10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 68,327 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Left front of drivers seat collapsed while driving 60mph on freeway. This caused a surprise that could have resulted in an accident. This has been reported numerous times as can be referenced here: [XXX] and appears it will be an expensive replacement at my cost for a known issue. This should be considered a major safety issue and deserving of a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Converse, TX, USA
My 2010 Subaru Forester's driver seat does not raise up on with the power buttons. I can hear the motor but the front of the seat will not move. Last week, the right side was not moving and now both sides are not. I can physically move the front half of the seat up and down. I can see that the welds on the front arms are off of the frame of the seat rails. If I was in a collision, the whole seat might come off if it is not secured and my safety would be compromised. I called Subaru of America and received a case number. I also plan on taking the car into dealer for an inspection. No warning lights appeared. When I move the seats with the buttons, I sometimes hear a grinding noise. This collapsing seat issue with 2010 Foresters has been found on internet sites. The car was not involved in an accident and I am the primary driver and weigh under 160 lbs.
- Chicago, IL, USA
The weld on the left side of the seat broken causing the seat cushion to be loose. After quick internet searching, this seems to a be a somewhat common occurrence. I weight 170 Lbs and the car has 140K miles. This issue makes it lean far left causing an unsafe seating position and does not allow for adjustment of the seat up and down.
- Dallas, GA, USA
Power adjustment of Driver's seat front left corner does not raise in synch with right side. This causes the seat to be uneven, resulting in an unsafe driving position. Apparently the weld of the adjustment arm breaking is a well known and documented issue based on even a cursory internet search.
- Tenafly, NJ, USA
The left side of drivers seat collapsed. Upon inspection, the metal tab that was spot welded to the seat frame failed. The metal tab connects the left front of the seat to the power seat motor components and rail. The power seat no longer works and the seat sags noticeably to the front left. This failure occurred during normal driving conditions, and is typically not overloaded (the primary driver weighs approximately 105lbs). The car has low mileage - 65,380 miles at last service in August.
- Englewood, CO, USA
Front left driver seat bracket collapsed. Seat height is unable to be adjusted, requiring the front of the driver seat to only be positioned N the lowest setting. While driving idle speed in a parking lot, there was an audible pop and the seat fell. With attempts to adjust the height, only the right side would move up and down.
- West Sacramento, CA, USA
Both head gaskets are leaking. 110,000 miles driver electric seat no longer goes up/down in height
- Asheville, NC, USA
Drivers seat weld broken from the frame. Left front corner of the seat resulting in little support. Known problem why has this not been recalled? upon sitting down and resting your left leg the left front seat corner will collapse.
- Lancaster, OH, USA
Drivers seat has broken. Seems like it is an improper welding of the frame. Bottom cushion support is no longer even. It also seems that perhaps the integrity and safety of the seat is compromised. I am not the only one that has experienced this. Https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/drivers-seat-collapse.126336/page-4
- Mercer Island, WA, USA
The seat on my Forester is broken. After looking online I found this to be an extremely common issue of the welds breaking due to insufficient quality or strength. This seems like an issue Subaru should have remedied by now. Car was adult owned and driven by a small female.
- Kingsford, MI, USA
Weld broke on power seat; left side. Audible pop was heard when in motion, after having backed out of parking space and driving forward to exit parking lot.
- Columbus, OH, USA
Driver seat front right side collapsed. It's completely unsupported. Welds appear to be broken. Huge safety issue. I first noticed it a couple of weeks ago when I sat on it and it leaned to the right.
- Alexandria, VA, USA
Driver's seat front left corner bracket appears to have broken. When power seat is movers to front of seat raised, the left side sags and is unsupported; will not stay in up position when any pressure/weight is applied to seat. Unsure when this occurred, noticed it for first time 2 weeks ago. On-line reviews indicate several hundred othweer Forester owners experiencing identical problem with seat. Don't see any recall notice for this obvious safety issue from Subaru -why not?
- San Lorenzo, CA, USA
Front passenger seat -- the bottom seat cushion support collapsed. The seat is now flat.
- Lincoln City, OR, USA
Driver's seat collapsed on the front part while I was driving. Lumbar adjustment also failed.
- Volo, IL, USA
About one year ago I had the left side of my drivers seat collapse from bad welds. Now this February 2019 the right side of the same seat collapsed, there seems to be other 2010 Subaru owners with the same problem but just do nothing about it. The collapse happened while driving.
- Norwalk, CT, USA
While sitting in my garage with engine running the drivers seat gave way on the left (door) site and dropped several inches. The welding points on the bracket that lifts and lowers the seat have failed. A driver can only sit with both sides even at its lowest setting. This is a safety issue due to drivers' height. Local dealer would not even investigate without charging the labor to diagnose. I have and extended warranty but they have declined to cover the charges to fix or replace.
- Peabody, MA, USA
The driver's seat collapses on the left side when driver gets in. Based on internet seaches this is a known issue with Subaru Forester seats.
- Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
While seating in the driver seat of the parked car, I heard a noise from the seat base. I went back out of the car to check the seat, and looking underneath, I saw a two-inch piece of metal hanging, attached to a rod at the front of the seat base. The seat cushion was no longer attached to the seat base and moved up when lifted. I went to the dealership to have it checked and they said the seat frame and the rail are broken and the seat base and rails need replacing. The car has less than 50K miles and drivers are under 200lbs. It looks like welds gave out, disconnecting the seat base from the frame.
- Vienna, VA, USA
- Salt Lake City, UT, USA