2001 Subaru Forester problems
Owners have filed 169 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Subaru Forester. Cruise control is the most reported problem area, at 18% of complaints. After that come engine (11%) and brakes (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 169 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Cruise control 18% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 39 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 31 and 3
- Typical mileage
- 60,000 miles 85 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 6 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 16 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 20 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 12 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 15 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Among the 85 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 60,000 miles. For cruise control specifically, the median reported mileage is about 71,000 miles (12 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 39 complaints mention a crash; 31 injuries reported; 3 deaths reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 94% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2001 ranks 13th most-complained-about out of 29 model years of the Subaru Forester with enough data (111 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Consumer's vehicle collided with another vehicle head-on and front air bags didn't deploy. Consumer was going 35MPH. Consumer had no idea if subaru dealer will inspect vehicle. Consumer listed there were 3 injuries and 3 fatalities, however did not specifically mention in the statement of any deaths. *slc
Parking with foot on brakes and vehicle suddenly accelerated over cement block. Had hit a few bushes and then a building. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. Had vehicle towed to a mechanic based on referral from dealership.
"clutch shudder" occurs shortly upon startup, first application of 1st gear ok stop once and apply 1st gear again and the shudder is severe, shaking and complete loss of acceleration; this will continue for next 2-3 miles warming the car does not remove the problem. This is an extreme safety hazard - there is no forward acceleration. Temp it frequently occurs 56 62 degrees, however once it begins it can re-occur at higher temps later in the day. Occurrence is intermittent.
Whenever the outside temperature drops below 20 degrees fahrenheit, there is a strong odor of gasoline in and around the car. When taken to a mechanic, I was informed that all of the hose clamps on the fuel lines were loose. They were then tightened but every time the outside temperature drops, it happens again. It happens whether parked outside or in a garage.