2007 Subaru Forester: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 89 complaints
89
Total Complaints
59,187mi
Median Mileage
SUSPENSION
Top Issue
16
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

35,875 25th Percentile
59,187 Median Mileage
99,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SUSPENSION
10
ENGINE
9
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
6
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
6
POWER TRAIN
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4
AIR BAGS
4
STEERING
3

Severity Assessment

16
Crashes
1
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"2007 SUBARU FORRESTER WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE ENGINE SURGES WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL (NOT UNDER LOAD) AND YOU ARE GIVING JUST ENOUGH THROTTLE TO KEEP UP SPEED. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE A JERKING BACK AND FORTH MOTION. SINCE PEOPLE PURCHASE THE CARS TO DRIVE IN SNOW I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGER..."
"I PURCHASED A USED 2003 SUBARU FORESTER IN 2006. IN MARCH OF 2007 A SMALL PARKING LIGHT WENT OUT. I WENT OUT AND PURCHASED A NEW BULB FOR ABOUT $1.25 AND TRIED TO REPLACE IT. I QUICKLY FOUND OUT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE A VERY SKILLED MECHANIC TO CHANGE ANY BULB ON THIS VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO CHANGE ..."
"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE CONTACT'S WIFE, WHO IS OF NORMAL HEIGHT AND WEIGHT, SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DIMS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT SHOULD BE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES AND HIS WIFE MUST JUMP AROUND IN THE SEAT FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN BA..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28