SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
139Owner complaints

Model-year median: 131

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2001 Subaru Forester

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 139 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Vehicle Speed Control: 29 reports
  • Power Train: 23 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 16 reports
  • Suspension: 15 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 13 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    101
    1998    131
    1999    75
    2000    139
    2001    88
    2002    189
    2003    219
    2004
    Compare all Forester years →

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

    What owners reported most

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

    Exterior Lighting complaints

    6 reports
    Clear category filter
    56,000 miles · Dec 21, 2015
    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 WER…

    Read full complaint

    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.

    NHTSA ODI #10811363

    25,000 miles · Nov 26, 2007
    Exterior Lighting

    HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE TOO CLOUDED OVER TO USE SAFELY. REGULAR EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE (WASHING, WAXING WHERE INDICATED) HAS NEVER MADE A DIFFERENCE MATERIALS USED WERE SUB-STANDARD & DID NOT EVEN OUTLIVE OUTLIVE THE ORIGINAL MFR. WARRANTY. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10209981

    Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2005
    Exterior Lighting

    DT : ON 6/7/05 THE OWNER WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS DARK AND THAT HEADLIGHTS WERE FLICKERING ON AND OFF. DRIVER HAS TO HOLD THE SWITCH ALL THE WAY IN TO KEEP LIGHTS ON THE WAY HOME. NEVER NOTICED THIS BEFORE. OWNER CHECKED BUT COULDNT FIND A RECALL, AND HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ARRANGED FOR REPAIRS. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10124558

    81,000 miles · May 13, 2005
    Exterior Lighting

    USING THE TURN SIGNAL LEVERL CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT. INITALLY THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED BRIEFLY AND STAYED ON, BUT THEY ARE NOW REQUIRING SOME JIGGLING OF THE TURN SIGNAL LEVEL TO STAY ON. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT IN SWITCHING BETWEEN HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM, USING THE SAME LEVER.I AM CONTACTING THE DEALER TODAY.BELO…

    Read full complaint

    USING THE TURN SIGNAL LEVERL CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT. INITALLY THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED BRIEFLY AND STAYED ON, BUT THEY ARE NOW REQUIRING SOME JIGGLING OF THE TURN SIGNAL LEVEL TO STAY ON. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT IN SWITCHING BETWEEN HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM, USING THE SAME LEVER.I AM CONTACTING THE DEALER TODAY.BELOW IS LISTED THE NUMBER OF FAILURES OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS. I DIRECTED MYSELF TO THIS SITE, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ON YOUR LIST.

    NHTSA ODI #10120833

    Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2001
    Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

    WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 25 MPH. THEN, BRAKES LOCKED UP. PEDAL FELT SOFT.*AK DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT BULB BURNED AND WAS REPLACED. *SLC

    NHTSA ODI #894536

    Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2000
    Exterior Lighting

    WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY BECAUSE OF FAULTY HEADLIGHTS.*AK NO LEFT OR RIGHT ADJUSTMENT FOR HEAD LIGHTS AND NOT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. ALSO HEAD LIGHTS ARE TO HIGH ON BRIGHT TO LOW ON DIM. *YH

    NHTSA ODI #870239

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.

    Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems

    Subaru Forester transmission problems →Subaru Forester electrical problems →