2000 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 75 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 22nd highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2000 reports, 7 involved a crash. 3 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
75 reports, newest first.
Suspension, May 30, 2002
CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED. *JG
Suspension, Mar 27, 2002
THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BURNED DUE TO THE WRONG LUBRICANT FOR THE SEAL. THE NOISE IN THE REAR ALERTED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. NLM *TT
Suspension, Jan 29, 2002
FROM 14,000 MILES TO PRESENT 34,000 MILES FRONT WHEEL BEARING IS BEING REPLACED FOR FOURTH TIME BY DEALER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Fuel system, Gasoline, Dec 17, 2001, crash
THE FUEL FILLER DESIGN IS SUCH THAT IT IS TO COMPLICATED FOR GAS STATION ATTENDANTS TO CORRECTLY PUT ON. IT WILL CROSSTHREAD EASIER THAN IT WILL GO ON CORRECTLY. WITH OUT PROPER PRESSURE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, LIKE MANY CARS IT WILL STALL ABRUPTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN NEW JERSEY IT IS ILLEGAL TO PUMP YOUR OWN GAS, OR EVEN GET OUT OF YOUR CAR TO CHECK THAT THE CAP IS PROPERLY INSTALLED. SUBARU REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE DEALER WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FUEL FILL CAPS, OR THAT THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE DEALER WILL JUST RESET THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND CONSIDER IT A LOSS. *AK
Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 12, 2001
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOORS INTERMITTENTLY WON'T CLOSE. DOORS HAVE APPROXIMATELY A BIG GAP OPENING. CONSUMER HAS THIS PROBLEM NEARLY ONCE A WEEK. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED.*AK
Suspension, Aug 6, 2001
REAPEADED WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. *AK
Tires, Jul 14, 2001, crash
FOUR OF THE 5 ORIGINAL TIRES HAVE HAD SIDEWALL BLOWOUTS, ALTHOUGH I CAREFULLY MAINTAIN TIRE PRESSURE. IN THIS LAST EVENT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE EXPLODED AS THE CAR WAS EXITING RTE9 IN NJ TO THE SERVICE ROAD [A MILD S EXIT RAMP AT ABOUT 38 MPH]. THE CAR LOST STEERING CONTROL AND BOUNCED OVER THE CURB. THE REAR TIRE ALSO EXPLODED WHEN IT FOLLOWED OVER THE CURB. IN PREVIOUS EVENTS BOTH RIGHT SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT IN TWO SEPARATE TIMES WHILE MY SON WAS RETURNING FROM COLLEGE ON THE TACONIC PARKWAY IN NEW YORK. 4 OUT OF FIVE IS A GREAT BASEBALL AVERAGE BUT A LOUSY TIRE SCORE FOR FAILURES DUE TO BLOWOUTS. I SUSPECT A BAD BATCH THAT MAY BE ON A LIMITED NUMBER OF FORESTERS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: ELYTCHB349 TIRESIZE: 205/70R/15)
Tires, Jun 27, 2001
THE VEHICLES TIRES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF BALDING AT ONLY 23000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD ONLY LAST ANOTHER 7000 MILES, BEFORE THE TIRES WERE REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEWOUT, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTIMG REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. NLM
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 4, 2001
COMPONENTS OF VEHICLE THAT RELY ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OPERATE ERRATICALLY AND WILL TURN ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD OF VEHICLE WILL COME ON AND STAY ON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
Seat belts, Apr 20, 2001
DESIGN OF BELT, WHENEVER GETTING INTO VEHICLE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT HE ALWAYS WAS SEATING ON TOP OF SEAT BELT BEFORE HE COULD FASTEN IT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. *AK THE SEAT BELT WAS VERY HARD TO BUCKLE UP. *YH
Fuel system, Gasoline, Other or unspecified, Apr 6, 2001
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON ONCE STARTED AND WOULD STAY ON UNTIL VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP.*AK LIGHT IS COMING ON DUE TO GAS CAP NOT BEING TIGHT ENOUGH, CONSUMER STATES THE CAP WILL NOT CLICK WHEN TURNED. *SLC
Tires, Apr 6, 2001
IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENCES, ON 9/26/2000 AND 03/30/2001, AN ORIGINAL BRIDGESTONE TIRE SUPPLIED WITH A NEWLY LEASED SUBARU FORESTER HAD A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WE REGULARLY CHECK TIRE PRESSURE, AND ALL PRESSURES WERE ON SPECIFICATIONS, 29PSI FRONT AND 36PSI REAR. YET THEY BLEW OUT. LUCKILY THE DRIVER HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE CAR COULD BE STOPPED SAFELY, WITHOUT HUMAN DAMAGES. IN THE BLOWOUT ON 03/30/2001, HOWEVER, THE RIM SUSTAINED DAMAGES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TIRE. IN BOTH CASES THE BLOWOUT WAS THROUGH THE SIDEWALL, AND NOT AS A RESULT OF ANY PUNCTURE. IN BOTH CASES THE TIRE SIMPLY EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE, FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BUBBLE, POSSIBLY FORMED BY A SEPARATION OF THE RADIAL WINDINGS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 274 TIRESIZE: 205/R75/15)
Tires, Apr 3, 2001, crash
CONSUMER HAD GONE TO DEALER TO HAVE TIRES CHECKED. DEALER VERIFIED REAR TIRES WERE WORN UNEVENLY, AND, SHOE ON REAR WHEELS WERE PUT ON TURNED IN AT FACTORY, CAUSING TIRE WEAR. SAID TO COME BACK IN A WEEK, AND DEALER WOULD REPLACE TIRES. BEFORE THAT DATE, CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO WORN REAR TIRES. SUBARU STATED THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE $1700. *AK AFTER ACCIDENT, TIRES WERE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE, CONSUMER DID NOT GIVE TIRE INFORMATION. *SLC
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 8, 2001
OXYGEN SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL COMING, BUT NOT ENOUGH PARTS YET. *AK
Tires, Feb 12, 2001
PE-00-020; TIRES ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, BRIDGESTONE HT DUELER, TIRE SIZE 15 INCH, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE, TIRES HAVE SEVEN THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED SLIGHT LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Seats, Feb 8, 2001
WHILE APPROACHING A HIGHWAY TOLL BOOTH, I RAISED MY HIPS TO REMOVE MY WALLET FROM MY BACK POCKET. THIS OBVIOUSLY PLACED PRESSURE ON THE SEAT BACK, WHICH THEN SUDDENLY RELEASED AND RECLINED CAUSING ME TO NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. AFTER RETURNING THE SEAT TO ITS UPRIGHT POSITION AND EXITING THE TOLL BOOTH, THE SEAT BACK AGAIN SUDDENLY RECLINED WHILE I ATTEMPTED TO PLACE MY WALLET IN MY BACK POCKET. IN TRYING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAD BECOME LOOPED AROUND THE SEAT BACK RELEASE LEVER. IN RAISING MY HIPS TO RETRIEVE MY WALLET, I EXERTED TENSION ON THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT, WHICH IN TURN PULLED UP THE LEVER AND RELEASED THE SEAT BACK. I HAVE NOTICED THE BELT LOOPED AROUND THE RELEASE LEVER ON AT LEAST ONE OTHER OCCASION. IT APPEARS THAT IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE CAR, THE BELT CAN BECOME LOOPED AROUND THE LEVER AND THEREBY CREATING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *AK
Power train, Equipment, Feb 7, 2001
FRONT DIFFERENTIAL UNIT FAILED FROM LACK OF LUBRICATION, SUBARU STATED THAT INDEPENDENT FACILITIES MISTAKENLY DRAINED THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID INSTEAD OF ENGINE OIL DURING OIL CHANGE BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF PLUGS, THE DIFFERENTIAL PAN AND OIL PAN NEES TO BE PROPERLY LABELED. NLM
Tires, Sep 13, 2000
FRONT, LEFT TIRE IS BALD AND THE OTHER THREE TIRES ARE VERY WORN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Vehicle speed control, Aug 14, 2000, crash
THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I WAS ATTEMTING TO PARK BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS A SURGE OF ACCELERATION AND I COULD DO NOTHING BUT RUN INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE SECOND OCCASION WAS SIMILAR, BUT, THIS TIME I WAS TRYING TO COME TO A STOP AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED, THERE WAS A SURGE OF ACCELERATION AND I HAD TO FLOOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO AVOID STRIKING AN ONCOMING CAR. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jun 2, 2000
ENGINE HAD A POROUS BLOCK. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. CAUSE UNKNOWN. CAR CURRENTLY AT NEW MOTORS FOR REPAIR. MATTER HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AN ATTORNEY FOR POSSIBLE ACTION UNDER STATE LEMON LAWS.
Power train, Apr 28, 2000, crash
CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE ON A 5-DEGREE INCLINE, AND IN IN 1ST GEAR. 10-15 MINUTES LATER, CONSUMER HEARD CAR ALARM GOING OFF & SAW VEHICLE HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS, DOWN SLOPE INTO BUSHES. *AK
Air bags, Apr 24, 2000, crash
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Apr 20, 2000
DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DRIVER HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE BRAKING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE PROBLEM WAS ALSO REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *ML
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 20, 2000
THE OXYGEN SENSOR SWITCH IS NOT OPERATING. THE DEALER IS WILLING TO REPLACE IT, HOWEVER, HE CANNOT GET THE PART AS IT IS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS DEALER AND OTHERS SAID THEY HAVE SEVERAL NEW CARS WAITING FOR THIS PART. THIS MAY BE A NATIONAL PROBLEM, SUGGEST YOU CHECK INTO A RECALL. MY GAS MILEAGE IS NOW VERY POOR AND THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO RUN ROUGH. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Feb 2, 2000
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH WHILE ENGAGED WITH CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL IS DEFECTIVE. YH