2005 Subaru Forester problems
Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Subaru Forester. Fuel system is the most reported problem area, at 22% of complaints. After that come suspension (20%) and cruise control (16%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 105 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Fuel system 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 23 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 15 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 80,000 miles 89 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 11 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 7 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 15 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 9 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 12 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 5 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 9 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 4 |
What the data shows
Among the 89 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 80,000 miles. For fuel system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 85,000 miles (18 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 23 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 15 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 89% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 28th most-complained-about out of 29 model years of the Subaru Forester with enough data (35 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I noticed smoke and flames in the engine compartment as I was parking at my home. Flames dripped down onto the drivers side axle. As I returned quickly with no water the entire undercarriage was engulfed in flames. I ran a mile to the neighbors house and called 911. We then heard the boom of the exploding fuel tank. We returned to the scene within 20 minutes of the incident and the car was ablaze. Nothing survived the fire. The heat melted through the motor straight through the top of the transmission.
On march 20, 2006, the symmetrical all wheel drive system of my 2005 subaru forrester xt failed, the vehicle fishtailed and drifted, resulting in a rollover, and severe bodily injury. The vehicle was so flimsy, it was disgusting. Every door and window opening collapsed, glass flew everywhere. The ceiling collapsed on the passengers' heads. This is a death car.
On july 28, 2014 I was pulling into my parking space at my condo.the brakes wouldn't stop the car and the engine seemed to surge forward. The passenger with me looked down and said the gas pedal looked to be all the way to the floor. The car had to be towed, and I am still awaiting for the damage estimate from my insurance company.
September 6, 2011, subaru recall 11v464000 or wyx-34, fron lower control arms may break due rust and corrosion from road salt. Corrective action was to punch test, and rustproof if ok; replace at no cost if test failed. My dealer on dec 19, 2011 performed punch test, and reported to subaru it passed and was rustproofed, according to subaru records. Mileage was97,158. On march 27, 2017, my forester failed safety inspection because of rusted through front control arms. Mileage was 128,056.