2010 Subaru Forester reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2010 Subaru Forester — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 307
- 29 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- SEATS
- 76 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 17
- see below
- Reported harm
- 29 reported crashes · 12 injuries · 8 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,724
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+125
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2008-2012
+44
median 263 complaints in 666 records
Top component share
25%
Seats: 76 complaints
What owners report fails — 2010 Subaru Forester
- SEATS 76
- AIR BAGS 41
- ENGINE 34
- SERVICE BRAKES 28
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 24
17 recalls on record for the 2010 Subaru Forester
- NHTSA 22V838000 · 2022 · SEAT BELTS The seat belt assembly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 20V001000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 20V003000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 20V002000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 19V297000 · 2019 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air ba
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2010 Subaru Forester
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2010 Subaru Forester units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Subaru Forester reliable?
NHTSA has 307 consumer complaints on record for the 2010 Subaru Forester and 17 recalls. The most-reported problem area is seats (76 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2010 Subaru Forester units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Subaru Forester?
Owners most often report problems with: seats (76), air bags (41), engine (34), service brakes (28). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2010 Subaru Forester?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.