Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Subaru Forester
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).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$6,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Subaru Forester has significant recalls related to airbag inflator modules and seat belts, which are crucial safety components. However, complaint levels are moderate, with most issues relating to airbags and engine problems. The overall reliability is average, given the balance between safety recalls and mechanical complaints.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbag inflator | 50,000–100,000 miles | $300–$600 | common |
| ignition switch | 60,000–90,000 miles | $150–$350 | common |
| brake lines | 70,000–100,000 miles | $200–$500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 3,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change at 60,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 45,000 miles
- Inspect belts and hoses annually
- Rotate and balance tires every 6,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Frequent airbag warning lights
- Difficulties starting with key ignition
- Noise or wear in brake system
- Engine overheating or coolant leaks
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Subaru Forester at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.