2010 Subaru Forester Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 5%of 262 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 69,733miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the electrical system of the 2010 Subaru Forester, 5% of the 262 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 69,733 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The door lock mechanism locks itself immediately after I unlock the door. I can't get my drivers side door to stay unlocked in order to close the door. Having to hold the door tight while driving is obviously not safe. I have looked online and found quite a few posts from people with the same issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11208407, filed 2019-05, 66,466 miles“The engine started knocking. Took to the dealer. Turns out I may have forgotten to change the oil for approx 14,00 miles...however....no warning light ever came on to remind me. No oil light, no engine light...nothing. Now I am facing a possible big expense in repair...waiting to hear from the shop as I type this. These warning systems are in place to avoid this situation. Had it worked properly, I would have been reminded to get the oil changed.”
NHTSA complaint #10466620, filed 2012-07, 45,700 miles“All the lights on the dash came on at once . The non skid, check engine , cruise lights wouldn't go off . I took it to the Subaru dealership and they made out like it was nothing . I took it 3 different times they ended up charging me $500 dollars and never fixed anything. In a months time they came back on. I've had them turned off several times for them to come back on in 2 days time. I just recently put it back in the garage and was told the scanner found various codes. They cleared all codes , but code p0057 kept coming back for communication between antilock brakes and ECM. …”
NHTSA complaint #10967427, filed 2017-03, 80,000 miles“After work, I got in my car and started it up. Check engine light came on, followed by traction control and tire pressure lights. This was odd because these lights had never been on before. I started to drive home--it was too late to bring the car to have it checked out. I live a minute and a half from work. The cruise control light then came on and flickered in no particular pattern. Then, about 45 seconds into my 90 second drive, the temperature gauge light came on. The weather was about 50 degrees and rainy. When I got home the engine fan was spinning really fast. I popped the hood. …”
NHTSA complaint #10780056, filed 2015-10, 85,000 miles“On 2/24/12 my brakes started to rub and squeak so I took it in to be checked. To my surprise it was my rear brakes and they had completely denigrated. The dealer couldn't explain to me why this happened so they just went ahead and replaced them under warranty. On 6/21/13 (20,000 miles later) same thing happened. Back brakes denigrated so the dealer replaced them again with no explanation. 5 days later I had the brakes inspected by firestone (still squeaking) and they informed me that the back brake pads were down to 8mm and one of the rotors had been shaved way down . …”
NHTSA complaint #10526306, filed 2013-07, 30,995 milesRelated recalls
- 19V297000Apr 11, 2019Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy…Covers: Subaru Forester 2009–2013, Legacy 2005–2014, Outback 2005–2014 +3 more
- 16V738000Oct 13, 2016Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013…Covers: Subaru Forester 2009–2013, Impreza 2008–2014, Outback 2007–2009 +1 more
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Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 25% |
| 2025 | 9 | 9% |
| 2024 | 1 | 3% |
| 2023 | 8 | 11% |
| 2022 | 11 | 11% |
| 2021 | 34 | 16% |
| 2020 | 103 | 17% |
| 2019 | 134 | 16% |
| 2018 | 71 | 14% |
| 2017 | 106 | 18% |
| 2016 | 93 | 22% |
| 2015 | 82 | 13% |
| 2014 | 42 | 10% |
| 2013 | 3 | 4% |
| 2012 | 10 | 9% |
| 2011 | 11 | 7% |
| 2010 | 13 | 5% |
| 2009 | 22 | 12% |
| 2008 | 5 | 10% |
| 2007 | 5 | 7% |
| 2006 | 7 | 8% |
| 2005 | 3 | 3% |
| 2004 | 4 | 2% |
| 2003 | 4 | 2% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 4 | 3% |
| 1998 | 6 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2010 Subaru Forester
76 complaintsAir bags
42 complaintsBrakes
37 complaintsEngine
34 complaintsVehicle speed control
24 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaintsEngine cooling
6 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2010 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology