2004 Subaru Forester problems
Owners have filed 270 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Subaru Forester. Fuel system is the most reported problem area, at 46% of complaints. After that come engine (15%) and suspension (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 270 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Fuel system 46% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 19 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 97,000 miles 224 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 | 9 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 34 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 32 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 28 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 32 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 33 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 19 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 15 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Among the 224 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 96,000 miles. For fuel system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 107,000 miles (113 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 19 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 11 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 22nd most-complained-about out of 29 model years of the Subaru Forester with enough data (57 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
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.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving on the highway at 55MPH the vehicle was involved in an accident. The air bags did not deploy. Although seatbelts were worn the two occupants sustained injuries. A police report was filed. As a result of the accident the vehicle was totaled.
Pulling into parking space. Had foot on brake. Approximate speed of car 10 MPH. Car accelerated on its own with my foot on brake. Looked down saw that gas pedal was to floor. Car accelerated into brick building. As quickly as it accelerated it stopped. Was able to reverse car into parking space. Hole in building damaging electricity for building. Entire building without electricity for entire day. Building has a 5' x 5' hole in wall and cracks doing up and down and around corner of building.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 subaru forester. The contact stated that as the temperature started to drop he noticed fluid leaking from the engine. He inspected the vehicle and realized that the hard fuel line was loose. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
Having recently bought my 2004 subaru forester xt, it ran great for the first few months. Then, while on the highway, it would shake uncontrollably, almost like an earthquake. Having taken it to subaru a month before, I mentioned that it was doing this a little, but not to the extent that it did on the highway. He said it would be $150 to look at it. Taking it in to a different mechanic, they had to replace the lower control arm.