1999 Subaru FORESTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
114 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
73,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 50 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 114 complaints (10.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 14.0% |
| Braking behavior | 16 | 14.0% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Suspension:Rear | 6 |
| Tires | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Suspension:Multiple Axle | 5 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 11; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 11; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Suspension:Rear: 6; Tires: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Suspension:Multiple Axle: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 4
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 64 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 | 15 |
| 2001 | 22 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 15; 2001: 22; 2002: 14; 2003: 13; 2004: 20; 2005: 8; 2006: 5; 2007: 2; 2008: 6; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 16 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003180 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
ESPECIALLY DURING COLD OR DAMP WEATHER MY 1999 SUBARU FORESTER'S CLUTCH SHUDDERS STRONGLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THIS OCCURS PRIMARILY WHEN STARTING IN FIRST GEAR AND IN THE UPSHIFT TO SECOND GEAR. IT ALSO OCCASIONALLY OCURRS IN THE UPSHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. IT DOES NOT OCURR ON THE DOWNSHIFTS. THIS PROBLEM FIRST APPEARED AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAID I NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS SINCE 1969 AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH BEFORE 100,000 MILES, AND ON MY 1986 HONDA ACCORD I SOLD IT AT 260,…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005806 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
99 SUBARU FORESTER L AFTER 50,000 MILES REAR AXLE BEARINGS AND HUB BROKE. STEERING ON CORNERS WAS AFFECTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,032 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006511 · 2002-04-12 (April 12, 2002)
REAR BEARING SHOULD FAIL AT 40000 MILES. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, AS MANY FORESTERS HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****760613
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006931 · 2002-11-15 (November 15, 2002)
PAINT PEELING OFF RIGHT REAR SIDE AND REAR BUMPER. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED 12/12/02 AFTER CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**769762
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013718 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
VEHICLE INVOLVED IS A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER L. WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY. 50 MPH ON A STATE HIGHWAY. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND ROAD WAS SMOOTH (NO POTHOLES). HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF MY VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY CAME TO A STOP AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I OBSERVED THAT MY TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. IT WAS JUST FLAT. TIRE IS A BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 684 P20570R15. THE TIRE IS APPROXIMATELY. 5 MONTHS OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY. 9K ON IT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 41,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014299 · 2003-04-12 (April 12, 2003)
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY 1999 SUBARU FORESTER THREE (3) TIMES. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE BEFORE 35K MILES AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING JUST FAILED AT 50K MILES. CLEARLY SUBARU HAS A DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 SUBARU REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BUT HAVING A WHEEL BEARING FAIL COMPLETELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WOULD SEEM LIKE A BAD THING.[I FOUND OUT ABOUT YOUR SITE ON CARTALK.COM]. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017962 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)
THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD 29000 MILES. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021032 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
CHRONIC ENGINE AND OIL LEAKAGE OF A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER. NO SATISFACTION FROM 2 DEALERSHIPS (BALD HILL SUBARU AND PILGRIM SUBARU). I HAVE NOTED THE LAST DATE OF SERVICE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONSTANT AND CHRONIC. I HAVE LOST TIME FROM WORK, HAD BREAKDOWNS ON 2 VACATIONS, AND HAVE CONSTANT ANXIETY ABOUT THE SITUATION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021032 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
99V040000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 1999-03-03 (March 3, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗