SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2004 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Subaru Forester do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 131.

About this comparison →
219Owner complaints

Model-year median: 131

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
139
200188
2002189
2003219
200493
200588
200672
2007
Compare all Forester years →

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

What owners reported most

Fuel/propulsion System
63Fuel System, Gasoline
61Suspension
25Engine
23Air Bags
21
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
16Power Train
12Vehicle Speed Control
12Unknown Or Other
9Electrical System
4Structure
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Wheels
3Service Brakes
2Tires
2Equipment
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Steering
1Visibility
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

188 reports with mileage · 31 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.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports

Wheels complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
244,123 miles · Mar 14, 2018
SteeringSuspensionWheels

FAILED RECALL ON 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY FORESTER RUSTED IN HALF. WHEN BACKING OUT OF A FLAT CONCRETE DRIVEWAY ONTO A CITY STREET, AS I BEGAN TO TURN THE WHEEL I HEARD/FELT A POP IN THE FRONT END. AS I BEGAN TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL IT STARTED MAKIN…

Read full complaint

FAILED RECALL ON 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY FORESTER RUSTED IN HALF. WHEN BACKING OUT OF A FLAT CONCRETE DRIVEWAY ONTO A CITY STREET, AS I BEGAN TO TURN THE WHEEL I HEARD/FELT A POP IN THE FRONT END. AS I BEGAN TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL IT STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND I NOTICED THE STEERING FELT FUNNY/LOOSE. BEFORE FOING ANY FURTHER I PULLED THE CAR STRAIT BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY TO INSPECT THE PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS JACKING THE CAR UP I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL APPEAR TO GO LIMP AND SLOPPY. AFTER CRAWLING UNDERNEATH TO CHECK I FOUND THAT THE CONTROL ARM HAD COMPLETELY BROKE/RUSTED IN HALF. A FEW WEEKS EARLIER I NOTICED THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES WERE QUITE RUSTED. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH I FOUND THAT SUBARU HAD A RECALL ON THE CONTROL ARMS AND WOULD EITHER REPLACE THEN OR RE COAT THEM. I THEN CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER ABOUT THE RECALL. AFTER RUNNING MY VIN THE TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED FOR THAT RECALL IN 2012 AND THAT MY CONTROL ARMS WERE UNDER COATED AND THEREFORE WERE NOT COVERED FOR REPLACEMENT. SO NOW AFTER MY CONTROL ARM IS COMPLETELY BROKEN I CONTACTED THE SAME DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD TO TRY CONTACTING SUBARU OF AMERICA BUT THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING. I THEN CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND AFTER GIVING THEM ALL MY INFORMATION WAS TOLD AGAIN THAT MY VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED FOR THE RECALL AND WAS NOT COVERED, BUT IF I TOOK IT TO A DEALER THEY WOULD "LOOK AT IT". I THEN CONTACTED ANOTHER LOCAL DEALER AND I WAS ABLE TO TRAILER IT THERE MYSELF. I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT. HAD THE CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOEN THE ROAD AT ANY RATE OF SPEED THE RESULTS COULD BE CATASTROPHIC OR EVEN FATAL.

NHTSA ODI #11079474

56,000 miles · Apr 30, 2012
Wheels

DRIVER WAS PULLING ONTO ROUTE 66 WHEN HER RIGHT REAR WHEEL ALMOST CAME OFF. TURNS OUT THE WHEEL BEARING FAILED, WHICH APPARENTLY CAUSED THE BRAKES TO GO OUT. THE CAR WENT OFF THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ON RAMP, THEN SKIDDED TO THE LEFT COMPLETELY ACROSS ROUTE 66, AND ENDED UP ALMOST AT THE JERSEY WALL IN THE MEDIAN, FACING THE ON…

Read full complaint

DRIVER WAS PULLING ONTO ROUTE 66 WHEN HER RIGHT REAR WHEEL ALMOST CAME OFF. TURNS OUT THE WHEEL BEARING FAILED, WHICH APPARENTLY CAUSED THE BRAKES TO GO OUT. THE CAR WENT OFF THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ON RAMP, THEN SKIDDED TO THE LEFT COMPLETELY ACROSS ROUTE 66, AND ENDED UP ALMOST AT THE JERSEY WALL IN THE MEDIAN, FACING THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS ABLE TO STOP. BY THIS TIME THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS ACTUALLY TILTING OUT AT THE TOP, BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK ACROSS ROUTE 66 AND PARK ON THE SHOULDER. A YOUNG MAN WHO SAW THE MISHAP STOPPED AND HELPED HER JACK THE CAR UP AND TAKE THE WHEEL OFF. CAR WAS TOWED AWAY. NEXT DAY SHE FOUND A CAR PART ABOUT FIVE FEET AWAY FROM WHERE HER CAR HAD BEEN PARKED. SHOWED SUBARU SERVICE PEOPLE THE PART -- IT WAS THE END OF THE RIGHT REAR AXLE, WHICH HAD SHEARED OFF, AND APPARENTLY FLEW OFF THE CAR. IT LOOKS LIKE THE WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED, AND THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR HAD SNAPPED OFF THE END OF THE AXLE, BEFORE SHE DROVE OFF. THE WHEEL EVENTUALLY STARTED TO COME OFF, AND FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED WITHOUT FATAL CONSEQUENCES. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10456954

87,800 miles · Mar 31, 2009
Wheels

NOISE FROM LEFT REAR WHEEL GREW LOUDER FOR WEEKS ON A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT TURBO WITH 87,800 MILES. TIRES PLUS IN COOPER CITY, FL, REPLACED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING. IT SEEMED UNUSUALLY SOON FOR NORMAL WEAR, AND I FOUND SIMILAR ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUBARU WHEEL BEARINGS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263775

Official recalls

2

11V464000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Sep 6, 2011

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, WEST VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION IF THE HANGER BRACKET IS EXPOSED TO SALTY AND HUMID ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS ROADS CONTAINING SNOW MELTING AGENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: SUBARU WILL HANDLE THEIR VEHICLES AND SAAB WILL HANDLE THEIRS. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DEGREE OF CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND WILL EITHER RUSTPROOF OR REPLACE THEM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.

04V473000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Oct 1, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE COVER BOLTS FOR THE ENGINE OIL CONTROL VALVE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED, ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK FROM AROUND THE COVER GASKET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF LEAKING OIL CONTACTS COMPONENTS OPERATING AT HIGH TEMPERATURES, A FIRE COULD RESULT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE OIL-FLOW CONTROL VALVE COVER BOLTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

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

1

PE11011 · Front Suspension Control Arm Failure

Opened Apr 7, 2011 · Closed Sep 23, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front; Suspension:front:control Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Suspension:front:control Arm

On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Suspension:front

On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Suspension

On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems

Subaru Forester transmission problems →Subaru Forester electrical problems →