCK AS THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE NON RESPONSIVE BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAD CUT OFF. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT CRASH INTO THE WORK TRUCK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO VALLEY MOTORS SUBARU IN COCKEYSVILLE AND TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10925335 · 2016-11-10 (November 10, 2016)
GAS TANK CORRODED AND IS LEAKING GASOLINE. CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD, IS REGULARLY WASHED AND STORED IN A GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE. CAR IS 9 YEARS OLD AND HAS 105,000 MILES ON IT. ALTHOUGH OUT OF WARRANTY, SERIOUSNESS OF LEAKING GASOLINE WARRANTS A LOOK AT THESE TANKS, ARE THEY PROPERLY "RUST PROOFED"? TANK HANDS DOWN UNDER CAR, REAR SEAT AREA AND IS EXPOSED TO ROAD SALTS, WATER AND MUD.
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10925335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11504933 · 2023-02-01 (February 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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11504933 at NHTSA ↗