2005 Subaru Forester — Known Issues & Recalls

While driving at 55 mph, your Forester stopped responding to steering inputs, and the front passenger side began sliding even when you braked. An independent mechanic found that the front passenger side control arm had fractured and the axle was damaged. This suspension failure happened at 175,000 miles, after the vehicle had been previously repaired under a Subaru recall for suspension issues. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the fractured control arm and inspecting or replacing the damaged axle.

Your front passenger-side tire detached from your vehicle while driving at about 25 MPH, with no warning light beforehand. When you pulled over, you discovered the front passenger-side lower control arm was fractured. This is a serious suspension failure that caused the wheel to separate from the car.

Your front driver's side control arm broke while driving on the highway, causing you to lose complete control of your vehicle. You went down an embankment into a cornfield and narrowly avoided a telephone pole and culvert during rush hour traffic. Your car was totaled in the accident, and you received no warning signs beforehand—no warning lights or steering problems that might have given you time to react. This part had been recalled previously and Subaru told you the recall had been completed, yet the failure still occurred.

After a 3-hour highway trip, your car lost the ability to move in reverse and forward while in a parking lot. You noticed the left front tire was bent inward toward the vehicle. A mechanic discovered severe rust damage had created a hand-sized hole in the sub-frame, making it impossible to properly repair the control arm and compromising the vehicle's structural integrity. The frame specialist found matching rust damage on the opposite side of the sub-frame that could cause bolts to fail. Fixing this will likely require cutting into the main frame to replace or reinforce the damaged sub-frame sections.

Your suspension components are severely rusted and deteriorated. A mechanic warned that if your car were hit or encountered a large pothole, the suspension could fail completely and cause the vehicle to collapse. This is a serious safety concern that needs immediate inspection and repair.

Your front right lower control arm and axle broke while driving without warning. This vehicle was subject to a 2011 Subaru recall (campaign 11V464000) for this exact issue on 2003-2008 Foresters, but the dealership failed to replace the rusted parts — they only tested one thick spot and refused to inspect further. Even after independent verification from another shop confirming both lower control arms needed replacement, the dealership refused to perform the recall work at no charge and instead demanded $2,000; Subaru headquarters later claimed the recall was completed in 2011 when it was never actually done. The repair will require replacement of both front lower control arms.

Your lower control arms on both sides have rusted through and become damaged, likely caused by condensation from your air conditioning system combined with road salt exposure during winter. A mechanic discovered the damage during inspection. While Subaru repaired this issue once under a recall in 2012, the problem has recurred. Fixing this will require replacing the corroded lower control arms on both sides of your suspension.

Your control arm broke due to corrosion while you were backing out of a parking space. This is a suspension component that helps keep your wheels aligned and stable. The corrosion weakened the metal until it failed during normal driving. Replacing the corroded control arm will be necessary to restore proper suspension function and safety.

Your car has a severe gas line leak near the engine that sprays gasoline onto the side of the passenger compartment while driving. This creates a serious safety hazard due to the flammable nature of gasoline in the cabin area. The fuel line connection or tubing near the engine will need to be inspected and repaired or replaced to stop the leak.

You notice a strong fuel smell inside your car's cabin when it's cold outside. This typically happens when you start the engine or drive in winter conditions. The issue may be related to how fuel evaporates or circulates when temperatures drop. A mechanic should inspect your fuel system, injectors, and seals to identify where the smell is coming from.

When it's below 30 degrees outside and your heater or defroster is running, your accelerator may stick and won't let you slow down while driving between 25-65 mph. When you press the clutch pedal, the engine RPMs jump up by 1,000-1,500 (sometimes reaching 4,500), even though your engine runs normally at idle and there are no warning lights or error codes. The issue likely involves the drive-by-wire throttle control system, which may need to be replaced.

While driving normally, your car lost power and stuttered before stalling completely, forcing you to coast to the side of the road. A few hours later it started and ran fine, but the same problem occurred about a year ago. Your car also shows a check engine light with code P2138, and you've noticed the idle sometimes fluctuates in winter. A dealer ran diagnostic tests on the pedal sensor, wiring harness, and engine control module—all passed—but the intermittent stalling problem couldn't be reproduced or fixed.

Your front frame had a recall due to rusting, but instead of replacing the damaged part, Subaru applied a rust-proof coating on 3/20/12—a temporary fix they knew would only last a few years. The part has now broken, and Subaru says the recall is complete and won't replace it or fix the damage it caused. The repair will likely require replacing the corroded front frame component rather than just applying another protective coating.

Your 2005 Forester may have extensive corrosion on the lower control arm and supporting frame due to a known recall issue, but you may not have received notification about it. When you contact a Subaru dealer for repairs, much of the needed work may not be covered under the recall. This corrosion can affect your vehicle's structural integrity and suspension performance. Repairs will likely involve replacing or reinforcing the corroded lower control arm and frame components.

While moving your car slowly near an air pump, it suddenly accelerated to extremely high speed without your input, causing you to lose control. Your car crossed over a curb, hit an air pump, demolished landscaping, and struck a tree and pole before stopping. The airbags did not deploy during the crash, and you sustained serious injuries. This issue likely involves a malfunction in your fuel system, speed control, or airbag safety system that needs complete diagnostic investigation and potential replacement of engine control modules, throttle components, and airbag systems.

Your brakes suddenly failed while driving on a residential road, making a loud screeching and grinding noise before losing stopping power completely. You went through a stop sign into traffic before the car finally stopped. A repair shop found the front brake calipers, rotors, and pads were corroded and frozen, requiring replacement of all three components on both front wheels at a cost over $950. You've noted there may be a recall for this issue and want to verify coverage before proceeding.

When you shifted into reverse in a parking lot, your Forester suddenly accelerated backward on its own, traveling across the lot, a street, and onto a sidewalk before hitting a light pole at an estimated 25-30 mph. You had your foot firmly on the brake the entire time and tried to shift to park, but the vehicle wouldn't stop. The incident lasted 4-5 seconds and resulted in the vehicle being totaled, though no pedestrians or other vehicles were struck.

Your Forester unexpectedly accelerated when you tried to start it, even though no warning lights came on. Both a dealer and Subaru were contacted about the problem, but neither diagnosed or repaired it. This issue happened at 183,000 miles. The fix will likely require the dealer to diagnose the throttle control system and potentially replace or reprogram components related to engine acceleration.

Your fuel line may leak when temperatures drop below 20 degrees, causing strong gasoline fumes to enter your cabin—especially when the heater is on and during cold, damp weather. You might notice this smell whether the car is parked or driving whenever the engine is running. The fix will likely involve inspecting and replacing the leaking fuel line or its connection points.

Your engine is burning through oil very quickly — the oil level dropped to empty just 400 miles after an oil change. You're also hearing knocking noises and noticing rough driving behavior. Since this has happened twice and there's no visible leak or oil in the coolant or exhaust, the oil may be burning internally due to worn piston rings or valve seals. A mechanic will likely need to perform a compression test or leak-down test to diagnose the internal engine wear.