YearToAvoid

2008 Subaru Forester Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2008 Subaru Forester carries a Good verdict with a complaint index of 0, the lowest among all 21 model years, though NHTSA lists 50 complaints, 1 recall, and 5 injuries. Its verdict is capped to Good rather than higher because 2005-2009 records are less complete.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
0/100
#21 of 21 Forester years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
50
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
5
reported in complaints
Fires
3
Injuries
5
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2024
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21.5
19.5 city / 25.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0

Top 2008 Subaru Forester problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine14 (28%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (26%)
  3. Other8 (16%)
  4. Airbags6 (12%)
  5. Electrical System6 (12%)
  6. Steering4 (8%)
  7. Structure & Body4 (8%)
  8. Fuel System3 (6%)
  9. Brakes2 (4%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain2 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Some owners report the accelerator surging between acceleration and deceleration when trying to hold a steady highway speed, including while using cruise control.
  • Electrical system failures have been linked to engine stalling and, in some cases, smoke or fire from a stuck secondary air injection pump.
  • Owners describe the steering pulling hard to one side during quick lane changes, requiring correction to keep the car straight.
  • Rear wheel bearing and hub assembly wear has produced road noise starting around 65,000 miles that persisted after new tires were installed.
  • One owner reported brake failure with the pedal going to the floor shortly after purchase, at very low mileage.
  • A structural complaint noted the liftgate and passenger door lack a keyhole, leaving no way to open them if the electrical system fails.
2008 Subaru Forester complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2008Apr 2010Jul 2013Mar 2016Dec 2017Nov 2019Jul 2022
50 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2008 to May 2025; peak Jul 2013 (3).

2008 Subaru Forester recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  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.

2008 Subaru Forester fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19.5 MPG
Highway
25.5 MPG
Combined
21.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,375
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Forester years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Good588221
2007Good1074121.5
2008Good050121.5
2009Caution501781722
2010Caution552621722

All Subaru Forester years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Subaru Forester reliable?
Among Forester model years, 2008 ranks best with a complaint index of 0 and the lowest complaint count relative to other years, earning a Good verdict from NHTSA data.
Why isn't the 2008 Forester rated Best instead of Good?
Its verdict is capped to Good because NHTSA complaint records for the 2005-2009 model years are considered less complete, not because of a high complaint count.
What is the top problem area for the 2008 Forester?
Engine complaints are the largest category, making up 28% of reports, with a median failure mileage of 62,500 miles.
Does the 2008 Forester have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall, campaign 11V464000, covering suspension, wheels, and tires due to corrosion issues on certain 2002-2008 model years.
How does the 2008 Forester compare to later years like 2019?
The 2008 model has a complaint index of 0 versus 100 for 2019, which is rated Avoid, making 2008 one of the strongest years for this model.

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.