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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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
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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…

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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…

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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

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.

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