Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Subaru Forester problems

Owners filed 93 complaints about the 2005 Subaru Forester with NHTSA between Feb 2005 and May 2023. The most-cited component is suspension (21).

Complaints
93
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension21
  2. Vehicle speed control17
  3. Fuel/propulsion system14
  4. Fuel system, gasoline8
  5. Engine and engine cooling7
  6. Air bags5
  7. Power train5
  8. Service brakes4
  9. Structure4
  10. Engine3
  11. Electrical system3
  12. Visibility3
  13. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  14. Wheels2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20059
20063
20071
20081
20097
20109
20112
20123
20138
20148
201510
20164
201710
20183
20193
20205
20211
20222
20234

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

21 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2023SuspensionODI 11520398

Vehicle speed control

17 reports7 crashes
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2023Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11514233

Fuel/propulsion system

14 reports1 crash
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 13, 2020Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11374591

Fuel system, gasoline

8 reports
“IT HAD BEEN COLD, BELOW FREEZING IN THE MID WEST, MOST OF THE TIME I WOULD RECIRCULATE THE CABIN AIR, BUT EVERY TIME WHEN I BRING IN FRESH AIR FROM OUTSIDE TO CLEAR THE MOISTURE, I EXPERIENCED A STRONG ODOR OF RAW GAS COMING IN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THEN I NOTICED FUEL WAS ACTUALLY LEAKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ONE SECTION OF THE RUBBER HOSE WAS DAMP AS A RESULT OF FUEL DRIPPING OVER IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 26, 2014Fuel system, gasolineODI 10561506

Engine and engine cooling

7 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL INDICATORS WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES FOR THE FAILURE AND EACH TIME, THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD RETURN HIS CALL WITHIN 24 HOURS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10438999

Air bags

5 reports5 crashes
“I HAD JUST LOCKED MY RESIDENCE GATE, LEAVING MY PROPERTY, I FASTENED MY SEATBELT, ADVANCED VERY SLOWLY, SAW THAT BOTH WAYS WERE CLEAR, ADVANCED SLOWLY MAKING A LEFT TURN, WHEN I WAS JUST 12 FEET, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE AND PROPELLED MY VEHICLE FORWARD INTO A HUGE TREE ACROSS THE ROAD. I DID NOT CONFUSE THE GAS PEDAL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS NO FLOOR MAT IMPEDING MY FOOT-WORK,I BRAKED THEN IT BEGAN RACING EVEN FASTER THEN I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING MORE TILL AFTER-DARK AND A FIREMAN TOLD ME AN AMBULANCE WAS COMING. I HAVE A BROKEN CERVICAL VERTEBRA C 2 AND MULTIPLE BRUISES MY CAR WAS "TOTALED". *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2015Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 10671208
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.