2001 Subaru Forester Problems, Recalls & Reliability
169 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2001 Subaru Forester, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 26/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Speed control leads the reports, typically around 78,000 miles.
Typical
Where 2001 sits among all Forester years
What owners report
“Subaru forester 2001 - was backing up and accelerator got stuck - flying back in reverse about 50 feet - hitting tree and coming forward about 20 ft.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Forester
“Severe clutch shudder especially when cold. Dealer won't fix. Says it's a gas problem. It's not”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Forester
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 84 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 62,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 40,000 and 95,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for the 2001 Subaru Forester.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2001 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2001 Subaru Forester drew 169 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 26/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2001 Subaru Forester problems?
The top reported problems for the 2001 Subaru Forester are speed control (30 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (25), and engine (18).
At what mileage do 2001 Subaru Forester problems show up?
Owners most often report 2001 Subaru Forester problems around 62,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 40,000 and 95,000 miles.
Does the 2001 Subaru Forester have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2001 Subaru Forester. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.