Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 72 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 Subaru Forester, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 7 | 10% |
| Suspension | 6 | 8% |
| Power train | 6 | 8% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 4% |
| Air bags | 3 | 4% |
| Tires | 3 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact's friend owned a 2007 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while reversing in the driveway, the vehicle suddenly violently accelerated and crashed into the retaining wall and unit across the street. The v
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
The contact owns a 2007 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for routine maintenance, the contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension); howeve
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
I was driving my car in Upstate NY toward a border crossing wicket and the vehicle began to vibrate violently. I thought that it was a blown tire. I stopped to check and the tires looked fine. I continued for a few ya
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
Started getting a vibration I thought was a tire problem. It would only show up after 30 minutes or so of driving. It happened several times while trying to have the tire store figure it out. On Friday 15 Sep 2023 we dro
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact owns a 2007 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The contact owns a 2007 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the gear shifter failed to operate as designed. The contact stated that while placing the vehicle in reverse the vehicle acce
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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 sli
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
There is a fuel line inside the car that had a pressure leak. An entire tank of gas emptied, mostly to the inside of the car where the fuel lines run inside the rear drivers side of car floor. My 18 year old daughter wa
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2007 Subaru Forester. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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,
Risk: A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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 W
| Reliability raw | 72 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 73 | good |
| Depreciation | 74 | good |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 72 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 7 of them (10%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 72/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2007 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.