2006 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Vehicle speed control is the leading concern among 88 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 12 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 5 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, front, control arm, lower armSep 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.
A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 11V464000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalFeb 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 07V043000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling
11 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 19, 2015
WHEN THE TEMP GETS INTO THE TEENS OR LOWER GAS LEAKS IN AND AROUND THE ENGINE. THIS IS DANGEROUS!! I HAVE FOUND FUEL NEAR AREA THAT GET VERY HOT, AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY FAMILY STARTING ON FIRE. SOA RECALLED A FEW YEARS TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT ALL THAT ARE AFFECTED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 30, 2013, fire
FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD WHILE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE RADIATOR FAN. VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 4, 2011
HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL CONFIRMED BY DEALER IN SEPTEMBER 2011. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 13, 2010
VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO PURSUANT TO A SAFETY RECALL INVOLVING THE FUEL FILTER. AS A RESULT, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE DAMAGED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, CONDUCTED AS PART OF THE RECALL. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY OVERHEATED AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, WITHOUT ANY CHECK ENGINE SENSOR OR OTHER INDICATOR SIGNIFYING SUCH A PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 25, 2010
HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL AGAIN (5000MILES LATER) AFTER BEING REPAIRED BY SUBARU DEALER WHILE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. CAN SMELL HOT OIL AFTER A LONG DRIVE ON FREEWAY AND HAVE SEEN WISPS OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN UNDERHOOD OIL FIRE IF LEAK GETS WORSE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 13, 2009
ENGINE LIGHT, FAILURE OF CRUISE CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED AIR PUMP (PART #14828AA030) AND ENGINE CONTROL MODULATOR. DEALER DISCOUNT 50% "GOODWILL." PART WAS 4,611 OUT OF WARRANTY. ONE WEEK LATER SAME PROBLEM RETURNED, DEALER STATES CAR NEEDS OXYGEN VALVES AND THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON PARTS. SUBARU IS OFFERING THE PARTS FOR FREE (INDICATING THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM) BUT WANTS TO CHARGE LABOR ~$500. PARTS MAY BE UNAVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. FIRST SERVICE FAILED TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Dec 28, 2008
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
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 27, 2008
HEAD GASKET LEAK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CYLINDER HEAD OF A 2006 SUBARU FORESTER X. MOM'S CAR (ALSO A 2006 SUBARU FORESTER X) HAS IDENTICAL HEAD GASKET LEAK BUT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CYLINDER HEAD. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF OIL DRIPPING ON THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MY CAR HAS HAD THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. HER CAR IS YET TO BE REPAIRED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Dec 3, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU FORESTER. THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FAILS TO ACTIVATE AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK. ON EACH OCCASION, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THE OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ALSO DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED APPROXIMATELY ONCE OUT OF 20-30 STARTS. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WEIGHS 120 LBS AND IS 5'5 INCHES TALL. SHE SITS ERECTLY WITH THE SEAT BACK NEARLY VERTICAL. THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND INVESTIGATED BY THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE "OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM IS WORKING AS ITS DESIGNED INTENT AND AS SUCH WE ARE UNABLE TO RECOMMEND A REPAIR OR MODIFICATION". THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,421. UPDATED 01/03/08 *BF OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THE ENGINE WOULD SURGE AND SAG DURING SLIGHT DOWNGRADES WITH THE THROTTLE HELD JUST OFF IDLE AND SPEED HELD CONSTANT, THE SPEED CONTROL OVER AND UNDER SHOOTS ON SLIGHT GRADES, IT WOULD NOT GO TO FULL THROTTLE, OR TO CLOSED THROTTLE WHEN SPEED CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. UPDATED *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Nov 24, 2006
THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE 2006 SUBARU FORESTER THAT I HAVE. IT HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT AND CONTINUALLY FAILS TO START, WHETHER FROM A COLD START OR A WARM START. THE ENGINE WILL ATTEMPT TO CRANK BUT WILL NOT CATCH AND ACTUALLY TURN OVER. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT I HAD TO HOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE ACC POSITION TO "PRIME THE LINES." I'VE NEVER HEAD OF HAVING TO PRIME A CAR IN THIS DAY AND AGE. HOWEVER, I SINCE HAVE TRIED DOING THAT AND THE ISSUE STILL PERSISTS. ALSO, THE CARE WILL SURGE IN POWER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHEN I LET UP ON THE GAS WHEN TRYING TO SLOW DOWN ,THE CAR WILL ACTUALLY REV UP. THIS HAPPENED IN THE SNOW THE OTHER DAY AND I ALMOST COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. IF THAT CAR IS GOING TO SURGE LIKE THIS IT COMPLETELY NEGATES THE PURPOSE OF HAVING ALL WHEEL DRIVE. THIS IS A GRAVE SAFETY CONCERN. I THOUGHT SUBARU'S WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD CARS. I GUESS I THOUGHT WRONG. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR THE SURGE ISSUE AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE PROBLEM. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 19, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE HESITATION OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY EACH TIME. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.