Known Recalls

Model year record

2005 Subaru Forester

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 105 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 11V464000

Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm

Component
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm
Manufacturer
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
318,215
Reported to NHTSA
2011-09-06
Owners notified
2011-12-31

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Suspension18128,056 mi
Vehicle speed control1658,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system14153,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline763,860 mi
Air bags468,000 mi
Service brakes465,400 mi
Engine3153,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling3110,000 mi
Power train340,000 mi
Structure: body341,600 mi
Unknown or other390,000 mi
Electrical system28,700 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine220,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip212,000 mi
Steering280,000 mi
Wheels252,123 mi
Air bags: frontal146,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring123,524 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system195,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system182,491 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings177,029 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail177,029 mi
Power train: automatic transmission140,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission130,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic134,857 mi
Structure140,000 mi
Suspension: front1100,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm1210,000 mi
Suspension: rear181,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control1500 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element19,000 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices1110,000 mi
Visibility: windshield11,800 mi

The 2004 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 2006 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.