2004 Subaru Forester Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
Owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA about fuel system, gasoline problems on the 2004 Subaru Forester, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 94,900 miles. The words owners use most often: “cold weather” (31% of reports).
- 61fuel system, gasoline complaints
- 94,900median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $770typical repair cost reported by owners
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Cold weather: mentioned in 19 of 61 complaints (31%)
- Fuel smell: mentioned in 17 of 61 complaints (28%)
- Intake manifold: mentioned in 9 of 61 complaints (15%)
- Below degrees: mentioned in 8 of 61 complaints (13%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel system, gasoline repair on the 2004 Subaru Forester at $770, and half of them between $730 and $1,150.
Based on 7 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2009–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems happen?
Based on 56 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 61 complaints, 1 mention a crash.
Subaru Forester fuel system, gasoline complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel System, Gasoline complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Forester | 1 | 4% | 6,000 |
| 2025 Forester | 4 | 4% | 2,725 |
| 2022 Forester | 1 | 1% | 6,000 |
| 2018 Forester | 2 | 0% | 53,500 |
| 2015 Forester | 1 | 0% | 90,000 |
| 2014 Forester | 6 | 1% | 10,261 |
| 2012 Forester | 2 | 2% | 3,000 |
| 2011 Forester | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2010 Forester | 2 | 1% | 6,500 |
| 2009 Forester | 3 | 2% | 34,000 |
| 2008 Forester | 3 | 6% | 67,000 |
| 2007 Forester | 6 | 8% | 42,558 |
| 2006 Forester | 5 | 6% | 41,372 |
| 2005 Forester | 8 | 9% | 63,860 |
| 2004 Forester | 61 | 28% | 94,900 |
| 2003 Forester | 31 | 16% | 91,000 |
| 2002 Forester | 6 | 7% | 67,500 |
| 2001 Forester | 4 | 3% | 60,000 |
| 2000 Forester | 5 | 7% | 101,000 |
| 1999 Forester | 5 | 4% | 94,863 |
| 1998 Forester | 2 | 2% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists fuel system, gasoline for the 2004 Subaru Forester. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR BEING DRIVEN, A FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED IN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL ODOR WAS MOST NOTICEABLE WHILE OPERATING THE HEATER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MID-HUDSON SUBARU…
Basically i am experiencing the same raw fuel smell many others have described. The hose under the intercooler and several other hoses and parts visibly leaks and smells when temperatures are cold outside. I live in the pacific northwest...it's cold a lot here. I don't feel safe driving with my…
I have noticed in the past few weeks that when i cold start (under approximately 20 degrees) my 04 subaru forester, there is a very potent raw gas smell coming from under the hood. It typically diminishes as the car heats up but if you turn on the heat/ventilation system the smell becomes…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2004 Subaru Foresters have fuel system, gasoline problems?
No. NHTSA has 61 owner complaints about fuel system, gasoline for the 2004 Subaru Forester (28% of the 219 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Subaru Forester fuel system, gasoline?
No recall currently lists fuel system, gasoline for this vehicle.
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems start?
The median reported mileage is 94,900 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix fuel system, gasoline problems on the 2004 Subaru Forester?
Owners report a typical cost of $770 (half paid between $730 and $1,150), from 7 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel system, gasoline problems on the 2004 Subaru Forester?
The most frequent phrase is “cold weather”, in 19 of 61 complaints, followed by “fuel smell” (17).
Other 2004 Subaru Forester problems
See all 2004 Subaru Forester problems or fuel system, gasoline problems across all Forester years.