Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Subaru Forester owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Five years ago my "check engine" light came on and the cruise control light came on and it would not work. I took it to Suberu in Fort Worth and they couldn't find the problem bu tsaid my gas cap was not sealing. God new one but didn't help. This year when I went to get it checked for regisration they woudn't pass it. Took it to mechanic who installeda new Evaprotive Vapor Canister for $920. That didn't work but wouldn't try again. Later another mecanic said the problem was "Not enough driving". (less that 100 miles a month. I have been driving the car with the check engine on an no cruise control for 6-7 years with no trouble, so it is a fault of the car's systems. I can't get it registered because of this problem. I can disconnedt the negative battery post briefly and the light goes off for a day or two. So what can you do for me? I love the car but hate the problem. …
The bus had just dropped off my son. I turned on the car and proceeded to roll down the hill to the corner where I was going to make a right turn. (about 4 car lengths from my original parked spot) all of a sudden the car was not responding to my foot or stealing commands. I rolled onto the front lawn of the corner property. As soon as we cam to a stop I shut the engine and put the car in park. I opened the door, took a look at the car and then tried to start the car again. I started the car and it was making like a reving noise. I when to put the car in reverse to back off the lawn (all the while my foot is on the brake.) and all of a sudden the car lurch backwards with such force and speed. I was almost standing in place with the force I was trying to brake. …
Tl contact owns a 2006 Subaru Forester. On February 20, 2009, while attempting to pull into the driveway at less than 6 MPH, the hydraulic brakes failed. The brake pedal extended to the floor board and the vehicle began to jerk and accelerate on its own. The vehicle crashed into a tree and the frontal air bags deployed. The contact sustained major injuries and was transported to the hospital in an ambulance. A police report was filed. Her sternum was broken and she suffered major lacerations and bruises to her knees and legs. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were less than 25,400. Updated 8/3/09 the consumer stated no police report was filed. Updated 08/05/09.
Purchased in ak in 2006. Approximately 13,000 miles on engine. Paperwork listed entry-point: hawaii. Current 2016 mileage: less than 60,000. Well-maintained vehicle.----- upon acceleration, the engine sometimes lurches and revs too high too fast, and then settles into how it is supposed to feel and sound. Other times, it suddenly loses power instead, lurching down like we've taken our foot off the gas (but we haven't because we are on a highway or freeway!), very briefly and then recovers.one time, just a few weeks ago, it felt like I'd lost all power and the car was going to stop in the middle of the busy highway, but it immediately recovered and then felt normal.
As I was waiting to pull into a small parking lot, an auto was pulling out. I had my foot on the brake waiting for him to exit. As soon as I released the brake the car lurched forward full speed towards the exiting car and I turned sharply to the right to avoid a collision but went full speed into a wall (side of a house) the exiting car was grazed, the house was damaged and my car was totaled. The sound of acceleration as I released the brake was as if I depressed fully the gas pedal which I did not do.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while reversing at 5 MPH, the vehicle surged backward and crashed into a house. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop, but the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was repaired for the body damages. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 104,000. Updated 10/21/11 the consumer stated the transmission failed as well. Updated evoq 10/26/11
I was driving slowly down the street, made a left turn into a parking lot. Perhaps I turned a little too sharply. There was a sudden surge and acceleration and the brakes were unresponsive. The car "ran away" while I tried unsuccessfully to brake it. Hit the building. I backed away and it surged backward and hit a tree. Then I was able to get it into park and turn it off.
Experienced sudden unintended acceleration twice. , once when accelerating on the highway to pass and the gas pedal appeared to stick., and once when pulling up to a curbside as the brake was appiled and the vechicle suddenly lurched forward colliding into a parked car and pushing it forward. I had to jam hard on the brake to stop the acceleration.
Car accelerated when my foot was not on the gas pedal. I needed to step hard on the brake to control the car. I put gear into neutral, and reviving engine sound did not stop. I removed original rubber floor mat, and problem stopped. Dangerous! 2 kids in the car with me. Today is 88 f today.
As I was going down the road my car sped up and my foot was off the gas pedal as the pedal was stuck-I managed to stop my car but not before it reached 75 mph in a 50 I was originally going 50
Acceleration complaints in other Forester years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2006 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2006 Subaru Forester, 23% of the model year's 88 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 Subaru Forester acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2006 Subaru Forester, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Subaru Forester acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 36,000 miles, and 41% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.