2007 Subaru Forester

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Suspension is the leading concern among 74 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 23rd highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 74

Of the 2007 reports, 13 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 7 people were injured.

Primary concernSuspension12 reports · 16% of complaints
Owner complaints74Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship1 safety recallNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Suspension12
  2. Power train11
  3. Engine9
  4. Vehicle speed control8
  5. Air bags6
  6. Engine and engine cooling6
  7. Fuel system6
  8. Fuel/propulsion system6

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

Representative owner complaints: vehicle speed control

8 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Sep 23, 2026, crash

    I was parked at my banks' ATM to deposit a check into my account. The car was parked and I put the gear shift in the Neutral position and applied the emergency hand brake. When I finished with the deposit, I released the hand brake. Then I moved the shift from Neutral to Drive and the vehicle did a sudden unexpected acceleration (the car left the parking spot like a bullet/missile). I attempted to apply brake pressure with both feet and there was no response. I caused a collision with parked cars opposite a chain link fence. Fortunately, the cars that I collided with were not occupied.

  2. Vehicle speed control, Mar 5, 2025, crash

    The contact's friend owned a 2007 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while reversing in the driveway, the vehicle suddenly violently accelerated and crashed into the retaining wall and unit across the street. The vehicle was then shifted into drive from reverse when the vehicle violently accelerated a second time where it was able to come to a stop in the driveway. The accelerator pedal had not been depressed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact sustained injuries to the back neck and had several cuts, but medical attention was not provided. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire or air bag deployment. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

  3. Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Oct 28, 2016, crash

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE EXITING A CAR WASH FACILITY, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED, SPED ACROSS THE STREET, AND STRUCK A CURB. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CEMENT DIVIDER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 01/25/2017*CT UPDATED 7/2/18*JB

  4. Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Mar 1, 2016, crash

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

  5. Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 6, 2015

    THE FAULT INDICATORS CAME ON AND THE ERROR CODE P2441 WAS PRESENT BOTH AT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AND AT THE SECOND OCCURRENCE AT 105,000 MILES. AT THE SECOND OCCURRENCE THE PRICE FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM WAS SET AT $2123. AT THIS PRICE AND GUESSING AT THE PRICE OF OTHER PARTS THE CAR'S REPLACEMENT VALUE SHOULD COME TO AROUND $200,000. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM PERVASIVE TO ALL SUBARUS, NOT JUST FORESTERS, FEATURING A TURBO CHARGED ENGINE. *TR

  6. Vehicle speed control, Jan 29, 2014, crash

    I PULLED INTO MY SISTER'S DRIVEWAY. DRIVEWAY IS SHORT; LESS THAN 2 CAR LENGTHS. THE FRONT OF HER HOUSE IS ABOUT 6 FEET OR LESS AHEAD OF END OF DRIVEWAY. I BRAKED AS I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE. I WAS ABLE TO BACK THE CAR AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. *TR

  7. Vehicle speed control, Oct 20, 2008

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED TO DISENGAGE THE SET SPEED FROM THE PREVIOUS DAY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CRUISE CONTROL AUTOMATICALLY DEACTIVATED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS TO THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THIS WAS A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REDUCE SPEED UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISENGAGED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

  8. Vehicle speed control, Dec 4, 2006

    2007 SUBARU FORRESTER WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE ENGINE SURGES WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL (NOT UNDER LOAD) AND YOU ARE GIVING JUST ENOUGH THROTTLE TO KEEP UP SPEED. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE A JERKING BACK AND FORTH MOTION. SINCE PEOPLE PURCHASE THE CARS TO DRIVE IN SNOW I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND SUBARU STATES THAT IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT THE DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE IS TO BLAME. *JB