2003 Subaru FORESTER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
189 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 151 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 189 complaints (15.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 11.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 7.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 4.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.1% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 29 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 26 |
| Air Bags | 20 |
| Suspension | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 15 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Structure:Body | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 29; Fuel/Propulsion System: 26; Air Bags: 20; Suspension: 19; Vehicle Speed Control: 15; Engine: 12; Structure:Body: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 42 |
| 150,000 and above | 24 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 42; 150,000 and above: 24
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (42). 38 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 33 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2002: 3; 2003: 18; 2004: 10; 2005: 6; 2006: 8; 2007: 11; 2008: 8; 2009: 7; 2010: 8; 2011: 6; 2012: 9; 2013: 16; 2014: 33; 2015: 16; 2016: 6; 2017: 6; 2018: 5; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 5; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10016975 · 2003-05-03 (May 3, 2003)
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LOOSE WHEN BRAKING, SEAT MOVES FORWARD. WHEN STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL SEAT TRAVELS BACKWARD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016975 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022861 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND BURNED OTHER PART OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED DRUM AND WHEEL CYLINDER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184384 · 2007-03-06 (March 6, 2007)
ON MONDAY NIGHT, 5 FEB. 2007, WHEN I PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE IT SMELLED STRONGLY OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ODOR SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I DID NOT SEE ANY GASOLINE LEAKING. THE STRENGTH OF THE ODOR SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE COLD WEATHER (15-20 DEG. F). THAT MONDAY WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAD EVER NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ODOR WAS SO INTENSE THAT I DECIDED TO PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE AS A PRECAUTION. I DROVE THE CAR TUESDAY …
Owner-reported narrative. 46,762 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10303426 · 2010-01-31 (January 31, 2010)
MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A FUEL LEAK SMELL THAT ENTERS THE CAR INTERIOR.. IT'S NOT A RICH FUEL MIXTURE EXHAUST SMELL, IT'S THE SMELL OF RAW FUEL INSIDE THE CABIN. IT COMES AND GOES. I SEE ONLINE OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SUBARU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND FORCED TO HAVE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195139 · 2007-07-02 (July 2, 2007)
LATCHES ON THE FORRESTER CANNOT BE OPENED UNLESS YOU HAVE A KEY FOB. THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCESS THE TAILGATE WITHOUT THE BATTERY OPERATED FOB. IF YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT GETS INTO THE CAR WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE, OR IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE SIDE. HOW WILL YOU GET OUT THE BACK--THERE IS NO WAY TO EVEN ACCESS WITH A KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE. IF YOU ARE IN AN ACCIDENT AND YOU LOOSE TRACK OF YOUR FOB TOO BAD, YOU CAN'T GET OUT FROM THE BACK. I MYSELF CARRY DOGS IN CRATES IN THE BACK OF THE FORRESTER. HAD I REALIZED…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10195139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10209852 · 2007-11-25 (November 25, 2007)
AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN GO OFF. THIS CONDITION WOULD OCCUR AT RANDOM, WITH NO WARNING. FINALLY THE LIGHT STAYED ON LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET IT TO THE DEALER. SUBARU DEALER INDICATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR HAD OXIDIZED CONTACTS LEADING TO A FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY CONTACTS "INSIDE" CAR IN A PROTECTED AREA COULD "OXIDIZE", BUT INDICATED THAT THEY HAD LEARNED FROM SERVICE BULLETINS THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CARS I…
Owner-reported narrative. 63,589 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209852 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033278 · 2003-08-21 (August 21, 2003)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION. CLUTCH SHUDDERS (CHATTERS) IN 1ST AND SOMETIMES 2ND GEAR. PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER CAR HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR A WHILE (SUCH AS OVERNIGHT), AND ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING. CAR WAS BOUGHT USED WITH 14,000 MILES, AND HAD THIS PROBLEM FROM WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT. DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 14,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080671 · 2004-07-09 (July 9, 2004)
2002 SUBARU FORESTER - MANUAL TRANSMISSION. PERIODIC CLUTCH SHUDDER WHEN DRIVING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011889 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *JB. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029067 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)
WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THE ENGINE FUMBLES THEN STALLS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162162 · 2006-07-11 (July 11, 2006)
MARCH 16TH 2006. 5:00 PM. IT HAD SNOWED EARLIER THAT DAY. WITNESS CLAIMS THE 2003 SUBARU FORESTER SLID IN A CURVE INTO AN ON COMING LANE. UNIT SPUN AROUND AND WAS HIT IN THE LEFT REAR CORNER(TAIL LIGHT SECTION) SHOVING THE REAR BODY PANEL AND QUARTER PANEL INSIDE THE UNIT BEHIND THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. LEFT REAR TIRE WAS TORN FROM THE UNIT. THE REAR SHADE COVER (CARGO AREA) FLEW OUT OF IT'S HOLDERS NOW BENT IS A (V-SHAPE) AND HIT MY WIFE IN HER RIGHT TEMPLE, ADDING TO THE HEAD TRAUMA SHE RECEIVED WHEN THE SEAT BELTS FAILED AND THE AIR BAGS FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10777985 · 2015-09-28 (September 28, 2015)
INSPECTION OF VEHICLE IN JULY 18,2003 REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OD BOTH SUBFRAME BARS DUE TO SEVERE RUST. SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVED SEVERE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. LOWER CONTROL ARM, AND DRIVERS SIDE AXLE BROKE, AND BENT WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO HOP, JUMP, LOSS OF STEERING. STOPPED BY RUNNING ALONG SIDE OF CURB. HAD TO REPLACE AXLE AND LOWER CONTROL ARM DUE TO SEVERE RUST. MECHANIC SAID PARTS WERE BACK ORDER FOR MONTHS. WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLACE SO HE RESHAPED A 2002 SUBARU ASSEMBLY TO RETURN MY VEHICLE, AFTER…
Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10777985 at NHTSA ↗