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2006 Subaru Forester Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Subaru Forester, most often about the engine (25% of complaints, typically around 51,500 miles). It is 20th of 27 Forester model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2006 Subaru Forester problems
Engine
22 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Head gasket leaking oil again (5000miles later) after being repaired by Subaru dealer while car was under warranty. Can smell hot oil after a long drive on freeway and have seen wisps of smoke coming from under hood. There is the potential for an underhood oil fire if leak gets worse.
Purchased in ak in 2006. Approximately 13,000 miles on engine. Paperwork listed entry-point: hawaii. Current 2016 mileage: less than 60,000. Well-maintained vehicle.----- upon acceleration, the engine sometimes lurches and revs too high too fast, and then settles into how it is supposed to feel and sound. Other times…
Speed control
20 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 36,500 miles.
I accelerated from a stop to merge with traffic. When I stepped on the gas pedal to accelerate, the gas pedal stuck & I continued to accelerate despite taking my foot off the gas & trying to firmly apply my brakes- I could hear the engine revving . My brakes did not stop the car & even in neutral with my brakes on I…
Tl contact owns a 2006 Subaru Forester. On february 20, 2009, while attempting to pull into the driveway at less than 6 MPH, the hydraulic brakes failed. The brake pedal extended to the floor board and the vehicle began to jerk and accelerate on its own. The vehicle crashed into a tree and the frontal air bags…
Fuel system
13 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
When the temp gets into the teens or lower gas leaks in and around the engine. This is dangerous!! I have found fuel near area that get very hot, and I am worried about my family starting on fire. Soa recalled a few years to repair this issue, but not all that are affected.
Purchased in ak in 2006. Approximately 13,000 miles on engine. Paperwork listed entry-point: hawaii. Current 2016 mileage: less than 60,000. Well-maintained vehicle.----- upon acceleration, the engine sometimes lurches and revs too high too fast, and then settles into how it is supposed to feel and sound. Other times…
Suspension
12 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 123,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
While driving my car the passenger control arm failed, snapping in half and I lost control of my vehicle. Upon lookin under my car I could see the snapped control arm, which was completely rusted out. I also observe the driver side control arm is also very rusty. Both control arms are the only isolated rusted parts…
The contact owns a 2006 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the lower control arm was rusted again. The contact called thomas Subaru at 814-623-813 (located at 4003 business 220, bedford, pa 15522) and was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 11v464000 (suspension)…
Steering
9 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 119,000 miles.
Control arm is rusted completely through. I need to fully replace the entire arm. It's urgent, as the entire wheel and mechanism could fall off at any time.
The contact owns 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to brattleboro Subaru (1234 putney rd, brattleboro, vt 05301) to be serviced for an unknown manufacturer recall. The contact stated that upon retrieving the vehicle from the dealer, the vehicle was started and the power steering was…
Electrical
7 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that a fire started in the rear of the vehicle by the tail lights. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and determined to be destroyed. The dealer stated that the wiring harness by the rear passenger side light and under the spare tire caught fire and burn the…
I arrived at my house on 8/26/2012 at 8:00 pm, parked my car in the garage of my house and went to sleep. At 2:00 am I heard an explosion, went outside of my house to verify what it was and found my Forester in fire. With the help of my neighbors we control the fire within an hour. Serious consequences came out of the…
Body and structure
7 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
My Subaru Forester 2006 has spots of paint chip all over it. Sub dealer said a rep will call, no call yet. He says their rock chips I took it to a auto body paint shop one of the tech's said it's very odd for their to be rock chips all over the car we live in the city. I say it a bad paint job!!
The hood latch will not engage all of the time. It has happened randomly since I bought the car. I've had my shop repair it more than once, but it never works for long. I never try to drive until I get a solid lock.
Air bags
6 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: frontal, on-off switch assembly.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Subaru Forester. The air bag control module fails to activate at least once per week. On each occasion, the passenger side air bag off light illuminates. The occupant detection sensor does not recognize a passenger sitting in the front passenger seat. The passenger side air bag also does not…
I arrived at my house on 8/26/2012 at 8:00 pm, parked my car in the garage of my house and went to sleep. At 2:00 am I heard an explosion, went outside of my house to verify what it was and found my Forester in fire. With the help of my neighbors we control the fire within an hour. Serious consequences came out of the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 Subaru Forester recalls
Suspension: lower arm
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Front suspension control arm failure
Summary
On september 6, 2011, fuji heavy industries USA, inc, on behalf of subaru of america, inc notified the office of defects investigation (odi) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (my) 2002 through 2007 subaru impreza, my 2003 through 2008 subaru forester, and my 2005 through 2006 saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the district of columbia (dc). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia
Questions about the 2006 Subaru Forester
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Subaru Forester?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (22 complaints, typically around 51,500 miles); speed control (20 complaints, typically around 36,500 miles); fuel system (13 complaints, typically around 57,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Subaru Forester have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 6, 2011 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2006 a bad year for the Subaru Forester?
- It is 20th of 27 Forester model years by number of complaints, with 88 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.