2005 Subaru Forester Suspension Problems

While driving at 55 mph, your Forester stopped responding to steering inputs, and the front passenger side began sliding even when you braked. An independent mechanic found that the front passenger side control arm had fractured and the axle was damaged. This suspension failure happened at 175,000 miles, after the vehicle had been previously repaired under a Subaru recall for suspension issues. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the fractured control arm and inspecting or replacing the damaged axle.

Your front passenger-side tire detached from your vehicle while driving at about 25 MPH, with no warning light beforehand. When you pulled over, you discovered the front passenger-side lower control arm was fractured. This is a serious suspension failure that caused the wheel to separate from the car.

Your front driver's side control arm broke while driving on the highway, causing you to lose complete control of your vehicle. You went down an embankment into a cornfield and narrowly avoided a telephone pole and culvert during rush hour traffic. Your car was totaled in the accident, and you received no warning signs beforehand—no warning lights or steering problems that might have given you time to react. This part had been recalled previously and Subaru told you the recall had been completed, yet the failure still occurred.

After a 3-hour highway trip, your car lost the ability to move in reverse and forward while in a parking lot. You noticed the left front tire was bent inward toward the vehicle. A mechanic discovered severe rust damage had created a hand-sized hole in the sub-frame, making it impossible to properly repair the control arm and compromising the vehicle's structural integrity. The frame specialist found matching rust damage on the opposite side of the sub-frame that could cause bolts to fail. Fixing this will likely require cutting into the main frame to replace or reinforce the damaged sub-frame sections.

Your suspension components are severely rusted and deteriorated. A mechanic warned that if your car were hit or encountered a large pothole, the suspension could fail completely and cause the vehicle to collapse. This is a serious safety concern that needs immediate inspection and repair.

Your front right lower control arm and axle broke while driving without warning. This vehicle was subject to a 2011 Subaru recall (campaign 11V464000) for this exact issue on 2003-2008 Foresters, but the dealership failed to replace the rusted parts — they only tested one thick spot and refused to inspect further. Even after independent verification from another shop confirming both lower control arms needed replacement, the dealership refused to perform the recall work at no charge and instead demanded $2,000; Subaru headquarters later claimed the recall was completed in 2011 when it was never actually done. The repair will require replacement of both front lower control arms.

Your lower control arms on both sides have rusted through and become damaged, likely caused by condensation from your air conditioning system combined with road salt exposure during winter. A mechanic discovered the damage during inspection. While Subaru repaired this issue once under a recall in 2012, the problem has recurred. Fixing this will require replacing the corroded lower control arms on both sides of your suspension.

Your control arm broke due to corrosion while you were backing out of a parking space. This is a suspension component that helps keep your wheels aligned and stable. The corrosion weakened the metal until it failed during normal driving. Replacing the corroded control arm will be necessary to restore proper suspension function and safety.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR GENERAL INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARMS SHOWED CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GALLEY WEST SIDE IMPORTS TO GET THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) COMPLETED AND THE TECHNICIAN PUT ANTI-CORROSIVE ADHESIVE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED FIVE YEARS LATER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED AT 60 MPH, THEY FELT AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE WHITE WHEEL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERE RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011, SUBARU RECALL 11V464000 OR WYX-34, FRON LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK DUE RUST AND CORROSION FROM ROAD SALT. CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TO PUNCH TEST, AND RUSTPROOF IF OK; REPLACE AT NO COST IF TEST FAILED. MY DEALER ON DEC 19, 2011 PERFORMED PUNCH TEST, AND REPORTED TO SUBARU IT PASSED AND WAS RUSTPROOFED, ACCORDING TO SUBARU RECORDS. MILEAGE WAS97,158. ON MARCH 27, 2017, MY FORESTER FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE OF RUSTED THROUGH FRONT CONTROL ARMS. MILEAGE WAS 128,056. SUBARU REFUSED ANY SUPPORT, SAYING THEY DID WHAT WAS NECESSARY IN RECALL BY RUSTPROOFING. RUSTPROOFING OBVIOUSLY DID NOT WORK. THE FORESTER FAILED ON THE LIFT INSPECTION, FORTUNATELY, NOT BY KILLING THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, OR OTHER INNOCENTS ON THE ROAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN HIGHWAY SPEED, A BURNING RUBBER ODOR EMITTED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BUCKET SUSPENSION PLATE UNDER THE SHOCK ABSORBER FAILED, WHICH IMPACTED THE SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND CAUSED THE STRUT TO FRACTURE ON THE TIRE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STRUTS, SHOCK ASSEMBLIES, AND BOTH REAR TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 02/03/17*LJ UPDATED 7/11/18*JB *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL HAD LODGED UP INTO THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT INTO A DITCH. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,400.

MY CAR WAS AT MY MECHANICS GETTING LOOKED AT. HE NOTICED THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM BRACKETS WERE CORRODED (THE PASSENGER SIDE IS SEVERELY CORRODED), TOLD ME ABOUT IT AND STRESSED THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP ASAP TO HAVE IT REPLACED. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CONFIRMED THE RECALL FOR MY CAR, MENTIONED THE SERVICE HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED (BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER ENDED UP TAKING PICTURES OF THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND SENDING THEM TO SUBARU OF AMERICA FOR APPROVAL TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS. THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. *TR

LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED AT WELD DUE TO RUST THROUGH AND CAUSED CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE CONTROL ARMS WERE INSPECTED BY DEALER APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE RECALL FOR THIS COMPONENT. THEY WERE DEEMED TO BE SAFE AFTER A "PUNCH TEST" AND RUSTPROOFING APPLIED. THE RECALL ALSO PROVIDED FOR REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER MY CAR WAS NOT DETERMINED TO NEED REPLACEMENT AS A RESULT OF THE PUNCH TEST. IT APPEARS THAT THE TESTING PROCEDURE FOR THIS RECALL MAY BE TOO SUBJECTIVE AND/OR INEFFECTIVE AND THAT CONTINUED FAILURES WILL BE FORTHCOMING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT AS IF SHE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT UNUSUAL AND WHEN SHE BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP, SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND TO PUT INTO FIRST GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS HANGING OFF FROM THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP WAS POINTED OUTWARDS. FURTHERMORE, THE COIL THAT SHE BELIEVED TO BE THE STRUT WAS HANGING OUT AS WELL. HER MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE STRUT HAD PULLED COMPLETELY OUT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 02/19/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/19/10 THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO THE VEHICLE IN 1ST GEAR. UPDATED EVOQ 09/13/10

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 2006 SUBARU WAS NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY. VEHICLE WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD, IT DID NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT AND IT WENT TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN GOING FAST. IT WAS DOING THIS ALL THE TIME. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER INSISTED VEHICLE DID HAVE ENOUGH CASTER. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT ALL OF THE SUBARU DID THAT AND COULD NOT FIX THE CAR, THE CONSUMER DID NOT WANT THE CAR. HE PAID CASH FOR VEHICLE, AND WAS UPSET. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT CALLED SUBARU, BUT PLANNED DOING SO. THE CONSUMER OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS. THE FIRST 800 MILES THE CAR DID NOT DO THIS. IT WAS A 2006 MODEL. THE CONSUMER INSISTED THAT IT WAS A SUSPENSION FAILURE. *AK