2000 Subaru FORESTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
75 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 75 complaints (12.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 16.0% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.3% |
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 | 9 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 9 |
| Suspension:Rear | 7 |
| Tires | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 3 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 9; Suspension:Rear: 7; Tires: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 36 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 | 8 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 8; 2001: 14; 2002: 6; 2003: 10; 2004: 7; 2005: 7; 2006: 6; 2007: 3; 2008: 5; 2009: 5; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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 10005601 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
CHATTERING CLUTCH ON 2000 SUBARU FORESTER. THIS CONSTANTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS COLD AND CONTINUES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FOUR FORWARD GEARS. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND I KNOW IT IS NOT MY DRIVING/SHIFTING SKILLS. A CHECK OF A MESSAGE BOARD SHOWS THAT OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM OUTSIDE OF DRIVER ERROR. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT. MY CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THIS. BUT IF THIS IS…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007159 · 2002-07-16 (July 16, 2002)
BEGAN NOTICING AND COMPLAINING OF CLUTCH CHATTER AT 20,000 MILES. MENTIONED AT EVERY SERVICE VISIT AND TOLD BY DEALER THAT IT WAS NORMAL OR THAT THEY ADJUSTED THE CLUTCH. CAR WOULD BE FINE FOR A MONTH AND THEN CHATTER WOULD RETURN. PARTICULARLY OCCURS WHEN COLD AND TRYING TO ENGAGE IN FIRST GEAR. TOLD AT 44,000 MILES THAT THE CLUTCH WAS WORN AND NEEDED REPLACING. WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CHATTER THEY NEVER RESOLVED, THEY KEPT SAYING THAT WAS NORMAL AND THE EARLY WEAR MUST BE DUE TO MY DRIVING. REPLACED THE CLUTCH AND ONCE AGAIN, A FEW MONT…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010304 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
HAD TO HAVE WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR REPLACED AT ONLY 44,000 MILES ON MY 2000 SUBARU FORESTER. UPON RESEARCH HAVE FOUND WHEEL BEARINGS TO BE A DEFECTIVE COMPLAINT AMONG SUBARU FORESTER AND IMPREZA OWNERS. SOME OWNERS CLAIMING THAT WHEEL BEARINGS MUST BE REPLACED EVERY 30,000 MILES.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 44,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012030 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE VEHICLE'S POWER TRAIN ASSEMBLY FAILED AND CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO MAKE A CHATTERING NOISE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015184 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE OXYGEN SENOR FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE SENOR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018396 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)
COMPLAINED TO SERVICING DEALER ABOUT EXCESSIVE NOISE. REPORT WAS AT 49,622 MILES, BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED. THIS COMPONENT IS NOT NORMALLY INSPECTED OR REPLACED IN THE ORDINARY SCHEDULE OF MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED CARE. MY WEB RESEARCH SHOWS QUITE A FEW REPORTS OF THIS SAME FAILURE, INDICATING INADEQUATE DESIGN OR FAULTY COMPONENTS. AVERAGE MILES TO FAILURE SEEM TO BE AROUND 50,000. INCREASINGLY, THESE CASES WILL BE SHOWING UP GIVEN THE AGE AND TYPICAL MILEAGE OF THESE CARS. ANYONE WHO IGNORES THE SOUND LEVEL INCREASE IS LIA…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,622 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021411 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)
RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDS REPLACING AT 51,000. THESE SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER AS THEY DO IN MY OTHER VEHICLES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021411 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025742 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)
CLUTCH SHUTTER, THROUGH ALL FOUR GEARS ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICILE IS COLD. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I BROUGHT IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STANDARD TRANSMISIONS FOR 40 YEARS AND NEVER HAVE I EXPEREINCED THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE SUBRAU HAS A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH AND FOR SOME REASON REFUSES TO CORRECT THE SITUATION .*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025742 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.