Problems · by component

2010 Subaru Forester service brakes problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Subaru Forester cite service brakes, 11% of all 262 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
28
11% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the rear brakes were replaced by an independent mechanic. After 6 months, the contact noticed that the brakes needed to be replaced again. The mechanic stated that the automatic braking system was not releasing the brakes as needed, and the braking system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed; however, the rear brakes were replaced again however, and the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The manufacturer suggested that the vehicle be taken to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2022Service brakesODI 11469569
“MY BRAKES FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING BECAUSE SUBARU DID NOT PROPERLY ADDRESS RECALL WQK47 ON MY CAR IN 2018 EVEN THOUGH THEY CLAIMED IT WAS COMPLETED. MY BRAKE LINES ARE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL THAT THEY IMPROPERLY ADDRESSED 2 YEARS AGO. THEY KNEW IN 2018 WHEN THEY APPLIED THE ANTI-RUST SOLUTION THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED BUT THEY DID NOT DO ANY REPAIRS. THUS, MY CAR IS CURRENTLY NON-FUNCTIONING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2020Service brakesODI 11363617
“MARCH OF 2019 A RECALL WAS PERFORMED FOR RUSTED BRAKE LINES...THIS YEAR THE BRAKES LINES SUDDENLY FAILED...APPARENTLY IF THE BRAKE LINES AREN'T LEAKING THE SUBARU FIX IS TO SPRAY SEALER OVER THE RUST. ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD WAS NO ONE INJURED AS THE CAR WAS BEING PARKED WHEN THE BRAKES LET LOOSE. AND OF COURSE SUBARU SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THE BRAKES PROPERLY FOR $1400.00. I REMOVED THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR A PROPER REPAIR! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2020Service brakesODI 11329104
“NHTSA CAMPAIGN 14V830000 AND 14V311000: SUBARU OF AMERICA RECALL(S) WERE COMPLETED IN 2014. HOWEVER, ON JANUARY 5 2020, WHILE COMING TO A STOP ON A RURAL ROAD, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR ROLLED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. NO OTHER CARS WERE PRESENT AND NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT A BRAKE PIPE HAD RUSTED AND RUPTURED NEAR THE "4 WAY JUNCTION" AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VERY JUNCTION THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED RECALLS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 7, 2020Service brakesODI 11297738
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. AFTER REVERSING FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE TO TRAVEL DOWN A HILL AT 5-10 MPH. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL FELT STIFF AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASH INTO A CURB AND TURNED COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED BACKWARDS AT A STEEP INCLINE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AWAY. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER THE REAR END CRASHED INTO A TREE. POLICE REPORT NUMBER: 31-19-031911 WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK, A BRUISED ARM, AND A FRACTURED NOSE. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD UNTIL A POLICE REPORT WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 19, 2019Steering, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11256651
“NHTSA RECALL NO 14V-830 (BRAKE LINES) AND RECALL TKC19 (PASSENGER AIR BAGS) DAVE WRIGHT SUBARU WILL NOT RETURN CALLS FOR ME TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS FOR THE BRAKE LINE RECALL”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2019Air bags, Service brakesODI 11192308

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2010 Forester problem areas