2003 Subaru Forester Suspension Problems

While driving at low speeds, you heard an abnormal noise from the front of your vehicle and noticed the power steering wasn't working properly. Upon inspection, you discovered the passenger-side wheel appeared to be detached. A mechanic found that the lower control arm had fractured and separated from the frame rail, along with damage to the stabilizer. This issue was repaired in 2018 at 117,000 miles and may be related to a known suspension safety recall.

While driving at 30 mph, your car suddenly began swaying side to side and making a grinding noise. When you pulled over, you discovered the front passenger tire was pointing outward and had detached from the control arm, and the CV shaft had separated from the transmission, causing oil to leak. Even though the manufacturer said a recall repair was already completed on your vehicle, this failure still occurred at 190,000 miles. Repairing this will likely require reattaching or replacing the control arm, CV shaft, and addressing the transmission seal leak.

While driving at 65 mph, your daughter heard an abnormal noise from the front suspension on the passenger side, and the vehicle suddenly became uncontrollable, crossing multiple lanes before going down an embankment into oncoming traffic. After the accident, inspection revealed that the passenger-side front lower control arm had fractured, causing the wheel to separate from the suspension. The repair may involve replacing the fractured lower control arm and inspecting related suspension components for damage.

Your passenger side front lower control arm separated at the weld seam while the car was being driven, causing the front tire to swing rearward and pull the car off the road. This is a critical safety issue because a lower control arm failure can cause complete loss of vehicle control at highway speeds. Your car may have had a 2011 recall completed for this exact problem, but the repair may not have been done correctly or the replacement parts may have the same defect. The fix will involve replacing the lower control arm with a properly reinforced part and inspecting the suspension for any related damage.

Your lower control arm cracked while you were driving, likely due to rust damage. The dealer inspected your vehicle under a suspension recall but didn't replace any parts, and the problem wasn't caught until an independent mechanic diagnosed the cracked arm at 105,000 miles. Fixing this will require replacing the lower control arm assembly.

Your 2003 Subaru Forester developed extensive rust, corrosion, and holes in the front frame, which required an independent mechanic to replace the front frame and both front control arms. The rear frame and rear control arms were also inspected and found to be deteriorating, likely needing replacement as well. The repair will involve removing and replacing corroded frame sections and suspension control arms.

Your car's lower control arms were inspected during a 2011-2012 recall and passed a punch test, but by 2017 they showed significant corrosion and failed the same test. Corroded lower control arms can affect steering and suspension control, potentially making the vehicle unsafe to drive. You'll likely need to have the lower control arms replaced to restore proper suspension function.

Your Subaru Forester's sub-frame (the metal structure that supports the suspension) has developed rust. This is likely due to road salt exposure in Illinois winters. If rust continues to spread, it could eventually weaken the structural integrity of the suspension, so inspection and rust treatment or replacement may be needed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FOUND NO DAMAGE. UPON RE-ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND SWAY BAR LINK WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000. ..UPDATED 05/09/17 *BF UPDATED 05/17/2017*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAD SEVERE CORROSION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE REVERSING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

TODAY I WAS AT MY MECHANICS TO REPLACE A MUFFLER. AFTER RAISING THE CAR UP ON THE RACK HE NOTICED DESTRUCTIVE RUST THAT WAS COVERING AND INUNDATING THE K FRAME AND FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS (TRANSVERSE LINKS). IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012 I WAS AT GARY LANG SUBARU (ILLINOIS) FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE. THE SAFETY RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE , WVX-34, REQUIRED AN INSPECTION AND REPAIRS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACEMENT OR CORROSION TREATMENT OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS (TRANSVERSE LINK). ACCORDING TO SUBARU OF AMERICA, THAT RECALL WAS "COMPLETED". THE SUBARU OPERATOR (KAYLA) COULD NOT ELABORATE ON THE TERM "COMPLETE". NO MENTION OF ANY SPECIFIC ACTION WAS REPORTED. TODAY, DURING THE INSPECTION OF SAID AREA, MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT NO PROOF EXISTED OF EITHER CORRECTIVE ACTION, EITHER UNDERCOATING OR MECHANICAL REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, AND AT SOME POINT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT LOSS OF CONTROL WILL FOLLOW IF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BREAKS. I WILL PURSUE THE SUBARU DEALER FOR REPAIRS BUT HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER COATED THE CONTROL ARMS, BUT THE CONTROL ARMS WERE RUSTED THROUGH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

UPON CHANGING THE OIL IN MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER I NOTICED THAT MY SUB FRAME IS TOTALLY ROTTED OUT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MY CAR HAS EVEN STAYED TOGETHER ITS SO BAD. I LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP ONLINE AND I FOUND THAT IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH SUBARU CARS. I CALLED SUBARU TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY SAID ITS A COSMETIC ISSUE AND THEY WILL NOT HELP ME. BUT THEY DID SAY THEY WILL OFFER ME $500 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SUBARU. I ASKED IF THEY WILL APPLY THE $500 TO FIXING MY CURRENT SUBARU AND HE TOLD ME NO. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER THAT DEPENDS ON MY CAR 100% AND I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT SUBARU WILL GIVE ME $500 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS WHEN THEY NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V464000 (SUSPENSION), HOWEVER THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000. UPDATED 7/9/12 *CN THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME ASSEMBLY WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. UPDATED 07/10/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER.THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM) WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE SUB-FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE FRAME ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER . THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V464000. (SUSPENSION: FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 03/28/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER CONTACTING SUBARU OF AMERICA, THEY AGREED TO COVER ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPAIR, INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SUBFRAME. UPDATED 03/30/12*JB

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A VERY LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER IS REPLACING THE BEARINGS. *AK