2.3

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,143 miles

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problem #7

Sep 222009

Forester

  • 99,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Subaru Forester. While the contact was examining her vehicle, she noticed that the check engine light was illuminated. A local mechanic stated that the knock sensor had to be replaced. The contact also noticed that the inside of her vehicle became very warm while she was driving. The current and failure mileages were 99000.

- West Hollywood, CA, USA

problem #6

Oct 042005

Forester 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles
Blown head gaskets, cracked short block, and O2 sensors all replaced at around 100,000 miles. O2 sensors replaced twice. Unknown when problem first occurred and which was cause and which effect. Head gaskets should be covered by program wwp-99, but Subaru will not consider nor discuss any accommodation.

- Eugene, OR, USA

problem #5

Oct 252001

Forester 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles
Blown head gasket @ 75,000 miles (oil leaks). Not covered by service program wwp-99.

- Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #4

Dec 282004

Forester 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 90,000 miles
My 2001 Subaru Forester has a blown head gasket. It appears, after searching the internet and other sources, that this is a major problem that affects all phase 2 2.5 L engines made by Subaru between 1999 & 2002. There are numerous internet web pages with complaints from all over the country. Why hasn't Subaru been ordered to recall these engines, they're adanger to the driving public!

- Mahopac, NY, USA

problem #3

Feb 112003

Forester 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles
At about 25,000 miles my 2001 Forester stalled 3 times in my driveway and shook a bit. I had the idiot-new-owner-package with the dealer where they did all the maintenance, etc. And was scheduled for an oil change/whatever maintenance anyway so I asked them to check it out. They could not reproduce the problem and it did not happen again to me until several months later. Now at 38,000 miles (3000 miles after warranty and after the end of the idiot-package) it happened again. This time it stalled on several occasions both in parking lots and at stop lights. It shook at an idle and the check engine light came on. A local shop diagnosed the problem as a failed coil pack. He also noted that the apparent cause was that it appeared no maintenance had ever been done. The spark plug change and a 30K mile tune up that were on my service tickets as having been performed were probably not actually done. There was no way to prove that without towing the car to Subaru at my expense and then probably having them still claim the service had been done. I drive very conservatively, don't speed, don't take off quickly and live in a moderate temperature/weather area (northern va). There is no reason that with proper maintenance this should have happened. Subaru of America says it is a dealer problem. The dealer claims no wrong doing. I can dispute the point and have it towed to another dealer for verification of the lack of proper maintenance, which we all know will not be their finding or pay the $530 repair straightaway. I chose the latter. Is there anything I can do now to get Subaru to refund the cost of repair?

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #2

Feb 052001

Forester

  • miles
The vehicle stalled on several occasions.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #1

Feb 122003

Forester 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles
Blown head gasket causing leak of coolant at 75,000 miles on a 2001 Subaru Forester

- Dayton, OH, USA