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: fuel/propulsion system
8 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 31, 2021
As I was going down the road my car sped up and my foot was off the gas pedal as the pedal was stuck-I managed to stop my car but not before it reached 75 mph in a 50 I was originally going 50
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 27, 2019
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN COLD WHETHER, THE CABIN FILLS UP WITH THE SMELL OF GAS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND TALKING TO A MECHANIC, IT IS CLEAR THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I ALSO SEE THAT MANY MORE OF THESE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT NOT OPENNED AS AN INVESTIFGATION. THE GAS LINES (SOME SAY GASKETS TOO) SHRINK IN COLD WHETHER AND FUMES OR GAS LEAK. WHEN THE ENGINE WARMS UP, THE RUBBER COMPOUNDS EXPAND AND THE SMELL THIS GOES AWAY. THIS CAN TAKE 10-15 MINUTES. IT SEAMS LIKE MOST PEOPLE JUST LIVE WITH THIS BEACSUE IT GOES AWAY AT WARM UP, BUT I HAVE A PREGENANT WIFE AND THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS TO HAVE TO PUT UP WITH GAS FUMES IN THE CABIN AT ALL, NOT TO MENTION THERE IS NO TELLING IF SOME OF THOSE FUMES ARE ACTUALLY GAS LEAKING NEAR THE CYLINDER. THIS COULD BECOME VERY DANGEROUS. PLEASE OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS EVERYWHERE.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 19, 2016
UPON START UP IN COLD WEATHER THERE IS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE CAR. IT MADE MYSELF AND MY DAUGHTER FEEL VERY ILL. HAD TO EXIT MY 2006 SUBARU FORESTER XT. INSPECTED ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD TO FIND LEAKING FUEL LINES. GOOGLED THE PROBLEM TO DISCOVER IT IS REACURRENT WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR AS EVIDENT BY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN SUBARU FORUMS, GOOGLE SEARCH, AND FB PAGES. THIS IS A DANGER TO HEALTH AND SAFETY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. VEHICLE IS UNDER 100,000 MILES. LEAKING FUEL DRIPS DIRECTLY ONTO THE ENGINE CYLINDER AND CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE TURBOCHARGER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT RISK OF ENGINE FIRE! HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK ALSO FROM THE FUEL FUMES IN THE ENGINE CABIN. SUBARU DEALERSHIP QUOTED $1,300. TO FIX.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 8, 2016
PURCHASED IN AK IN 2006. APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES ON ENGINE. PAPERWORK LISTED ENTRY-POINT: HAWAII. CURRENT 2016 MILEAGE: LESS THAN 60,000. WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE.----- UPON ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE SOMETIMES LURCHES AND REVS TOO HIGH TOO FAST, AND THEN SETTLES INTO HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO FEEL AND SOUND. OTHER TIMES, IT SUDDENLY LOSES POWER INSTEAD, LURCHING DOWN LIKE WE'VE TAKEN OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS (BUT WE HAVEN'T BECAUSE WE ARE ON A HIGHWAY OR FREEWAY!), VERY BRIEFLY AND THEN RECOVERS.ONE TIME, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT FELT LIKE I'D LOST ALL POWER AND THE CAR WAS GOING TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY HIGHWAY, BUT IT IMMEDIATELY RECOVERED AND THEN FELT NORMAL.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 8, 2016
PURCHASED IN AK IN 2006. APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES ON ENGINE. PAPERWORK LISTED ENTRY-POINT: HAWAII. CURRENT 2016 MILEAGE: LESS THAN 60,000. WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE. --- IN COLD WEATHER, DESPITE BEING GARAGED, INTERMITTENT STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN GARAGE AND UPON START-UP. SOMETIMES THE ODOR IS PRESENT BEFORE STARTUP. OTHER TIMES ODOR NOT PRESENT UNTIL ENGINE STARTS. GOES AWAY WHEN ENGINE WARMS. USED TO BE IN ONLY VERY COLD WEATHER, THEN IN 2015 IT HAPPENED IN COLD BUT NOT AS COLD WEATHER. RECENTLY, IN 2016, IT HAPPENED IN GARAGE IN WARM WEATHER STATE, SO COLD WEATHER NO LONGER NECESSARY VARIABLE. AGAIN, IT IS INTERMITTENT. THIS ISSUE FIRST BECAME NOTICEABLE IN WINTER OF 2014.
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 1, 2015
THE PASSENGER CABIN SMELLS LIKE GAS DUE A FUEL LEAK. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN VERY COLD WEATHER. *TR
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
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 1, 2014
ON COLD MORNINGS, THE CAR SMELLS VERY STRONGLY OF FUEL. THE ODOR GOES AWAY AFTER WARMING UP, AND IS ONLY ON COLD MORNINGS. *TR