2006 Subaru FORESTER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
88 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
51,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 69 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 88 complaints (22.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 14.8% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Suspension | 11 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 20; Engine: 11; Suspension: 11; Steering: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Electrical System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2005: 5; 2006: 6; 2007: 12; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2010: 4; 2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 5; 2016: 8; 2017: 1; 2018: 4; 2019: 8; 2020: 2; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10187778 · 2007-04-13 (April 13, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO MORE THAN 30 MPH WHEN GENTLY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. AFTER MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE AROUND A BUILDING THREE TIMES THE IGNITION WAS ABLE TO BE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER , FIRST TEAM AUTO MALL, AND NO FAILURE COULD BE FOUND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,000.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10192809 · 2007-06-08 (June 8, 2007)
I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN THE STREET, MADE A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. PERHAPS I TURNED A LITTLE TOO SHARPLY. THERE WAS A SUDDEN SURGE AND ACCELERATION AND THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE. THE CAR "RAN AWAY" WHILE I TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO BRAKE IT. HIT THE BUILDING. I BACKED AWAY AND IT SURGED BACKWARD AND HIT A TREE. THEN I WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO PARK AND TURN IT OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10572478 · 2014-03-27 (March 27, 2014)
2006 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WHEEL BEARING MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE SOME UNUSUAL SOUNDS. SHE PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE TIRES, BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE A FLAT TIRE. HOWEVER, EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL, SO SHE CONTINUED DRIVING. AS SHE DROVE A LITTLE FURTHER AND MADE A LEFT TURN, THE BRAKES WENT OUT. SHE SLOWLY EASED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE REAR TIRE FELL OFF THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE WHEEL BEARING B…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,156 miles reported. Look up ODI 10572478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10721130 · 2015-05-23 (May 23, 2015)
THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ON MY 2006 SUBARU FORESTER FAILED ON MAY 15, 2015. THERE WAS NO WARNING (NO SOUND, NO SHIMMYING, NO STEERING ISSUES) TO SUGGEST THAT SOMETHING WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. THE MAIN SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT IN 2012, SUBARU ISSUED A RECALL FOR FORESTERS AND IMPREZAS, RUSTPROOFING THE CONTROL ARMS. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN AT THAT TIME, AND HAVE THE PAPERWORK THAT INDICATES THAT THIS SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. I THEREFORE ASSUMED THE CAR WAS SAFE. THERE HAS BEEN NO OTHER RECALL. MY CAR HAD 118,000 MILES ON IT, AND IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I AM…
Owner-reported narrative. 118,814 miles reported. Look up ODI 10721130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206940 · 2007-10-25 (October 25, 2007)
SINCE PURCHASING MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW ON 7/4/05, THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM FAILS TO ACTIVATE THE FRONT AIRBAG FOR PASSENGERS WHO ARE BOTH LARGER AND HEAVIER THAN THE PURPORTED CUTOFF OF 80-POUND CHILDREN. THE PASSENGER IS 5'3", 105LBS, YET THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES TO THE "OFF" POSITION INTERMITTENTLY DESPITE THE PASSENGER SITTING STRAIGHT. THE AIRBAG ALSO SOMETIMES FAILS TO ARM UPON START UP OF THE CAR, AND WILL REMAIN "OFF" FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING. THE CAR WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN A SAFETY CAMPAIGN, IN WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515925 · 2013-06-09 (June 9, 2013)
I ARRIVED AT MY HOUSE ON 8/26/2012 AT 8:00 PM, PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE OF MY HOUSE AND WENT TO SLEEP. AT 2:00 AM I HEARD AN EXPLOSION, WENT OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE TO VERIFY WHAT IT WAS AND FOUND MY FORESTER IN FIRE. WITH THE HELP OF MY NEIGHBORS WE CONTROL THE FIRE WITHIN AN HOUR. SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES CAME OUT OF THE FIRE; THE CAR WAS DECLARED TOTAL LOSS, ANOTHER CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF THE FORESTER SUFFER A LOT OF DAMAGE, THE MOTOR OF THE GARAGE DOOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE PAINT OF THE HOUSE, VERTICAL BLINDS AND OTHER BELONGINGS OF THE HO…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144645 · 2005-12-07 (December 7, 2005)
VEHICLE- 2006 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ON COLD STARTS, THE ENGINE RACES UNCONTROLLABLY UP TO 3500 RPM AFTER THE CLUTCH IS RELEASED. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE BRISKLY TO 15-20 MPH. THIS HAS OCCURED REPEATEDLY SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN LATE SEPTEMBER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10335107 · 2010-06-07 (June 7, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBUARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH EXITING PARKING LOT. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT EXERTED FULL BODY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL REPEATEDLY AND THEN SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND CONTINUED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10335107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10230180 · 2008-06-06 (June 6, 2008)
THIS INCIDENT FIRST OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER MY LAST OIL CHANGE AT ABOUT 38,000 MILES. DURING FOUR OF THE LAST EIGHT TIMES I HAVE REFUELED MY 2006 SUBARU FORESTER, WHICH NOW HAS ABOUT 40,000 MILES, THE FILLING PUMP HAS NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF WHEN MY GAS TANK WAS FULL. AS A RESULT, GASOLINE OVERFLOWED FROM MY FUEL TANK AND SPILLED OUT. FORTUNATELY, NO FIRE HAS RESULTED, AND I HAVE MANAGED TO DODGE THE SPRAY. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SPILLING GASOLINE, AND I FEAR THAT I WILL ONE DAY SPILL GASOLINE ON MYSELF. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT FOUR …
Owner-reported narrative. 38,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10691326 · 2015-03-01 (March 1, 2015)
THE PASSENGER CABIN SMELLS LIKE GAS DUE A FUEL LEAK. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN VERY COLD WEATHER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10691326 at NHTSA ↗