2009 Subaru Forester vs 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2009 Subaru Forester | 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 178 | 40 |
| Recall campaigns | 17 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 219 | 117 |
| Investigations | 0 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 19 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–22 | 26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 57,500 mi | 66,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Forester | Toyota Highlander Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 40 | 1 |
| Engine | 27 | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 17 |
| Electrical System | 22 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 | 2 |
| Power Train | 17 | 1 |
| Seats | 16 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 12 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 14 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 8 | 0 |
| Stalling | 6 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 5 | 0 |
2009 Subaru Forester
2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Compare all Subaru Forester vs Toyota Highlander Hybrid years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.