2001 Subaru Forester recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Vehicle speed controlCrash

  WHILE PULLING OUT OF A CURBSIDE PARKING PLACE ON A CITY STREET THE ENGINE STARTED RACING AND I COULD NOT CONTROL IT BY STOMPING ON THE BRAKES OR APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AS I WAS WRESTLING TO KEEP THE SURGING CAR UNDER CONTROL ANOTHER CAR CAME DRIVING BY AND WAS SIDESWIPED. ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS I HAD TAKEN THIS CAR TO CHECK OUT THE SURGING WHICH TAKES PLACE WHEN THE CAR IS STARTING UP. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT I CONSULTED BOTH ASSURED ME THAT THEY HAD ADJUSTED THE IDLE AND THE CAR WAS NOW SAFE TO DRIVE. BUT IS IT?

  Nov 19, 2015 · 57,045 miles
• Fuel/propulsion system

  WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS COLD AND I TURN ON THE DEFROST TO WARM UP THE CAR WHILE PARKED I CAN SMELL GAS IN THE VEHICLE. IT GOES AWAY ONCE I START DRIVING. THIS IS A PROBLEM MANY SUBARU OWNERS HAVE BECAUSE A HOSE LOOSENS AND ALLOWS GAS TO LEAK OUT. ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP THE HOSE TIGHTENS AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. THIS CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE MY CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE.

  Jan 1, 2016 · 180,000 miles
• Air bags

  THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. THEN IT GETS CLOSED IN THE DOOR BECAUSE IT HANGS LOOSE. IN THE BACK SEAT, THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT HAS THE WRONG PART SO IT CANNOT BE LATCHED. BECAUSE OF THIS, I CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE WITH MORE THAN 2 PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT.

  Dec 1, 2003 · 56,000 miles
• Exterior lighting

  WHEN TURNING THE TURN SIGNALS ON, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY, SUDDENLY PLUNGING YOU INTO DARKNESS. THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE MADE OF INFERIOR PLASTIC THAT CLOUDS OVER WITH AGE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED BECAUSE IT LOOKED AS IF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON WHEN THEY WERE.

  Jan 1, 2004 · 56,000 miles
• Wheels

  IN DECEMBER, LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR USED, WHILE DRIVING I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A FLAT TIRE. I WAS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM A SERVICE STATION SO DROVE TO IT, BUT DRIVING THAT SHORT DISTANCE RUINED THE TIRE. I HAD JUST PUT AIR IN THE TIRES, BUT DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH ALUMINUM RIMS. OFTEN, AFTER PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRES, THEY WOULD BE FLAT BY THE TIME I GOT HOME (JUST A FEW MILES). THIS HAPPENED IN 2003. I HAVE HAD TO HAD THE RIMS TAKEN OFF, GROUND/SMOOTHED OFF, THEN RESEALED EVERY YEAR OR TWO. ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES/WHEELS IS THAT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SNOW, THE SNOW PACKS ITSELF AROUND THE TIRES COMPLETELY FILLING THE SPACE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE…

  Dec 1, 2009 · 56,000 miles
• Fuel/propulsion system

  WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN AND AROUND THE CAR. WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, I WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE HOSE CLAMPS ON THE FUEL LINES WERE LOOSE. THEY WERE THEN TIGHTENED BUT EVERY TIME THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS, IT HAPPENS AGAIN. IT HAPPENS WHETHER PARKED OUTSIDE OR IN A GARAGE.

  Dec 1, 2009 · 95,000 miles
• Service brakesCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED AND ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED, WHICH PREVENTED THE BRAKES FROM STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN, WHICH CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FAILED TO INDICATE IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,503.

  Aug 20, 2015 · 194,503 miles
• Structure › Frame and members

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

  Mar 16, 2015 · 100,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.