2008 Subaru Forester Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2008 Subaru Forester, and owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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1 safety recall for the 2008 Subaru Forester
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Suspension: 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, maryland, michigan, new hampshire, new york, pennsylvania, vermont, wisconsin,…
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…
50 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2008 Subaru Forester have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 82,275 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Engine overheating and causing multiple problems”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 13, 2025 · Engine
“The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at approximately 5 MPH, the transmission control valve detached. No warning light was illuminated. The contact did research an”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 10, 2025 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2008 Subaru Forester (Forester AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–20 / 23–27 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Subaru Forester model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Forester model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2008 Subaru Forester
How do I know if my 2008 Subaru Forester has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2008 Subaru Forester; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 11V464000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Subaru models
- Outback9,756 complaints
- Legacy3,185 complaints
- Impreza2,651 complaints
- Crosstrek1,186 complaints
- Ascent1,033 complaints
- WRX975 complaints
- Svx291 complaints
- Xv Crosstrek264 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.