What Is That Wind Noise In My Subaru?
What is that wind noise on my Subaru and how can I make it stop!
One of the typical things that will happen to your Subaru is over time you will hear an increased amount of wind type noise coming into the cabin area of the car especially at freeway speeds.
For certain Subaru models there is an updated part called the door gusset that will resolve this issue for you and bring back some of the piece and quiet you used to enjoy in your Subaru.
There is actually a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) number 12-82-04 pertaining to the updated gussets on certain model Subaru’s. Other models in some cases can have the gussets adjusted to resolve the noise.
The updated gussets are part number 61158AE00B for the right, and 61158AE01B. These updated parts fit the 2000 to 2004 Subaru Legacy and Outback platform.
There are some measurements that Subaru suggests making prior to replacing the gusset jut to insure replacing the gusset is necessary. The first is between the gusset and the glass with the door closed and the window up, if it is more than 2mm the gusset should be done the next is with the window down if the clearance is more than 5mm the gusset needs to be replaced.
Below are some pictures of the replacement process. The door panel and mirror have to come off to replace the gusset. The clearance needs to be checked after the gusset is replaced and adjusted if needed.
The picture doesn’t do justice to the gap formed btetween the glass and the door gusset.
The gap is gone.
Fixing the gap in the Door Gusset will greatly diminish the wind noise coming into your Subaru from the window and will quit driving you crazy.
Thanks for reading
Justin
Thank you Justin. I just bought a 2004 Forester and that’s the first thing I noticed. I really appreciate you taking the time to document and take the pictures.
Best Regards,
Thanks you for the info… where could I buy a replacement door gusset?
Great bit of info. Very pricey part for such a trivial item. $92 from the Subaru Stealer.
Update: allsubaru.com has them in stock for $73 each.
Thanks for your information on 2003 wind noise. Ours is getting worse and driving us crazy. It is the only thing we don’t like about our Subie. I suspected this area, now I know what to do. Thank You!!
Don, Salem, OR
Thank you soooo much for this information. I replaced both gussets and the noise is gone. It has put the pleasure back into driving my subie. It was the best $185 I have spent.
If you want to try to fix yourself here is my solution (may be temporary??) Take a hair dryer and heat up the gusset and bend towards the glass. lo and behold it again sealed properly and took away the warpage that was causing the wind noise. so far so good
Here’s another fix…sorry I don’t have pictures but after searching other forums, the solution was simple.
If you roll down the window and remove the plastic trim where the tweeter should go (depending upon model) you should be able to squeeze the piece back into a more acute opening. If you get it to look like the new piece that Justin suggested, then the next trick is to attempt to roll up the window and check for clearance. I got it with a first time go on the passenger side. Since I roll the drivers side down more often, the window got jammed a couple of times until I “shaped” the wedge to a more suitable path for it. Now it works like new. I’ll be test driving it in a few on the highway to see if the noise is gone. Saved me some money and took less than 5 minutes (plus it’s cold out there!!!).
Hope this helps folks. I love my Subaru.
Okay, this is good, now how do I fix an 09 Forrester wind sound? Just got it and plan to ask the dealer about this, but I want to make sure I have some idea what they will do.
Follow up:
After test driving my car on the highway, the noise is gone. I can only hear the faint sound of the road and exhaust,but no wind noise. It’s worth a try before plunking down money for new parts. Good luck!
My outback has this problem. My local shop often uses used parts to help save customers money. I will have to check this out with them. Thanks from Colorado.
My Subaru Stealer(I love that! Hate that it is so true) told me that adjusting the mirror gusset on my driver’s side door would fix the wind noise. I was quoted $25. I haven’t done it yet, will wait until I have the body repair from another car bumping into me (on the first day I drove my Subaru that was new to me!) and ask them to do that little service for me, hopefully complimentary.
thank you so much for this item it was the only complaint i had with my sooby it was driving me nuts
[...] this is a know problem with this model of subaru. here is a good explanation and how to fix it What Is That Wind Noise In My Subaru? – Seattle Subaru Repair [...]
This has been an annoying problem with my cousin’s 2003 Forester from the beginning. The noise at freeway speeds is excessive and actually makes it difficult to have a relaxed conversation at a normal volume.
Clearly it’s a design flaw. The fact that a bulletin was issued and a modified part was designed to correct the faulty design makes it 100% obvious that this isn’t the kind of normal “wear and tear” item that owners should have to pay to have repaired. Subaru delivered a defective vehicle from the get go and they SHOULD fix ALL of them and do it for free!!!
Hello Nick,
The 2003 Forester model typically just receives an adjustment to change the gap as it is an adjustable component. In the event it does need a gusset, if it was to develop an issue during the 3/36 warranty it would be considered defective and replaced under warranty, if it happens out of that warranty its your car. I am sorry if a little wind noise has you wound up. I don’t think I understand the thought process behind everything should be covered for life when there are clear definitions of what is covered by your warranty and for how long.
Typically if a component creates a potential safety issue there will be a recall, but you really wont ever have a recall for some wind noise.
Justin
How do you adjust for the 2003 Forester?
Actually I would tend to disagree. Google this and you will see that it’s more than a “little” noise, and it’s not really something that the average person would likely be able to adjust. Certainly I’m not suggesting that everything “should be covered for life”, but as an experianced designer in another discipline, I can tell you that many designs are destined to fail because they were poor designs from the outset. This is a poor design.
Typically an auto manufacturer will realize that there are problems after a number of complaints, but will not inform their customers unless there exists a life safety issue. Instead, they may issue a bulletin to their dealers and will repair during warrranty only. Often these problems do not occur, or are not reported, until after warranty expiration. Then you are s.o.l.
Bottom line is that this is an annoying design flaw.
Hi Ken,
I do understand that you find the wind noise to be irritating, I also hope you understand that no manufacture builds a perfect car. As Subaru’s have gained in popularity over the last 10 years especially I often find myself having to try and point out that there are some things that Subaru’s are known for and some that they are not, Subaru does not have a track record for building quiet cars, only safe ones. If noise while driving is irritating to you and spending some money to cure those noises when they arise is upsetting I would suggest a different car, but there will always be a trade off.
The purpose of service bulletins are to help a vehicle manufacturer cut down on warranty time claims paid back to a Dealership for labor operations involving some sort of diagnoses paid to a line technician. That is the only reason they exist! A safety defect will generate a Recall or a campaign. I will agree that the gusset is weak, but will also state that based on what the market will bear in terms of sales price that if a manufacture is willing to spend X per vehicle in research and development, manufacture, and post sale warranty claims and a choice has to be made with some sort of interior or exterior fit and finish or a rattle, wind noise or squeak that may occur VS a serious safety defect I will take a noise any day and have always applauded Subaru for staying focused on building safe vehicles. I constantly see Safety related recalls for other makes and models that I do not see for Subaru. Everyone has their own value structure, mine is in my family and I want to know that if involved in an accident the car will take care of us, I dont care that something that costs $200.00 to repair at a shop or $98.99 plus some of my time to cure comes up every few years.. I will take the LACK of sudden acceleration problems, floor mat issues, brakes that fail, cars that catch fire, roll over etc that I have always seen with Subaru that instead plaque most of the other car companies that make cars at the same price point.
The design of the Gusset did not change drastically, Subaru’s have NEVER been quiet cars, but in 2010 Subaru went to a fully framed door and lots of people have now complained about bumping their head on the same forums that house the rants about the weak design of the other door gusset.
The repair takes an hour a side at best, if you paid a shop full price to make the repairs you would be out $400.00 and a few hours of your time.
I would really encourage you to do some of the same Google research for problems with other cars in the same class as your Subaru and see if you would rather have your problems or theirs.
Thats my point of view, thanks for reading
Justin
Where can I buy the gussett or take my car to be reapir because the noise is driving me nut. Thanks
We sell them, the Local Subaru Dealer Parts Department sells them a well.
Justin
Thank you so much for documenting this. You are my hero. It feels like someone running their finger nails on a chalk board to me everytime I drive my car. I am sooo happy to be able to know how to fix it. Thank you for taking the time. Truely!
Justin, do you sell the version made for a 2003 forester? Ive made several adjustments to the window and gusset and have overall decreased the noise by about 75 percent, but i can tell the gusset is weak and flawed and i can only adjust so much, and at this point after sound proofing the car…its driving me nuts. If you sell the updatd 2003 forester part, i am interested. Please let me know!
Hi Justin,
We do, They run $75.30 per gusset.
Thanks and let me know if you are interested.
Justin
Justin re acceleration issues I just finished
reading where many owners of 2003 Foresters
have reportedserious problems with sudden
accelerations at low speeds while backing
up resulting in several accidents.
Very concerning as this is the year Suburu I own.
Also the wind noise is so incrediably loud
your hearing is impaired along with your sanity not conducive to safe driving.
I drove a 2003 Honda Accord for a customer that made more wind noise than any Subaru I have ever driven, the wind noise is correctable in your Subaru! It just costs a little money. Your hearing is impaired? The wind noise often occurs @ freeway speeds, I am not sure what to say about the need to spend less than $200.00 to correct a wind noise that many other Imports develop as well.
As far as the issue in Reverse? There are no sudden acceleration issues in the 2003 Forester, its is not drive by wire like the newer vehicles including the Toyota’s you have read about in the news , there is an idle speed control motor that comes on whenever there is increased load such as when the Ac compressor engages. You may have a dirt Idle speed control motor, has yours been cleaned recently? You may have an out of range Throttle position sensor.
If you experience a higher than desired idle speed situation you need only apply more brake pressure and then have it diagnosed locally. Typically when there is an accident the driver is unprepared for idle speed increase at lower speeds brought on by the idle speed control motor, this happens and if your foot is on the brake and you are reactive you shouldn’t ever have any problems
Justin
Justin, could you please list the door gusset part number for the FORESTER, 2003. Left and right please…and is there a corresponding TSB for the Forester? THANKS for info!!!!!
No TSB for the Forester and you can call the Subaru dealer for the part numbers by the VIN number of your Car.
Justin
You might not need to buy new gussets. I simply used pliers and went around the gusset perimeter, squeezing a little bit until the gap was the right width to permit smooth window operation, yet have no gap after the window was rolled up. No more noise. And sooooo easy to do.
Yes you can take a set of pliers to your car if you like but most likely it will be just a temporary repair without the updated gussets.
The wind noise on my passenger side 03 outback was overwhelming as it grew progressively worse over a year. After I could not take any more while on long road trip I found this page. While riding as passenger i wedged folded over paper between window and gusset and quiet was restored to the cabin. When I get home I will work on it.
I used weather stripping for windows. Now I will get the real thing. Cheap for the peace of mind (it was like a dripping faucet and I had to turn the radio up real high.
2004 subaru wrx specs…
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Thank you Mr.Justin
i have replaced the left doors and i have the same noise in the new doors
and i am gonna fix it enshallah .