no report yet
Control arm: lower arm
Risk. A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
2005 Subaru ForesterProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 93 owner complaints about the 2005 Subaru Forester, most often about the suspension. It is covered by 1 safety recall.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 4, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: User 3204, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 Subaru Forester has problems
93 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
21Suspension3 crash/fire/injury
17Vehicle speed control7 crash/fire/injury
14Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
8Fuel system, gasoline
7Engine and engine cooling
5Power train
5Air bags
4Structure
4Service brakes
166 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 21 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 17 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 1 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 8 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 0 |
| Power train | 5 | 1 |
| Air bags | 5 | 5 |
| Structure | 4 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 1 |
| 6 other systems | 16 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2005 Subaru Forester recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Best & worst years
2005 vs. every other Forester year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Forester median. How we score
'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2005 Subaru Forester safety ratings
2005 Subaru Forester 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.9% risk)
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2005 Subaru Forester, and the recalls they led to.
- Front suspension control arm failureLed to recall 11V-464
In owners' words
What Forester owners report
Recent suspension complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to respond to the steering wheel turning. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle decelerated but the front passenger's side of the vehicle was sliding. The contact was…
The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop at approximately 25 MPH, the front passenger's side subframe emitted an abnormally loud sound, and the front passenger's side tire detached from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated.…
I was driving down the highway when my front drivers side control arm broke causing me to completely lose control of my vehicle. I was thrown down an embankment and into a cornfield where my vehicle came to a stop. I narrowly missed a telephone pole and culvert. I am extremely fortunate that my car…
Own a 2005 Forester?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.