2006 Subaru Forester problems
Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Subaru Forester. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 18% of complaints. After that come cruise control (17%) and fuel system (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 121 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 18% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 20 and 10
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 51,000 miles 91 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 | 25 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 12 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 14 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 6 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 12 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 4 |
What the data shows
Among the 91 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 51,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 52,000 miles (20 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 20 complaints mention a crash; 10 complaints mention a fire; 11 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 2006 ranks 23rd most-complained-about out of 29 model years of the Subaru Forester with enough data (53 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
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.
On oct. 5,2007 - I was stopped at a traffic light.an illegal alien without a drivers license was looking for his cell phone and traveling at least 15-20 miles over the posted speed - slammed into the back of my car. It sent my car through the intersection and turned it completely around. While this was going on the seatback of my driver's seat collapsed onto the back seat. Because of the collapse - my seatbelt did not protect me - it nearly severed my left ear. I have no memory of any of it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 subaru forester. The contact stated that when driving at low speeds, the driver and passenger front wheels seized and became twisted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not repaired or diagnosed. The failure and the current mileage was 80,000.
Tl* 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 inoperable. The contact stated that the power steering failure warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that extra effort was needed to turn the steering wheel in either direction.