Front Suspension Wheel Bearing Problems of Subaru Forester - part 1

I have love in town and have been replacing rotors and pads every 6 months. I purchased this vehicle in 2018 and have put under 30000 miles on the car. I have also been replacing wheel bearings constantly.

See all problems of the 2009 Subaru Forester 🔎.

While replacing my right rear wheel bearing, the mechanic noticed that the suspension strut was cracked and broken. I've had more issues with my 2014 in five years than I did my 2002 in the lifetime of the car (12 years).

See all problems of the 2014 Subaru Forester 🔎.

2014 Subaru Forester was in shop to replalce both rear wheel bearings, and mechanic informed me that one of the rear springs was also broken. This seems to be a very common problem with 2014 Foresters, and a part that should break this easily.

The car was wobbly and went in for service and they found one rear strut the technician took it for a drive and the other one broke on him. It costs me $1390 to fix it and I drove it on the highway and it still wobbly. Subaru does not want to acknowledge the fact there is a major issue with this vehicle. This should have been recalled by Subaru when they knew about this. This car also had rotors that needed to be replaced, the arm control, wheel bearings all under 60,000. This is a serious issue, I could get killed or have a major accident and Subaru does not want to hear about it. I am scared to drive this car.

See all problems of the 2015 Subaru Forester 🔎.

At 38k excessive vibration and noise at highway speeds was noticed. Dealer replaced both of the front lower control arm bushings. At 42k the front right wheel bearing went bad and was replaced. Probably caused by the bad control arm bushings. At 44k the control arm bushings were bad again. This caused a severe loss of control of the car in slick conditions. This time the dealer replaced both of the control arm assemblies. This is a real problem with this vehicle. Time for a recall.

The cv axle joint went bad at 90k. Clicking noise. I thought that was an issue for down the road. Subaru corp gave me a $500 coupon for the right front axle going bad. Approximately 5 months later, that axle had to be replaced. Also both back wheel bearings had to be replaced. Currently, the driver side cv joint sounds like it is going bad again. About 60k later. Weak parts. This is a progressive issue and not a sudden one.

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while pulling out of the driveway, he heard an abnormal grinding sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the driver’s side wheel bearing had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the passenger’s side wheel bearing needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear passenger’s side and rear driver’s side wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the rear wheel bearings were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The independent mechanic replaced the wheel bearings for a second time. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

2006 Subaru Forester. Consumer writes in regards to wheel bearing malfunction. The consumer stated while driving, the vehicle began to make some unusual sounds. She pulled over to check the tires, because it sounded like a flat tire. However, everything looked normal, so she continued driving. As she drove a little further and made a left turn, the brakes went out. She slowly eased the vehicle to the side of the road, where the rear tire fell off the axle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. An inspection revealed the wheel bearing broke. The consumer stated the same bearing was replaced on April 29, 2011. Also, the power steering pump was replaced.

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Subaru Forester 2002 rear wheel bearings keep failing and have to be replaced!.

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The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Forester. While driving approximately 65 mph, the contact heard a loud noise outside of the vehicle. The noise was heard whenever the vehicle was in operation. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection and they stated that the wheel bearings failed. The rear driver's side wheel bearings were replaced on two separate occasions. The failure mileage was 81,000 and current mileage was 81,500.

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Increasing grinding noise from rear of car; dealer inspected and found failing right real wheel bearing; repair found failed seal on axle; one control arm replaced along with axle and bearing.

See all problems of the 1998 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Both rear wheel bearings replaced at 51,000 miles.

See all problems of the 2004 Subaru Forester 🔎.

My '98 Subaru Forester is experiencing rear wheel bearing failure again. These bearings are defective and fail often, from what I've read on the web.

I have had to replace rear wheel bearing on my 2000 Subaru Forester 3 times right and left rear over the last four years. I see through online reading that this is a common complaint with the Subaru and they have done nothing to fix the problem. Pressure needs to be put on them to remedy the situation.

See all problems of the 2000 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Left rear wheel bearing has been replaced twice. Right rear wheel bearing needs to be replaced now. Dealer service personnel told me that the wheel was about to fall off of the vehicle the first time I had the bearing replaced.

See all problems of the 2001 Subaru Forester 🔎.

01 Forester was bought from van bortel Subaru on 4/24/04 coming off a lease with 29,000 miles. I had to negotiate that dealer to check car for service bulletins and recalls and asked for the 30k maintenance to be completed. Minimal work was completed and subsequently major problems such due to defective parts such as head gasket failure and wheel bearing failure had to be done. Vehicle has been regularly serviced at dealer and complaints of road noise had been shared with dealer. Tires were replaced at owner expense in response. Head gasket cost was covered by warranty but one rear wheel bearing ($400) was not covered and paid by owner. These problems have been well documented by other owners since 2002 and neither Subaru nor van bortel informed owners of problems. As a result they placed owners at risk of serious mechanical failure and increased cost of replacement of entire rear axel and possible serious accident/injury.

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.

10/19/04 right rear wheel bearing replaced on my 2000 Subaru Forester at 56,886 miles (previous maint performed on 3/2/04) at a cost of $324. 40. Right rear wheel bearing replaced again on 4/2/07 at 88,569 miles at a cost of $331. 86 (previous maint performed on 6/20/06). Replacing the rear wheel bearing 3 times in less than 100,000 miles?.

Metallic, grinding noise from right rear wheel. When parked for a week, refused to move - frozen in place. After much acceleration, the car was able to move. Noise grew and grew to a shrieking pitch. Technician diagnosed it as a failure of the right rear wheel bearing.

Subaru 2001 Forester, 71,440 miles, one owner, purchased 04/2000. While driving, grinding noise from rear of vehicle. Talked with Subaru and two independent garages, and all with same conclusion - defective wheel bearing. All stated this was/is a known problem with this vehicle because part was not strong enough. Subaru mechanic diagnosed right rear wheel bearing is problem and it was replaced. Asked for and received replaced part.

: the contact stated mechanical vibration noise at frequency of wheel rotation, persisting after complete wheel change when changing from all-weather to winter tires. Repair shop continued diagnosis. Problem solved upon replacement of wheel bearings in left-rear wheel.

After purchasing my 1999 Subaru Forester, at 67,000 miles the left rear wheel bearing began to fail. This appears to be a common event judging from the complaints I have researched from various internet sources. Instead of recalling the defective parts, Subaru has decided to ignore the issue and make the vehicle owners have their defective wheel bearings replaced (with different bearings) at their own expense.

See all problems of the 1999 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Both rear wheel bearings have failed twice. Replaced twice by repair shop. Original ones lasted 50,000 miles, 1st replacement lasted 10,000 miles.

Failure of rear wheel bearings.

Rear left wheel bearing failures. The left rear wheel bearing has failed and been replaced 4 times in 60,000 miles. Numerous contacts with Subaru have failed to resolve or fix this ongoing problem.

Consumer stated rear wheel bearing wore out prematurely. This part was replaced four times.

I bought my Subaru Forester 2000 new. Under warranty I have had to replace my wheel bearings three times. A forth time after warrenty and now for a fifth time. . Four of the wheel bearings have been on the same wheel; the back right. Youar component selection does not have suspension rear; wheel bearings so I put in suspension front; wheel bearings. Suggest you add this component.

Rear wheel bearings were replaced four times. Vehicle was making too much noise before the bearings were replaced. Consumer felt that the wheel bearings should have lasted longer. Manufacturer was notified.

Rear wheel bearings on my 1999 Subaru forrester purchased on Mar 6, 1999 have failed on the left rear wheel at 31619 miles on Nov. 13, 2001. The right rear wheel bearing failed on July 1, 2004 at 58974 miles. The left rear failed again on a vacation trip to vermont on July 12, 2004 at 59832 miles. On this last failure the left rear hopusing had to be replaced as excessive heat scorched the part. The first incident was covered under the manufacturers warrenty. The other 2 failures were covered under an extended $900 warrenty that was purchased when the car was purchased otherwise added expense to myself would have $286. 33 for the second failure and $507. 17 for the third failure as the car was out of the standard car warrenty. This still cost me $100 (2 incedents at $50 deductable). At the replacement of the last 2 bearings the mechanics performing the work said Subaru came up with a new heavier duty bearing a few years back to replace the standard bearings suopplied when the vehicles were manufactured. If not for the purchase of the extended warrenty the repairs would have cost about $800. As I was on vacation and travelling on the highway at 65mph when the last bearing failed who knows what might have happened if the bearing heated up more than what it did. Parts were kept by the local Subaru dealer here in lakewood and the Subaru dealership in st. Johnsbury, vt. I'm hoping thatr Subaru's new designed bearing will last longer than their original equipment supplied on their vehicles. I'm still out the $100 I had to pay for my deductable on getting the vehicle repaired. Who knows how many Subaru's are out there that can cause some major problems if the old design bearings get heated up enough to cause loss of control of the vehicle. For me, these incidents basically caused loss of time, especially the last incident as I lost 6 hours of vacation time waiting for the replacement parts to be found and the vehicle repaired.

Rumbling under car was indication that a problem existed. 1st incident thanksgiving weekend 2003. Front left wheel bearings falied and had to be replaced. I was not able to get car in immediately because I was traveling and nobody was open. I finally got car to hunter in nc for repair. They told me it was front wheel bearings. Parts person told me they never replace Forester bearings with original parts. They use outback or some other model instead. They did not replace axle but I think it may have been damaged because they were unable to do normal fix. Some components had froze and they had to go in backwards to fix. I think the bearings are very heavy duty and will drive for a long time damaged and so crash is unlikely. I drove 800 miles with rumbling. 2nd incident Jun 21 2004 - both rear wheel bearings failed and rear right axle was froze and all had to be replaced. This time I brought car in to Subaru of beechmont very near to start of rumbling. Subaru of America is trying to say that my vehicle shows signs of heavy trailering as excuse to not reimburse me. I use my hitch several times a year and my rear brakes are being replaced at 82,000 miles which would not be true if I trailered as they claim. They said that my hitch ball showed heavy wear and it has probably only been used less than 2 dozen times in it's entire life. It looks new. They are trying to divert attention and I am wondering how many other people they are doing this with. When I talk privately with dealership personell they agree that Foresters around 2000 have real issues with wheel bearings. Personell agree that bearings and axles should last the life of the car. There is no excuse for 3 bearings to have to be replaced in less than one year. I think it is an under-reported design flaw. Accidents don't happen because they are so heavy duty that they grind down long enough that people usually get them in for repair before the wheel falls off. There is potential here for disaster.

There was a grinding noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. Upon inspection of the noise by the dealership, they indicated the noise occurred because of a right wheel bearing failure. The right wheel bearing was replaced, but then the failure occurred on the left side.

Left wheel bearing went out may 2004. Paid approx. $1300 to repair it at a Subaru dealership. Right wheel bearing went out sept 2005. Paid approx $450 to replace it at a Subaru certified repair shop. Now may 2006, left wheel bearing has gone out again, less than 2 years after it was replaced. The Subaru dealer now wants $500-800 to replace it again as they say repairs are only under warranty for 12 mos. I have spent close to $2,000 on repairs for something that is defective and obviously cannot be fixed. It does not make sense to spend another $800 to repair it again when it will only happen again and again. My vehicle has 94k on it. I drive less than 10k per year. This should not be happening. Subaru won't help me. Dealer won't help me.

This is the third time that the rear wheel bearings on the passenger side need to be replaced. There was a loud noise in the back while the vehicle was in motion. Got louder on turns, mostly to the right.

The rear wheel bearing showed signs of excessive wear every 30000 to 40000 miles. The dealer/independent shop replaced the part.