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2001 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Subaru Forester do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 131.

About this comparison →
139Owner complaints

Model-year median: 131

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
101
1998131
199975
2000139
200188
2002189
2003219
2004
Compare all Forester years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Vehicle Speed Control
29Power Train
23Engine And Engine Cooling
16Suspension
15Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13
All reported categories
Air Bags
12Wheels
7Exterior Lighting
6Fuel/propulsion System
6Seat Belts
5Tires
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Structure
4Visibility
4Service Brakes
3Electrical System
2Engine
2Steering
2Unknown Or Other
2Equipment
1Seats
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

73 reports with mileage · 66 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

31 crash reports0 fire reports20 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

12 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2001
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

AOTOMOBILE SKIDDED OF ROAD D/T SNOW/SLUSH STOPPING IN CULVERT. DAMAGE TO FRONT END CONSIDERED SUBSTANTIAL. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT APPARENTLY DID NOT HOLD OCCUPANT SINCE HER HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO LOCAL ER. THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPOLY IMPRESSED THE POLICE AND EMTS AT THE ACCI…

Read full complaint

AOTOMOBILE SKIDDED OF ROAD D/T SNOW/SLUSH STOPPING IN CULVERT. DAMAGE TO FRONT END CONSIDERED SUBSTANTIAL. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT APPARENTLY DID NOT HOLD OCCUPANT SINCE HER HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO LOCAL ER. THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPOLY IMPRESSED THE POLICE AND EMTS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #738943

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER RAN HEAD-ON INTO A POLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #870263

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems

Subaru Forester transmission problems →Subaru Forester electrical problems →