Complaints
156
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Injuries
8
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1999 Subaru Forester Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#114 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:67,671 mi
#211 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:73,750 mi
#311 complaints
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
Avg mileage:45,466 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1999 Subaru Forester.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Transmission | 14 | — | — | 67,671 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 11 | — | — | 73,750 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 11 | — | — | 45,466 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 7 | — | — | 48,050 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Multiple Axle | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 6 | — | — | 116,650 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 | — | — | 113,135 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 5 | — | — | 104,000 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | — | — | 48,700 mi | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | — | — |
Automatic Transmission
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
67,671
Engine & Cooling
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,750
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
45,466
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
48,050
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Multiple Axle
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
116,650
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
113,135
Transmission / Drivetrain
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
104,000
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
48,700
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1999 Subaru Forester. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Subaru Forester Years
1999 Subaru Forester — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1999 Subaru Forester reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1999 Subaru Forester has 156 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Automatic Transmission with 14 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1999 Subaru Forester?
Top reported problems: Automatic Transmission (14 complaints, avg 67,671 mi); Engine & Cooling (11 complaints, avg 73,750 mi); Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing (11 complaints, avg 45,466 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1999 Subaru Forester?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 72,253 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1999 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA complaints for the 1999 Subaru Forester include 6 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1999 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1999 Subaru Forester as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1999 Subaru Forester?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Subaru Forester reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1999 Subaru Forester
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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