Sudden acceleration from full stop. The vehicle had exhibited sudden acceleration 3 weeks prior but the dealer did not find any problem. From a full stop, the vehicle was placed into reverse at which time the engine revved to full throttle, overriding the brakes, resulting in the vehicle backing uncontrollably and stopping on top of a boulder with the back wheels off the ground approximately 4…
2010 Subaru Forester cruise control problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
8crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 18 cruise control complaints filed for the 2010 Subaru Forester, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The core complaint across these 18 narratives is sudden unintended acceleration, especially when shifting into reverse for parking. Owners describe the engine revving to full throttle despite light or no pedal input, with brakes initially ineffective. One owner backed slowly at 2–3 mph into a parking space; the car accelerated to 20–35 mph, jumped a curb, and hit a parked vehicle. Another put the car in reverse to park near home; it lurched backward uncontrollably and hit the house, concussing a family member. A third experienced the same event twice—son and daughter both had similar incidents in reverse.
Multiple crashes resulted: into parked vehicles ($12,000+ damage in one case), hedges, curbs, a pickup truck, a residential home, a person at church who required ER evaluation. One owner took a high-speed unintended acceleration incident through an intersection and two backyards before snow stopped the car.
Owners ruled out floor mats. One noted sudden acceleration began immediately after a dealer ECM recall adjustment. Most dealers have been unable to duplicate the problem across multiple visits. One report mentions cruise control at 60 mph suddenly accelerating uncontrollably. Another describes intermittent low-speed acceleration and independent gear shifting that defied dealer diagnosis after five attempts. No repair notes from dealers are provided—problems remain unresolved.
Same Subaru Forester cruise control reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden Unintended Acceleration (Reverse and Drive)
Vehicle accelerates to full throttle when placed in reverse or drive without driver input, or with minimal pedal pressure. Occurs at parking speeds and low-speed maneuvers. Brakes either fail to respond initially or are eventually able to stop the vehicle, but only after significant distance traveled or impact.
When: Mostly at low speeds during parking or slow reversing; mileage ranges from 50 to 140,000 miles; incidents reported early in vehicle ownership (2010-2011)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to full throttle when shifting into reverse or drive; Brake pedal pressure ineffective at stopping vehicle initially; Vehicle travels uncontrollably despite foot off accelerator; Floor mats ruled out as cause in multiple reports; Incidents occur even with light pedal pressure or no pedal pressure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to duplicate problem in most cases; no repairs completed; one owner noted sudden acceleration began after ECM recall adjustment
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner mentioned speaking with manufacturer awaiting response; recall 16V-738 addressed secondary air system relay (separate from this issue); most owners reported no manufacturer notification or response
Sudden Acceleration While Cruise Control Active
While driving at highway speed with cruise control engaged, vehicle rapidly increases speed and fails to slow down on its own. Driver must disengage cruise and apply emergency brake or turn off ignition to regain control.
When: At 60 mph with cruise control engaged; mileage 38,000
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid increase in speed with cruise control on; Vehicle fails to decelerate when cruise is disengaged; Driver must use emergency brake and/or kill ignition to stop vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate problem; vehicle not repaired
Intermittent Acceleration and Gear-Shifting Issues at Low Speed
Vehicle abnormally accelerates and independently shifts gears while driving at low speeds (35 mph or less). Problem is intermittent and dealer cannot reproduce it despite multiple visits.
When: Low speed driving; failure began around 6,000 miles; current mileage 15,000
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal acceleration at low speeds (35 mph or less); Vehicle independently shifting gears; Intermittent occurrence making diagnosis difficult
Repairs/costs cited: Taken to authorized dealer five times; problem could not be duplicated or located
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner spoke with manufacturer awaiting response for assistance request
Engine RPM Increase Without Vehicle Acceleration
Engine RPMs increase but vehicle fails to accelerate. Reported at extremely low mileage (50 miles).
When: At 50 miles mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Engine RPMs increased without corresponding vehicle acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failure
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Sudden acceleration incident. Parked at the county recycling center, when placed into drive (full brake pressure required to shift out of park), the engine accelerated to maximum power causing the car to drive away uncontrollably and overriding the previously applied brake. Immediately shifting to neutral, the car was brought under control and then functioned normally. Driver and passenger were…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2010 Subaru Forester?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2010 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 17,000 and 72,000 miles, with the median around 41,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 17,000; a quarter make it past 72,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Subaru/Forester.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.