Subaru Forester Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
Owners have filed 159 complaints with NHTSA about fuel system, gasoline problems on the Subaru Forester across 21 model years. The 2004 model year has the most (61). The words owners use most often: “cold weather” (26% of reports).
- 159fuel system, gasoline complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $980typical repair cost reported by owners
- 28%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 41 of 159 complaints (26%)
- Fuel smell: mentioned in 32 of 159 complaints (20%)
- Below degrees: mentioned in 15 of 159 complaints (9%)
- Onto engine: mentioned in 9 of 159 complaints (6%)
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 Subaru Forester at $980, and half of them between $720 and $1,200.
Based on 17 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2009–2015), 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 136 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 159 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
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 (1)
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Model years: 2018
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2026 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the engine sputtered before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with an inoperable fuel pump. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure returned three weeks later. The…
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that a few days after the dealer had serviced the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V106000(Fuel System, Gasoline), the contact refueled the vehicle at the gas station. The contact stated that upon entering the store and returning to…
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V106000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for parts…
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V106000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable…
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Subaru Foresters have fuel system, gasoline problems?
No. NHTSA has 159 owner complaints about fuel system, gasoline 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 system, gasoline?
Yes: 1 safety recall list fuel system, gasoline. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix fuel system, gasoline problems on the Subaru Forester?
Owners report a typical cost of $980 (half paid between $720 and $1,200), from 17 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel system, gasoline problems on the Subaru Forester?
The most frequent phrase is “cold weather”, in 41 of 159 complaints, followed by “fuel smell” (32).
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)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (350)
See all Subaru Forester problems.