2007 Subaru Forester Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Forester most often write about two long-running themes: a strong fuel smell traced to cracked plastic fuel valves on top of the tank, and front lower control arms that rust through and fracture, sometimes years after the control-arm recall repair was performed. Complaints also describe rough, delayed automatic shifting at low speeds, head gasket and emissions-related engine work, and several reports of unintended acceleration with air bags that did not deploy in the resulting impact.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks from cracked fuel cut valves

   • 10 complaints (14%)
   • median 48,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2023

   Owners describe a strong raw-gasoline smell inside or around the car, and check-engine lights set by evaporative emissions codes. In several cases a dealer or shop found the plastic fuel cut valves on top of the tank cracked and leaking, with repairs commonly quoted in the hundreds of dollars partly because the rear of the car must be moved to drop the tank. Some complaints note the replacement part was the same type as the failed one, and that the repair was not covered under an emissions warranty. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 100,000 miles, sometimes within the first few thousand miles, and one owner ties the smell to temperatures below about 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

   What to check: Smell around and inside the car after it sits, especially in cold weather, and ask whether the fuel cut valves or fuel tank area have been serviced. Have a shop check for evaporative leak codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Subaru Forester 2007 fuel cut valves (made of plastic), on top of the fuel tank, were both cracked and leaking fuel. Had both valves replaced. Cost over $700 because rear end must be removed in order to drop fuel tank. Subaru has not issued a recall and does not have record of this happening to anyone else. We purchased this vehicle new from the dealer. This is a fire hazard and I believe it may become more common as these models age further. There was one other instance of the same problem on your web site.”

   NHTSA complaint #10423182, filed 2011-09, 43,115 miles

   “The check engine light comes on, but the car runs fine. I had it checked and mechanic said gas cap problem and reset. After that time I was very careful to turn the gas cap until I heard 2 plus clicks (recommended by Subaru). I have experienced this problem 4 times since then and finally was told the last time I had it reset while away from home that it could be a cracked fuel cut valve. The problem re-occurred 8 months ago and I haven't had the time to take it to a dealer to get it fixed or reset the check engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10555995, filed 2013-12, 38,503 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Head gasket leaks and emissions-related engine faults

   • 12 complaints (16%)
   • median 92,500 mi at 7.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2021

   Complaints describe coolant being pushed out of the overflow tank with the temperature gauge climbing, and separate reports of oil and coolant seeping from the head gaskets, with repair estimates in the thousands. Other owners report check-engine lights from catalytic converter or secondary air pump faults, and some say shops replaced converters when sensors were suspected instead. A few describe the engine shutting down or failing while driving with no stored code found. Spread from about 17,000 up to 160,000 miles, with head gasket reports clustering in the 54,000 to 108,000 mile range.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check coolant level and look for residue in the overflow tank, watch the temperature gauge on a long drive, and ask whether head gaskets or the catalytic converter and air pump have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Both cylinder head gaskets leak oil and coolant. All hoses are brittle. The dealer estimates $3000 dollars for repair. The vehicle has 60000 mile power train warranty. Subaru customer service has offered $500 assistance which is too low. Do other Subaru Forester owners have reported similar issues?”

   NHTSA complaint #10584657, filed 2014-04, 59,374 miles

   “Secondary air pump and valve failure. Subaru admits these are not part of power train, but denies these are covered by emissions system warranty though purpose of pump and valves is to increase airflow and thereby dilute emissions at tailpipe. Total repairs approx. $2000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10363759, filed 2010-11, 50,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden acceleration reports and air bags not deploying

   • 13 complaints (18%)
   • median 53,492 mi at 6.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2026

   Owners describe the car surging or accelerating on its own while parking, pulling into a driveway or shifting from reverse to drive, in some cases ending in a crash into a building, curb or parked car. In several of those impacts owners report the air bags did not deploy despite substantial front-end damage. Some complaints note the accelerator pedal was not pressed or that braking had no effect. Reported across a wide mileage span, from around 33,000 up to 129,000 miles, mostly in low-speed parking and driveway situations.

   What to check: Check for open recalls and any stored codes, confirm the air bag warning light behaves normally at startup, and have the throttle and pedal operation checked during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I pulled into my sister's driveway. Driveway is short; less than 2 car lengths. The front of her house is about 6 feet or less ahead of end of driveway. I braked as I pulled into the driveway, upon pressing the accelerator, the car suddenly surged forward and crashed into the house. I was able to back the car away from the house.”

   NHTSA complaint #10562063, filed 2014-01, 66,985 miles

   “Approaching a traffic light which was turning yellow at a t-junction, I tried to step on the brakes. Perhaps I hit the accelerator with the force I intended to use on the brakes, but when I thought I stepped on the brake, I lurched forward rapidly. I could not correct in time and hit 2 poles and a wall. I don't know my MPH. The 25 MPH listed above is a guess, but the front end collision was so substantial the car was totaled. The air bags, however, did not deploy. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10496547, filed 2013-02, 33,710 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front lower control arm rust-through and fracture

   • 11 complaints (15%)
   • median 125,500 mi at 12.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the front lower control arm rusting through and breaking, often while backing out of a driveway or turning at low speed, leaving the wheel tipped out and in some cases pulling the axle loose. Several owners state the car had already had the control-arm recall work done years earlier and that the arm still failed, and shops attribute the break to corrosion. Some also mention widespread underside rust and worn rear wheel bearings found at the same time. Mostly from about 64,000 to 129,000 miles, frequently on cars driven in states that use road salt.

   Recall 11V4640001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether recall 11V464000 was completed and look for the anti-rust treatment on the control arms, then have the arms inspected from above for hidden corrosion. A pre-purchase inspection on a lift is worthwhile on any car from a salt-belt state.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased this car used from nj, and recently relocated to wa. Approx. 126k miles, the lower front control arm on the driver side rusted through, dropping the car onto the wheel, and pulling the driveaxle from the transmission. It appears that the control arm rusted from the top side, which would likely be difficult to identify during a routine inspection if you didn't know to look for it. This happened when first backing up from the driveway in the morning, less than 1 foot of travel before I stopped to see what was going on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11092313, filed 2018-05, 126,000 miles

   “I was driving and heard bumping noise and thought it was just ice or snow stuck in some parts underneath the car, but the vehicle at one instant pulled over to the other side of the road and I almost lost control and slid off the road. I inspect myself and discover a problem with one of the rear wheel bearings, so I take it to my mechanic. My mechanic discovers rust all underneath and the rust has caused some serious mechanical problems. Front lower control arms and other parts of the suspension are damaged as well because of the rust. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11509200, filed 2023-02
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rough or delayed automatic shifting at low speed

   • 6 complaints (8%)
   • median 18,870 mi at 2.3 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2023

   Owners of automatic cars describe bucking, hesitation and imprecise shifts at low speeds, on turns, on grades and when accelerating or decelerating, with the tachometer jumping and the car seeming to hang in a gear. Some report delays when quick power is needed, and a few describe a surge forward while changing gears at low speed. Complaints differ on whether the dealer reproduced or addressed the behavior. Reported from very low mileage up to about 105,000 miles, most often during low-speed driving and gear changes.

   What to check: Drive the car slowly in stop-and-go traffic and on a hill, feeling for bucking or delayed downshifts, and check transmission fluid condition and service history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On february 13, 2019 my transmission fluid light started flashing, when I was driving home. I stopped to by the fluid but couldn't find out where to fill it up at and the dipstick was stuck. I was driving around 40 MPH.. I took it to my mechanic and asked him to check it out. He said it wasn't the fluid that was the problem it was the transmission. Previous to this the light never flashed and when my check engine light goes on I do get I checked to see it its serious or not. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11180683, filed 2019-02, 104,000 miles

   “The vehicle hesitates and bucks at low speeds, turning corners, accelerating/decelerating, changing lanes, going up a grade or hill and does not shift smoothly. Shifting gears seems to take longer than expected and the tach registers high and then erratically jumps down (or up) to a much lower level on the tach, causing the vehicle to shift erratically or to seemingly get stuck in a gear. Also, the vehicle may try to shift while not accelerating, sometimes when traveling at a higher speed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10480933, filed 2012-10, 40,000 miles

Buying note. A 2007 Forester is worth a careful pre-purchase inspection that includes the underside: confirm the control-arm recall work was done and check the arms for corrosion, and look for fuel smells around the tank and any head gasket seepage. Service records showing recent transmission and emissions-system work help separate a maintained car from one with deferred repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.