YearToAvoid

2010 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 58 engine complaints for the 2010 Subaru Forester, 22% of all complaints filed for that year. Most describe sudden unintended acceleration, especially while backing up, with a median failure mileage of 71,662. No related recall covers this pattern.

Engine complaints
58
22% of 259
Crashes reported
12
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
71,662 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while shifting into reverse or backing up at low speed, with the engine revving to high RPM on its own.
  • Several report the vehicle continuing to accelerate even after taking their foot off the accelerator or pressing the brake, leading to a crash into a building, curb, or another vehicle.
  • One complaint describes a burning odor and a warning light with a high gauge reading while driving around 60 mph, followed by a fire.
  • Some owners state the winter floor mat was checked and ruled out as a cause of the unexpected acceleration.
  • Multiple incidents happened while parking at very low speeds (2 to 3 mph), with the car suddenly lurching forward or backward and jumping curbs.

When 2010 Subaru Forester engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 2, 2010, latest Dec 9, 2025.

2010 Subaru Forester engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2010Feb 2011May 2014May 2015Oct 2016Apr 2018Jul 2019Aug 2021
58 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2010 to Dec 2025; peak Jul 2011 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2010 Subaru Forester

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Forester model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201058 (22%)
  2. 201179 (54%)
  3. 201246 (44%)
  4. 201333 (43%)
  5. 2014110 (27%)
  6. 2015191 (31%)
  7. 201691 (22%)
  8. 201776 (13%)
  9. 201858 (12%)
  10. 2019136 (16%)
  11. 2020105 (17%)
  12. 202142 (20%)
  13. 202218 (18%)
  14. 202310 (14%)
  15. 20242 (7%)
  16. 20258 (9%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does NHTSA have for the 2010 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA lists 58 engine complaints for the 2010 Forester, which is 22% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2010 Subaru Forester engine problems?
No. The JSON data shows no related recalls listed for this engine complaint pattern.
At what mileage do these engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 71,662 miles.
What is the most common engine complaint for the 2010 Forester?
Owners most often describe sudden unintended acceleration, particularly while backing up or parking at low speed, sometimes resulting in a crash.
Did these engine complaints result in crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to this complaint group shows 12 crashes, 2 fires, and 5 injuries.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.