2009 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

27Engine complaints

15.2%Of all 178 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS39 · 21.9%

ENGINE27 · 15.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22 · 12.4%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL19 · 10.7%

SEATS15 · 8.4%

Share of the 178 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Subaru Forester overview page.

What owners report

“HEAD GASKETS FAIL AROUND 100,000 MILES. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN MY CASE.”NHTSA complaint 10954066 — filed 02/12/2017

“CAR WAS SHAKING DURING ACCLERATION, STREET N HIGHWAY, ESP LOW GEARS, LESS AFTER GETTING UP TO ~50 MPH. CV BOOT LEAKING. REPLACED AXLE. CAR STILL…”NHTSA complaint 10925600 — filed 11/12/2016

“SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. UPON PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THIS IS THE SECOND…”NHTSA complaint 10872291 — filed 06/03/2016

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Subaru Forester have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2009 Subaru Forester: 27 of 178 complaints on file (15.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Subaru Forester have in total?

178 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 19 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, 5 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.