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#BS-2006-SUBFOR-326B

2006 Subaru Forester

Based on reports from 121 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
121
Crashes
20
Fires
10
Recalls
2
TSBs
122
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 121 complaints, 20 crashes, 10 fires, and 2 recalls. Complaint rate is 1.6x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

head gasket failure

3 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
2

missfire when accelerating

2 complaints • Severity 7/10

$X,XXX
3

loss of power

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Speed ControlHIGH

20 owners reported speed control issues — failures commonly reported around 51K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

29
0–30K
22
30–60K
11
60–90K
15
90–120K
8
120–150K
6
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (29 reports) • Median: 51K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Speed Control (20 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Speed Control20 (17%)
Engine18 (15%)
Fuel System12 (10%)
Suspension11 (9%)
Steering9 (7%)
Wheels & Tires6 (5%)
Electrical5 (4%)
Structure:body4 (3%)

2006 Subaru Forester: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 17% of all reports filed for the 2006 Subaru Forester, with 20 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 51,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 51K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2006 Subaru Forester, with 18 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2006 Subaru Forester, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Suspension Issues

Suspension complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2006 Subaru Forester, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

6
05
7
06
17
07
7
08
4
09
4
10
5
11
5
12
6
13
4
14
7
15
14
16
1
17
4
18
10
19
2
20
9
21
7
22
2
23

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2006 Subaru Forester. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (2 recalls)

07V043000Mar 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 SHORT CIRCUIT.

11V464000Dec 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, 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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Subaru Forester is the 2014 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2006 Subaru Forester vs. Class Average (Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD)

This vehicle

121

Class avg

77

1.6x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical sport utility vehicle - 4wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 121 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Subaru Forester Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998
View all Subaru Forester years →

2006 Subaru Forester: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2006 Subaru Forester?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2006 Subaru Forester is related to the speed control, with 20 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2006 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2006 Subaru Forester has 121 complaints, 20 crash reports, and 10 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 1.6x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2006 Subaru Forester problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2006 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes, the 2006 Subaru Forester has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Subaru Forester problems start?
Based on 91 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 51,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 121 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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