2006 Subaru Forester
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 22 of 88 complaints (25%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 93 in 2005 to 88 in 2006.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | vs. 2006 Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,950–4,300 | 2,700–4,100 | 2,850–3,900 | 2,850–3,900 | 2,850–3,900 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–21 | 19–23 | 20–22 | 20–22 | 20–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–19 / 21–25 | 17–20 / 22–27 | 17–20 / 24–27 | 18–20 / 23–26 | 18–20 / 23–27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 423–494 | 386–468 | 404–444 | 404–444 | 404–444 | |
| Complaints filed | 219 | 93 | 88 | 72 | 50 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 13 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 5 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 8 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2006 Subaru Forester have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2006 Subaru Forester?
Engine: 22 of 88 NHTSA complaints (25%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Subaru Forester get?
EPA rates it 20–22 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 Subaru Forester?
EPA estimates $2,850–$3,900 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 18 mpg | 24 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,900 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 20 mpg (high) | 25 mpg | 22 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 404 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 17 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,900 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 20 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | 22 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 404 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 22 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 21 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM · Campaign 11V464000 · Sep 8, 2011
Defect: 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. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION IF THE HANGER BRACKET IS EXPOSED TO SALTY AND HUMID ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS ROADS CONTAINING SNOW MELTING AGENT.
Consequence: A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · Campaign 07V043000 · Feb 14, 2007
Defect: 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 SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THE PASSENGER'S FRONT AIR BAG COULD BECOME DISABLED AND MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT. ALSO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE WIRING HAD BEEN INCORRECTLY ROUTED UNDER THE SEAT BRACKET. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPAIR ANY DAMAGED WIRING, REROUTE AND SECURE THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE CORRECT LOCATION, AND RE-CALIBRATE THE OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.