There are 5 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2008 Subaru Foresterin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Engine overheating and causing multiple problems
DRIVING 2008 SUBARU FORESTER LL BEAN PULLING INTO PARKING PARK. VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, PARKED, ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART SOUNDED LIKE A LOW BATTERY TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES ATTEMPTED TO START AGAIN, ENGINE STARTED RAN NORMALLY NO CAUTION LIGHTS. STARTED TO DRIVE HOME, ENTERED THE ON RAMP OF HIGHWAY. NOTICED WHITE SMOKE IN REVIEW MIRROR PULLED OFF OF HIGHWAY STOPPED VEHICLE TURNED OFF, SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT SAW FLAMES UNDER CAR CALLED 911 FIRE DEPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED EXTINGUISHED FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE KEYLESS LOCKING MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, IT WOULD NOT PASS THE SMOG TEST DUE TO A SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP BEING STUCK OPEN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE BURNED OUT ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. ..UPDATED 01/04/17 *BF ...UPDATED 01/23/17 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED THE RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL. UPDATED 12/5/2017*JS UPDATED 7/11/18*JB *TR
A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE INTERIOR OF OUR CAR WHILE PARKED. THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS DESTROYED AND THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS RUINED WITH SMOKE DAMAGE. INSURANCE DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS AND BOTH THE ADJUSTER AND FIRE DEPARTMENT SUSPECT IT WAS A WIRING ISSUE. WHILE ARSON WAS NOT RULED OUT, THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR TO SUGGEST A BREAK-IN, AND NO PERSONAL BELONGINGS IN THE CAR WERE TAMPERED WITH. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026