Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD

2010 Subaru ForesterRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 17 safety recalls and 262 owner complaints for the 2010 Subaru Forester. Most complaints involve seats (76) and air bags (42). The EPA rates it 21–22 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
21–22mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
17campaigns
Latest Nov 2022
Owner complaints
262
Top: seats
Fuel cost / yr
$2,750est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

17 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Seat belts

Free remedy

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.

Seat beltsReported Nov 10, 2022NHTSA 22V838000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V003000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." 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.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V002000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

262 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jul 2009 – Apr 2026
  1. Seats76
  2. Air bags42
  3. Engine34
  4. Service brakes28
  5. Vehicle speed control24
  6. Electrical system13
  7. Fuel/propulsion system10
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic10
  9. Power train7

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Forester model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1998101
1999134
200075
2001142
200292
2003191
2004219
200593
200688
200774
200850
2009178
2010262
2011147
2012106
201378
2014403
2015616
2016416
2017592
2018498
2019834
2020603
2021214
2022100
202374
202431
2025100
202634
Crashes reported
21
Fires reported
6
Injuries reported
9
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Seats

76 reports1 fire
“The bracket on the front right side of the drivers seat (if you're looking at the seat from the sunroof) that connects the seat (where you sit) to the seat frame (which moves the seat forward and back) has separated from the seat frame. The two tack welds have failed so the seat can move freely up and down on the right side of the seat. This issue seems to particularly affect the 2010 model year Subaru Forester as documented by the forum thread: [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2023SeatsODI 11551717

Air bags

42 reports4 crashes
“On 5/24/2023 while driving with a front passenger, the passenger seat belt warning light, chime and airbag warning came on for no reason. Stopped the car at a red traffic light and turned ignition off and then on to hopefully clear the warning. There was no power to any system. The ignition switch did not work and I could not get the transmission out of park to push the car off the road. Could not activated anything on the dash including the hazard warning. Being in a single lane road, traffic was traveling around us on both sides. We could have been rear ended. I opened the driver's door and all power to the dash came back. It took 4 attempts to start before the engine started. All settings and radio had to be reprogrammed. Stopped at the dealer and they ask if this was the first occurence. (It was) They said if it happened again to bring the car in. The car has been normal since.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 25, 2023Electrical system, Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11523919

Engine

34 reports2 crashes1 fire
“The engine in my 2010 Subaru Forester (VIN: [XXX] ) suffered a sudden and complete mechanical failure on November 15, 2025. While driving, the vehicle abruptly lost power without any warning lights or messages. I was able to pull off the roadway, but the loss of power posed a significant safety risk. Had this occurred in traffic or at highway speeds, it could have caused a collision. The vehicle was inspected the next business day by Wiygul Automotive. Their technicians found no measurable oil on the dipstick and added three quarts just to restart the engine. They confirmed no external oil leaks, and diagnosed the failure as a catastrophic internal oil consumption defect that had been occurring over time. This defect resulted in oil starvation and severe internal engine damage. The engine is fully available for inspection upon request. Wiygul provided a written diagnostic report confirming the cause of failure. The dealership has been notified but has not yet performed an inspection. ​No manufacturer, insurance, or law enforcement inspections have occurred to date. Importantly, the vehicle had a documented pre-purchase inspection on August 7, 2025, which noted…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 9, 2025EngineODI 11704112
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (S4) · Manual 5-spd
Drive
All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Forester AWD
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
202622$2,750404
Forester AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,750404
Forester AWD
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
192421$3,600423
  • Forester AWD
    Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    20 city · 26 hwy · $2,750/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Forester AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,750/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Forester AWD
    Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    19 city · 24 hwy · $3,600/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Subaru Forester as of Nov 11, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 11, 2026Vehicle 5490
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2010 Forester questions

How many recalls does the 2010 Subaru Forester have?

17 safety recalls as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2010 Subaru Forester problems?

Owners filed 262 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are seats (76), air bags (42), engine (34). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2010 Subaru Forester get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Subaru Forester at 21–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 11, 2026