YearToAvoid

2005 Subaru Forester Suspension, Wheels & Tires Problems

NHTSA has 22 owner complaints about suspension problems in the 2005 Subaru Forester, 24% of all 93 complaints for this model year. That is #4 highest suspension complaint count among 21 Forester model years. These complaints report 3 crashes and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure: 114,028 miles.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints
22
24% of 93
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
114,028 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2005 Subaru Forester suspension complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 5, 2005, latest May 4, 2023.

2005 Subaru Forester suspension, wheels & tires complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2005Jun 2009Jun 2015Nov 2016Nov 2017Mar 2020Oct 2022
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2005 to May 2023; peak Mar 2017 (2).

Suspension, Wheels & Tires recalls for the 2005 Subaru Forester

  1. NHTSA 11V464000Sep 6, 2011Suspension, Wheels & Tires318,215 vehicles

    Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm

    Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 impreza, model year 2003-2008 forester, and model year 2005-2006 saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured from september 5, 2000 through november 26, 2007 originally sold, or currently registered in, massachusetts, maryland, michigan, new hampshire, new york, pennsylvania, vermont, wisconsin, connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, maine, minnesota, missouri, new jersey, ohio, rhode island, west virginia and the district of columbia. The front lower control arms may break at the hanger brackets due to corrosion if the hanger bracket is exposed to salty and humid environments such as roads containing snow melting agent.

    Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Subaru will handle their vehicles and saab will handle theirs. Dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during december 2011. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints by Forester model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200522 (24%)
  2. 200618 (20%)
  3. 200716 (22%)
  4. 200813 (26%)
  5. 20099 (5%)
  6. 20108 (3%)
  7. 20110 (0%)
  8. 20125 (5%)
  9. 20130 (0%)
  10. 2014105 (26%)
  11. 201588 (14%)
  12. 201628 (7%)
  13. 201721 (4%)
  14. 201822 (4%)
  15. 201911 (1%)
  16. 20203 (0%)
  17. 20216 (3%)
  18. 20225 (5%)
  19. 20235 (7%)
  20. 20241 (3%)
  21. 20254 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Subaru Forester have suspension problems?
NHTSA has 22 owner complaints about the suspension in the 2005 Subaru Forester, 24% of all complaints for this model year, including 3 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 114,028 miles.
Which Subaru Forester year has the most suspension complaints?
The 2014 Subaru Forester has the most suspension complaints (105), compared with 22 for the 2005.
Is there a suspension recall for the 2005 Subaru Forester?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2005 Subaru Forester concerns the suspension: 11V464000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.