Model year guide

2009 Subaru Forester

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2009 Subaru Forester is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 106 on record.

2009 Subaru Forester — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2009 Subaru Forester at a glance

Safety recalls18
Owner complaints178
Combined22 mpg
Typical price$8,936

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2009 Subaru Forester recalls 18

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #20V001000 · 02/01/2020

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saip…

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact…

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #20V002000 · 02/01/2020

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, O…

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assist…

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #20V003000 · 02/01/2020

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South…

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assist…

Electrical System:ignition:switch NHTSA Campaign #19V297000 · 11/04/2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight…

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #18V014000 · 09/01/2018

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped wi…

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-18.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #18V013000 · 09/01/2018

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehic…

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-18.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #17V014000 · 10/01/2017

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (S…

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-17.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #17V026000 · 11/01/2017

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2009 Forester, Legacy and Outback and 2006-2009 Impreza (including WRX and STI models) and Tribeca vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penns…

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-17.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #18V012000 · 09/01/2018

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped …

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-18.

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #16V738000 · 13/10/2016

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings NHTSA Campaign #14V311000 · 10/06/2014

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia…

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be …

Service Brakes, Hydraulic NHTSA Campaign #14V830000 · 31/12/2014

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Impreza, 2008-2014 WRX and STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Colum…

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will apply an anti-corrosion wax to the four-way joint connector area of the brake line system, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQQ-52. N…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2009 Subaru Forester common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 178 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.

2009 Subaru Forester MPG & running costs

Combined22 mpg
City20 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,067

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2009 Subaru Forester worth?

Low
$5,800
Typical price
$8,936
High
$12,800

From 105 comparable 2009 Subaru Forester listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2009 Subaru Forester costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,335
Depreciation (5 yrs)$4,450
Total$19,785
Per mile$0.26

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($8,936) with the same model 5 model-years older ($4,467), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2009 Subaru Forester trims & engines on record

Trims
2.5X · 2.5X Limited · 2.5XS PLUS · 2.5X LTD · 2.5XT Limited · 2.5XT · 2.5XT LTD
Engines
2.5L

2009 Subaru Forester vehicles on record

2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XT LimitedJF2SH66699H711020 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X LimitedJF2SH64669H723516 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X LimitedJF2SH64619H734746 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH63679H796721 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH63619H714742 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH61679H780408 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH63659G713163 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X LimitedJF2SH64699H762438 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X LimitedJF2SH64639H740810 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH63619H792602 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH61619G759074 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH61669G723056 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X LimitedJF2SH64679H742723 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH63699H725827 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH61679H704901 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH61609H705758 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH61659G707365 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH61689G738528 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X LimitedJF2SH64659H710613 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X LimitedJF2SH64609H705514 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X LimitedJF2SH64629H770512 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH61629H717104 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XJF2SH61659H739601 2009 Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X LimitedJF2SH64659H759651

Other Subaru Forester model years

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998

2009 Subaru Forester — frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Subaru Forester have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 18 safety recalls for the 2009 Subaru Forester. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Subaru Forester?

Based on 178 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, fuel/propulsion system, engine.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Subaru Forester get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2009 Subaru Forester at about 22 mpg combined (20 city / 26 highway).

How much is a 2009 Subaru Forester worth?

Comparable 2009 Subaru Forester listings run roughly $5,800–$12,800, typically around $8,936 (from 105 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.