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: structure
7 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Structure, May 8, 2016
PURCHASED IN AK IN 2007. APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES ON ENGINE. PAPERWORK LISTED ENTRY-POINT: HAWAII. CURRENT 2016 MILEAGE: LESS THAN 60,000. ONGOING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE: DOORS' LOCKS ELECTRONIC-RESPONSES UNPREDICTABLY FAIL. SOMETIMES THEY WORK; OTHER TIMES LOCKS MUST BE OPENED MANUALLY. (SIDE NOTE: WINDOWS RATTLE DISTINCTLY WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS; WINDOWS AND DOORS HAVE ALWAYS FELT TOO LOOSE.) HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL-LIGHTS FAIL SOONER THAN NORMAL, INDICATING AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM CAUSING SHORTS.THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN ONGOING FROM PURCHASE IN 2007 TO CURRENT 2016.
Structure, Feb 23, 2016
THE HOOD LATCH WILL NOT ENGAGE ALL OF THE TIME. IT HAS HAPPENED RANDOMLY SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I'VE HAD MY SHOP REPAIR IT MORE THAN ONCE, BUT IT NEVER WORKS FOR LONG. I NEVER TRY TO DRIVE UNTIL I GET A SOLID LOCK.
Electrical system, Air bags, Structure, Jun 9, 2013, fire
I ARRIVED AT MY HOUSE ON 8/26/2012 AT 8:00 PM, PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE OF MY HOUSE AND WENT TO SLEEP. AT 2:00 AM I HEARD AN EXPLOSION, WENT OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE TO VERIFY WHAT IT WAS AND FOUND MY FORESTER IN FIRE. WITH THE HELP OF MY NEIGHBORS WE CONTROL THE FIRE WITHIN AN HOUR. SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES CAME OUT OF THE FIRE; THE CAR WAS DECLARED TOTAL LOSS, ANOTHER CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF THE FORESTER SUFFER A LOT OF DAMAGE, THE MOTOR OF THE GARAGE DOOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE PAINT OF THE HOUSE, VERTICAL BLINDS AND OTHER BELONGINGS OF THE HOUSE WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE FROM THE FIRE. SUBARU/-FORESTER/2006 RECALL NO.WVC-13 RELATED TO THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE AIRBAG 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.THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE WAY THAT MY CAR GOT IN FIRE HAS TO BE BECAUSE OF AN ELECTRICAL.SHORT CIRCUIT, HAVING AS A RESULT THE FIRE AND TOTAL LOSS OF MY CAR. THE VIN OF MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT I WILL APPRECIATE IF YOUR AGENCY COULD DO AN INVESTIGATION THAT AS A RESULT HAVE THE VIN OF MY CAR INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WVC-13. *TR
Structure, Jul 16, 2008
THE MOON ROOF DOES NOT ALWAYS CLOSE. ALL THE WAY. AT TIMES IT WILL GO TO A POINT WHERE IT JUST GOES BACK AND FORTH. IT HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES PRIOR TO ME BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT IT MAY NEED A NEED MOTOR. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR I WAS TOLD IT JUST NEEDED AN ADJUSTMENT AND TO BRING IT IN AGAIN IF THE PROBLEM RECURS. IT OCCURRED TWICE THE NEXT DAY. I CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT UNLESS THE ROOF CURRENTLY WAS NOT CLOSING THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. SINCE THAT TIME THERE WAS ONLY ONE OTHER TIME THE ROOF WOULD NOT CLOSE AND IT TOOK NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE IT EVENTUALLY CLOSED PROPERLY. *TR
Structure, May 12, 2008
MY SUBARU FORESTER 2006 HAS SPOTS OF PAINT CHIP ALL OVER IT. SUB DEALER SAID A REP WILL CALL, NO CALL YET. HE SAYS THEIR ROCK CHIPS I TOOK IT TO A AUTO BODY PAINT SHOP ONE OF THE TECH'S SAID IT'S VERY ODD FOR THEIR TO BE ROCK CHIPS ALL OVER THE CAR WE LIVE IN THE CITY. I SAY IT A BAD PAINT JOB!! *TR
Structure, Apr 28, 2008
REAR TAILGATE HYDRAULIC STRUTS FAIL AND TAIL GATE FALLS! THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES ON MY 2006 SUBARU FORRESTER LL BEAN EDITION. THE STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FAILED EACH TIME WITH THE AUTHORIZED FACTORY REPLACEMENT PART. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED THE TAILGATE HIT ME IN THE HEAD AND ALMOST KNOCKED ME OUT. THE SECOND AND THIRD TIMES I WAS MORE AWARE AND WHILE THE TAILGATE STILL HIT ME IT WAS LIKE THE FIRST TIME ( THE REAR TAILGATE IS FAIRLY HEAVY). THESE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS- I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE REPAIR INFORMATION TO GIVE YOU THE EXACT DATES AND REPAIRS DONE. HOWEVER, THE THIRD FAILURE WAS THIS MORNING (28 APR 08). IT WAS WORKING OK WHEN I LOADED MY TWO BRIEFCASES IN THE VEHICLE AT APPROX. 0730AM EDT. WHEN I MADE A STOP AT 0800 TO REMOVE ONE BRIEFCASE IT IMMEDIATELY FAILED- NO WARNING, NO INDICATION THAT IT WAS GOING TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURES WARRANTY AND HAS APPROX 31,431 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *TR
Structure, Sep 5, 2007
2006 SUBARU FORESTER BUMPER SCRATCHED AND REPAIRED WITHOUT CUSTOMER KNOWING. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD HER THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW. GETTING IT REPAIRED BECAUSE OF A MINOR FENDER BENDER THE REPAIRMAN SAID THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE.**NAR**KB THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTOBODY SHOP TO HAVE THE BUMPER REPAIRED, HOWEVER WHEN THE MECHANIC WENT TO SAND THE BUMPER, PAINT FLEW OFF IN BIG CHUNKS. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER EVIDENCE SHOWED THE BUMPER HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED PAINT WOULD NOT STICK TO THE BUMPER WHICH INDICATED IT HAD NOT BEEN SANDED CORRECTLY IN THE PAST AND THE BOLTS WERE NOT FASTENED CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO HER AS NEW. *JB