Is Structure & Body a common complaint for the 2010 Subaru Forester?

Yes. It is the single largest complaint category for this model year, making up 81 of 262 total complaints, or 31%, well above other Forester model years.

Is there a recall for the 2010 Subaru Forester's seats or body?

NHTSA lists no recalls tied specifically to the Structure & Body complaints for this model year, though one owner said a separate seat belt recall repair did not fix a related seat support issue.

At what mileage do these structure and body problems usually show up?

The median mileage at failure across these complaints is 78,569.5 miles.

What exactly goes wrong with the seats?

Owners most often report the driver's seat cushion collapsing or sagging on the left side, sometimes with an audible pop, along with reports of pain from the seat shape.

Were there any crashes or injuries linked to these complaints?

NHTSA records 0 crashes and 0 injuries among these complaints, though 2 fire reports are included in the data.

2010 Subaru Forester Structure & Body Problems

Structure & Body complaints account for 81 of 262 total complaints on the 2010 Subaru Forester, or 31%, the highest share of any Forester model year. No related recalls are listed for this component, and the median mileage at failure was 78,569.5 miles.

Structure & Body complaints: 81; 31% of 262 complaints
All complaints this year: 262
Crashes reported: 0
Fires reported: 2
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 78,570 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

Driver's seat cushion collapses or sags on the left side, sometimes after an audible pop or crack, leaving the seat tilted while driving.
Owners describe the seat frame or welds failing, with one report of the seat support collapsing while underway.
Some drivers say the seat shape causes ongoing back, hip, ankle, or foot pain and numbness during normal driving.
Clear-coat paint on the hood and roof develops holes or bubbling that dealers attributed to bird droppings and declined to cover under warranty.
One owner reported that a seat belt-related recall repair (NHTSA campaign 12V099000) did not stop support boxes attached to the seatbelts from popping out of the back seats.

When 2010 Subaru Forester body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 8, 2010, latest Oct 24, 2023.

81 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q4 to 2023 Q4; peak 2016 Q1 (6).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2010 Subaru Forester

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Structure & Body complaints by Forester model year

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

20054 (4%)
20069 (10%)
20074 (5%)
20084 (8%)
200919 (11%)
201081 (31%)
201113 (9%)
20126 (6%)
20134 (5%)
201442 (10%)
201543 (7%)
201634 (8%)
201749 (8%)
201844 (9%)
201929 (3%)
202020 (3%)
20214 (2%)
20223 (3%)
20236 (8%)
20242 (7%)
20253 (3%)

Frequently asked questions

Is Structure & Body a common complaint for the 2010 Subaru Forester?: Yes. It is the single largest complaint category for this model year, making up 81 of 262 total complaints, or 31%, well above other Forester model years.
Is there a recall for the 2010 Subaru Forester's seats or body?: NHTSA lists no recalls tied specifically to the Structure & Body complaints for this model year, though one owner said a separate seat belt recall repair did not fix a related seat support issue.
At what mileage do these structure and body problems usually show up?: The median mileage at failure across these complaints is 78,569.5 miles.
What exactly goes wrong with the seats?: Owners most often report the driver's seat cushion collapsing or sagging on the left side, sometimes with an audible pop, along with reports of pain from the seat shape.
Were there any crashes or injuries linked to these complaints?: NHTSA records 0 crashes and 0 injuries among these complaints, though 2 fire reports are included in the data.