2005 Subaru Forester Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 22about this part
- Share
- 24%of 93 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 93,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the fuel system of the 2005 Subaru Forester, 24% of the 93 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 93,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I can see gas running down my engine block. The leak is on passenger side under the intake manifold of my ej255. Smells of gas very strongly. I am worried a fire might start because it is very near the turbocharger. It happens when the vehicle is in motion and stationary. Both on a city street and highway. And also when turning”
NHTSA complaint #11041352, filed 2017-10, 186,000 miles“It had been cold, below freezing in the mid west, most of the time I would recirculate the cabin air, but every time when I bring in fresh air from outside to clear the moisture, I experienced a strong odor of raw gas coming in through the air vents. Then I noticed fuel was actually leaking in the engine compartment, one section of the rubber hose was damp as a result of fuel dripping over it.”
NHTSA complaint #10561506, filed 2014-01, 93,000 miles“The morning of jan 24, 2014 my wife and I came started the car and noticed a strong gasoline smells when we started the car, turn on the heater and drove away. I immediately drove it the dealer, because the fumes whete so strong that we had the windows open without heat to minimize the smell, otherwise we could have easyli be overcome by the gas fumes. The dealer said that the fuel lines shrink due to the cold below 30 degree's thus leaking raw fuel whenever the vehicle is runing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10561534, filed 2014-01, 49,500 miles“On january 24th, 2014 at approximately 10:00am, my wife and I got inside my Subaru Forester. I started the vehicle and turned on the heater, when we both smell a strong smell of gasoline. We immediately decided to take car to the dealer, since the fumes where so overwhelming we drove with the windows open. Lucky for us the dealer is a 15 minutes ride, but with the windows down and no heat to minimize the situation and the weather below 20 degrees is kind of hard. We finally made it to the dealer. …”
NHTSA complaint #10561868, filed 2014-01, 49,500 miles“I've experienced the leaking fuel line when temperatures dropped below 20 degrees and get terrible gas fumes inside the cabin especially during cold and damp weather. It is more prominent with the heat on. This smell/leak can be noticed while parked, driving, anytime with the engine running with fuel pressure.”
NHTSA complaint #11374591, filed 2020-11, 153,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10234829Jan 15, 2014Repair Procedure for High-Pitched Sound from Extension Housing Area Using Latest Generation Production Parts
- 10032510Oct 1, 2009Subaru service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Fuel tank one way fuel valve. Certain models require permanent removal of the one way fuel valve located in…
- 10016432Jul 14, 2005Modification to fuel tank pressure sensor.
Fuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 9% |
| 2025 | 17 | 17% |
| 2023 | 2 | 3% |
| 2022 | 8 | 8% |
| 2021 | 7 | 3% |
| 2020 | 14 | 2% |
| 2019 | 22 | 3% |
| 2018 | 21 | 4% |
| 2017 | 11 | 2% |
| 2016 | 24 | 6% |
| 2015 | 57 | 9% |
| 2014 | 21 | 5% |
| 2013 | 2 | 3% |
| 2012 | 8 | 8% |
| 2011 | 5 | 3% |
| 2010 | 13 | 5% |
| 2009 | 10 | 6% |
| 2008 | 3 | 6% |
| 2007 | 12 | 16% |
| 2006 | 13 | 15% |
| 2005 | 22 | 24% |
| 2004 | 124 | 57% |
| 2003 | 57 | 30% |
| 2002 | 11 | 13% |
| 2001 | 10 | 7% |
| 2000 | 6 | 8% |
| 1999 | 5 | 4% |
| 1998 | 5 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2005 Subaru Forester
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
17 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsAir bags
5 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
5 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsElectrical system
3 complaintsEngine
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsSteering
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology