How common are engine complaints for the 2011 Subaru Forester?

Engine-related complaints make up 79 of the 147 total complaints filed for the 2011 Forester, or 54% of all complaints for that model year, the highest share among the years listed.

Is there a recall for the 2011 Subaru Forester engine problems?

NHTSA lists no related recall tied to this engine complaint category for the 2011 Forester.

At what mileage do 2011 Forester engine problems tend to show up?

The median mileage at failure among reported engine complaints is 61,735 miles, though some incidents were reported at much lower mileage.

Do the engine complaints involve crashes or fires?

Among the 79 engine complaints, NHTSA data shows 16 crashes, 4 fires, and 3 injuries linked to this complaint category.

2011 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

Engine complaints account for 79 of 147 total complaints (54%) filed for the 2011 Subaru Forester, the highest share of any model year in this data. NHTSA lists no related recall for this issue, with a median failure mileage of 61,735 miles.

Engine complaints: 79; 54% of 147
Crashes reported: 16
Fires reported: 4
Injuries reported: 3
Median mileage: 61,735 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while parking or backing up at low speed, often ending in a collision with a wall, pole, or parked vehicle.
Several drivers report the engine surging forward or backward even after pressing the brake pedal firmly.
Some incidents involved the vehicle catching fire under the hood, including one case following a crash and another after a ticking noise and illuminated oil warning light at highway speed.
One owner reported the engine stalling at highway speed after hearing a ticking noise and seeing smoke, then coasting to the shoulder.
Multiple sudden-acceleration events occurred at very low mileage, with one reported at 1,200 miles and another at 2,837 miles.

When 2011 Subaru Forester engine complaints were filed

First complaint May 11, 2011, latest Jan 8, 2025.

79 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q2 to 2025 Q1; peak 2019 Q1 (7).

Engine recalls for the 2011 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.

201058 (22%)
201179 (54%)
201246 (44%)
201333 (43%)
2014110 (27%)
2015191 (31%)
201691 (22%)
201776 (13%)
201858 (12%)
2019136 (16%)
2020105 (17%)
202142 (20%)
202218 (18%)
202310 (14%)
20242 (7%)
20258 (9%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine complaints for the 2011 Subaru Forester?: Engine-related complaints make up 79 of the 147 total complaints filed for the 2011 Forester, or 54% of all complaints for that model year, the highest share among the years listed.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Subaru Forester engine problems?: NHTSA lists no related recall tied to this engine complaint category for the 2011 Forester.
At what mileage do 2011 Forester engine problems tend to show up?: The median mileage at failure among reported engine complaints is 61,735 miles, though some incidents were reported at much lower mileage.
Do the engine complaints involve crashes or fires?: Among the 79 engine complaints, NHTSA data shows 16 crashes, 4 fires, and 3 injuries linked to this complaint category.