2005 Subaru Forester

93 complaints on file, page 1 of 5.

1. Filed May 4, 2023Failure Feb 4, 2021175,000 milesPittsburgh, PASuspension

   The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to respond to the steering wheel turning. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle decelerated but the front passenger's side of the vehicle was sliding. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side control arm had fractured, and the axle was damaged. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension), which he related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could assist because of the age of the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11520398
2. Filed Mar 28, 2023Failure Mar 10, 2023North Providence, RIAir bags, Fuel/propulsion system, Vehicle speed controlCrash1 injured

   Moved car 30’ from gas pumps to air pump. Slowed to almost complete stop to move closer to air tank. Car accelerated at extremely high speed over curb, knocking over air pump. Car proceeded to smash through landscaping shrubs and hit a tree and nearby pole which stopped the car dead. Felt like a fighter plane pushed me. Entire incident probably lasted a minute. Air bags failed to deploy. Car was totaled. I suffered severe facial and othet bruising and have ongoing fatigue and am eadily winded.

   NHTSA complaint 11514233
3. Filed Mar 22, 2023Failure Nov 22, 2022183,000 milesWest Haven, CTPower train

   The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. An unknown dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was 183,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11513189
4. Filed Feb 7, 2023Failure Feb 2, 2023Buffalo, MNUnknown or other

   A part of the front frame was recalled because of rusting and was breaking on 3-20-12 they put a rust proof on the part knowing it would only last a few years instead of replacing the parts. The part is broken and they say the recall was complete but really they only put a bandaid on a serous problem knowing it wouldn’t last . They said they don’t have to replace and fix the damage caused to my car Subaru gave me a case number 230206-1400191

   NHTSA complaint 11505995
5. Filed Oct 13, 2022Failure Sep 16, 2022210,000 milesWaukesha, WIControl arm

   The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop at approximately 25 MPH, the front passenger's side subframe emitted an abnormally loud sound, and the front passenger's side tire detached from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road where he noticed that the front passenger's side lower control arm was fractured. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer where it remained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 210,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11489132
6. Filed Mar 7, 2022Failure Mar 7, 2022Canton, CTFuel/propulsion system

   Raw fuel smell inside cabin of card when cold outside

   NHTSA complaint 11455530
7. Filed Jul 17, 2021Failure Jul 8, 2021Stoughton, WISuspensionCrash

   I was driving down the highway when my front drivers side control arm broke causing me to completely lose control of my vehicle. I was thrown down an embankment and into a cornfield where my vehicle came to a stop. I narrowly missed a telephone pole and culvert. I am extremely fortunate that my car went into a field rather than into oncoming traffic as this happened during rush hour traffic on a Thursday night around 5-530pm. I’m glad that I was able to walk away from this and wasn’t killed. I had no warning lights, no laxity in steering, no warning at all-absolutely NOTHING that would’ve allowed me time to avoid this. The part failure has been recalled previously, and when I called Subaru I was told that the recall had been “taken care of” which concerns me that this part was “fixed” and still put my life in danger. Police were called to the scene and a report was written. My car was towed to a local shop to be evaluated and was considered a total loss due to the extent of the damage. I am still waiting to hear back from Subaru if there is anything they are willing or wanting to do. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. I take amazing care of my vehicles, and haven’t even owned this car for a year. Now I am stuck in a completely unfair situation and having to carry the financial burden for something I was not responsible for. The vehicle is still available to be looked at as well, and I am more than happy to have someone look at the damage. I don’t want anyone to lose their life over this part malfunction, and I hope you are able to help me do something about this to keep everyone on the road safe.

   NHTSA complaint 11425268
8. Filed Nov 13, 2020Failure Nov 13, 2020153,000 milesOAK Creek, WIEngine, Fuel/propulsion system

   I'VE EXPERIENCED THE LEAKING FUEL LINE WHEN TEMPERATURES DROPPED BELOW 20 DEGREES AND GET TERRIBLE GAS FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN ESPECIALLY DURING COLD AND DAMP WEATHER. IT IS MORE PROMINENT WITH THE HEAT ON. THIS SMELL/LEAK CAN BE NOTICED WHILE PARKED, DRIVING, ANYTIME WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING WITH FUEL PRESSURE.

   NHTSA complaint 11374591
9. Filed Nov 3, 2020Failure Nov 2, 2020143,000 milesMagalia, CAEngine

   MY CAR IS BURNING UP OIL. I JUST DID AN OIL CHANGE 400MILES AGO, AND MY CAR STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE AND DRIVING REAL FUNNY YESTERDAY. I TOOK THE OIL WHEN I GOT HOME AND THERE WASN'T ANY THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT'S HAPPENED. THERE'S NO LEAK THERE'S NO OIL IN THE WATER NO OIL COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PERIOD WHAT IS GOING ON

   NHTSA complaint 11372851
10. Filed Aug 17, 2020Failure Aug 17, 202066,709 milesOrchard Park, NYSuspension

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT PRODUCED CONDENSATION THAT CAUSED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO RUST THROUGH ALONG WITH ROAD SALT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE DAMAGE WAS ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE CONTROL ARM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) IN 2012 AS A ONE-TIME FREE REPAIR. THE CONTACT REQUESTED TO SPEAK WITH AN UPPER LEVEL MANAGER WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,709.*BF*JB

    NHTSA complaint 11349868
11. Filed Mar 9, 2020Failure Jan 7, 2020174,000 milesSuperior Township, MIFuel/propulsion system

    THERE IS A SEVERE GAS LINE LEAK WHERE THE VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE LEAKING GAS BY THE ENGINE SPRAYING THE SIDE OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WHILE IN MOTION.

    NHTSA complaint 11317066
12. Filed Mar 4, 2020Failure Feb 21, 202031,000 milesManhattan, ILSuspension

    AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WE DROVE IT ON A 3 HOUR ROAD TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY TO VISIT OUR DAUGHTER AT COLLEGE. AFTER PARKING I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. I MISTAKENLY PASSED THE EXIT AND AS I ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE BACK TO THE EXIT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL IN REVERSE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SECURELY IN GEAR. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE IT AROUND A CORNER OF THE PARKING LOT AND PARK IT WHERE IT THEN WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS SLIGHTLY BENT IN TOWARDS THE VEHICLE. I THEN CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE NEXT DAY THE MECHANIC WAS NOT YET ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE TO LIFT IT BUT WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS WHICH WOULD NOT ARRIVE FOR THREE DAYS. WE WERE PREPARED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS WHEN THE MECHANIC CALLED BACK AND AFTER HAVING ANOTHER TECHNICIAN LOOK AT THE VEHICLE THEY NOTICED A HAND SIZED HOLE IN THE SUB FRAME CAUSED BY SEVERE RUST DAMAGE THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO FIX THE CONTROL ARM PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT WE WERE LUCKY TO MAKE IT AS FAR AS WE DID, AND WE WERE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AND AFTER I ASKED EVEN IF THE CONTROL ARM WAS BRAND NEW WOULD WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM? HE IMMEDIATELY ANSWERED YES. WE THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A FRAME SPECIALIST WHO TOLD ME THAT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SUB FRAME HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND IS NOT CONFIDENT THAT BOLT WILL NOT SIMPLE FALL OFF IF ANYTHING IS ATTACHED TO IT. THE FRAME SPECIALIST STATED HE MOST LIKELY WILL HAVE TO CUT INTO THE MAIN FRAME TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. UPON SPEAKING TO THE GM OF THE DEALERSHIP HE STATED THAT YOU BOUGHT AN AS-IS VEHICLE, AND THEIR DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT BE PUTTING ANY MORE MONEY INTO THAT CAR

    NHTSA complaint 11316029
13. Filed Aug 14, 2019Failure Aug 6, 201990,000 milesLansdowne, PAUnknown or other

    THERE'S A KNOWN UNDERCARRIAGE RECALL ISSUE ON THE 2005 FORESTER FOR WHICH I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION. UPON DISCOVERY OF THE PROBLEM ON MY VEHICLE WHICH INCLUDED EXTENSIVE CORROSION ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND THE SUPPORTING FRAME (SEE PHOTO). I CONTACTED A NEARBY SUBARU DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT MOST OF THE NEEDED REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THIS SITUATION PUT MY FAMILY AND ME AT GREAT RISK AS WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR AROUND WITHOUT KNOWING. WE FEEL THAT SUBARU SHOULD HAVE GONE TO GREATER LENGTHS TO MAKE SURE I GOT THE NOTICE REGARDING THIS STRUCTURAL DEFECT. SUBARU SHOULD COVER THIS REPAIR IN FULL. I WANTED TO ALERT OTHERS TO THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION.

    NHTSA complaint 11244050
14. Filed Jun 4, 2019Failure Jun 4, 2019130,000 milesCincinnati, OHSuspension

    THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 14 YEARS OLD AND I'VE HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS. I HAD IT TAKEN TO MY FAMILY MECHANIC FOR MINOR ISSUES AND FOUND OUT THAT THE SUSPENSION IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. IF I HAD BEEN HIT BY SOMEONE OR HAD HIT A LARGE HOLE, HE SAID THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY COLLAPSED.

    NHTSA complaint 11217730
15. Filed Jan 2, 2019Failure Oct 1, 2018135,000 milesParkville, MOVehicle speed control

    WHEN IT IS BELOW 30 DEGREES OUT AND HEATER OR DEFROSTER IS ON AND THE VEHICLE IS MOVING BETWEEN 25-65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR STICKS AND DOES NOT DECELERATE. WHEN THE CLUTCH IS APPLIED TO DISENGAGE THE ENGINE THE RPMS ADVANCE 1,000 TO 1,500 RPMS(SOMETIME TAKING THE RPMS TO 4,500 RPMS). VEHICLE HAS NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AND NO ERROR CODES ON THE ECU. THE MAF, MAP AND PCV SENSORS ARE ALL FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE THROTTLE BODY IS ALSO PERFECTLY CLEANED. VEHICLE IDOLS FINE AND PASSES ALL EMISSIONS TESTS. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE DRIVE-BY-WIRE (DBW) MECHANISM IS MOST LIKELY THE PROBLEM AND THIS COMPONENT SHOULD BE REPLACED.

    NHTSA complaint 11164631
16. Filed May 19, 2018Failure May 9, 201865,400 milesWesterlo, NYService brakes

    THIS IS A 1 OWNER CAR WITH ONLY 65400 MILES ON IT. I DROVE DOWN A 30MPH ROAD AND THERE WAS SUCH A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND . NO LIGHT CAME ON, I WENT TO STOP THERE WAS LOUD GRINDING . AND 0 BRAKES OUT OF THE BLUE. THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. I WENT THREW THE STOP SIGN AND INTO TRAFFIC BEFORE GRINDING TO A STOP..THIS CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED REGULAR. I TOOK IT RIGHT AWAY TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP.. THEY SAID THE BRAKES ARE CARRODED AND FROZEN. REQUIRING CALIPERS ,ROTORS,PADS ON EACH FRONT WHEEL. JUST FOR THE FRONT THE COST WAS OVER $950.00 . I DID SHOW A RECALL FOR THIS BUT BEFORE I GO TO THE SABARU DEALER I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS COVERED. I AM A DISABLED WIDOW I DRIVE VERY FEW MILES . I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY VEHICLE REQUIRE ANY THING OTHER THAN PADS.RHIS IS A REPLACEMENT OF A DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. STILL THE BRAKES LIGHT HAS NOT EVEN COME ON.

    NHTSA complaint 11096818
17. Filed Apr 28, 2018Failure Apr 26, 2018234,000 milesSeattle, WAEngine, Vehicle speed controlCrash

    I WAS BACKING UP MY 2005 SUBARU FORESTER IN A DOWNTOWN, STREET-LEVEL CORNER PARKING LOT. WHEN I PUT MY VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROPELLED MY VEHICLE BACKWARDS ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, ACROSS A TWO-LANE DOWNTOWN STREET, UP ONTO THE OPPOSITE SIDEWALK AND CULMINATED IN MY VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A CITY LIGHT POLE, WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. I ESTIMATE I WAS TRAVELING AT 25-30 MPH WHEN I HIT THE LIGHT POLE. I MISSED TWO PEDESTRIANS BY MERE INCHES AND FORTUNATELY MISSED HITTING ANY OTHER CARS. I HAD MY FOOT HARD ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE 4-5 SECONDS OF THE INCIDENT, AND ALMOST BROKE THE GEAR SHIFT, MADLY TRYING TO SHIFT INTO PARK. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED AND I AM TOTALLY FREAKED OUT BY THE ENTIRE NIGHTMARISH EXPERIENCE! THIS WAS A DEADLY SEQUENCE OF EVENTS WHICH EASILY COULD HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE AND OTHERS' LIVES. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER SUBARU. THIS OCCURRED ON THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018.

    NHTSA complaint 11090750
18. Filed Apr 6, 2018Failure Mar 29, 2018224,000 milesIndianapolis, INSuspension

    MY CONTROL ARM BROKE FROM CORROSION WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE

    NHTSA complaint 11083681
19. Filed Nov 30, 2017Failure Nov 21, 2017170,000 milesMonongahela, PASuspension

    FRONT RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND AXLE BROKE WITH NO WARNING WHILE IN MOTION. MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW FROM THE SHOWROOM FLOOR AND RETURNED IT IN 2011 FOR A RECALL "WVX34" NHTSA CAMPAIGN 11V464000 FOR 03-08 FORESTER FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM RECALL-FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE BOWSER SUBARU GARAGE FAILED TO FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATION CAUSE THEY FAILED TO REPLACE THE RUSTED OUT PARTS AND THEY ARGUED IT WAS FINE AFTER THEY DID A SPRING TENSION TEST BY HITTING ONLY ONE AREA- THE THICKEST PART OF THE METAL AND THEY REFUSED TO CHECK ANY OTHER SPOT. MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER, WHO HAS EXPERIENCE IN AUTO MECHANICS AFTER HAVING BEEN A MECHANIC IN THE SERVICE, KNEW THIS BOWSER SUBARU WAS WRONG SO HE WENT ACROSS THE STREET TO FIRESTONE, OBTAINED EVIDENCE/PROOF WITH DOCUMENTATION FROM FIRESTONE AFTER THEY CHECKED THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND THEY NOTED "BOTH" LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS NEEDED REPLACED BUT "AGAIN" EVEN WITH THIS PROOF, THIS BOWSER SUBARU GARAGE IGNORED THIS "SAFETY" RECALL ISSUE AND THEY SAID THEY WANTED $2,000 TO FIX IT WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER THIS RECALL IN 2011. SUBARU HEADQUARTERS CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE IN 2011 AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, THIS CAR STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL PARTS THAT SUBARU NEVER CORRECTED AND FORTUNATELY IT LASTED THIS LONG HOWEVER, THEY FINALLY BROKE FROM THE RUST. FORTUNATELY, WE GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SAFELY-ONLY 2 MILES AWAY AND ALSO MADE IT TO THE BOTTOM OF A STEEP HILL SAFELY BEFORE HAVING IT TOWED. SUBARU NEVER FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATION AND DENIED THIS RECALL BY COVERING IT UP THAT THEY COMPLETED THE WORK WHEN THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING. I WILL SUBMIT ANY DOCUMENTATION THAT YOU REQUEST.

    NHTSA complaint 11051631
20. Filed Oct 30, 2017Failure Oct 1, 2017186,000 milesFairfield, CAFuel/propulsion system

    I CAN SEE GAS RUNNING DOWN MY ENGINE BLOCK. THE LEAK IS ON PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF MY EJ255. SMELLS OF GAS VERY STRONGLY. I AM WORRIED A FIRE MIGHT START BECAUSE IT IS VERY NEAR THE TURBOCHARGER. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY. BOTH ON A CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY. AND ALSO WHEN TURNING

    NHTSA complaint 11041352