2001 Subaru Forester Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Forester years
- About as many complaints as other years 14th of 29 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 139 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Subaru Forester. That ranks 14th out of 29 Forester model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is vehicle speed control (29 complaints, 21%), typically at around 71,000 miles. Complaints mention 31 crashes, 24 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 139owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 31complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 Subaru Forester problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 29 | 21% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 23 | 17% | 46,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 16 | 12% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 15 | 11% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 | 9% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 12 | 9% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 7 | 5% | 55,800 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 4% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 4% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 4% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 4% | 49,400 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 3% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 3% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 3% | 46,999 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 2% | 107,252 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 1% | 189,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 1% | 127,358 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 1% | 189,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 1% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | 78,151 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 Subaru Forester recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2001 Subaru Forester.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
While pulling out of a curbside parking place on a city street the engine started racing and i could not control it by stomping on the brakes or applying the emergency brake. As i was wrestling to keep the surging car under control another car came driving by and was sideswiped. On two prior…
When the temperature gets cold and i turn on the defrost to warm up the car while parked i can smell gas in the vehicle. It goes away once i start driving. This is a problem many subaru owners have because a hose loosens and allows gas to leak out. Once the car warms up the hose tightens and the…
Whenever the outside temperature drops below 20 degrees fahrenheit, there is a strong odor of gasoline in and around the car. When taken to a mechanic, i was informed that all of the hose clamps on the fuel lines were loose. They were then tightened but every time the outside temperature drops, it…
In december, less than 3 months after buying the car used, while driving i heard what sounded like a flat tire. I was only a few hundred feet from a service station so drove to it, but driving that short distance ruined the tire. I had just put air in the tires, but didn't know about the problem…
When turning the turn signals on, the headlights go off. This happens frequently, suddenly plunging you into darkness. The headlight covers are made of inferior plastic that clouds over with age, making it impossible to see at night. I had to have them replaced because it looked as if the…
Other Subaru Forester years
← 2000 Forester · 2002 Forester →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Forester | 28 | 3 |
| 2025 Forester | 97 | 3 |
| 2024 Forester | 30 | 2 |
| 2023 Forester | 74 | 1 |
| 2022 Forester | 98 | 1 |
| 2021 Forester | 210 | 0 |
| 2020 Forester | 602 | 0 |
| 2019 Forester | 834 | 3 |
| 2018 Forester | 498 | 3 |
| 2017 Forester | 590 | 1 |
| 2016 Forester | 415 | 3 |
| 2015 Forester | 615 | 3 |
| 2014 Forester | 403 | 2 |
| 2013 Forester | 78 | 12 |
| 2012 Forester | 105 | 15 |
| 2011 Forester | 147 | 16 |
| 2010 Forester | 262 | 17 |
| 2009 Forester | 178 | 17 |
| 2008 Forester | 50 | 1 |
| 2007 Forester | 74 | 1 |
| 2006 Forester | 88 | 2 |
| 2005 Forester | 93 | 1 |
| 2004 Forester | 219 | 2 |
| 2003 Forester | 189 | 3 |
| 2002 Forester | 88 | 1 |
| 2001 | 139 | 0 |
| 2000 Forester | 75 | 0 |
| 1999 Forester | 131 | 1 |
| 1998 Forester | 101 | 1 |
See all Subaru Forester problems by year, every Subaru model, or the Subaru VIN decoder.
Similar Subaru models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Subaru Forester?
Owners most often report vehicle speed control, power train, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, vehicle speed control, accounts for 29 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Subaru Forester?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2001 Subaru Forester a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Forester model years, the 2001 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.