2007 Subaru Forester: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 72 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (13% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Sep 2011
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2007 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for routine maintenance, the contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Suspension · Apr 2024
“I was driving my car in Upstate NY toward a border crossing wicket and the vehicle began to vibrate violently. I thought that it was a blown tire. I stopped to check and the tires looked fine. I continued for a few yards and it began again. I pulled over and called a tow truck. When the car was loaded onto the tow bed, the front wheel was pitched out at an angle rather than at 90 degrees. Very scary to think what could have happened if I had been driving at 60 mph on the interstate. The car was towed to the nearest garage. The mechanic believed it to be a faulty lower control arm on the front driver's side. Related to Recall #WVX34”Owner report · Suspension · Jan 2024
“The contact owns a 2007 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 101,000.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2023
Show 7 more owner reports
“The contact owns a 2007 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the gear shifter failed to operate as designed. The contact stated that while placing the vehicle in reverse the vehicle accelerated forward causing the vehicle to crash on top of a large rock. The contact stated that she sustained injuries to the face and the right eye. The contact stated that she had eye surgery due to the crash. The contact stated that Law Enforcement did not arrive on the scene and no police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2023
“There is a fuel line inside the car that had a pressure leak. An entire tank of gas emptied, mostly to the inside of the car where the fuel lines run inside the rear drivers side of car floor. My 18 year old daughter was driving and this can not be safely repaired or remove the harmful gas fumes in carpet and seats Unsafe still to drive, unsafe to have these lines run inside the car”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jan 2023
“On Sunday 4/3/2022, driving in a semi highway at 50mph the front passenger suspension arm broke off causing a lose of control of the vehicle. Ended up resting at the road shoulder.”Owner report · Suspension · Apr 2022
“My forester has been used in salt belt for 12 years. Was on the list of recall for Front Suspension Control Arm Failure. We brought it to the dealership to have the car inspected and for a 4 year old car, they didn't do anything. On 10/15/21, the front control arm broke right after we drove off highway. If the arm broke on the highway, then us and others might have been killed as the tire would have broke off. We highly doubt the job to correct the recall was done properly, if they did anything at all. After the accident, we had the car and component inspected by the East Forest Garage. There weren't any warning signs before the accident.”Owner report · Suspension · Oct 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2007 subaru forester. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph in a parking lot, the lower control arm fractured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the lower control arm was fractured due to rust. The contact called kenny ross subaru (11299 lincoln hwy, north huntingdon, pa 15642, (724) 864-5100, but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 11v464000 (suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.*dt *bf consumer stated hamilton mazda subaru and kenny ross subaru are the same.*jb”Owner report · Suspension · Jun 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2007 subaru forester. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds a rattling noise was heard coming from the front end of the vehicle. While driving in reverse the driver side front control arm and axle fractured without warning. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer lester glenn subaru (1501 nj-37 w, toms river nj) was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 129,000.”Owner report · Suspension · Dec 2019
“Head gasket , radiator failed suddenly while going 65 on hwy (115K) . Had new radiator, heads resurfaced/HG replaced, etc. Now less than 15K later (128K) head gasket leaking again.”Owner report · Engine · Jun 2018
When filing, owners marked a crash in 11 of these complaints and injuries in 7 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
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.
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2007 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Forester by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2007 Subaru Forester reliable?
NHTSA has 72 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2007 Subaru Forester. The most complained-about area is engine (13% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2007 Subaru Forester problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 57,000 miles or less.
Does the 2007 Subaru Forester have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning suspension:front:control arm:lower arm. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.