2001 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Vehicle speed control is the leading concern among 142 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 32 involved a crash. 25 people were injured and 3 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
16 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Aug 21, 2015, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED AND ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED, WHICH PREVENTED THE BRAKES FROM STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN, WHICH CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FAILED TO INDICATE IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,503.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Feb 9, 2014
BRAKES JUST DO NOT WORK ON SNOW, ICE (ABS DOES NOT KICK IN), AND THE WHEELS DO NOT TURN. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, RAN INTO AN INTERSECTION ON RED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN; NOTICED OTHER COMPLAINTS OF ACCIDENTS. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jun 12, 2013
ON MONDAY AT 4:50 PM I WAS DRIVING N A SCHOOL ZONE AND REALIZED THAT I WAS HAVING TO RIDE MY BRAKES I ALSO THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME FUNNY NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I ROLLED DOWN MY WINDOW AND COULDN'T HEAR ANY THING. AS I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND I PRESSED MY BRAKES ALL THE WAY DOWN. THE RPMS WENT ALL THE WAY INTO THE RED AND MY CAR CONTINUED ABOUT 4 TO 6 FEET WITH BRAKES ALL THE WAY DOWN. WHEN CAR FINELY CAME TO A STOP I PLACED IT IN PARK BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS MY STOP MY CAR FROM GOING INTO GEAR AGAIN AND THE RPMS CONTINUED TO RISE MORE INTO THE RED. I WAS AFRAID AND PLACED IT IN DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE TO GET IT INTO THE PARKING LOT I TOOK A RIGHT. WHEN I HAD TO STOP IN THE LOT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND THE RPMS WENT UP ALL THE WAY AS MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE IT WENT ABOUT 3 EXTRA FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. I PLACED IT IN PARK AND QUICKLY TURNED THE CAR OFF. I TURNED THE CAR ON TO SEE IF IT WOULD RESET BUT THE RPM WENT ALL THE WAY UP AGAIN. A MAN CLAIMING TO BE A MECHANIC LOOKED AT MY THROTTLES TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE NOT STUCK AND TOOK ONE FINGER AND TAPPED ON THE THROTTLE SENSOR. I STARTED THE CARE AGAIN AND THE RPMS WERE BACK TO A NORMAL AMOUNT. THE DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE AND HAVE FOUND NO FAULT IN THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 20, 2004
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER WHEN THE TWO RIGHT TIRES WERE ON ICE ,AND THE TWO LEFT TIRES WERE ON DRY PAVEMENT. WHEN THIS OCCURRED IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. *AK *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Wheels, Apr 22, 2003
WHEEL LUGS BOLTS: AT 40720 MILES (4/9/03) CAR WAS IN SUBARU DEALER FOR REAR BRAKES. TWO LUG BOLTS FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WERE FOUND TO BE SNAPPED AND FELL OFF IN THE MECHANICS HAND. THAT WAS A WEEK AGO. TODAY AFTER ABOUT 900 MILES TWO LUG BOLTS ON THE SAME WHEEL HAD SNAPPED OFF. DEALER TOWED THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 27, 2003
BRAKE ROTORS WERE PACKED WITH LEAVES AND STONES. CAR NEEDED TO BE PLACED ON LIFT TO REMOVE THE DEBRIS. COULD NOT DRIVE DUE TO HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL AND CONCERN ABOUT CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. SUBARU TOOK FOUR HOURS TO PICK UP CAR. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER FINALLY, WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT A SUBARU PROBLEM AND THEY INDICATED I SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR A HALF HOUR LABOR AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR TOW. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING ON DIRT ROADS (ISN'T THAT WHAT SUV'S ARE DESIGNED FOR?) I THINK THERE MUST BE A FLAW IN DESIGN OF FORESTER SUV. SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME IT HAPPENS TO HIS WIFE FREQUENTLY, AND HE CORRECTS PROBLEM HIMSELF. SEEMED TO BE SUGGESTING I DO THE SAME WHICH SOUNDS UNREASONABLE FOR A CAR UNDER WARRANTY COVERAGE AND ONLY 11,000 MILES. I RECEIVED VERY POOR SERVICE FROM SUBARU. HOW COULD I HAVE KNOWN BASED ON SYMPTOMS AND ADVISE OF DRIVER TO GO AHEAD WITH TOW THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE A SUBARU PROBLEM ,AND WHY DID THEY MAKE ME WAIT FOUR HOURS AND CHASE THEM BY TELEPHONE BEFORE THEY FINALLY PICKED UP CAR?*JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 27, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISES FROM THE BRAKES. DEALER AND SUBURU MANUFACTORY WERE NOTIFIED. *MR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 21, 2002
THE TRIGGERRING MECHANISM FOR THE ABS SEEMS TOO DELICATE. THE CAR STARTS SKIDDING EVEN IN VERY LIGHT SNOW. THIS HAS CAUSED 3 INCIDENTS OF RUN-OFF-ROAD CRASHES ONTO THE CURB WITH MINIMAL PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CAR GETS OUT OF CONTROL VERY EASILY IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS WHICH DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF A 4WD VEHICLE WITH ABS.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Feb 8, 2002, crash
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO PARK, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPING A CURB AND HITTING TWO PARKED VEHICLES. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. SUBARU WAS CONTACTED TO INSPECT VEHICLE.*AK *YH
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 11, 2001
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS, ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, HOWEVER VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, VEHICLE GLAZED AGAINST ANOTHER CAR CAUSING DAMAGE. *SLC
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Oct 26, 2001, crash
VEHICLE WAS ON A SIDE STREET AND WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE JUMPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES ALREADY.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Exterior lighting, Aug 16, 2001
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 25 MPH. THEN, BRAKES LOCKED UP. PEDAL FELT SOFT.*AK DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT BULB BURNED AND WAS REPLACED. *SLC
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Apr 6, 2001, crash
PARKING WITH FOOT ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OVER CEMENT BLOCK. HAD HIT A FEW BUSHES AND THEN A BUILDING. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC BASED ON REFERRAL FROM DEALERSHIP.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 7, 2001, crash
THERE MAY HAVE OTHER FACTORS TO THE CAR SKIDDING (SNOWY). *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Seat belts, Jan 24, 2001, crash
BRAKES LIGHTLY APPLIED DUE TO SLUSH ON ROADWAY,BRAKES DID NOT WORK VEHICLE CRASHED, DRIVER SUFFERED CONCUSION AS HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPOLY. SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER FIRMLY. SUBARU HOME OFFICE NOTIFIED, CHRIS, CUSTOMER SERVICE REP APPEARS NOT VERY CONCERNED AND ALMOST CALLOUS IN RESPONSE TO OUR CONCERNS. INS CO HAS ELECTED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE VEHICLE. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Nov 29, 2000
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED FOOT TOUCHING BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME, DEALERSHIP ADJUSTED THE BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT AS STATED IN SERVICE BULLETIN 6-29-00 OPERATION #A543-008, HOWEVER CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS INADEQUATE AND THEY SHOULD BE SEPARATED APART. *MJS