Model year record

2007 Subaru Forester

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 90 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.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Suspension	10	126,000 mi
Engine	9	101,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	8	67,893 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	6	42,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	6	67,893 mi
Power train	6	70,103 mi
Electrical system	5	86,000 mi
Air bags	4	67,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	4	90,000 mi
Exterior lighting	3	56,500 mi
Steering	3	40,700 mi
Tires	3	5,000 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility	2	18,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission	2	1,365 mi
Seats	2	55,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	1	2,740 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	1	1,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	1	50,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch	1	39,500 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	1	—
Power train: axle assembly	1	12,819 mi
Service brakes	1	64,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	2,740 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	1	10 mi
Structure: body	1	—
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm	1	69,000 mi
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire	1	35,000 mi
Unknown or other	1	10,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	1	56,175 mi
Visibility: windshield	1	18,980 mi

The 2006 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2008 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.