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
88 reports, newest first.
Vehicle speed control, Apr 6, 2007
ON COLD START THE ENGINE RACES UNCONTROLLABY UP TO APPROXIMATELY 3500 RPMS AFTER CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED. IT RACED UP AND DOWN UNTIL IT WARMED FULLY UP. IT SOMETIMES RACES LIKE THIS AFTER HIGH SPEED DRIVING WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP. *AK
Fuel system, Gasoline, Feb 2, 2007
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
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
Electrical system, Nov 17, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON OPENING THE DRIVER DOOR, THERE WAS A SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT ALSO DID NOT ILLUMINATE UPON OPENING THE DOOR. UPON OPENING THE PASSENGER DOOR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN CHARRED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC AROUND THE MANUAL GEARSHIFT HAD MELTED AND RESOLIDIFIED. THE FABRIC OF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS APPEARED CHARRED AS WELL. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE FLAMES OR SMOKE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CONTACTED, AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED, WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.*AK
Tires, Aug 31, 2006
WE PURCHASED A 2006 SUBARU FORESTER TAKING DELIVERY OF THE CAR WE NOTED THAT SUBARU INCLUDED YOKOHAMA TIRES TO WHICH WE COMPLAINED WE FELT THAT THESE TIRES WERE LESS THAN ADEQUATE. THE DEALER COUNTERED THAT THESE WERE GOOD TIRES AND THAT THEY WOULD SERVE OUR NEEDS. WE FOOLISHLY BELIEVED THE DEALER AND ON 29 JULY WE EXPERIENCED A SIDE WALL BLOWOUT. AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE WE TRAVELED TO A TIRE DEALER WHO AGREED TO REPAIR THE TIRE BUT AFTER DISMOUNTING THE TIRE THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE TIRE WAS NG AND COULD NOT BE RE-MOUNTED. HE THEN PLACED A USED TIRE ON THE CAR, ASSUMING THAT SUBARU WOULD TAKE YOKOHAMA TO TASK AND THE TIRE WOULD BE REPLACED. SUBARU REPORTED THAT THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TIRES MOUNTED ON THE CAR, THAT THESE TIRES MATCHED THEIR SPECIFICATIONS, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPLACE THE TIRE OR TIRES AS REQUESTED AT TIME OF SALE. RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE YOKOHAMA TIRE AND HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ROAD HAZARD, THAT THERE CAN BE NO REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER THEN ADDED THAT HE DOES NOT STOCK THIS TIRE, THAT HE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THAT TIRE TO A CUSTOMER BUT IF THE CUSTOMER INSISTED HE WOULD ORDER THE TIRE, HE DOES NOT KEEP THEM IN STOCK. SUBARU WAS WILLING TO HELP TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ASKED IF THEY WERE WILLING TO MAKE THE DESIRED CHANGE IN TIRES. THE DEALER WAS WILLING TO UNDERWRITE A PORTION OF A NEW SET OF TIRES IF I WAS WILLING TO PAY A PART OF COSTS. YES, BUT THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS OUR DISAGREEMENT WITH THE SUBARU CO AND THEIR LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR PLACING A SAFE TIRE ON THEIR VEHICLE. THEIR CLAIM IS THEIR DESIRE TO PROVIDE A SAFE VEHICLE FOR THEIR CUSTOMER. OUR FIRST SUBARU FILLED THIS NEED COMPLETELY BUT OUR. WE ARE SEEKING FROM SUBARU AND YOUR AGENCY HOW THEY CONCLUDE THAT THIS IS A SAFE TIRE FOR THIS CAR? WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE SUBARU COMPANY IS FAILING THEIR CUSTOMER BY PLACING THE DOLLAR BEFORE SAFETY. *JB
Air bags, Jun 23, 2006
WHAT IDIOT DETERMINED THAT A YELLOW WARNING LIGHT CONCERNING THE STATUS OF THE PASSENGER-SEAT AIRBAG SHOULD BE ON 100% OF THE TIME? WHAT POSSESSED THAT SAME IDIOT TO REQUIRE THE COLOR YELLOW FOR SUCH LIGHT(S)? WHY CAN'T THE LIGHT BE DIMMED, OR EVEN ABLE TO BE SWITCHED OFF? AT NIGHT, SUCH A LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD IS A VISUAL DISTRACTION. IT CONSTANTLY PULLS THE DRIVER'S ATTENTION FROM THE ROAD AHEAD. THE LIGHTS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, NO ONE IS JUMPING IN. IF THERE IS A PASSENGER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THAT SOUL IS NOT JUMPING OUT UNTIL THE VEHICLE COMES TO A HALT. LOGICALLY, THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE LIGHT TO BE ON ALL THE TIME. *JB
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.
Exterior lighting, Mar 14, 2006
2006 FORESTER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LIGHT FOR SAFE TRAVEL. *TS ***TRANSFERRED TO NVS220**** THE HEAD LIGHT UNIT HAS A GROOVED, STRAIGHT-LINE DESIGNED AT THE TOP OF THE GLASS AREA THAT APPARENTLY CAUSES THE ROOM DARKENING EFFECT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Dec 28, 2005
THIS IS A REPEATABLE EVENT THAT COULD LEAD TO AN INJURY: PURCHASED A NEW 2006 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5X END OF OCTOBER 2005. AFTER APPROX. TWO WEEKS CAR BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE UNEXPECTED ENGINE RPM INCREASES IMMEDIATELY AFTER A "COLD START." WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED, ENGINE RPMS ARE AT AROUND 1500. PUT CAR INTO REVERSE AND BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE. WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, ENGINE RPMS SHOOT UP TO 3000+. THEN, AFTER PUTTING CAR IN 1ST GEAR, AND RELEASING CLUTCH, ENGINE RPMS DROP TO ABOUT 1500 BUT SLOWLY INCREASE TO AROUND 2500-3000 RPM AND VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES WITHOUT FOOT EVEN BEING ON THE ACCELERATOR. PROBLEM USUALLY CLEARS UP AFTER DRIVING A FEW MINUTES EXCEPT ON ONE OCCASION WHEN CAR HAD BEEN OPERATING FOR AROUND 15 MINUTES... WHEN I CAME HOME FOR LUNCH AND PULLED INTO OUR DRIVE AND PUT IN THE CLUTCH, THE RPMS SHOT UP TO AROUND 3000. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING WILL "RESET" THE RPMS TO AROUND 1500 UNTIL IT IS PUT IN GEAR ONCE AGAIN AND THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED. A COUPLE OF TIMES THIS HAPPENED: AFTER THE RPMS SHOT UP TO 3000+, I KEPT THE CLUTCH PRESSED TO SEE HOW LONG THE RPMS WOULD STAY AROUND 3000. THE RPMS DID A DECAYING SINUSOIDAL OSCILLATION OF ABOUT 6 CYCLES OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 30-45 SECONDS, FINALLY LEVELING OUT AROUNT 1500 RPM. *NM
Vehicle speed control, Dec 12, 2005
APPARENTLY, SUBARU HAS GONE TO A ??DRIVE BY WIRE?? FOR AT LEAST 2006. THE 2006 FORESTER I HAVE HAS THE SURGING PROBLEM. IT IS WORST DRIVING DOWNHILL AND TRYING TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT SPEED IN EITHER MANUAL OR CRUISE CONTROL. THE STEEPER THE HILL THE WORSE THE SURGE. I LIVE IN THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS AND IF THERE WERE SNOW OR ICE THIS SURGE WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE TRACTION AND GO OUT OF CONTROL. ACTIVELY ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING IS NOT A PROBLEM. THE SURGE OCCURS ONLY WHEN A CONSTANT SPEED IS ATTEMPTED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY A SUBARU DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND REPRODUCED ON ANOTHER 2006 FORESTER. SUBARU SAID THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM AND IS EXPECTED WITH THE DRIVE BY WIRE SYSTEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AS A DRIVER COULD LOOSE CONTROL WITH THE SEVERE SURGE PROBLEM. *JB
Fuel system, Gasoline, Dec 7, 2005
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
Vehicle speed control, Dec 6, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE IS HESITATED AND SURGED. THIS HAPPENED MORE OFTEN WHEN TRAVELING DOWN A MOUNTAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS, AND THE PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THERE WAS ACTUALLY NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED $1,000 GIFT CERTIFICATE AS INCENTIVE TO HAVE NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH THEM. *AK
Latches/locks/linkages, Nov 14, 2005
FRONT HOOD OPENED TWICE IN MY WIFE CAR WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING. *NM