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
142 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Jun 5, 2001, crash
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON AND FRONT AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS GOING 35MPH. CONSUMER HAD NO IDEA IF SUBARU DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER LISTED THERE WERE 3 INJURIES AND 3 FATALITIES, HOWEVER DID NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTION IN THE STATEMENT OF ANY DEATHS. *SLC
Air bags, May 2, 2001, crash
I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND WAS HIT HEAD ON DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. THE DAMAGE TOTALED OVER 8000.00 . DAMAGE INCLUDED THE FRONT HOOD, RIGHT FRONT FENDER, FRONT BUMPER COVER AND REINFORCEMENT , RADIATOR SUPPORT AND THE RADIATOR. ALSO, THE AC CONDENSOR, THE WHOLE FRONT WAS BENT TO THE LEFT RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE CHASSIS. THE ENGINE WAS TILTED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, AND THE SUB RAIL , WHERE THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS, CRACKED IN TWO. THERE WAS ADDITIONAL DAMAGEALSO. WITH ALL THIS DAMAGE, THE AIRBAGS, FAILED TO DEPLOY, SHOCKING THE POLICE , THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE REPAIR SHOP. I CONTACTED SUBARU TO INFORM THEM THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD NOT TO TOUCH THE CAR. THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND ENGINEERS TO INSPECT THE CAR WITHIN 72 HOURS. A WEEK LATER,I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN AND THEY REQUESTED COPIES OF THE POLICE REPORT AND INSURANCE INFORMATION. I COMPLIED AND FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS , I WAITED FOR AN ANSWER. FINALLY, AN EMPLOYEE OF SUBARU CONTACTED ME AND TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR TO A DEALER TO CHECK IF THE AIR BAGS ARE WORKING. I TOLD THEM OBVIOUSLY, THEY DIDN'T WORK WHEN I NEEDED THEM TOO, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE IMPACT WAS RIGHT OVER THE SENSOR. HE THEN SAID WHY WAS I WORRYING , THAT THE DAMAGE WAS PAID. I EXPLAINED THAT I NO LONGER FELT SAFE IN THE VEHICLE AND THAT MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. TO DATE, I AM DRIVING A RENTAL CAR AND INCURRING EXPENSES FOR THE RENTAL AND ALSO STORAGE FEES OF MY DAMAGED VEHICLE. ON A TV PROGRAM, FEATURING BRIAN O'NEILL, FROM THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAYTEST SAFETY, AIR BAGS SHOULD DEPLOY AT AN IMPACT OF 12-25 MPH, RESULTING IN DAMAGE COST OF $585. MY QUESTION TO SUBARU WAS, WHY DIDN'T THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY IN A IMPACT THE RESULTED IN $8000 IN DAMAGE?*AK
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
Wheels, Apr 2, 2001
ALL WHEELS ARE COLLECTING ICE AND MUD WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION WHEN TRAVELING 60 OR MORE MPH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER'S OBSERVATION, THE VIBRATION WAS DUE DEFECTIVE ALLOY WHEEL, COMMON AT ALL ALLOY WHEELS. *YH
Power train, Mar 12, 2001
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Air bags, Feb 21, 2001, crash
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WAS HIT ON FRONT QUARTER, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE HAS SIDE AIRBAGS. LIKELY TO BE TOTALLED. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 7, 2001, crash
THERE MAY HAVE OTHER FACTORS TO THE CAR SKIDDING (SNOWY). *AK
Air bags, Seat belts, Jan 24, 2001, crash
WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH ON SNOW WHILE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN CONSUMER RAN OFF ROAD .AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH FRONT END DAMAGE. *AK THE SEAT BELT NOT ADQUATELY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. *YH
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
Air bags, Seat belts, Jan 7, 2001, crash
AOTOMOBILE SKIDDED OF ROAD D/T SNOW/SLUSH STOPPING IN CULVERT. DAMAGE TO FRONT END CONSIDERED SUBSTANTIAL. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT APPARENTLY DID NOT HOLD OCCUPANT SINCE HER HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO LOCAL ER. THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPOLY IMPRESSED THE POLICE AND EMTS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.*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
Visibility, Nov 9, 2000
WINDSHIELD SCRATCHES TOO EASILY. THIS IS A GREAT DISTRACTION TO DRIVER, ESPECIALLY FROM THE REFLECTION OF SUN. *AK THE PLASTIC PART OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSES THE SCRATCHES. *YH
Tires, Sep 17, 2000
THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE TO SHOW THE ENTIRE DOT NUMBER WHICH IS DOT EL YT CHB 1000. THIS TIRE FAILED AT 55 DEGREES TEMPERATURE, AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THE ODOMETER HAD ONLY 1563 MILES ON IT. I HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND THAT ALARMED ME, SO I GOT INTO THE SLOW LANE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CLUNKING SOUND STOPPED. A MINUTE OR SO LATER, THE TIRE FAILED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF NAILS OR OTHER ROAD HAZARD, BUT THE TIRE DID HAVE A LOT OF TIRE DUST INSIDE IT. I DID NOT GO IN TO WORK THAT DAY, SO I COULD REPLACE ALL MY TIRES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I REPLACED 4 TIRES WITH MICHELINS AT A COST OF $408.29, AND I INTEND TO REPLACE THE 5TH TIRE AS SOON AS COSTCO GETS A NEW SHIPMENT IN. I HAVE RETAINED ALL THE TIRES I REPLACED. I HESITATED TO TAKE THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE FOR EVALUATION, BECAUSE I DID NOT THINK THEY WOULD BE IMPARTIAL.( DOT NUMBER: ELYTCHB100 TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )
Air bags, Sep 12, 2000, crash
WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER RAN HEAD-ON INTO A POLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Exterior lighting, Sep 12, 2000
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY BECAUSE OF FAULTY HEADLIGHTS.*AK NO LEFT OR RIGHT ADJUSTMENT FOR HEAD LIGHTS AND NOT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. ALSO HEAD LIGHTS ARE TO HIGH ON BRIGHT TO LOW ON DIM. *YH
Visibility, Jun 25, 2000
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Seat belts, May 1, 2000
SEATBELT IS FASTENED UNDER THE HIP, AND IT'S LIKE T SHAPE DESIGN. SEAT BELT PINCHES CONSUMER IN THE SIDE, TO THE POINT THAT IS REALLY HARD TO GET BUCKLE UNLOOSENED. IN AN ACCIDENT IT MAY BE HARD TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE. *AK