2005 Subaru Forester recalls and problems

The 2005 Subaru Forester has 1 safety recall and 93 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Subaru dealer.

Recalls
1
Complaints
93
Crashes / fires
15 / 1
Injuries / deaths
11 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2005 Subaru Forester vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2005 Subaru Forester recalls

Recall 11V-464: Suspension

Reported Sep 6, 2011 · 318,215 vehicles affected · SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

Problem: 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.

Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

2005 Subaru Forester problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Suspension21
Vehicle Speed Control17
Fuel/Propulsion System14
Fuel System, Gasoline9
Engine and Engine Cooling7
Air Bags5
Power Train5
Structure4
Service Brakes4
Visibility3
Electrical System3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 3
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 2
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 2
  • Visibility › Windshield — 1
  • Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Windshield › Electrical Heating Element — 1
  • Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control — 1
  • Electrical System › Wiring — 1
  • Suspension › Front — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 80,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2005 Subaru Forester complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Suspension · at 175,000 miles · reported May 4, 2023
The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to respond to the steering wheel turning. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle decelerated but the front passenger's side of the vehicle was sliding. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side control arm had fractured, and the axle was damaged. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the…
Air Bags · reported Mar 28, 2023
Moved car 30’ from gas pumps to air pump. Slowed to almost complete stop to move closer to air tank. Car accelerated at extremely high speed over curb, knocking over air pump. Car proceeded to smash through landscaping shrubs and hit a tree and nearby pole which stopped the car dead. Felt like a fighter plane pushed me. Entire incident probably lasted a minute. Air bags failed to deploy. Car was totaled. I suffered severe facial and othet bruising and have ongoing fatigue and am eadily winded.
Power Train · at 183,000 miles · reported Mar 22, 2023
The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. An unknown dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was 183,000.
Unknown or Other · reported Feb 7, 2023
A part of the front frame was recalled because of rusting and was breaking on 3-20-12 they put a rust proof on the part knowing it would only last a few years instead of replacing the parts. The part is broken and they say the recall was complete but really they only put a bandaid on a serous problem knowing it wouldn’t last . They said they don’t have to replace and fix the damage caused to my car Subaru gave me a case number 230206-1400191
Suspension · at 210,000 miles · reported Oct 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop at approximately 25 MPH, the front passenger's side subframe emitted an abnormally loud sound, and the front passenger's side tire detached from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road where he noticed that the front passenger's side lower control arm was fractured. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer where it remained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…

Other Subaru Forester years

Compare all Subaru Forester years · All Subaru models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Subaru Forester have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2005 Subaru Forester: 11V-464 (suspension). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2005 Subaru Forester?

Owners report suspension problems most often (21 reports), followed by vehicle speed control (17). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 80,000 miles.

Are Subaru recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Subaru dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.