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2011 Subaru ForesterProblems: Top Complaints, Recalls & Failures (NHTSA)

Every owner complaint and safety recall the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has on file for the 2011 Subaru Forester, ranked by the component that failed most.

Complaints on file

147

Recalls issued

16

Crashes reported

21

Fires reported

6

What breaks most

  • Engine60 complaints · 40.8%
  • Air Bags29 complaints · 19.7%
  • Service Brakes20 complaints · 13.6%
  • Vehicle Speed Control13 complaints · 8.8%
  • Electrical System11 complaints · 7.5%

Recalls on this model year

  • Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Ma

    Campaign 19V008000 · reported 09/01/2019 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, Amer

    Campaign 19V007000 · reported 09/01/2019 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mont

    Campaign 19V009000 · reported 09/01/2019 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa,

    Campaign 20V003000 · reported 02/01/2020 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbi

    Campaign 20V002000 · reported 02/01/2020 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawai

    Campaign 20V001000 · reported 02/01/2020 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • Electrical System › Ignition › Switch

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part.

    Campaign 19V297000 · reported 11/04/2019 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Ha

    Campaign 17V014000 · reported 10/01/2017 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • Electrical System

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump

    Campaign 16V738000 · reported 13/10/2016 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, Am

    Campaign 18V012000 · reported 09/01/2018 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,

    Campaign 16V358000 · reported 25/05/2016 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • 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, Michi

    Campaign 14V311000 · reported 10/06/2014 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • 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 Hampshi

    Campaign 14V830000 · reported 31/12/2014 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • 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 CO

    Campaign 12V099000 · reported 13/03/2012 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • 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 equippe

    Campaign 12V602000 · reported 26/12/2012 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • Seat Belts

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles. The front seat belt assembly force-limiter may not operate correctly in the event of a crash.

    Campaign 22V838000 · reported 10/11/2022 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

What owners report

Engine

  • Concerned over oil being burnt up at a significant rate, have to add a quart per tank of gas. Theres distinct burnt oil smell after driving. Concerned my car needs to be included in the oil consumptio
  • I have a single-owner 2011 automatic-transmission Subaru Forester [145k miles]. In a parking lot, I started the car as usual and shifted into reverse. I immediately noticed another car was approaching
  • The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment, and the vehicle began to fill with smo

Air Bags

  • I have tried to get the recall on airbag replaced to no avail, just alot of lip service and never any follow-up on repair of air bag. I am extremely ticked off that the very last current notificatio
  • I have received multiple letters to fix my Subarus air bag. It was fixed once after a long wait for parts. The second required fix is proving hard to set up. I called a Subaru fix line, waited an h
  • 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES RECEIVED FOR VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL

Service Brakes

  • I have a single-owner 2011 automatic-transmission Subaru Forester [145k miles]. In a parking lot, I started the car as usual and shifted into reverse. I immediately noticed another car was approaching
  • The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact s
  • WHILE PARKING IN A STORE'S LOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP I ENDED UP CRASHING THROUGH A FENCE AND FALLING DOWN A

Vehicle Speed Control

  • unintended sudden acceleration defects without warning without driver input. I could kill & be killed. It can happen again! I backed up a little in an angle moving away from parking. Suddenly, without
  • Driving a 2011 Subaru Forester, about 5mph in traffic on city street when car suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated at full gas and rammed into truck in front of me, with no pressure on the gas pedal.
  • THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH COLORADO, FROM CRESTED BUTTE TO TELLURIDE. I WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVE. AS THE CAR WENT UP HILLS IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT DOWN, CAUSING THE ENG

Electrical System

  • My car randomly turns off when reducing speed. It caused an accident a few days ago. I have had multiple mechanics try to figure out the problem but the only thing that comes up on the diagnostic too
  • WHEN MY HEAD LIGHTS GOT TURNED ON NONE OF MY TAILLIGHTS OR MY DASH LIGHTS CAME IN 1200 DOLLAR REPAIR. ALSO MY HEAD GASKET WENT WITH 1500 DOLLAR REPAIR WHICH SUBARU IN KNOWN FOR IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARC
  • WHILE TAKING A RIGHT TURN APPROX 10-15 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, BUT NO OTHER SYSTEMS WERE EFFECTED. THE RADIO NEVER TURNED OFF, THE CAR NEVER STUTTERED , I DIDN'T KNOW THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF UNTILL T

Excerpts are anonymized owner complaints as filed with NHTSA, trimmed to 200 characters.

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