Subaru Forester problems
93 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 7.8/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Car has raw fuel/gas smell on cold starts when idling. Fumes can be noticed both outside and inside the vehicle. Occurs only when the outside air temperature is below 30 degrees fahrenheit. Fumes disappear once the engine reaches normal operating temperature. Fuel line leak(s)…
The brake light came on two days prior. Checked fluid and was a bit low. I hadn't noticed and fluids under car so did not give it a second thought. I was driving on sunday and had loss of pedal and the brake light came on and I nursed it home. I added fluid and pumped pedal…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Subaru forester. The contact stated there is a strong fuel smell when the heat is turned on in her vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that they will replace the fuel rail assembly at the contact expense. There are no recalls or…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Subaru forester. The contact stated that the catalytic converter was replaced three times. The warning light for the check engine and the vehicle speed control indicators were constantly illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer at least three…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2005 Subaru Forester reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 93 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Subaru Forester is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2005 Subaru Forester?
On the NHTSA data, the 2005 Subaru Forester does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 7.8/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2005 Subaru Forester?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is suspension, with 20 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 120,906 miles. Average repair cost runs about $900 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The suspension is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $900 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 120,906 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Subaru Forester has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2005 Subaru Forester?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 93 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $900, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.