Worst 2004 Subaru Forester Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Fuel System
Gasoline Fuel System
Engine Problems
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Subaru Forester.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System | 63 | 1 | — | 120,197 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 58 | 1 | — | 94,013 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 23 | 1 | 1 | 104,056 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 20 | 1 | — | 138,605 mi | |
| Airbags | 19 | 3 | — | 67,453 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 10 | 4 | — | 52,444 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 9 | 1 | 1 | 114,800 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 7 | — | — | 100,125 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 | 1 | 2 | 58,822 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Subaru Forester. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2004 Subaru Forester
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~318,215 vehicles.
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, WEST VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION IF THE HANGER BRACKET IS EXPOSED TO SALTY AND HUMID ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS ROADS CONTAINING SNOW MELTING AGENT.
Other Subaru Forester Years
2004 Subaru Forester — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Subaru Forester reliable?
What are common problems with the 2004 Subaru Forester?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Subaru Forester?
How safe is the 2004 Subaru Forester?
Does the 2004 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2004 Subaru Forester?
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 2004 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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