Of the 11 suspension complaints filed for the 2008 Subaru Forester,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
2 (40%)
100-125k
2 (40%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
1 (20%)
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
Suspension accounts for 22% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 7 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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
A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin03-94-24Sep 2024
This bulletin outlines the judgment criteria to be used when inspecting front transverse link bushings to reduce unnecessary bushing replacement.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has determined that affected vehicles listed, may have been manufactured with front lower control arms (transverse links) that could corrode in the hanger bracket area if exposed to salt for a prolonged period.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant failure is the front lower control arm fracturing or detaching due to severe rust and corrosion. Owners describe clanking or grinding noises from the front end, followed by loss of steering control or uncontrolled drifting. Failures happen as early as 88,900 miles and as late as 180,000 miles. In at least two cases, the arm failure led to complete wheel separation, leaving the driver without steering capability.
The critical issue is that many of these vehicles were already repaired under NHTSA recall 11V464000 (Suspension). However, owners report Subaru's solution was often limited to applying a rustproof coating rather than replacing the corroded arms. Vehicles that received this treatment failed again at higher mileage. When owners reported these post-recall failures, the manufacturer refused to authorize warranty repairs, and the recall was marked closed, leaving owners to pay out-of-pocket or go without a fix.
One owner reported extreme fishtailing on icy patches during freeway driving—a handling issue not evident on dry or snowy conditions. Another complaint mentions a transmission control valve detachment at low speed, though the vehicle's VIN was not included in the recall. The pattern suggests corrosion-related suspension degradation that the original recall did not adequately address.
Same Subaru Forester suspension reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Front lower control arm fracture/detachment due to corrosion
The front lower control arm fractures or completely detaches from its frame connection point as a result of severe rust and corrosion. This occurs even in vehicles that were previously serviced under NHTSA recall 11V464000, which applied only a rustproof coating rather than replacing the arms.
When: 88,900 to 180,000 miles; reports span multiple years
Symptoms owners cite: Clanking or knocking noise from front end; Abnormal grinding noise; Loose steering wheel; Vehicle shaking or drifting; Complete loss of steering control
Repairs/costs cited: Some owners paid out-of-pocket for replacement after manufacturer refused to authorize repairs. At least one dealer applied only a rustproof coating under the recall, which did not prevent subsequent failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 11V464000 (Suspension recall). Many owners report the recall was performed but the vehicle failed anyway. Manufacturer denied coverage or assistance on post-recall failures. One owner's VIN was not included in the recall despite matching the vehicle profile.
Wheel separation following control arm failure
In at least two complaints, when the front lower control arm fractured, the wheels separated from the vehicle entirely, rendering it undrivable and creating a sudden loss of steering and directional control.
When: Low-speed maneuvers (backing out) and moderate speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Wheels separated from vehicle; Uncontrollable steering; Vehicle became immobile
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles required towing after wheel separation occurred.
Severe fishtailing on icy patches
One owner reported extreme fishtailing behavior when driving over icy patches on the freeway, requiring reduction of speed to under 30 mph while traffic passed at 60+ mph. Owner notes this is a frequently reported problem on Subaru forums and is not evident on dry or snowy roads.
When: During freeway driving in cold, icy conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Severe fishtailing on icy patches; Loss of steering control on cold pavement
Transmission control valve detachment
One complaint reports the transmission control valve detaching while driving at low speed. The owner linked this to the suspension recall 11V464000 but the VIN was not included in that recall.
When: At approximately 5 mph, 144,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission control valve detached; No warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosis was pending at time of complaint.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
6 most recent
suspension
· filed 12/02/2021
Right front lower control arm failed due to rust (safety recall WVX34 and NHTSA campaign 11v464000). Part of arm completely detached from connection to frame. Dealer states the recall is closed and there is nothing they will do. I notified Subaru by Email last night on the day it occurred -1 Dec 2021. Have not had reply as yet. This caused uncontrollable steering as it was not controllable by the…
suspension · 116,000 mi
· filed 11/08/2024
The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a clanking and knocking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who discovered severe subframe rust and corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while backing out of the driveway, the front driver’s side…
suspension · 97,000 mi
· filed 10/13/2021
The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal grinding noise would emit from the vehicle without warning. The contact then stated that upon turning into a driveway, the front lower control arm detached from the vehicle without warning. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to his home where he began to repair the…
suspension · 180,000 mi
· filed 10/04/2021
The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle was shaking. Additionally, the passenger’s side front wheel was shaking, and the vehicle was drifting to the right. The contact who is an independent mechanic noticed that the front lower control arm was fractured. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…
suspension · 111,642 mi
· filed 09/06/2015
This happened while driving on a freeway. Weather was sunny, in the 20s, pavement was dry but there were short icy patches under bridges. Every time I passed over one of these patches I experienced severe fishtailing. I had to reduce speed to under 30mph to retain control of the car while traffic was passing me at 60+ MPH. Tires were new goodyear assurance. This is extremely nerve…
suspension · 88,900 mi
· filed 08/17/2018
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Subaru forester. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the lower control arm fractured on the front passenger side of the vehicle. The dealer (gary lang Subaru, 1121 state rte 31 building 3, mchenry, il 60050, (815) 788-6506) indicated that the vehicle was already repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 11v464000 (suspension). The manufacturer refused to authorize the dealer…
Had suspension trouble with your 2008 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 suspension problem on the 2008 Subaru Forester?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 111,642 and 140,000 miles, with the median around 136,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 111,642; a quarter make it past 140,000. 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover suspension issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
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/2008/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.