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#BS-2009-SUBFOR-326B

2009 Subaru Forester

Based on reports from 228 owners and 18 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
228
Crashes
25
Fires
8
Recalls
18
TSBs
208
πŸ›‘

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 228 complaints, 25 crashes, 8 fires, and 18 recalls. Complaint rate is 6.5x the class average.

Top reported problems

1

engine failure

8 complaints β€’ Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
2

head gaskets leak

6 complaints β€’ Severity 8.3/10

$X,XXX
3

gear box damaged

1 complaints β€’ Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the AirbagsHIGH

39 owners reported airbags issues β€” failures commonly reported around 60K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

38
0–30K
42
30–60K
30
60–90K
25
90–120K
10
120–150K
16
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (42 reports) β€’ Median: 60K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Airbags (39 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Airbags39 (17%)
Engine35 (15%)
Electrical22 (10%)
Speed Control19 (8%)
Brakes16 (7%)
Seats15 (7%)
Other11 (5%)
Drivetrain11 (5%)

2009 Subaru Forester: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 17% of all reports filed for the 2009 Subaru Forester, with 39 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 60,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 60K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2009 Subaru Forester, with 35 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2009 Subaru Forester, with 22 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2009 Subaru Forester, with 19 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

3
08
20
09
15
10
3
11
12
12
20
13
27
14
18
15
24
16
30
17
21
18
14
19
7
20
8
21
1
22
2
23
2
24
1
25

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2009 Subaru Forester. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind β€” know what this car costs to own

Repair costs β€’ Negotiation scripts β€’ Mechanic checklist β€’ Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (18 recalls)

08V460000Oct 2008

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SUBARU IS RECALLING 16,715 MY 2007-2008 LEGACY SEDANS AND WAGONS, MY 2008 IMPREZA SEDANS AND WAGONS, AND MY 2009 FORESTER VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE CYLINDER HEAD-SIDE OIL SUPPLY PIPE AND TURBOCHARGER-SIDE PIPE IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED.

09E011000Apr 2009

EQUIPMENT

THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BOLT(S) USED TO SECURE THE FOOT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TO A HARDNESS THAT MAY CAUSE THE BOLT(S) TO BE BRITTLE AND POTENTIALLY BREAK UNDER STRESS.

12V099000Mar 2012

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 FORESTER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 26, 2007, THROUGH MARCH 13, 2012. THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR in the SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES LOCATED IN THE REAR CENTER SEATING OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DO NOT MEET LOCKABILITY REQUIREMENTS AND FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, Β“OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.Β” SPECIFICALLY, THE ASSEMBLIES MAY NOT PERMIT PROPER INSTALLATION AND SECURE ATTACHMENT OF A CHILD RESTRAINT IN THAT SEATING POSITION.

12V602000Feb 2013

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, certain model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012, and certain model year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012. Up to 78,650 of these vehicles may have been equipped with accessory puddle lights that, when illuminated, brighten the area under the doors of the vehicle. A short circuit can develop when either the puddle light or connector are exposed to an electrolytic moisture source (such as road spray that has road salt in it) and it penetrates the circuit board of the puddle light or the pins of the puddle light connector(s).

14V311000Jul 2014

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.

+ 13 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Subaru Forester is the 2014 β€” worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2009 Subaru Forester vs. Class Average (Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD)

This vehicle

228

Class avg

35

6.5x the class average β€” significantly more complaints than typical sport utility vehicle - 4wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume β€” popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 228 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 18 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

2009 Subaru Forester: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2009 Subaru Forester?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2009 Subaru Forester is related to the airbags, with 39 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2009 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2009 Subaru Forester has 228 complaints, 25 crash reports, and 8 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 6.5x the class average β€” higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2009 Subaru Forester problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2009 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes, the 2009 Subaru Forester has 18 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Subaru Forester problems start?
Based on 161 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 60,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records β€” then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence β€” what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you β€” no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 228 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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