Complaints
169
Crashes
39
Fires
0
Injuries
31
Fatalities
3
Recalls
0
Worst 2001 Subaru Forester Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#123 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:91,904 mi
Crash-related:14
#210 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Crash-related:10
#39 complaints
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
Avg mileage:29,348 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2001 Subaru Forester.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 23 | 14 | — | 91,904 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 | 10 | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 9 | — | — | 29,348 mi | |
| Suspension:Rear | 9 | — | — | 53,224 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 | — | — | 79,500 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 7 | — | — | 73,993 mi | |
| Fuel System | 6 | — | — | 105,543 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 | 3 | — | 40,000 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 5 | — | — | 49,400 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 5 | 3 | — | 200 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 5 | — | — | 56,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Airbags | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | — | — |
Unintended Acceleration
23
complaints
Crashes
14
Fires
—
Avg Miles
91,904
Air Bags:Frontal
10
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
29,348
Suspension:Rear
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
53,224
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,500
Automatic Transmission
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,993
Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
105,543
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
6
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
40,000
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
49,400
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
5
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
200
Wheel Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
56,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2001 Subaru Forester. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Subaru Forester Years
2001 Subaru Forester — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2001 Subaru Forester reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2001 Subaru Forester has 169 NHTSA complaints, 39 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 23 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2001 Subaru Forester?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (23 complaints, avg 91,904 mi); Air Bags:Frontal (10 complaints); Power Train:Clutch Assembly (9 complaints, avg 29,348 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 2001 Subaru Forester?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 65,032 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2001 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA complaints for the 2001 Subaru Forester include 39 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 31 injuries, and 3 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 2001 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2001 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 2001 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 2001 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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