2005 Subaru FORESTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
93 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 80 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 93 complaints (19.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 14.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 8.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 18 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
Suspension: 18; Vehicle Speed Control: 16; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14; Fuel System, Gasoline: 7; Air Bags: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 16
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 13 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 | 9 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
2005: 9; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 7; 2010: 9; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 8; 2014: 8; 2015: 10; 2016: 4; 2017: 10; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 4
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10110219 · 2005-02-09 (February 9, 2005)
FIRST COLD DAY, PUT ON WIPER DE-ICER. PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD AT DE-ICER LEVEL AND WINDSHIELD CRACKED (1,800 MILES ON CAR). *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116913 · 2005-04-14 (April 14, 2005)
MY 2005 SUBARU FORESTER SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. I HAD TO PUSH REALLY HARD ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID SURGING AHEAD INTO TRAFFIC.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10116913 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119786 · 2005-05-04 (May 4, 2005)
MY 2005 SUBARU FORESTER SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS I APPROACHED A STOPLIGHT. THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL, THE CLUTCH WAS NOT ENGAGED AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE ACCELERATION SUBSIDED AFTER I PLACED THE CAR IN FIRST GEAR AND SLIGHTLY PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL MOVING THE CAR FORWARD ABOUT A FOOT. THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED OVER A DOZEN TIMES IN THE COURSE OF 24HRS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER WHERE SEVERAL TEST RUNS WERE PERFORMED AS WELL AS A MONITOR TEST. NO CODES SHOWED UP SO I TOOK THE CAR FOR A TEST RUN WITH ONE OF THE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 85 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119800 · 2005-05-04 (May 4, 2005)
I RECENTLY (END OF NOVEMBER, 2004) PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, MAYBE SIX TIMES IN THE FOUR MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE CAR, IT IMMEDIATELY LURCHES INTO FULL SPEED THE SECOND THE ACCELERATOR IS TOUCHED, AND SENDS YOU TWENTY OR MORE FEET FORWARD (ONCE BACKWARDS) BEFORE YOU CAN POSSIBLY BRAKE. I HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENTS. TODAY I HAD A REAL ACCIDENT. WHEN I WENT INTO CARTER SUBARU THIS MORNING, THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN TO ME. TOLD ME THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING EVER HAPPENING TO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124358 · 2005-08-12 (August 12, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER GOT INTO CAR ACCIDENT AND THE SIDE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AT 40 MPH/. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131742 · 2005-08-05 (August 5, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 2006 SUBARU WAS NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY. VEHICLE WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD, IT DID NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT AND IT WENT TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN GOING FAST. IT WAS DOING THIS ALL THE TIME. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER INSISTED VEHICLE DID HAVE ENOUGH CASTER. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT ALL OF THE SUBARU DID THAT AND COULD NOT FIX THE CAR, THE CONSUMER DID NOT WANT THE CAR. HE PAID CASH FOR VEHICLE, AND WAS UP…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131742 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138006 · 2005-09-28 (September 28, 2005)
VEHICLE BROKE DOWN DURING HURRICANE EVACUATION THEREBY ENDANGERING ME AND MY FAMILY FOR 32 HOURS. 2005 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A BUILT-IN DEFECT WHERE THE ALTERNATOR AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS DOWN DURING ENGINE IDLE, SO ONLY THE BATTERY RUNS UNTIL OUT OF POWER, THEREBY LEAVING DRIVER AND PASSENGERS STRANDED ON ROADWAY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138045 · 2005-10-14 (October 14, 2005)
DT: THE ABS STUCK ON THE VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HILL SLOWLY AND HAD TO STOP TO WAIT ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT TOOK A WHILE, SHE PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN THE OTHER VEHICLE MOVED THE CONSUMER STARTED THE ENGINE, THEN PUT VEHICLE IN FIRST GEAR, AND RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN STARTING TO GO DOWN HILL AND TRYING TO USE THE BRAKE IT WOULD NOT WORK. IT WAS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST SAFELY TO A PARKING LOT. SHE HAD TURNED THE ENGINE OFF FO…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138045 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V464000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
Reported: 2011-09-06 (September 6, 2011)
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, WEST VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION IF THE HANGER BRACKET IS EXPOSED TO SALTY AND HUMID ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS ROADS CONTAINING SNOW MELTING AGENT.
Consequence: A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: SUBARU WILL HANDLE THEIR VEHICLES AND SAAB WILL HANDLE THEIRS. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DEGREE OF CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND WILL EITHER RUSTPROOF OR REPLACE THEM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
NHTSA campaign record ↗