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Model Year Problem Record

Subaru Forester 2011 - Problems, Recalls, and Investigations

The complete public record for the 2011 Subaru Forester: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.

147Distinct owner complaintsSource: NHTSA Complaints
16Recall campaignsSource: NHTSA Recalls
0Defect investigationsSource: NHTSA Investigations
48Complaints reporting a crash or fireOwner Reports, Unverified

Complaints by System

Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.

Did a Recall Cover It?

The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.

Engine67 complaints

67 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Air Bags29 complaints

29 complaints; 9 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 16V358000, 17V014000, 18V012000, 19V007000, 19V008000, 19V009000, 20V001000, 20V002000, 20V003000.

Brakes20 complaints

20 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 14V311000, 14V830000.

Vehicle Speed Control13 complaints

13 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Unknown Or Other12 complaints

12 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Electrical System11 complaints

11 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 16V738000, 19V297000.

Power Train8 complaints

8 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Structure8 complaints

8 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seat Belts7 complaints

7 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 12V099000, 22V838000.

Seats5 complaints

5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Fuel and Propulsion System5 complaints

5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Lighting4 complaints

4 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 12V602000.

Visibility3 complaints

3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Latches, Locks and Linkages1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Driver Assistance and Stability Systems1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Steering1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Recall Campaigns

Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.

12V099000Reported March 13, 2012 - 326,014 vehicles potentially affected

Seat Belts. Recall covering the seat belts system, reported to NHTSA on March 13, 2012. The campaign covers an estimated 326,014 vehicles across all affected models.

12V602000Reported December 26, 2012 - 633,842 vehicles potentially affected

Lighting. Recall covering the lighting system, reported to NHTSA on December 26, 2012. The campaign covers an estimated 633,842 vehicles across all affected models.

14V311000Reported June 10, 2014 - 461,338 vehicles potentially affected

Brakes. Recall covering the brakes system, reported to NHTSA on June 10, 2014. The campaign covers an estimated 461,338 vehicles across all affected models.

14V830000Reported December 31, 2014 - 200,064 vehicles potentially affected

Brakes. Recall covering the brakes system, reported to NHTSA on December 31, 2014. The campaign covers an estimated 200,064 vehicles across all affected models.

16V358000Reported May 25, 2016 - 302,127 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on May 25, 2016. The campaign covers an estimated 302,127 vehicles across all affected models.

16V738000Reported October 13, 2016 - 100,127 vehicles potentially affected

Electrical System. Recall covering the electrical system system, reported to NHTSA on October 13, 2016. The campaign covers an estimated 100,127 vehicles across all affected models.

17V014000Reported January 10, 2017 - 53,480 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 10, 2017. The campaign covers an estimated 53,480 vehicles across all affected models.

18V012000Reported January 9, 2018 - 64,179 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 9, 2018. The campaign covers an estimated 64,179 vehicles across all affected models.

19V007000Reported January 9, 2019 - 43,394 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 9, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 43,394 vehicles across all affected models.

19V008000Reported January 9, 2019 - 330,120 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 9, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 330,120 vehicles across all affected models.

19V009000Reported January 9, 2019 - 452,630 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 9, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 452,630 vehicles across all affected models.

19V297000Reported April 11, 2019 - 511 vehicles potentially affected

Electrical System. Recall covering the electrical system system, reported to NHTSA on April 11, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 511 vehicles across all affected models.

20V001000Reported January 2, 2020 - 258,813 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 2, 2020. The campaign covers an estimated 258,813 vehicles across all affected models.

20V002000Reported January 2, 2020 - 127,547 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 2, 2020. The campaign covers an estimated 127,547 vehicles across all affected models.

20V003000Reported January 2, 2020 - 111,562 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 2, 2020. The campaign covers an estimated 111,562 vehicles across all affected models.

22V838000Reported November 10, 2022 - 16 vehicles potentially affected

Seat Belts. Recall covering the seat belts system, reported to NHTSA on November 10, 2022. The campaign covers an estimated 16 vehicles across all affected models.

Complaints by Year Received

When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.

20116
20125
20138
201418
201511
201616
201712
201815
201924
202011
20217
20225
20236
20242
20251
How to Read These Counts: complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not failure rates. Older and higher-volume vehicles accumulate more reports, and counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold - no per-sales rate or reliability ranking is shown, because the public data does not support one.

Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.