Model year record

2006 Subaru Forester

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 121 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V043000

Air bags: frontal

Component
Air bags: frontal
Manufacturer
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
7,004
Reported to NHTSA
2007-02-12
Owners notified
2007-03-09

Defect description

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAY HAVE BEEN PINCHED DURING PRODUCTION. PINCHING OF THE WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE FLOOR CROSSMEMBER AND THE SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Safety risk

THE PASSENGER'S FRONT AIR BAG COULD BECOME DISABLED AND MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT. ALSO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE WIRING HAD BEEN INCORRECTLY ROUTED UNDER THE SEAT BRACKET. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPAIR ANY DAMAGED WIRING, REROUTE AND SECURE THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE CORRECT LOCATION, AND RE-CALIBRATE THE OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Vehicle speed control2036,340 mi
Engine1180,000 mi
Suspension11118,814 mi
Steering9118,814 mi
Fuel/propulsion system860,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling748,000 mi
Electrical system592,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine443,944 mi
Fuel system, gasoline443,944 mi
Structure: body420,000 mi
Air bags392,000 mi
Tires37,000 mi
Wheels380,000 mi
Exterior lighting213,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights2
Unknown or other2
Air bags: frontal113,421 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module110,000 mi
Air bags: on-off switch assembly1
Electrical system: ignition12,500 mi
Electrical system: wiring113,500 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control1
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking1200,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery130,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch11,450 mi
Power train1
Power train: automatic transmission1104,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)1
Power train: manual transmission1180 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor1
Seats: front assembly: head restraint1
Seats: front assembly: recliner1
Service brakes, air: controls: foot control/valve117,200 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic125,400 mi
Structure118,983 mi
Structure: body: bumpers1
Structure: body: tailgate: hinge and attachments131,431 mi
Suspension: front: control arm1136,000 mi
Tires: sidewall112,700 mi

The 2005 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2007 model has about 1.5 times as many 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.