The Lemon IndexAll cars · Subaru Forester · 2008
2008 Subaru Forester. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 4
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Auto 4-spd | 4Wheel or AWD | 20 / 26 / 22 | Regular | $2,850 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4Wheel or AWD | 20 / 27 / 22 | Regular | $2,850 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | 4Wheel or AWD | 19 / 25 / 21 | Premium | $3,700 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Auto 4-spd | 4Wheel or AWD | 18 / 23 / 20 | Premium | $3,850 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 38,000 and 116,000 miles. Median 88,900, from 39 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 136,000 | 104,300–142,000 | 9 |
| Engine | 113,000 | 82,500–143,000 | 5 |
| Speed control | 27,100 | 12,100–62,400 | 6 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Speed control | 40% |
| Doors, locks & latches | 20% |
| Brakes | 10% |
| Brakes (electric) | 10% |
| Steering | 10% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 1
11V464000 Sep 2011 Suspension / Front / Control Arm / Lower Arm
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
Risk. 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.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Front suspension control arm failure | 2011 | 2011 |
Manufacturer communications 158
Subaru filed 158 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Vehicle has a water leak in the front driver/passenger side of the vehicle, it may be
- There is a steering wheel vibration at highway speeds due to an imporper wheel balance
- Information being provided regarding counterfeit air bags, being used as replacement parts
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Optional | No | No |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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