2008 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Suspension is the leading concern among 50 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 25th highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 5 involved a crash and 3 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
Representative owner complaints: fuel system
3 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel system, Gasoline, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Mar 2, 2018, crash
I OWN A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5X, VIN. [XXX], WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW AT BROWN'S SUBARU, 960 HILTON HEIGHTS ROAD, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. ALL FACTORY RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES WERE METICULOUSLY UPHELD. VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS EXPERIENCED DURING ACCIDENT: 1. RAPID RPM SURGE WITHOUT OPERATOR ACTIVATION FROM IDLE TO APPROXIMATELY 5,000+ RPMS 2. RAPID UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE ACCELERATION, PLOWING THE VEHICLE THROUGH MULTIPLE LOAD-BEARING STRUCTURES 3. FAILURE OF DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS AFTER MULTIPLE HEAVY IMPACTS, LAST OF WHICH AN EXTREMELY HARD IMPACT WHICH COMPLETELY STOPPED AND DISABLED VEHICLE, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. ACCIDENT DESCRIPTION: I HAD A MAJOR MALFUNCTION OF MY SUBARU FORESTER, WHICH RESULTED IN A VERY SEVERE AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL CAR ACCIDENT. IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING SLOWLY INTO A HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACE, WITH ONE FOOT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE'S RPMS SURGED AHEAD RACING OUT OF CONTROL. AT THAT TIME, I APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKES. THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED INTO A BUSINESS, THROWING US BACK IN OUR SEATS AND COMPLETELY DEMOLISHING MULTIPLE EXTERIOR LOAD BEARING STRUCTURES AS WELL AS INTERIOR STRUCTURES. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE CAR BECAME LODGED AGAINST A KIOSK COMPLETELY INSIDE THE BUILDING, THAT IT STOPPED, ALTHOUGH BRAKES WERE APPLIED FIRMLY FOR THE DURATION OF THE ACCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER, AS THIS WAS A SERIOUS INCIDENT COMPLETELY OUT OF MY CONTROL, THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING UNCONTROLLABLE EVENT THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN TRAGEDY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICES. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NEEDED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 11, 2013
IN JULY OF 2012 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CANCELING MY CRUISE CONTROL. I TOOK THE CAR TO REPAIR GARAGE I WAS USING AND THE EVAP CODE INDICATED A LEAK OF .002. THE CAR WAS SMOKE TESTED AND THE GARAGE RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE GAS CAP, WHICH I DID WITH GENERIC CAP. THE AGAIN IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, AGAIN THE CODE WAS POSSIBLE EVAP LEAK. IN JAN 2013 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY, HAD IT SMOKE TESTED FOR 3 HOURS AT THE GARAGE, NO LEAK WAS DETECTED. CHANGED GAS CAP AGAIN. THEN IN MAY 2013 AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AGAIN POSSIBLE EVAP LEAK, SUGGESTED TO GET "SUBARU" GAS CAP. SUBARU PARTS PERSONAL SAID THE ROLL OVER VALVE ON THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK WAS USUALLY THE PROBLEM MOST OF THE TIME. IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, WILL PROBABLY NEED TO REPLACE. SO IN JUNE AFTER COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE CHECK ENGINE COMES ON. TOOK CAR TO SUBARU AND SAID COULD NOT BE CERTAIN IT WAS ROLL OVER VALVE, HOWEVER SUGGESTED TO REPLACE. CODE WAS P0456, WHICH WAS SAME CODE THAT APPEARED BEFORE IN MAY. IF THE SUBARU FORESTER HAS THIS PROBLEM ON THESE MODELS, SHOULDN'T THIS PART BE A "MAINTENANCE" ITEM TO PREVENT ENGINE TROUBLES? MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS HOW MANY SUBARU FORESTER'S HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM? IS THERE A WAY TO ASK SUBARU FOR HOW MANY SUBARU FORESTER'S HAVE HAD THIS PART REPLACED ON ALL SUBARU FORESTER'S TO EVALUATE IF MANUFACTURE DEFECT? TO CHANGE THIS PART, I WAS CHARGED $418.14 + TAX TO FIX PROBLEM I HAVE NO "SCHEDULED" MAINTENANCE FOR . THANK YOU. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Apr 17, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTICED A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,399... UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING GASKET AND EVAP CANISTER. UPDATED 05/31/12