2008 Subaru Forester recalls and problems

The 2008 Subaru Forester has 1 safety recall and 50 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Subaru dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

5 / 3

Injuries / deaths

5 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2008 Subaru Forester vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2008 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.

2008 Subaru Forester problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Suspension	11
Engine	7
Vehicle Speed Control	6
Air Bags	6
Unknown or Other	6
Electrical System	5
Steering	4
Latches/Locks/Linkages	3
Fuel System, Gasoline	3
Engine and Engine Cooling	2
Seats	2
Power Train	2

Most reported parts

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 1
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hatchback/Liftgate › Lock — 1
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch — 1
Air Bags › Frontal — 1
Structure › Body — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 88,900 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 2008 Subaru Forester complaints

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

Suspension · at 144,000 miles · reported Jan 10, 2025

The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at approximately 5 MPH, the transmission control valve detached. No warning light was illuminated. The contact did research and was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to get a diagnosis however, the diagnosis was pending. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

Suspension · at 116,000 miles · reported Nov 8, 2024

The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a clanking and knocking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who discovered severe subframe rust and corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while backing out of the driveway, the front driverâs side control arm was fractured, rendering the vehicle undrivable. The contact stated that the failure was caused by corrosion of the front lower control arm. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but…

Air Bags · reported Dec 10, 2022

The airbag on driverâs side deployed (malfunctioned)without incident while parked in my garage. It is currently at local Subaru dealer. Mechanics cannot determine what caused the malfunction. An engineer from Corporate Subaru inspected. Another team of engineers from Corporate is going to conduct a more thorough investigation once more photos of interior and exterior are provided by retailer. It is, of course, available for inspection. Fortunately, I was not driving the vehicle at the time of deployment. No one was in the car at the time of deployment. Vehicle was parked in my garage and…

Suspension · at 136,000 miles · reported Jul 18, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, there was an abnormal clanking noise coming from the steering wheel. Additionally, the steering wheel became loose without warning. The contact pulled over and upon inspection, the front lower control arm had severed due to severe corrosion. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension) which he linked to the failure. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where they inspected the vehicle and confirmed the front control arm failure. The dealer informed him…

Suspension · at 140,000 miles · reported Feb 28, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the lower control arm detached. The contact became aware that there was rust on the control arm. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 141,000.

Other Subaru Forester years

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Compare all Subaru Forester years · All Subaru models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Subaru Forester have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2008 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 2008 Subaru Forester?

Owners report suspension problems most often (11 reports), followed by engine (7). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 88,900 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.