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2005 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Subaru Forester do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 131.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

82 reports with mileage · 11 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

17 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION WITH AN ONCOMING CAR AT A SAFE DISTANCE FOR ME TO SAFELY PULL OUT. UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND. IT ONLY IDLED. AND MOVED THE CAR ALONG AT IDLE SPEED. SUDDENLY THE APPROACHING CAR THAT WAS AT A SAFE DISTANCE WHEN I PULLED OUT WERE GETTING VERY CLOSE. FORTUNATELY T…

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I WAS PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION WITH AN ONCOMING CAR AT A SAFE DISTANCE FOR ME TO SAFELY PULL OUT. UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND. IT ONLY IDLED. AND MOVED THE CAR ALONG AT IDLE SPEED. SUDDENLY THE APPROACHING CAR THAT WAS AT A SAFE DISTANCE WHEN I PULLED OUT WERE GETTING VERY CLOSE. FORTUNATELY THE DRIVER WAS ALERT AND SLOWED DOWN SO I COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD - AT ABOUT 3 MPH. I FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE GAS PEDAL THAT WENT WRONG. SIMILAR TO TOYOTA'S PROBLEM, BUT INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING UNCONTROLLABLY, IT WOULD NOT ME OUT OF HARMS WAY FAST ENOUGH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325173

5,000 miles · Mar 17, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 3 MILES PER HOUR IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF AN INJURY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10320537

12,000 miles · Feb 17, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

AFTER BUYING IT NEW AND OWNING IT FOR TWO YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS, IN 2007 WE HAD SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2005 SUBARU FORESTER, RESULTING IN 2 LOW-SPEED CRASHES INTO BUILDINGS AND ONE THAT I MANAGED TO STOP BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING. NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT WE HAD REPAIR COSTS AND INSURANCE PREMIUM INCREASES. TH…

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AFTER BUYING IT NEW AND OWNING IT FOR TWO YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS, IN 2007 WE HAD SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2005 SUBARU FORESTER, RESULTING IN 2 LOW-SPEED CRASHES INTO BUILDINGS AND ONE THAT I MANAGED TO STOP BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING. NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT WE HAD REPAIR COSTS AND INSURANCE PREMIUM INCREASES. THE DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS, EVEN THOUGH WHEN I TESTED IT WITH THEM, WE REPRODUCED A SIMILAR EVENT. MY DETAILED COMMUNICATIONS WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA (INCLUDING INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET ABOUT OTHER EARLIER SIMILAR SUBARU PROBLEMS) RESULTED IN THEIR DENYING ANY PROBLEM. I HAD A CLASS-ACTION ATTORNEY IN JUNEAU, AK WRITE SUBARU OF AMERICA WITH THE SAME RESULTS OF DENIAL BY SUBARU. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED IN ALASKA (OUR MAIN HOME). THE DEALER WAS VERY KIND AND IN 2008 TOOK IT AS A TRADE FOR A HONDA FIT SINCE WE COULD NOT SELL IT WITH THAT HISTORY. I ASSUME THAT OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, WHICH SHOULD BEGIN TO SURFACE NOW. THANK YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311253

500 miles · Jun 7, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE DECELERATION LEVER, WHICH SUBARU LABELS "COAST" WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO THE DESIRED RATE OF TRAVEL AND THE LEVER WAS RELEASED. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN THE SAME SPEED AS WHEN RELEASED, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED APPARENTLY B…

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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE DECELERATION LEVER, WHICH SUBARU LABELS "COAST" WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO THE DESIRED RATE OF TRAVEL AND THE LEVER WAS RELEASED. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN THE SAME SPEED AS WHEN RELEASED, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED APPARENTLY BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SET POINT. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA BY E-MAIL AND THEY STATED THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM AFTER PERFORMING THEIR ELECTRONIC TESTS. I ASKED THEM TO CONTACT SUBARU OF AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY HAD RELEASED ANY BULLETINS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND THE PERSON CONTACTED AT SUBARU (JODY) STATED TO KENT MELCHIOR OF ED REILY SUBARU IN CONCORD, NH THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO HIS REPORT TO ME ON 6/7/2006. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE NHTSA COMPLAINT WEBSITE, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AGAINST SUBARU FOR THIS TYPE OF AN INTERMITTENT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE. THEREFORE, SUBARU OF AMERICA IS EITHER INCOMPETENT OR LYING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10159214

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

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 …

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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 A SUBARU, THAT SOMETHING THAT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE A MONTH WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK. THE MANAGER BASICALLY CALLED ME A LIAR AND ASKED ME TO LEAVE. IT ISN'T JUST THIS ACCIDENT, THE CAR CAN BE REPAIRED, BUT THIS IS A CAR DEFECT THAT CAN CERTAINLY KILL SOMEONE. ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS, ONCE IN GROCERY LOT AND ONCE LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY, IT WAS ONLY BY CHANCE I DIDN'T HIT A PEDESTRIAN. I FEEL THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND SHOULDN'T BE DRIVEN, BUT EVEN MORE DISTURBING IS SUBARU'S ATTITUDE THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE, AND THAT I AM A LIAR. BRUCE MCALISTER

NHTSA ODI #10119800

85 miles · May 4, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

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 OVE…

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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 SERVICE ADVISORS AND THE CAR ACCELERATED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN 10-15MIN. I TOOK THE CAR FOR A SECOND TEST RUN WITH A MECHANIC WHO BELIEVED THE THROTTLE WAS IMPROPERLY OPENING. THE MECHANIC THEN INSPECTED AND CLEANED THE PIN CONNECTORS AT TPS AND MAP SENSORS. HE THEN ROAD TESTED IT SEVERAL TIMES TO DETERMINE IF THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN RESOLVED AND FOUND NO MORE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM MOST LIKELY WAS A STICKY THROTTLE.THE CAR NOW RUNS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #10119786

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #10116913

Official recalls

1

11V464000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Sep 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE11011 · Front Suspension Control Arm Failure

Opened Apr 7, 2011 · Closed Sep 23, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front; Suspension:front:control Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Suspension:front:control Arm

On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Suspension:front

On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Suspension

On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

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