2006 Subaru Forester Reliability
The 2006 Subaru Forester has 88 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about speed control / throttle and suspension. Compared with nearby Forester model years (2004–2008), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Forester's typical year, while the 2004 drew 219 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
88
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
12
Complaints citing a crash
7
Complaints citing a fire
2006 Subaru Forester complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 model year, filed between 2005 and 2023. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Speed control / throttle | 20 | 23% |
| Suspension | 12 | 14% |
| Engine | 11 | 13% |
| Engine & cooling | 11 | 13% |
| Steering | 9 | 10% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 8 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 8% |
| Body structure | 7 | 8% |
2006 Subaru Forester recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2006 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07V043000 | Feb 12, 2007 | Air bags — frontal | On certain vehicles, the wiring harness for the air bag occupant detection system in the front passenger seat may have been pinched during production. Pinching of the wiring harness between the floor crossmember and the seat mounting bracket could result in a… |
| 11V464000 | Sep 6, 2011 | Suspension — front / control arm / lower arm | 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,… |
How the 2006 compares with nearby Forester years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Forester analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 219 | 2 | Fuel / propulsion system | Avoid |
| 2005 | 93 | 1 | Suspension | Solid |
| 2006 (this page) | 88 | 2 | Speed control / throttle | Solid |
| 2007 | 74 | 1 | Suspension | Solid |
| 2008 | 50 | 1 | Suspension | Better year |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2006 Subaru Forester
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2006 Subaru Forester can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2006 Subaru Forester reliability FAQ
Is the 2006 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2006 Subaru Forester has 88 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about speed control / throttle and suspension. Compared with nearby Forester model years (2004–2008), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Forester's typical year, while the 2004 drew 219 complaints.
What are the most common 2006 Subaru Forester problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Subaru Forester are speed control / throttle (20), suspension (12), engine (11), engine & cooling (11). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2006 Subaru Forester have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2006 Subaru Forester, including 07V043000 (air bags — frontal) and 11V464000 (suspension — front / control arm / lower arm). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2006 Subaru Forester compare with the 2005 and 2007 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2005 has 93 complaints and 1 recall (solid); the 2007 has 74 complaints and 1 recall (solid). The 2006 has 88 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2006 Subaru Forester?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Subaru Forester research
Other Subaru Forester model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2006 Forester, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.