Vehicle Data Hub

2003 Subaru Forester fuel system problems

Owners reported fuel system problems in 57 complaints for the 2003 Subaru Forester, 24% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
57 24% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
102,000 miles 53 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
0 and 0
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When fuel system problems show up

Fuel system complaints by mileage, 2003 Subaru Forester Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 102,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 1 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 2 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 2 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 10 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 9 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 9 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 8 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 4 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 5 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 1 complaints 200k+ miles: 2 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 102,000 miles
Based on 53 complaints that include mileage. 9% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles1
20k to 40k miles2
40k to 60k miles2
60k to 80k miles10
80k to 100k miles9
100k to 120k miles9
120k to 140k miles8
140k to 160k miles4
160k to 180k miles5
180k to 200k miles1
200k+ miles2

What the data shows

Of the 53 fuel system complaints that report mileage, the median is about 102,000 miles, and 9% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 1 injury.

What owners wrote

I bought the 2003 Forrester off Craig's list While driving the car the steering is very loose and sways on the road . I noticed a small it was funny I could not identify it. I woke latter that night with a headache at the base of my skull and was extremely dizzy and nausea. I felt that way. Through out. The day. I drove it a short. distance the next day with the windows down. I begin hearing a grinding. Thumping noise in the rear . tites or brakes .bur it sounded like it was going to fall apart.

May 2021 Injury

My 2003 forester has recently been experiencing extremely strong smells of fuel when driving in the cold weather. Inhaling fuel vapors are very dangerous, here are side effects associated with inhalation of fumes: inhaling gasoline fumes brings concentrated hydrocarbons into your lungs and bloodstream. Some of the ingredients in gasoline are extremely toxic and are mutagens. Liver damage and permanent brain damage are possibilities.

Reported at 62,000 miles, November 2013

Other problems reported for the 2003 Subaru Forester

Fuel system problems in other years

Fuel system problems across all Subaru models