Subaru FORESTER steering problems
257 complaint narratives mention steering terms.
Key facts
6,414 owner complaints analyzed
43 distinct recall campaigns
35,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 3,652 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Steering behavior evidence
257 of 6,414 complaints match this topic (4.0%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 722756 · 2000-05-16 (May 16, 2000)
KAZOO NOISE IN FRONT SINCE 31K, BECAME RATCHET NOISE AT 52K. RACK AND PINION ADJUSTMENT STOPPED NOISE BUT STEERING IS SLOPPY AND PULLS TO RIGHT SOMETIMES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 742021 · 2001-03-06 (March 6, 2001)
STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG COVER HAS SPLIT; A SUBARU 3YR/36K WARRANTY ITEM; IF CAR WERE IN CRASH, WOULDN'T THE AIRBAG POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY BY INFLATING OUT OF THE TORN AIRBAG COVER ON THE STEERING WHEEL? CANNOT REPLACE JUST THE COVER; WILL COST $1000+/- TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG AND COVER. SHOULDN'T THE ORIGINAL DRIVER AIRBAG ASSEMBLY BE A SEATBELT-LIKE WARRANTY ITEM? THE PLASTIC COVER SPLITS, THE AIRBAG COULD INJURE IN A WAY NOT EXPECTED, AND THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE A WARRANTY FOR ITS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 742021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005806 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
99 SUBARU FORESTER L AFTER 50,000 MILES REAR AXLE BEARINGS AND HUB BROKE. STEERING ON CORNERS WAS AFFECTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,032 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070659 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
3 RIGHT WHEEL BEARING FAILURES. AT 16000 MILES THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (9-11-01). AT 22000 MILES (4-23-03), RIGHT REAR BEARING NOISE RETURNED AND DEALER 'ADJUSTED' THE BEARING. WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, BUT DEALER DID NOT CHARGE FOR 'ADJUSTMENT'. AT 24100 MILES, BEARING FAILED WITH GRINDING AND SMOKE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. A 100 MILE TOW WAS NECESSARY. THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. MY POSITION IS THAT IT WAS NEVER FIXED THE FIRST TIME. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALS OTHERS WITH SIMILAR TALES. ONE TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 723298 · 2000-05-29 (May 29, 2000)
DRIVING ON FAST DOWNHILL SECTION OF MOUNTAIN 2 LANE HIGHWAY, ON ICE / PACKED SNOW, TAPPED BRAKES WHILE ENTERING CURVE ... 2 SECONDS LATER WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THE VEHICLE LOST ADHESION, OVERSTEERING DANGEROUSLY. I RECOVERED WITH CONSIDERABLE OPPPOSITE STEERING LOCK AND SLIGHT APPLICATION OF POWER (CAR IS ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.) IT HAPPENED SO FAST, I KNEW NOT WHAT HAD CAUSED THE CAR TO SLIDE OUT OF CONTROL. TODAY, I LEARNED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. WITH THE GEARSHIFT SELECTOR IN DRIVE, TRAILING THROTTLE AND APPLICATION OF BRAKES, THE COM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723298 at NHTSA ↗