ON 12/19/2015 AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE RADIO, CIGAR LIGHTER, TEMPERATURE/TIME, AND ELECTRONIC MIRROR CONTROL WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON A SECONDARY STREET. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON THE AFOREMENTIONED ITEMS BEGAN TO FUNCTION AGAIN. FUSES WERE CHECKED AND ALL FUSES SEEM TO BE IN TACT. THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE EXTERNAL MIRRORS ARE A SAFETY CONCERN.
2009 Subaru Forester electrical problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$850
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
IGNITION DOESN'T RECOGNIZE VALET KEY, "SECURITY" LIGHT ON DASH COMES ON, KEY WON'T TURN AND CAR WON'T START. *TR
I HAVE A SUBARU 2009 THAT I BOUGHT LAST YEAY WITH AROUND 25000 MILES UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY . VIN [XXX] . AND THIS AS HAPPENED TE TIMES SO FAR . WHILE DRIVING OR JUST STARTING OF THE CAR SHAKES VERY HARD , AND THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON THE CHECK ENGINE AD CRUISE CONTROL AND AS THE CAR TRIES TO SHIFT THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES . THEN AS YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT LOSES POWER ALMOS…
I WAS GOING AROUND A CUP-DE-SAC TO STOP TO A HAVE MY PASSENGER EXIT THE CAR TO HER HOUSE, I HEARD ENGINE REV AND PUSH FORWARD INTO HER HOLLOW TILE WALL, GARDEN AND DOWN THE OTHER SIDE OF HER PROPERTY AND STOP ON THE WALL BEFORE I THOUGHT OF TURNING THE ENGINE OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, SUCH AS SOME WARNING INDICATORS, WIPERS, AND THE DEFROSTER, CEASED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD CORRECT THEMSELVES ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS MANUALLY RESTARTED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. AUTONATION SUBARU IN SPOKANE VALLEY, WA COULD NOT REPLICATE THE FAILURE. T…
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2009 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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