2010 Subaru Forester Brakes Problems
NHTSA lists 39 brake-related complaints for the 2010 Subaru Forester, 15% of all complaints filed for the model year, with 5 crashes and 2 injuries reported. Two Subaru brake recalls (14V830000, 14V311000) cover overlapping model years, and the median mileage at failure was 44,105.5 miles.
- Brakes complaints
- 39
- 15% of 259
- Crashes reported
- 5
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 44,106 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Some owners describe sudden unintended acceleration or vehicle lurch when shifting into reverse from a stop, overriding the brakes and leading to a crash.
- Others report brakes suddenly failing while backing slowly at low speed, causing the vehicle to jump a curb or strike another car.
- A cluster of complaints describes premature rear brake pad and rotor wear, with rotors and pads reported as fully worn or rotted at mileages well under typical service intervals.
- Several owners say the ABS system triggers on snowy or icy roads, causing a hard pedal, wheel lockup, and loss of directional control.
- Some drivers noted no dashboard warning light or wear-indicator sound before discovering rear brakes were worn down to metal.
When 2010 Subaru Forester brake complaints were filed
First complaint Sep 30, 2010, latest Jun 16, 2022.
Brakes recalls for the 2010 Subaru Forester
- NHTSA 14V830000Dec 31, 2014Brakes200,064 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Impreza, 2008-2014 WRX and STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia that were remedied under recall 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. The brake lines may experience brake line corrosion due to salt water splashing on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector.
Risk: Brake fluid may leak due to the brake line corrosion and may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will apply an anti-corrosion wax to the four-way joint connector area of the brake line system, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQQ-52. Notes: This recall is specific to affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI customers who had their car remedied under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. Subaru has determined that this remedy was inadequate due to incomplete repair instructions provided to dealers. Affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI vehicles that were not repaired under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014 will continue to be processed under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311. Affected vehicles not currently, or formerly, registered in the salt belt states identified in this recall are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
- NHTSA 14V311000Jun 10, 2014Brakes461,338 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
Risk: Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 2014 and second notifications will run through November 2014. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-110 which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas rust-proofed.
Brakes complaints by Forester model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2010 Subaru Forester?
- NHTSA lists 39 brake-related complaints for the 2010 Forester, making up 15% of all 259 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a brake recall for the 2010 Subaru Forester?
- Yes. Two recalls affect brakes on Forester models covering the 2010 year: 14V830000, addressing corrosion at a brake connector joint, and 14V311000, which has dealers test the brake system for fluid leaks.
- At what mileage do brake problems usually show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 44,105.5 miles for brake complaints on this model year.
- Did the brake issues cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA records 5 crashes and 2 injuries linked to brake complaints on the 2010 Forester, out of 39 total brake complaints.
- How does the 2010 Forester compare to other years for brake complaints?
- The 2010 model year's 15% share of complaints tied to brakes is among the higher shares in the Forester lineup; for comparison, 2015 had 45 brake complaints but only a 7% share of that year's total.