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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.

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

    Tires complaints

    5 reports
    Clear category filter
    43,000 miles · Mar 24, 2005
    Engine And Engine CoolingTires

    RECALL WW-99 WAS ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT WAS NOT FOUND AT THIS TIME. THERE WAS EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAK INTO THE HEAD GASKET, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER WAS ONLY FLUSHING THE SYSTEM, AND WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ALSO, YOKOHAMA TIRES THAT WERE UNDER THE PROPER INFLATION FOR THE VEHICLE CAU…

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    RECALL WW-99 WAS ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT WAS NOT FOUND AT THIS TIME. THERE WAS EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAK INTO THE HEAD GASKET, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER WAS ONLY FLUSHING THE SYSTEM, AND WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ALSO, YOKOHAMA TIRES THAT WERE UNDER THE PROPER INFLATION FOR THE VEHICLE CAUSED IT TO SLIP AND SLIDE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ALL WHEEL DRIVE.*AK *NM

    NHTSA ODI #10115797

    55,800 miles · Mar 4, 2004
    TiresWheels

    WHEN DRIVING IN COLD TEMPERATURES TIRES LOOSE AIR. TIRES NEEDED AIR EVERY 10 MILES. THIS COULD BE CAUSED BY THE ALUMINUM RIMS BEING USED. THEY CORRODED AND LOST THEIR SEAL.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #10061370

    Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2002
    Tires

    CONSUMER STATES THAT BRIDGESTONE DUELLER 683 (P205-70-R15, DOT# UNKNOWN) ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ARE SOFTER AND WEAR OUT QUICKLY. *TT

    NHTSA ODI #566095

    Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
    Tires

    CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING, THE TIRE SUDDENLY BURST AND COLLAPSED AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE SIDEWALL,BY THE TIME CONSUMER GOT THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND STOPPED THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, THE TIRE IS A YOKOHAMA P215/60R16/94H RADIAL TUBELESS GEOLANDAR H/T. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #561804

    Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2000
    Tires

    THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE TO SHOW THE ENTIRE DOT NUMBER WHICH IS DOT EL YT CHB 1000. THIS TIRE FAILED AT 55 DEGREES TEMPERATURE, AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THE ODOMETER HAD ONLY 1563 MILES ON IT. I HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND THAT ALARMED ME, SO I GOT INTO THE SLOW LANE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CLUNKING SOUND …

    Read full complaint

    THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE TO SHOW THE ENTIRE DOT NUMBER WHICH IS DOT EL YT CHB 1000. THIS TIRE FAILED AT 55 DEGREES TEMPERATURE, AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THE ODOMETER HAD ONLY 1563 MILES ON IT. I HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND THAT ALARMED ME, SO I GOT INTO THE SLOW LANE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CLUNKING SOUND STOPPED. A MINUTE OR SO LATER, THE TIRE FAILED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF NAILS OR OTHER ROAD HAZARD, BUT THE TIRE DID HAVE A LOT OF TIRE DUST INSIDE IT. I DID NOT GO IN TO WORK THAT DAY, SO I COULD REPLACE ALL MY TIRES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I REPLACED 4 TIRES WITH MICHELINS AT A COST OF $408.29, AND I INTEND TO REPLACE THE 5TH TIRE AS SOON AS COSTCO GETS A NEW SHIPMENT IN. I HAVE RETAINED ALL THE TIRES I REPLACED. I HESITATED TO TAKE THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE FOR EVALUATION, BECAUSE I DID NOT THINK THEY WOULD BE IMPARTIAL.( DOT NUMBER: ELYTCHB100 TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

    NHTSA ODI #731717

    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 →