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2006 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Subaru Forester do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 131.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

69 reports with mileage · 19 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports7 fire reports4 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

5 reports
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90,000 miles · Jan 20, 2015
Fuel System, Gasoline

IN FEBRUARY 2013 MY FORESTER DEVELOPED A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL. AFTER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THE RUBBER FUEL LINES UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL. I PAID $550 FOR REPAIR. NOW TODAY I HAVE ONCE AGAIN STARTED TO DEVELOP A FUEL ODOR AND ASSUMING WHEN …

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IN FEBRUARY 2013 MY FORESTER DEVELOPED A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL. AFTER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THE RUBBER FUEL LINES UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL. I PAID $550 FOR REPAIR. NOW TODAY I HAVE ONCE AGAIN STARTED TO DEVELOP A FUEL ODOR AND ASSUMING WHEN I INVESTIGATE I WILL FIND ANOTHER LEAK. UPON RESEARCHING I SEE NUMEROUS POSTS IN FORUMS AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS SOME ON YOUR GUYS WEBSITE INDICATING SIMILAR ISSUES. ADDITIONALLY A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 2003 WRX FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM (09V46800). THIS ISN'T A CAR SPECIFIC ISSUE, THIS IS AN ENGINE SPECIFIC ISSUE AND THE DESIGNS OF ALL OF THESE ENGINES ARE VERY SIMILAR, SO ALL ENGINES WITH RUBBER LINES LOCATED IN THIS AREA SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND IS GOING TO COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE AND/OR CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES WHEN ONE OF THESE CARS BURSTS INTO FLAMES. SUBARU SHOULD BE MUCH MORE PROACTIVE WITH THIS ISSUE AND FIX FUEL LINE LEAKS LIKE THIS AT NO COST AND IMMEDIATELY, THERE IS NO REASON A 7 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD HAVE FUEL LINE FAILURE. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER PAID FOR IT THE FIRST TIME AROUND AND I WON'T PAY FOR IT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676627

43,944 miles · Dec 28, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP CAUSED BY MY VEHICLE'S DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE BODY. THIS HESITATION IS ONGOING DESPITE AN ECM REPROGRAMMING DONE BY THE DEALER ON 12/16/08. IT IS BAD ENOUGH THAT I'M AFRAID I'M GOING TO GET INTO A COLLISION SOMETIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252993

38,800 miles · Jun 6, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

THIS INCIDENT FIRST OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER MY LAST OIL CHANGE AT ABOUT 38,000 MILES. DURING FOUR OF THE LAST EIGHT TIMES I HAVE REFUELED MY 2006 SUBARU FORESTER, WHICH NOW HAS ABOUT 40,000 MILES, THE FILLING PUMP HAS NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF WHEN MY GAS TANK WAS FULL. AS A RESULT, GASOLINE OVERFLOWED FROM MY FUEL TANK AND SPI…

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THIS INCIDENT FIRST OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER MY LAST OIL CHANGE AT ABOUT 38,000 MILES. DURING FOUR OF THE LAST EIGHT TIMES I HAVE REFUELED MY 2006 SUBARU FORESTER, WHICH NOW HAS ABOUT 40,000 MILES, THE FILLING PUMP HAS NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF WHEN MY GAS TANK WAS FULL. AS A RESULT, GASOLINE OVERFLOWED FROM MY FUEL TANK AND SPILLED OUT. FORTUNATELY, NO FIRE HAS RESULTED, AND I HAVE MANAGED TO DODGE THE SPRAY. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SPILLING GASOLINE, AND I FEAR THAT I WILL ONE DAY SPILL GASOLINE ON MYSELF. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT FOUR DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS OVER THE PAST MONTH, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE WITH MY CAR. THE GAS STATIONS WERE TAYLOR #80 IN AMARILLO, TX; EXXON IN CHILDRESS, TX; LOVE'S IN ENCINAL, TX; AND SHELL AT THE CORNER OF CALTON AND SAN DARIO IN LAREDO, TX, AND THE INCIDENTS OCCURRED ON MAY 9, MAY 19, JUNE 3, AND JUNE 5, RESPECTIVELY. AGAIN, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE, CHEMICAL INJURY, AND WASTE OF MONEY. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED SUBARU AS OF YET BECAUSE I WAS UNCERTAIN WHETHER THE PROBLEM WAS WITH MY VEHICLE OR THE GAS STATIONS. I WILL SOON CONTACT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS MATTER. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY REPORT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230180

30,000 miles · Feb 2, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

IN LATE 2006 I NOTICED THAT WHEN MY VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND IDLING THERE IS A STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL COMING INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN WHEN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IS "ON" AND THE RECIRCULATION BUTTON IS OFF. DURING A DECEMBER 05, 2006 SERVICE (30,000 MI @ THIS TIME) VISIT AT THE MANUFACTURER'S DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE DEPT. STATE…

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IN LATE 2006 I NOTICED THAT WHEN MY VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND IDLING THERE IS A STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL COMING INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN WHEN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IS "ON" AND THE RECIRCULATION BUTTON IS OFF. DURING A DECEMBER 05, 2006 SERVICE (30,000 MI @ THIS TIME) VISIT AT THE MANUFACTURER'S DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE DEPT. STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE FUEL SMELL. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 33,000 MI AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I FEEL THAT SINCE THIS ISSUE INVOLVE A FLAMMABLE FLUID THIS COULD RESULT IN A SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10181442

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE- 2006 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ON COLD STARTS, THE ENGINE RACES UNCONTROLLABLY UP TO 3500 RPM AFTER THE CLUTCH IS RELEASED. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE BRISKLY TO 15-20 MPH. THIS HAS OCCURED REPEATEDLY SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN LATE SEPTEMBER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10144645

Official recalls

2

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.

07V043000 · Air Bags:frontal

Feb 12, 2007

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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.

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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