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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

What owners actually said

139 reports
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

95,000 miles · May 16, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET BLOWN AFTER SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP

NHTSA ODI #10121016

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

10,972 miles · Apr 29, 2005
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING IN CITY LIMITS CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE. AS SOME TIME PASSED THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. WITHIN TWO YEARS THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED TWICE. SEVERAL MILES LATER, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED TWICE. CURRENTLY, NOISE RECURRED AGAIN WITH OWNER NOT SURE WHICH REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10119348

46,999 miles · Apr 14, 2005
Visibility

HEAT STRIP ON WINDSHIELD CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10117888

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

90,000 miles · Dec 30, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2001 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. IT APPEARS, AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND OTHER SOURCES, THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS ALL PHASE 2 2.5 L ENGINES MADE BY SUBARU BETWEEN 1999 & 2002. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INTERNET WEB PAGES WITH COMPLAINTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. WHY HASN'T SUBARU BEEN ORDERED TO RE…

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MY 2001 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. IT APPEARS, AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND OTHER SOURCES, THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS ALL PHASE 2 2.5 L ENGINES MADE BY SUBARU BETWEEN 1999 & 2002. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INTERNET WEB PAGES WITH COMPLAINTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. WHY HASN'T SUBARU BEEN ORDERED TO RECALL THESE ENGINES, THEY'RE ADANGER TO THE DRIVING PUBLIC! *AK

NHTSA ODI #10104780

80,000 miles · Nov 4, 2004
Suspension

CONSUMER STATED REAR WHEEL BEARING WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THIS PART WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10099414

46,000 miles · Nov 1, 2004
Power Train

BEGAN AS INTERMITTENT CLUTCH SLIPPING (JUDDER) WHEN COLD OR DAMP. IT IS NOW OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THIS MORNING. THEY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, KNEW ALL ABOUT IT AND THE TSB THAT SUBARU HAD ISSUED AND ADVISED THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN. WHEN I CAME HOME FROM WORK, I HAD A MESSAG…

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BEGAN AS INTERMITTENT CLUTCH SLIPPING (JUDDER) WHEN COLD OR DAMP. IT IS NOW OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THIS MORNING. THEY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, KNEW ALL ABOUT IT AND THE TSB THAT SUBARU HAD ISSUED AND ADVISED THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN. WHEN I CAME HOME FROM WORK, I HAD A MESSAGE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER BASIC WARRANTY (36000 MILES) AND SINCE MINE WAS 48,000, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME SINCE SOA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD BY THE SVC MGR, HAS REMEDIED IT ON NEW MODELS, THIS IS A DEFECT. I LIVE ON A STATE ROAD WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC AROUND A CURVE. WHEN I ACCELERATE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I EXPECT THAT THE CAR WOULD SAFELY AND QUICKLY MOVE ME INTO TRAFFIC. THIS IS JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY SOA. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET IF ANYONE WAS LOOKING FOR THIS. AND EVEN THOSE WHO HAD REPAIRS MADE WITHIN THE WTY PERIOD COMPLAINED OF CONTINUING FAILURES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10098130

24,000 miles · Jul 14, 2004
Power Train

MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBURU FORESTER PURCHASED MAY 12, 2001 IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. IN MAY OF 2004 CAR BEGAN TO HAVE SLOW START UP IN LST. AND 2ND. GEARS. DEALER SAID HE DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM WORSENED AND PROGRESSED INTO 3RD, 4TH. AND 5TH. GEARS. UNTIL ONE DAY IN JULY WHILE ON HIGHWAY CLUTCH EXPLODED. DEALER…

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MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBURU FORESTER PURCHASED MAY 12, 2001 IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. IN MAY OF 2004 CAR BEGAN TO HAVE SLOW START UP IN LST. AND 2ND. GEARS. DEALER SAID HE DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM WORSENED AND PROGRESSED INTO 3RD, 4TH. AND 5TH. GEARS. UNTIL ONE DAY IN JULY WHILE ON HIGHWAY CLUTCH EXPLODED. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN AS THOUGH BY A RACE CAR DRIVER WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM. DEALER SUGGESTED IN MY JUNE 04 PHONE CALL THAT CAR MIGHT NEED A TUNE UP WHICH IS WHY I DID NOT HESITATE TO DRIVE IT WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER LOOKING AT ATTORNEY INTERNET COMPLAINT SITE I FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR IF NOT EXACT COMPLAINTS AS I HAVE MADE TO DEALERSHIP. AT PRESENT DEALER HAS MY VEHICLE IN ANOTHER STATE AND TELLS ME I MUST PAY FOR THE 'CLUTCH DISC" AT L39. AND THE COST OF MY RENTAL CAR AT 30. DAY , REPAIR COULD TAKE 4-7 DAYS. ALSO, I PAID FOR THE TOW OFF THE HIGHWAY-THE FIRST TOW. THIS PROBLEM COULD COST ME $500. IF THE DEALER WOULD HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM INITIALLY IN MAY THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER OCCCURED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN IN CAR. VEHICLE LOST 20 MILES SPPED IN LESS THAN 10 SECONDS CAUSING ME TO QUICKLY AND CALMLY MOVE OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND AWAIT STATE TROOPER HELP. MECHANICS TELL ME THAT DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SHOULD HAVE INVESTIGATED CLUTCH PROBLEMS WHEN I MADE COMPLAINTS OF LOSS OF POWER IN 1ST. AND 2ND. GEARS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10081093

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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