Problems · NHTSA complaints

2000 Subaru Forester problems

Owners filed 75 complaints about the 2000 Subaru Forester with NHTSA between Feb 2000 and Oct 2022. The most-cited component is power train (21).

Complaints
75
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train21
  2. Suspension19
  3. Engine and engine cooling12
  4. Tires8
  5. Equipment5
  6. Fuel system, gasoline5
  7. Vehicle speed control4
  8. Seats2
  9. Fuel system, other1
  10. Steering1
  11. Latches/locks/linkages1
  12. Electrical system1
  13. Seat belts1
  14. Air bags1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20008
200114
20026
200310
20047
20057
20066
20073
20085
20095
20102
20111
20120
20130
20140
20150
20160
20170
20180
20190
20200
20210
20221

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

21 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-55 MPH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE VEHICLE OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 1/14/10 *CN UPDATED 01/15/10.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2009Power trainODI 10295851

Suspension

19 reports
“The contact owns a 2000 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle began to shake and suddenly veered into the left lane into oncoming traffic. The contact stated that the vehicle had stopped in the middle of the road. The contact was unaware of any warning light being illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had to be pushed off the roadway. The contact stated that the passenger’s side front tire was at a 90-degree angle to the wheel well. The contact stated that he could see that the control arm had snapped. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the control arms, the inner power steering rack, and front stabilizer bar needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2022SuspensionODI 11491360

Engine and engine cooling

12 reports
“TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU FORRESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED OVER HEATING. HE PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICE COOLANT COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICES THE VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND LEAKING RADIATOR COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000...MW”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 28, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10384792

Tires

8 reports2 crashes
“THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING GOODYEAR ASSURANCE COMFORT TIRES. I PURCHASED THESE TIRES FOR MY 2000 FORESTER ON MAY 5, 2005. SINCE THAT TIME ONE TIRE HAS DEVELOPED A LUMP ON THE SIDEWALL. THIS TIRE WAS REPLACED, AND THE REPLACEMENT TIRE BLEW OUT 500 MILES LATER WHILE TRAVELING ON I-25 AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2005TiresODI 10135527

Equipment

5 reports
“200 SUBARU FORESTER BLOWS HEAD GASKET FOR THIRD TIME. FIXED TWICE UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THIRD TIME, SUBARU REPORTS THEY WILL ASSIST WITH HALF OF PAYMENT BECAUSE RECALL WAS DISCONTINUED IN 2008. "REPAIR" COMPLETED UNDER RECALL, BUT WASN'T REALLY REPAIRED. THIS CONSUMER FEELS THAT I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THIS. REPAIR NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED AND STAY REPAIR AT MANUFACTURER'S COST. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2009Engine and engine cooling, EquipmentODI 10281331

Fuel system, gasoline

5 reports1 crash
“FUEL FILLER PIPE AND ASSOCIATED MOUNTING AND EMISSIONS HARDWARE ARE RUSTED OUT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND CODE RETRIEVED IS 0440. DANGER OF LEAKING FUEL DURING FILL UP. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 6, 2008Fuel system, gasolineODI 10217311
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.