2001 Subaru FORESTER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
139 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
57,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 73 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 139 complaints (15.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 28 | 20.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 9.4% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 5.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 9 |
| Suspension:Rear | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 22; Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 9; Suspension:Rear: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 66 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 23 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 22 |
| 2004 | 16 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2000: 7; 2001: 23; 2002: 15; 2003: 22; 2004: 16; 2005: 13; 2006: 8; 2007: 6; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 5; 2015: 7; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008211 · 2003-02-27 (February 27, 2003)
BRAKE ROTORS WERE PACKED WITH LEAVES AND STONES. CAR NEEDED TO BE PLACED ON LIFT TO REMOVE THE DEBRIS. COULD NOT DRIVE DUE TO HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL AND CONCERN ABOUT CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. SUBARU TOOK FOUR HOURS TO PICK UP CAR. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER FINALLY, WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT A SUBARU PROBLEM AND THEY INDICATED I SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR A HALF HOUR LABOR AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR TOW. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING ON DIRT ROADS (ISN'T THAT WHAT SUV'S ARE DESIGNED FOR?) I THINK THERE MUST BE A FLAW IN DESIGN OF FORES…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016371 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
WHEEL LUGS BOLTS: AT 40720 MILES (4/9/03) CAR WAS IN SUBARU DEALER FOR REAR BRAKES. TWO LUG BOLTS FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WERE FOUND TO BE SNAPPED AND FELL OFF IN THE MECHANICS HAND. THAT WAS A WEEK AGO. TODAY AFTER ABOUT 900 MILES TWO LUG BOLTS ON THE SAME WHEEL HAD SNAPPED OFF. DEALER TOWED THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 40,720 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039246 · 2003-09-21 (September 21, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED FOR 10+ MINUTES, THE CAR SPEED BEGINS TO DRAG AND SURGE (SUDDENLY SLOWS, THEN RESUMES SET SPEED). THE CAR SEEMS TO BE ACTIVELY PULLING BACK AGAINST THE THROTTLE IF I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE PAST THE CRUISE SETTING, THE DRAGGING BACK AGAINST THE THROTTLE STILL OCCURS. IF THE CRUISE IS LEFT ENGAGED, THE LURCHING WORSENS, AND WHEN I EXIT THE FREEWAY THE (AUTOMATIC) TRANSMISSION DOESN'T WANT TO DOWN SHIFT. IT RESISTS UNTIL THERE'S A LOUD NOISE, THE REAR OF THE CAR BUCKS, AND THEN IT GOES INT…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048901 · 2003-11-30 (November 30, 2003)
UPON PICKING UP MY SUBARU FORESTER IN 2001, I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY. WAS TOLD CAR WAS FINE. BROKE DOWN 1 DAY LATER. ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH CLUTCH. GOING FROM NEUTRAL TO FIRST CAR SHUDDERS. TOLD CAR IS FUNCTIOING AS DESIGNED. ON 11/4/03 BROUGHT CAR INTO NETWORK MAZDA SUBARU WITH COMPLAINT ABOUT CLUTCH TOLD IT WAS FINE AND FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED.. BROKE DOWN ON 11/9/03, CLUTCH PLATE BROKEN. NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A THING IN THE 30 YEARS I'VE BEEN DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. PURCHASED CAR AT NE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009524 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*DT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010599 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES MY 2001 FORESTER STALLED 3 TIMES IN MY DRIVEWAY AND SHOOK A BIT. I HAD THE IDIOT-NEW-OWNER-PACKAGE WITH THE DEALER WHERE THEY DID ALL THE MAINTENANCE, ETC. AND WAS SCHEDULED FOR AN OIL CHANGE/WHATEVER MAINTENANCE ANYWAY SO I ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT. THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN TO ME UNTIL SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. NOW AT 38,000 MILES (3000 MILES AFTER WARRANTY AND AFTER THE END OF THE IDIOT-PACKAGE) IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BOTH IN PARKING LOTS…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509215 · 2013-04-23 (April 23, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG NOISE AND LOOKED BEHIND ME AND SAW BLACK SMOKE AND HAD LOST ALL POWER, NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES AND NO LIGHTS I HAD TO TRY TO CROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET MY CAR TO THE SHOULDER WHILE IT WAS DECELERATING. I GOT THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND WAS WORRIED OF A POSSIBLE FIRE. I GOT OUT AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED. THE RESULT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THAT HAD BLOWN THE ROD THROUGH THE BACK PILLAR AND SPRAYED OIL OV…
Owner-reported narrative. 189,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 751186 · 2001-08-27 (August 27, 2001)
THERE IS A LEAK/SEVERE CONDENSATION PROBLEM FOLLOWING RAINSTORMS/HIGH HUMIDITY. WATER LEAKS FROM EITHER MOON ROOF OR TOP OF WINSHIELD AND DRIPS IN FROM ROOF WETTING CLOTH OVER MIDDLE OF DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD VISOR. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM BUT IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR IN WEATHER CONDITIONS CITED. TEN TO TWELVE DROPS OF WATER ACCUMULATE ON EITHER DRIVER, DASH OR STEERING WHEEL WHEN THIS OCCURS USUALLY WHEN STARTING CAR AND PROCEEDING TO DRIVE IN THE MORNING. THIS IS STARTLING WHEN IT OCCURS, APPROXIMATELY ON SIX OCCASIONS TO DA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751186 at NHTSA ↗