2004 Subaru Forester problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (60) · Fuel System, Gasoline (55) · Suspension (18)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Subaru Forester model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
188 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm 2011-09-06 · campaign 11V464000 · 318,215 vehicles
Defect: 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 L
Risk: A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (146)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-05 · SubaruNet Announcement (M · Other
this announcement provides information on a new software update for the midtronics dss and dca machines.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-18 · 13-109-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · SubaruNet Announcement (C · Other
this announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-14 · 15-333-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Electrical System 2026-09-14 · 15-304-22R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of infotainment concerns. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Electrical System 2026-08-20 · 15-308-23R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service information bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 146 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-03-28 · Fuel/Propulsion System“leaking fuel lines under turbo in engine compartment when in cold weather…”
2023-01-30 · Structure · 28,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 subaru forester. the contact stated that while driving an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and extended to the floor, causing the braking distance to be extended. the vehicle was towed to the local dealer who discovered that the brake hoses had failed due to rusting and corrosion of the brake lines. the conta…”
2022-05-02 · Suspension · 💥 crash“my vehicle had a recall on the lower control arms that would rust and and break. that is exactly what happened while i was driving with my family. control arm broke causing other parts to get destroyed. the fender breaks and other parts. the recall was performed before hand but it obviously wasn’t repaired correctly because it caused me to crash. d…”
2022-03-14 · Unknown Or Other“bracket to the sway bar bushing fell off…”
2021-05-24 · Suspension · 145,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 subaru forester. the contact stated that while having a routine safety check performed on the vehicle, she learned that the lower control was completely rusted. the contact learned that the repair was covered under a special coverage. the contact stated that because the vehicle was not registered in a stated listed for the s…”
2021-04-06 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 140,200 mi“there is a fuel leak on the low and high pressure fuel rubber hoses, and they cause fuel odor to enter the cb via climate control. it is a very strong odor, that requires me to either drive with the windows down or wait for the car to clear out the fuel odor out of the cabin. mostly occurs during cold weather days. once engine warms up, odor fades …”
2021-02-01 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 97,000 mi“neopreen hose to the right side fuel rail started leaking. this hose is near the top of the engine and the leak caused fuel to run all over engine, which was then drawn into the cabin via the climate control system. this occurred while driving, and raw fuel was dripping from the high pressure hose once stopped.…”
2021-01-12 · Engine · 161,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 subaru forester. the contact stated that there was a leak in the head gasket. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer herb gordon subaru (3161 automobile blvd, silver spring, md 20904, (866) 520-7894) where it was diagnosed with the head cover gasket with needing to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. upon inves…”
2020-06-18 · Suspension · 133,000 mi“control arms rotten out with front crash bars... should be a recall on them as the control arms are about 200 each plus labor... and to find someone who has the front crash bars cause they rot out do to the ac leaking on them and rotten them out.... *tr…”
2020-03-29 · Power Train · 57,000 mi · 💥 crash“car was shifted from drive into neutral for operator to use a parking lot gate machine. the engine surged a little while in neutral but settled back down. when parking gate opened the operator shifted into drive and lightly pressed the gas pedal. the engine immediately surged to full throttle and rapidly accelerated across the driveway for a fe…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.