As I was waiting to pull into a small parking lot, an auto was pulling out. I had my foot on the brake waiting for him to exit. As soon as I released the brake the car lurched forward full speed towards the exiting car and I turned sharply to the right to avoid a collision but went full speed into a wall (side of a house) the exiting car was grazed, the house was damaged and my car was…
2006 Subaru Forester cruise control problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
3crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 15 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 Subaru Forester, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2006 Subarus Foresters report serious throttle control problems. The most dangerous involves sudden, unintended acceleration where the vehicle lurches forward at full speed without driver input, often when braking. Multiple owners report extreme brake pressure—even full-body force—fails to stop the car; shifting to Neutral doesn't help until the vehicle coasts down. Some incidents resulted in crashes, one totaling the vehicle. Gas pedal sticking appears in several narratives alongside engine revving despite brake application.
Cruise control stops working in tandem with persistent check engine lights; one owner struggled with this for 6-7 years despite a $920 evaporative vapor canister replacement. Another reports the issue appeared suddenly with flashing cruise control light.
Engine surging and hesitation occur regularly on downhill grades and mountainous terrain, worst in Colorado where owners worry about traction loss. A Subaru dealer reproduced this on another 2006 Forester but told the owner it's "expected with drive-by-wire" and normal—a response that appears in multiple complaints.
Cold-start engine racing to 3,500 RPM and acceleration hesitation on highways with brief power loss round out the reports. One owner found removing the original rubber floor mat stopped sudden acceleration; dealership diagnostics in most cases found nothing wrong.
Same Subaru Forester cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden unintended acceleration (SUA)
Engine accelerates without driver input or when foot is off gas pedal. Brakes often fail to stop the vehicle or require extreme pressure. Occurs during parking lot maneuvers, highway merging, and general driving. Multiple narratives report the gas pedal sticking or vehicle lurching forward with engine revving despite brake application.
When: Varies; occurs at low speeds (2-5 mph in parking lots), highway speeds, and during acceleration. One owner reports it on cold start; another during high-speed driving transitions to stops. Mileage range: 4,000 to 56,000+ miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden acceleration without pedal input; Gas pedal stuck or sticking sensation; Brakes unable to stop vehicle or require full-body pressure; Engine revving uncontrollably; Vehicle lurches forward at full speed; Burned rubber smell after stopping; No response to foot or steering commands initially in one severe case
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnostics in multiple cases found no failure. One owner reports removing original rubber floor mat resolved the issue. No successful repairs documented; one vehicle was totaled.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru dealer stated surging on downhill constant-speed driving is 'expected with drive by wire system' and not a problem. Manufacturer offered $1,000 gift certificate in one case after duplicating hesitation/surge but concluding no fault. No recalls or TSBs mentioned by owners.
Cruise control malfunction with check engine light
Cruise control stops working concurrent with illuminated check engine light. One owner reports this lasting 6-7 years without resolution despite new evaporative vapor canister installation ($920) and multiple mechanic visits. Another reports flashing cruise control light with check engine light appearing suddenly.
When: One owner: problem began 5+ years ago and persists; another: started suddenly more recently. Mileage unclear for first owner; low annual mileage (under 100 miles/month) noted in one case.
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control does not work; Check engine light on; Cruise control light flashing or illuminated; Problem appears suddenly
Repairs/costs cited: New evaporative vapor canister installed by mechanic ($920) did not resolve issue. One owner can temporarily clear light by disconnecting battery negative post for 1-2 days.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One mechanic suggested problem was 'not enough driving.' Owner reports Subaru service bulletin may exist but manufacturer won't acknowledge fault. Gas cap replacement was suggested but ineffective.
Engine surging/hesitation on downhill constant-speed driving
Engine surges and hesitates when attempting to maintain constant speed, particularly downhill. Subaru dealer reproduced the problem on another 2006 Forester but claimed it is expected behavior for drive-by-wire systems. Worse on steeper grades and mountainous terrain.
When: During downhill driving at constant speed; occurs in both manual and cruise control modes. Reproduces consistently according to dealer diagnosis.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle surges when constant speed is attempted; Hesitation during constant-speed downhill driving; Worse on steep grades and mountains; Affects both manual and cruise control operation; Potential loss of traction in snow/ice conditions
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented; Subaru dealer reproduced on another 2006 Forester.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru service department stated surging is 'expected with drive by wire system' and not a problem.
Cold-start engine racing and uncontrolled RPM surge
On cold start, engine races uncontrollably to approximately 3,500 RPM after clutch is depressed, then races up and down until engine warms. Also occurs after high-speed driving when coming to a stop.
When: Cold start conditions; also after high-speed driving transitions to stops.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine races uncontrollably on cold start; RPM surges to approximately 3,500 RPM; Up-and-down racing motion until engine fully warms; Uncontrollable racing after high-speed driving stops
Accelerator hesitation and power loss during driving
Engine hesitates during acceleration or suddenly loses power briefly as if foot was removed from gas, even on highway. Lurching sensation followed by recovery. One owner reports feeling like car would stall in middle of busy freeway but immediately recovers.
When: During highway/freeway driving; occurs intermittently.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine hesitates during acceleration; Sudden power loss lasting seconds; Lurching sensation simulating foot removal from gas; Immediate recovery after brief loss; Occurs while foot is on accelerator
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Apparently, Subaru has gone to a ??drive by wire?? For at least 2006. The 2006 forester I have has the surging problem. It is worst driving downhill and trying to maintain a constant speed in either manual or cruise control. The steeper the hill the worse the surge. I live in the colorado mountains and if there were snow or ice this surge would cause the vehicle to loose traction and go out of…
Dt: the contact stated vehicle is hesitated and surged. This happened more often when traveling down a mountain. The vehicle has been taken to a certified dealership for diagnosis, and the problem was duplicated. However, the manufacturer concluded there was actually no problem with the vehicle. In addition, the manufacturer offered $1,000 gift certificate as incentive to have no further…
The cruise control light has started flashing and the check engine light is on. It started out of the blue. The cruise control is not working. This seems to be a common problem among other Subaru owners and Subaru seems to have issued a service bulletin but they won't admit its their problem. *tr
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 Subaru Forester?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2006 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 36,340 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 56,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,340; a quarter make it past 75,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Subaru/Forester.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.