Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2009 Subaru Forester
The 2009 Subaru Forester is a capable used car, but it has some recalls related to seat belts, airbags, and the electrical system. Potential buyers should pay special attention to these areas due to multiple complaints. Regular maintenance and recall repairs are crucial for ensuring safety and reliability.
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Subaru Forester has 18 NHTSA recall campaigns and 178 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #22V838000 Seat Belt Assembly Malfunction NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V003000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V297000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V014000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V013000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V012000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V026000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V014000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V738000 Power Relay may Fail Allowing Air Pump to Overheat NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V358000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V830000 Brake Line Corrosion at Four-Way Connector NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V311000 Brake Lines may Fail due to Corrosion NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V602000 Accessory Puddle Light may Short-circuit NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V099000 CENTER SEAT AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E011000 AFTERMARKET ROOF MOUNTED LOAD CARRIERS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V460000 ENGINE OIL SUPPLY PIPE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 40 complaints
- Engine 27 complaints
- Electrical System 22 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 19 complaints
- Power Train 17 complaints
- Seats 16 complaints
Of the 178 complaints on file, 19 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 178 complaints, owners report 5 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Known issues to inspect
Airbag inflator defects
How to check: Confirm recall repairs for passenger airbag inflator.
Seat belt force-limiter failure
How to check: Check recall completion for front seat belt issue.
Ignition switch failure
How to check: Inspect ignition switch operation and recall status.
Brake line corrosion
How to check: Examine brake lines for signs of rust or leaks.
Air pump relay failure
How to check: Ask about relay replacement; check function.
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Listen for unusual engine noises or hard starts.
Red flag: Persistent knocking or failure to start
- 02
First minute idling
What to check: Check dashboard for warning lights and stable idle.
Red flag: Dashboard warning lights stay on
- 03
Low-speed maneuvering
What to check: Listen for any unusual noises from suspension.
Red flag: Clunking or grinding sounds
- 04
City driving
What to check: Test brakes for responsiveness and abnormal noises.
Red flag: Soft brake pedal or grinding sounds
- 05
Highway acceleration
What to check: Evaluate smoothness of acceleration and gear shifts.
Red flag: Hesitation or rough shifting
- 06
Cruising at speed
What to check: Verify steering alignment and absence of vibrations.
Red flag: Pulls to one side or vibrations
- 07
Hard braking
What to check: Ensure vehicle stops in straight line without skidding.
Red flag: Pulls to one side or unusual noises
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Has the airbag recall been addressed?
- Have the seat belts been repaired under recall?
- Is there a record of ignition switch service?
- Are all brake line recalls completed?
- Has the secondary air pump relay been replaced?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- Complete maintenance records
- Recall repair documentation
- Accident history report
- Title and registration papers
- Warranty records, if available
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Subaru Forester at the time. AI output can be wrong; confirm anything you find with a mechanic.
Next step
Looking at a specific 2009 Subaru Forester? Check the actual car
This checklist covers the model. From your free try.vin dashboard you can go further — paste the seller's listing for a deal score, or drop their photos for an AI condition report.