What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2012 Subaru Forester

No clear pattern

13.1% of complaints about the 2012 Subaru Forester arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2012 vehicle, but with only 137 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is engine (27 complaints), typically at 7.6 yr or about 86,000 miles.

Complaints
137
Median age at failure
5.3 yr
Median mileage
48,000 n=86
Crash / fire / tow
23.4% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
27 reports · 86,000 mi
7.6 yr
11.1%
Air bags
20 reports · 40,000 mi
5.9 yr
15%
Speed control
18 reports · 29,600 mi
2.6 yr
61.1%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

22V838000 2022-11-10
Seat belts

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.

The seat belt assembly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

20V001000 2020-01-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same de

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

20V002000 2020-01-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

20V003000 2020-01-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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 us

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V297000 2019-04-11
Electrical system:ignition:switch

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

19V008000 2019-01-09
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or rep

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V007000 2019-01-09
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating de

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V009000 2019-01-09
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipm

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

18V012000 2018-01-09
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

17V014000 2017-01-10
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original e

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

In owners’ own words

Speed control 1,600 mi 3 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN ROUTE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KICKED ON AND PROCEEDED TO FLASH WHILE THE STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON DISABLING THE TRACTION CONTROL. THIS LASTED APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS, ALL LIGHTS KICKED OFF AND SEEMED OKAY. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY NOW THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON AND FLASHING, CHECK ENGINE WAS SOLID AND STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON. AT THAT TIME ALL THE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL THE CODES ARE CLEARED, UNTIL THAT IS DONE, STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK. *TR
Speed control 5,325 mi 8 mo in service
AFTER SHARP ACCELERATION THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. NO OTHER ISSUES NOTED. TWO MONTHS LATER WITH 7500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THE SAME THING OCCURRED BUT THIS TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE STABILIZATION LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL. CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK AND I ASSUME THE STABILIZATION DIDN'T EITHER.
Speed control 3,000 mi 1.1 yr in service crash / fire / tow
WHILE PASSING A PARKED DUMPSTER, THE DRIVER STEPPED LIGHTLY ON THE GAS. INSTEAD OF THE EXPECTED MILD ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE REVVED GREATLY AND AN UNEXPECTED HIGH ACCELERATION OCCURRED. IT RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT. *TR
Engine 8,650 mi 1.8 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD INDEPENDENTLY DISABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING ACCORDING TO STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,650 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,626. UPDATED 10/17/13*LJ

Other Forester model years

2025202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200620052004200320022001200019991998

How to read this