Subaru Forester Fuel/propulsion System Problems
Owners have filed 350 complaints with NHTSA about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Subaru Forester across 25 model years. The 2004 model year has the most (63). The words owners use most often: “cold weather” (9% of reports).
- 350fuel/propulsion system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 32mention a crash
- 12mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 48%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Cold weather: mentioned in 31 of 350 complaints (9%)
- Fuel lines: mentioned in 26 of 350 complaints (7%)
- Strong smell: mentioned in 21 of 350 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel/propulsion system repair on the Subaru Forester at $1,000, and half of them between $930 and $1,150.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2020), 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/propulsion system problems happen?
Based on 213 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 350 complaints, 32 mention a crash, 15 a fire, 12 an injury.
Subaru Forester fuel/propulsion system complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel/propulsion System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Forester | 2 | 7% | — |
| 2025 Forester | 13 | 13% | — |
| 2023 Forester | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2022 Forester | 7 | 7% | — |
| 2021 Forester | 7 | 3% | — |
| 2020 Forester | 13 | 2% | 24,000 |
| 2019 Forester | 22 | 3% | 3,500 |
| 2018 Forester | 19 | 4% | 6,000 |
| 2017 Forester | 11 | 2% | 25,150 |
| 2016 Forester | 24 | 6% | 43,767 |
| 2015 Forester | 56 | 9% | 50,000 |
| 2014 Forester | 15 | 4% | 21,000 |
| 2013 Forester | 2 | 3% | 46,500 |
| 2012 Forester | 6 | 6% | 34,283 |
| 2011 Forester | 4 | 3% | 87,500 |
| 2010 Forester | 10 | 4% | 87,000 |
| 2009 Forester | 7 | 4% | 105,000 |
| 2007 Forester | 6 | 8% | 67,893 |
| 2006 Forester | 8 | 9% | 70,000 |
| 2005 Forester | 14 | 15% | 145,500 |
| 2004 Forester | 63 | 29% | 121,500 |
| 2003 Forester | 26 | 14% | 134,300 |
| 2002 Forester | 5 | 6% | 150,000 |
| 2001 Forester | 6 | 4% | 95,000 |
| 1998 Forester | 2 | 2% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists fuel/propulsion system for the 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.
I started to have problems with my Forester, and reading upon what could be the issue, I ran across recall 16V162000, on which describes exactly what my car simptoms are. I went into different sites, and my car does not show to be part of the recall. Can you help me with the reason on why my car is…
On two separate occasions, less than one year apart after Subaru Service replaced my battery with a âlargerâ battery without my knowledge my vehicle suffered sudden, catastrophic electrical failure while moving in active highway traffic, causing an immediate loss of propulsion and creating a…
Smoke and fire occurred in the engine and spread into the car while the car was being driven. The car has not been inspected yet.
I recently noticed that the metal lip and outer cap area of my fuel filler neck is rusting. This isn't just a cosmetic issue this is the exact surface where the gas cap needs to seal to keep the fuel system airtight. Because itâs rusting itâs going to ruin that seal, cause fuel vapor leaks, and…
Purchased new 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Sport on 01 May 2025 (owned 19 months). Approximately 156 DAYS (a little over 5 months) after purchase we began having trouble with an unknown fuel system defect which prevents the vehicle from being refueled, disables our hybrid system, disables safety…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Subaru Foresters have fuel/propulsion system problems?
No. NHTSA has 350 owner complaints about fuel/propulsion system for the Subaru Forester. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Subaru Forester fuel/propulsion system?
No recall currently lists fuel/propulsion system for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix fuel/propulsion system problems on the Subaru Forester?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,000 (half paid between $930 and $1,150), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Subaru Forester?
The most frequent phrase is “cold weather”, in 31 of 350 complaints, followed by “fuel lines” (26).
Other Subaru Forester problems
- Visibility/wiper problems (1,061)
- Engine problems (827)
- Air Bags problems (817)
- Electrical System problems (797)
- Power Train problems (556)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (532)
- Suspension problems (415)
- Service Brakes problems (273)
See all Subaru Forester problems.