2008 Subaru Forester Suspension Problems

While driving at 35 MPH, you heard abnormal clanking from the steering wheel and the steering wheel became loose without warning. When you inspected the vehicle, the front lower control arm had completely broken due to severe corrosion. This issue is linked to NHTSA recall campaign 11V464000, though the dealer confirmed the recall had already been completed on your vehicle previously. The repair will likely involve replacing the corroded front lower control arm.

Your lower control arm detached while you were driving, and you noticed rust on the part. This is a suspension component that helps keep your wheel aligned and stable. The dealership towed your car but didn't diagnose or repair the problem. Fixing this will likely require replacing the lower control arm and inspecting other suspension parts for rust or damage.

Your right front lower control arm completely detached from the frame due to rust, which caused your steering to become uncontrollable—the steering wheel no longer worked to direct the car. This is part of a known safety recall (WVX34/11v464000), but your dealer says the recall is closed and won't help. You should have the left front control arm inspected as well, since it also shows signs of rust damage.

Your Forester made a grinding noise while driving at various speeds, then your front lower control arm suddenly detached from the vehicle when you turned into a driveway. This is a serious safety issue that left your car undrivable. The fix will likely involve replacing the lower control arm and inspecting the suspension mounting points for damage.

While backing out of your driveway, your driver's side lower control arm fractured, causing the wheels to separate from the vehicle. An independent mechanic found the control arm was broken and the passenger side showed severe rust damage. Your car had previously been repaired under a Subaru suspension recall (campaign 11V464000). Fixing this will require replacing the fractured lower control arm and addressing rust damage on suspension components.

While driving at about 5 MPH, your transmission control valve detached from your 2008 Subaru Forester without any warning light appearing on your dashboard. You discovered this issue may be related to a known suspension recall (NHTSA Campaign 11V464000), though your vehicle's VIN wasn't included in that recall. The car was towed to a mechanic for diagnosis, but the repair wasn't completed at the time of this report. Repairing this issue will likely involve removing and reattaching or replacing the transmission control valve.

You heard clanking and knocking sounds from the front end of your 2008 Subaru Forester while driving. A mechanic found severe rust and corrosion on the front subframe and lower control arm. While backing out of your driveway, the front driver's side control arm fractured, making the vehicle undrivable. Even though your vehicle was supposed to be fixed under a previous recall to prevent this exact problem, the failure happened anyway.

While driving at about 30 mph, your car started shaking, especially in the front right wheel, and the vehicle drifted to the right. A mechanic found that your front lower control arm was cracked. This happened even though the same suspension component was previously repaired under a recall campaign.

While driving at about 50 mph, the lower control arm on the front passenger side of your 2008 Subaru Forester broke. Even though your vehicle was previously repaired under a recall for this suspension issue, the manufacturer refused to cover this repair. You had to pay out of pocket for diagnosis and repair at an independent mechanic. The failure occurred at approximately 88,900 miles. The fix will involve replacing the fractured lower control arm.

THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY. WEATHER WAS SUNNY, IN THE 20S, PAVEMENT WAS DRY BUT THERE WERE SHORT ICY PATCHES UNDER BRIDGES. EVERY TIME I PASSED OVER ONE OF THESE PATCHES I EXPERIENCED SEVERE FISHTAILING. I HAD TO REDUCE SPEED TO UNDER 30MPH TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE TRAFFIC WAS PASSING ME AT 60+ MPH. TIRES WERE NEW GOODYEAR ASSURANCE. THIS IS EXTREMELY NERVE WRACKING AND IS A FREQUENTLY REPORTED PROBLEM ON THE SUBARU ONLINE USER FORUMS SUCH AS: HTTP://WWW.ULTIMATESUBARU.ORG/FORUM/TOPIC/127473-GHOST-WALKING/ THE PROBLEM IS NOT EVIDENT WHEN DRIVING ON DRY OR ON SNOWY ROADS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) AND THE TECHNICIAN ONLY APPLIED A RUSTPROOF COATING ON THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS SINCE THEY DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT THE CONTROL ARMS WERE COMPLETED RUSTED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.