2008 SUBARU FORESTER

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    suspension arms and bushings

    7 unsafe

    7
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (GARY LANG SUBARU, 1121 STATE RTE 31 BUILDING 3, MCHENRY, IL 60050, [REDACTED PHONE]) INDICA…"~88,900 mi, complaint #1492061
    • "The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal grinding noise would emit from the vehicle without warning. The contact then stated that upon turning into a driveway, the front lower control arm det…"~97,000 mi, complaint #1773223
    • "The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the lower control arm detached. The contact became aware that there was rust on the control arm. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was…"~140,000 mi, complaint #1798491
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE DRIVEWAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND THE WHEELS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFOR…"~140,000 mi, complaint #1543540
  2. #2

    engine oil consumption

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRE…"~65,000 mi, complaint #1411257
    • "MY CAR AS BEEN SEEN BY SUBARU DEALERSHIP SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT IN 2012. I PAID FOR 5 YEARS. AFTER I FINISHED PAYING IN JULY, I JUST DISCOVERED THAT IS AN OIL LEAK , ALL MY ENGINE FROM FRONT TO BACK IS DIRTY WITH OIL, A SECOND OPINION MECHANIC STATED THAT H…"~114,000 mi, complaint #1433344
    • "THERE IS AN OIL LEAK FROM THE CAM SHAFT, ONLY NOTICED AFTER I FINISHED PAYING THE CAR, 60 MONTHS PAYING 283 DOLLARS, NOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. MY CAR IS FULL WITH SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO THIS OIL LEAK, APPARENTLY ALL SUBARU CARS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. NOW I…"~114,000 mi, complaint #1428333
    • "THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON - FLASHING. I DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO MY LOCAL GARAGE. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, I SMELLED A STRONG BURNING OIL SMELL, AS DID THE MECHANIC. THE OIL WAS CHECKED AND I WAS DOWN 2 QUARTS EVEN THOUGH I HAD A RECENT OIL CHANGE AT…"~172,000 mi, complaint #1126609
  3. #3

    evap system

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "IN JULY OF [REDACTED ADDRESS] MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CANCELING MY CRUISE CONTROL. I TOOK THE CAR TO REPAIR GARAGE I WAS USING AND THE EVAP CODE INDICATED A LEAK OF .002. THE CAR WAS SMOKE TESTED AND THE GARAGE RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE GAS CAP, WHICH I DI…"~67,000 mi, complaint #993297
    • "SECONDARY AIR PUMP MALFUNCTION. I HAVE READ THAT THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IT COSTS $2,000 TO GET IT REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME AND IT CANCELS OUT TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL. I CAN HEAR IT TRYING TO WORK AND HOPE IT DOES NO…"~80,000 mi, complaint #1448390
    • "CODE P2441 - SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM SOLENOID MALFUNCTION. PROBLEM OCCURED AT 87K MILES."~87,000 mi, complaint #1304461
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, IT WOULD NOT PASS THE SMOG TEST DUE TO A SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP BEING STUCK OPEN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE W…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1337158
  4. #4

    airbag system

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG DEACTIVATION LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE SENSORS AND STATED THAT IT W…"~13,000 mi, complaint #834963
    • "THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIGH-SPEED CRASH ON I-35 IN DENTON TX. THE CAR WAS REAR-ENDED. BOTH CARS WERE TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50-60 MPH). THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS WERE RESTRAINED AND BOTH SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND LOST CONSCIOU…"~134,000 mi, complaint #1441838
  5. #5

    emissions aftertreatment

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY OF 2008. ON FEB. 29, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, AS WELL AS THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I THOUGHT, WHY? I'VE ONLY HAD IT FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS AND LESS THAN 50K MILES. I CHECKED MY OWNER'…"~47,600 mi, complaint #911921
    • "I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. PULLED THE CODE AND RAN IT BY A FRIEND WHO IS A SUBARU MECHANIC. AFTER REALIZING THIS IS A SMOG ISSUE CONTACTED DEALER WHO SAID ITS NOT COVERED UNDER EMISSIONS WARRANTY. I KNOW THIS IS FALSE AS PARTS ARE TO BE COVERED BY LAW…"~60,000 mi, complaint #949828
  6. #6

    engine head gasket

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT GOLICK MOTOR COMPANY ([REDACTED ADDRESS], PITCAIRN, PA 15140, [REDACTED PHONE]), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND THERE WAS AN OIL L…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1537999
  7. #7

    other

    2 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I OWN A RECARO SIGNO CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER OF 2008. I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CENTER PULL STRAP THAT TIGHTENS THE SHOULDER STRAPS OF THE CAR SEAT. SINCE BUYING THIS SEAT NEW, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS CENTER STRAP 3 TIMES…"complaint #994831
    • "I PURCHASED 4 NEW KUMHO SOLUS KR21 P215/60R16 TIRES ON JULY 18, 2013, FROM TIRESOUTH IN ATLANTA, GA. WHEN I TRIED TO REGISTER THEM ON THE COMPANY'S WEBSITE, I FOUND THAT 2 OF THEM DO NOT HAVE DATE CODES (ONLY 8 CHARACTERS AFTER ?DOT? INSTEAD OF 12). DOES THIS…"complaint #997567
  8. #8

    steering rack mechanical

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN I QUICKLY TURN STEER WHEEL FOR CHANGING LANE, THE CAR SEEMS LOST CONTROL AND CAN ONLY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT. THEN WHEN YOU HAVE TO TURN THE STEER WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO RETURN STRAIGHT, THE CAR WOULD GO ALL…"~32,000 mi, complaint #734233
  9. #9

    throttle and pedal

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "[REDACTED ADDRESS] BY WIRE ACCELERATOR SYSTEM SURGES BETWEEN ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION WHEN ONE TRIES TO HOLD A STEADY HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS IS TRUE WHETHER IT IS BEING CONTROLLED MANUALLY OR IF CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED. IT ALSO ACCELERATES IN CRUISE CONTRO…"~6,966 mi, complaint #757864
    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE BACKING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO…"~13,838 mi, complaint #752756
  10. #10

    unintended acceleration

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR…"~37,959 mi, complaint #759114
    • "I OWN A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5X, VIN. [XXX], WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW AT BROWN'S SUBARU, [REDACTED ADDRESS], CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. ALL FACTORY RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES WERE METICULOUSLY UPHELD. VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS EXPERIENCED DURING ACCIDENT: 1.…"~107,000 mi, complaint #1451587
  11. #11

    battery and charging

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "DRIVING 2008 SUBARU FORESTER LL BEAN PULLING INTO PARKING PARK. VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, PARKED, ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART SOUNDED LIKE A LOW BATTERY TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES ATTEMPTED TO START AGAIN, ENGINE STARTED RAN NORMAL…"~140,000 mi, complaint #1305895
  12. #12

    brake hydraulics

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I PARKED FACING DOWNWARDS ON A STEEP HILL . AFTER ABOUT 1 1/2 HRS. RETURNED TO MY NEW 2008 SUBARU FORESTER LL BEAN WITH LESS THAN 610 MILES AND FELT SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE--IT WAS FLAT ON THE FLOOR. THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED (TWO SUCCESSIVE 15% GRADE H…"~608 mi, complaint #658710
  13. #13

    driveshaft axle cv

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "SEPTEMBER 19, 2020, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, AT 10:30 PM, GOING 75MPH AND AL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD POP. I HAD LOST ALL CONTROL OF MY CAR AND MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FELT LIKE IT COMPLETELY GAVE OUT ON ME. I SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS AND TRIED TO GET I…"~150,000 mi, complaint #1697815
  14. #14

    engine cooling

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Engine overheating and causing multiple problems "complaint #2091670
  15. #15

    engine internal

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "MY ENGINE STARTED FAILING. THE COMPRESSION STARTED RAPIDLY DECLINING THESE LAST FEW WEEKS. MY ENGINE WAS SLUGGISH AND JERKY. I PREVIOUSLY HAD THE CAR SERVICED WITH A NEW ALTERNATOR AND HAD MY EMISSIONS TESTING DONE FOR MY REGISTRATION. THE NEXT DAY THE ENGIN…"~113,000 mi, complaint #1624665
  16. #16

    engine stall or no start

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I was driving to work and my Subaru stalled at an intersection. I restarted the car and continued to work. It is raining heavily. I arrived at work and the parking lot is full of water. I was slowly pulling up forward in the parking spot. I had my foot on…"complaint #1750598
  17. #17

    fuel tank and lines

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTICED A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUE…"~25,300 mi, complaint #914885
  18. #18

    glass and windshield

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "WE PURCHASED A SUBARU FORESTER 2008 IN THE FALL OF 2007. AT ABOUT 4 YEARS, OR 40,000 MILES THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES FOGGED OVER, REDUCING LIGHT OUTPUT AND DISPERSING, NOT FOCUSING THE HEADLIGHT BEAM MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT. MY HUSBAN…"~50,000 mi, complaint #950762
  19. #19

    interior trim

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • ""FLOATING AROUND" FLOOR MAT PROBLEM ON MY 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. I BOUGHT MY FORESTER IN DECEMBER OF 2007. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE MATS STARTED TO SLIDE AROUND THE FLOOR AND HAVE BUNCHED-UP UNDER THE PEDAL CLUSTER. I AM CAREFUL TO REPOSITION THEM.…"~2,000 mi, complaint #740110
  20. #20

    key fob and immobilizer

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE KEYLESS LOCKING MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FA…"complaint #1266792
  21. #21

    seat mechanism

    1 broken

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "I WAS CLEANING INTERIOR OF CAR AND THE DRIVERS SEAT LIFTED UP. CAR WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY, THE INTERIOR WELD BROKE. I TOOK IT TO LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. NOW 5 DAYS LATER, AFTER NEW SEAT CAME IN I AM TOLD THE TRACK IS BROKEN. A COST OF $600 PLUST LABOR TO FIX. I H…"~90,700 mi, complaint #1279087
  22. #22

    stability and traction control

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "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…"~111,642 mi, complaint #1216331
  23. #23

    trunk or liftgate

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A KEY HOLE ON THE LIFTGATE OR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE TRUNK. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE VIN AND POWERTR…"complaint #665876
  24. #24

    wheel bearing

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "BEARINGS AND HUB ASSEMBLY - ROAD NOISE FROM REAR OF AUTO 65K MILES, CHANGED TO NEW TIRES 70.5K ROAD NOISE CONTINUED FROM REAR, HAD THE CAR EXAMINE BY SUBARU TECHNICIAN 71K AND ESTIMATE BEARINGS AND HUB ASSEMBLY LIKELY PITTED OR SCORNED. *TR"~70,000 mi, complaint #735870
  25. #25

    wiring harness

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE INTERIOR OF OUR CAR WHILE PARKED. THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS DESTROYED AND THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS RUINED WITH SMOKE DAMAGE. INSURANCE DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS AND BOTH THE ADJUSTER AND FIRE DEPARTMENT SUSPECT IT WAS A WIRING ISSUE. WHI…"~56,000 mi, complaint #969851

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for SUBARU FORESTER directly.