2009 Subaru Forester Electrical System Problems
- 20
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 20 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 3 indicate fire
What owners report
- windshield wipers · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 7 |
| 60–100k mi | 5 |
| 1–30k mi | 4 |
| 100–150k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Visibility/Wiper
The function of the radio and windshield wipers is intermittent. Upon start these devices do not appear to have electrical power and do not function. I suspect there are other items that do not work either, but i have not confirmed them. They both function properly when the engine is restarted. This has happened on 2 occasions over a 1 week period. This is a safety issue since in a rainstorm, the visibility would be…
ODI 11256759
Electrical System
3 instrument lights turn on simultaneously while driving at highway speed: abs, hill assist, vehicle dynamic control and remain lit until car is turned off. The 3 indicator lights turn on together intermittently during subsequent driving. Subaru brake light switch malfunction shows up on diagnostic check. Replaced brake light switch twice with subaru brand part. Additionally, brake light switch adjusted twice…
ODI 11102845
Electrical System
Three separate times my wiper blades would not work, which is dangerous during a downpour. I've brought the 2009 forester in for repair and the mechanic could not find the issue as it was working when i brought it in. Also the radio did not work during these times. I thought it might be a fuse, but that is not the cause. This is an intermittent problem. Now i turn the vehicle off, and restart it and it will seem to…
ODI 11033351
Electrical System · Visibility/Wiper
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. The manufacturer was…
ODI 11046380
Electrical System
My wife had been driving her 2009 subaru forester on a day with light rain. She stopped for a while, and when she got back in the car and started it up again, her windshield wipers and dashboard lights would not work. She drove it for a while, and stopped to have someone check it. After restarting the vehicle, the windshield wipers and dashboard lights were working again. This could be a dangerous situation,…
ODI 10947387
Air Bags · Electrical System · Seats
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 subaru forester. While driving 25 mph, the air bag light illuminated occasionally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger side seat bottom had a short in the ods. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.....updated 07/05/16 *bf the consumer also stated the lights…
ODI 10865598
Electrical System · Seats
The past month or so i noticed that the driver side seat heater didn't seem to feel right on my butt. The seat seemed to almost burn me in one spot. I thought it was odd, but didn't look into it further. Just this past week i noticed that only the back heater was working. While cleaning the car out today i noticed a very small burn hole in the cloth seat. I decided to remove the seat and investigate the issue since…
ODI 10838864
Electrical System
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.
ODI 10811257
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Vehicle Speed Control
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 almost as if it is…
ODI 10660313
Electrical System · Service Brakes
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
Crash reported
ODI 10658934
Electrical System · Engine
While traveling at highway speeds in rainy weather, vehicle began to misfire and lost power, forcing driver into an unsafe situation of coaxing car to shoulder. Check engine, stability control lights came on, and cruise light flashed. After shutting engine off and restarting, same lights remained on but engine ran normally. We have also another 2009 forester which experiences misfires, same lights, after starting…
ODI 10617596
Electrical System
While vehicle was parked outside, noticed side lights were on, car was not on. After entering the vehicle noticed a smell of burned plastic. Tried multiple ways to shut off the side lights, couldn't do it. Finally traced the smell of the burning plastic to the rear of the vehicle, by the lift gate, by the spare tire. The electrical cable that connects the vehicle to the trailer hitch wiring harness was burning and…
Fire reported
ODI 10564037
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 subaru forester. The contact received a recall notice several months ago but was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was notified, but could not provide a date that the parts would be available. There are no failures at this time. The vin was not available. *tr
ODI 10520855
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Compass display in rear view mirror went out, no longer displays direction. My friend has the same vehicle and his went out also. I believe this is a safety feature because it helps tell the driver what direction he's traveling when traveling in unfamiliar place. *tr
ODI 10521058
Electrical System
While driving i noticed the center dash display was dark: radio and cd changer, outside temp, ave mpg, clock. The wind shield wipers would not work. After stopping the car, turning off the ignition and restarting, everything worked ok. There has been a total of 3 additional occurrences since. Also see one similar reported case: http://www.arfc.org/complaints/2009/subaru/forester/electrical_system/problem.aspx. *tr
ODI 10535934
Electrical System
I went to the grocery store today; it was off and on rainy weather, so i had been running my windshield wipers a little. Turned off car; went in store, came back out, started car up - i noticed the time/temp/mileage display was black, then, i noticed the radio had lost power; then i noticed the wind shield wipers did not work, but not until i was out in the highway and needed to use them. This was dangerous and…
ODI 10472991
Electrical System
2009 subaru forester. Consumer states vehicle was remote started an within seconds, the wire harness burnt, melting some plastic parts *tgw the consumer was able to turn off the vehicle. However, it wouldn't start again. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and upon inspection, it was determined that the electrical wire harness going to the seat belts, air bags and other components had burned out. According to the…
Fire reported
ODI 10340035
Electrical System
Fire erupted without warning from the driver side panel below the trunk cover on 2009 subaru forester with less than 3,500 miles. The wire harness burnt. This happened almost 2 months ago and subaru is in discussions with the insurance as it seems to be a total loss. *tr
Fire reported
ODI 10291595
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System · Fuel System, Gasoline · Vehicle Speed Control
Vehicle: 2009 subaru forester limited, on 6/20/09 i experienced an incident of unintended acceleration. Cruise control was on. Before our exit i canceled the cruise control but left it "on". On the ramp, i let the car slow. At about 40 mph i moved the shift lever into 'sport' mode, downshifted to 3rd gear, then 2nd, then braked to a stop. The car was stopped, in gear, idling. My foot was on the brake. Without…
ODI 10274421
Electrical System
Ignition doesn't recognize valet key, "security" light on dash comes on, key won't turn and car won't start. *tr
ODI 10251120