2005 Subaru Forester reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2005 Subaru Forester — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 105
- 9 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- SUSPENSION
- 18 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 23 reported crashes · 15 injuries · 1 fire
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#4,030
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
-77
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2003-2007
-175
median 280 complaints in 857 records
Top component share
17%
Suspension: 18 complaints
What owners report fails — 2005 Subaru Forester
- SUSPENSION 18
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 16
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 14
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 7
- AIR BAGS 4
1 recall on record for the 2005 Subaru Forester
- NHTSA 11V464000 · 2011 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2005 Subaru Forester
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2005 Subaru Forester units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Subaru Forester reliable?
NHTSA has 105 consumer complaints on record for the 2005 Subaru Forester and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is suspension (18 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2005 Subaru Forester units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Subaru Forester?
Owners most often report problems with: suspension (18), vehicle speed control (16), fuel/propulsion system (14), fuel system, gasoline (7). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2005 Subaru Forester?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.