Failed recall on 2004 subaru forester xt front lower control arms. The front lower control arm on the passenger side of my forester rusted in half. When backing out of a flat concrete driveway onto a city street, as I began to turn the wheel I heard/felt a pop in the front end. As I began to straighten the wheel it started making a grinding noise and I noticed the steering felt funny/loose. Before foing any further I pulled the car strait back into the driveway to inspect the problem. While I was jacking the car up I noticed immediately the front passenger wheel appear to go limp and sloppy. After crawling underneath to check I found that the control arm had completely broke/rusted in half. A few weeks earlier I noticed the front control arms on both sides were quite rusted. After a little research I found that subaru had a recall on the control arms and would either replace then or re coat them. I then contacted a local dealer about the recall. After running my VIN the told me that my vehicle had already been serviced for that recall in 2012 and that my control arms were under coated and therefore were not covered for replacement. So now after my control arm is completely broken I contacted the same dealer again and was told to try contacting subaru of america but that they could do nothing. I then contacted subaru of america and after giving them all my information was told again that my vehicle had already been serviced for the recall and was not covered, but if I took it to a dealer they would "look at it". I then contacted another local dealer and I was able to trailer it there myself. I am waiting for a response. This is a dangerous problem that needs to be addressed immediately before someone is hurt. Had the control arm broke while driving doen the road at any rate of speed the results could be catastrophic or even fatal.
2004 Subaru Forester suspension complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 25 of 25, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Driving appr. 35mph on state highway 6 in eastham, ma when steering wheel was jerked out of my hands, car abruptly moved to the right and into granite curb before coming to a stop. Upon exiting car I found right front tire turned to the right while other tires were facing forward. Right lower control arm was broken causing cv axle to break at inner joint. This was a crowded highway on a summer weekend in a resort area. I am extremely fortunate to not have been injured or caused injury to others. Repairs totaled $929.95
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 subaru forester. While driving 5 MPH making a left turn, the front passenger wheel turned in the opposite position and caused the vehicle to stop. The vehicle was towed to an independent garage lot where it was diagnosed that the control arm was corroded and caused both lower control arms and axle to detach. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v464000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 subaru forester. While driving approximately 40 MPH, an unusually loud noise emitted from the front end of the vehicle. The failure occurred when driving various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that both front lower control arms exhibited excessive corrosion; however, the rear lower control arms were not as severely damaged. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v464000 (suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
Having recently bought my 2004 subaru forester xt, it ran great for the first few months. Then, while on the highway, it would shake uncontrollably, almost like an earthquake. Having taken it to subaru a month before, I mentioned that it was doing this a little, but not to the extent that it did on the highway. He said it would be $150 to look at it. Taking it in to a different mechanic, they had to replace the lower control arm. Looking today online for recalls on another issue I'm experiencing, I see that there was a recall on this exact issue, but only for cars sold in certain states. This is the exact issue that was wrong with my subaru, and I believe that owners in other states are experiencing this issue as well. Hopefully you will look at this before this happens to someone on the interstate and they lose control of their vehicle.
I will like to know if when my car was recall and fix the front lower control arm in 2013 has anything to do with my wheel alignment, since it seems that the dealer and town fair tire can not get it right because every time I complaint and get it fix and go home after a few miles the steering wheel goes off center and start making noise at the front end about 55-65 MPH and this began after fixing the recall and I can not drive in peace and I wonder if am not taking a chance driving a car that was straight as an arrow before the part replacement,please help,thank you.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 subaru forester. The contact stated that while reversing into a residential the driveway, the front passengers side lower control arm fractured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the control arm needed to be replaced. The contact was made aware that the vehicle was not included in recall the federal safety agency campaign id number: 11v464000 (suspension). The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 subaru forester. While driving approximately 5 MPH in reverse, there was a loud clunking noise and suddenly the front driver's side collapsed to the ground. The contact noticed the lower control arm fractured. The vehicle was in the process of being towed to the dealer. There was a recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 11v464000 (suspension: front: control arm: lower arm). The vehicle was ineligible under the recall due to the vehicle not being originally sold or registered in the states mentioned in the recall defect. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 189,000. Updated 6/12/12 *cn the consumer stated the vehicle was inspected by a regional representative and the representative found nothing wrong. Updated 06/25/12
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 subaru forester the contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign id number: 11v464000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower arm) and made an attempt to take the vehicle to the dealer for repairs, but the dealer did not have the parts needed for repairs available. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 102,000. Updated 03/14/12 *bf the dealer corrected the problem on 02/22/12. Updated 03/19/12
Backing out of drive way, lower control arm failed, tearing the cv joint out. Upon inspection the control arm had rusted through at it's joint.
Rusting failure of the front lower control arm. No injuries, it was caught before the item failed.
A rear wheel bearing has failed on our 2004 subaru forrester xt. We have heard a sound on again and off again a few months after buying the car, as well as in recent months. The car has always been serviced by a subaru dealer and we have had all required services made over the years of owning the car. We bought the car from subaru of wakefiled, ma when we lived in salem, ma. Their service department is terrific. We now have it serviced at pence subaru in richmond. The last time we were at the dealer we had an unpleasant experience and I was reticent to return. The sound got really bad about 2 weeks ago and I took it to an independent auto mechanic and he confirmed that the rear bearings had failed. We have heard a sound from the rear of the car on again and off again for years and had the brakes checked and worked on numerous times thinking this was the problem. Recent research on the internet leads me to believe that there is something wrong in the design of the bearings or the hub as many people have reported multiple failures while owning their cars. It seems as if a recall is in order here and the parts should be replaced at the manufacturers expense. I would appreciate your investigating the matter and any guidance that you can provide.
Both rear wheel bearings replaced at 51,000 miles.
Both rear wheel bearings needed to be replaced at 51,000 miles.
Right rear wheel bearing failed at 31000 milesin november 2005, and was replaced by the dealer. At 67000 milesin june 2007, both rear wheel bearings had to be replaced. Car received all recommended oil changes and services. Is only used for highway and city driving.
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