2010 Subaru Forester Reliability ReportCommon Problems, Repair Costs & Expert Verdict
Quick Facts · 2010 Subaru Forester
- Has 17 NHTSA recalls on record — the most notable involves the air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module.
- Scores 8 points below the strongest nearby year — the 2008 Subaru Forester earns a 83.
- The system most likely to surface first: engine head gaskets (major severity).
Should You Buy the 2010 Subaru Forester?
The 2010 Subaru Forester offers exceptional all-wheel-drive capability and practicality for an active lifestyle, making it a tempting choice. However, the known engine weaknesses, primarily head gasket failures and excessive oil consumption, demand a cautious approach and diligent pre-purchase inspection to avoid significant repair costs.
Biggest Strengths
- Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system
- Excellent visibility and practical cargo space
- Strong safety ratings for its class
Top Risk Areas
The systems that break first on the 2010 Subaru Forester. Mileage windows, repair costs, and fix-before-you-buy notes are in the full report.
NHTSA Recalls
17 recalls on record from NHTSA. Check your VIN atnhtsa.gov to see if the repair was performed.
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, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
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, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
What breaks on the 2010 Subaru Forester?
Full reliability breakdown — engine, transmission, rust, electrical. With repair costs and mileage danger zones.
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Subaru Forester by Year
Compare KeepScores across nearby years of the Subaru Forester. Click any year for its full report.
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Similar class, similar year range — ranked by KeepScore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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