2003 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Fuel system is the leading concern among 191 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 17 involved a crash. 9 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, front, control arm, lower armSep 6, 2011
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, WEST VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION IF THE HANGER BRACKET IS EXPOSED TO SALTY AND HUMID ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS ROADS CONTAINING SNOW MELTING AGENT.
A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
SUBARU WILL HANDLE THEIR VEHICLES AND SAAB WILL HANDLE THEIRS. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DEGREE OF CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND WILL EITHER RUSTPROOF OR REPLACE THEM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Campaign 11V464000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, buckle assemblyFeb 20, 2003
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE/LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS COULD UNLATCH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE/LATCH ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Campaign 03V047000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 30, 2002
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.
THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION JANUARY 8, 2003. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Campaign 02V282000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
191 reports, newest first.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 21, 2003, crash
I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER AND I WAS PULLING IN A PARKING SPOT AT A HORSE FARM, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR JUST ACCELERATED AND I HIT A TREE. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY HAVE NOT CALLED ME BACK. MY DEALER HAS REPLACED THE COMPUTER BUT IS NOT ABLE TO STATE THIS WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE PUT $305 FOR CAR RENTAL $250 DEDUCTIBLE FOR INSURANCE OUT OF MY POCKET NOT TO ALSO INCLUDE A DAY OF WORK MISSED DUE TO TRYING TO STOP CAR WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKE AND BANGED BOTH KNEES. ALSO I CAN NOT EXPRESS THE FEAR THAT THIS HAS PUT IN ME BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN ME ANY REASONS OR ANSWERS. THEY JUST IGNORED THE WHOLE ISSUE . I DO KNOW OTHER SUBARU'S HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN BUY THESE CARS SINCE THE 80'S. I WOULD HAVE SWORN BY THIS COMPANY UNTIL NOW. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THEY WOULD DENY SUCH AN ISSUE. ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BECOME SERIOUSLY HURT. I NOW CRY AT THE COMMERCIAL THAT STATES THE FORESTER IS THE SAFEST SUV. I TRUST MY DEALER BUT HOW CAN I BE SURE IF THEY REPLACED THE PROPER PARTS IF SUBARU WILL NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. MY DEALER HAS TRIED TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND BUT CAN NOT STATE THAT REPLACEMENT WILL BE RESOLUTION. I DON'T FEEL MY INSURANCE OR MYSELF SHOULD BE PUT OUT DO TO A MECHANICAL PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION BEFORE. I AN SCARED TO DEATH EVERY TIME I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS CAR AND ANY OTHER CAR AT THIS TIME.*JB
Power train, Aug 21, 2003
MANUAL TRANSMISSION. CLUTCH SHUDDERS (CHATTERS) IN 1ST AND SOMETIMES 2ND GEAR. PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER CAR HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR A WHILE (SUCH AS OVERNIGHT), AND ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING. CAR WAS BOUGHT USED WITH 14,000 MILES, AND HAD THIS PROBLEM FROM WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT. DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.*AK
Power train, Jul 30, 2003
CLUTCH CHATTER, 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. 18000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *AK
Suspension, Jul 28, 2003
WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A VERY LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER IS REPLACING THE BEARINGS. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 24, 2003
WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THE ENGINE FUMBLES THEN STALLS.*AK
Seats, Jul 22, 2003
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT INTERMITTENTLY GO FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Parking brake, Jun 11, 2003
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND BURNED OTHER PART OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED DRUM AND WHEEL CYLINDER. *AK
Seats, May 3, 2003
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LOOSE WHEN BRAKING, SEAT MOVES FORWARD. WHEN STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL SEAT TRAVELS BACKWARD. *JB
Power train, Apr 18, 2003
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V282000. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR 4 DIFFERENT REPAIR APPOINTMENTS. ON 3 DIFFERENT INSTANCES THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT AVAILABLE ONCE CONSUMER ARRIVED FOR APPOINTMENT. ONE 1 OCCASION, CONSUMER CAME IN FOR SATURDAY APPOINTMENT AND WAS TOLD RECALL REMEDY COULD NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON SATURDAY. NOW, CONSUMER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE BACK FOR ANOTHER 3 MONTHS. *NLM
Latches/locks/linkages, Mar 20, 2003
2002 SUBARU FORESTER FRONT DOOR LOCK MECHANISMS ARE DEFECTIVE. JANUARY, 2003 - PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH AND HAD TO TIE IT SHUT. DEALER REPAIRED IT PROMPTLY. MARCH 2003 - DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN - HAD TO CRAWL ACROSS THE SHIFTER TO GET OUT. MANIPULATED INSIDE LOCK LEVER AND EVENTUALLY FREED UP MECHANISM. THIS WOULD NOT BE SAFE IN AN EMERGENCY.*JB
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 17, 2003
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *JB. *AK
Power train, Mar 6, 2003
MANUAL CLUTCH CHATTERS. MAINLY 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, ONLY AFTER SITTING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME (6-12 HRS). STARTED EARLY, AROUND 7,000 MILES. FIRST TIME I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT, SUBARU SAID THAT I WASN'T DRIVING IT PROPERLY. 3RD TIME I REPORTED IT (AT 15,000 MI), SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE NOW GOING TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT WITH A HEAVIER DUTY CLUTCH SO THE PROBLEM MAY OCCUR AGAIN. *JB
Visibility, Feb 12, 2003
HEATER AND DEFROSTER FAILURE
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 26, 2002
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES . ALSO STATES THAT WHILE SHE IS DRIVING AND STEPS ON THE BRAKE PAD THE BRAKE PAD FEELS LIKE IF SOMETHING IS ABSORBING THE PAD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IS NORMAL BECAUSE A NEW BRAKE SYSTEM. TS
Power train, Oct 21, 2002
THE HILL-HOLDER FEATURE ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIO ACTIVATES WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND UTILIZING THE FOOT BRAKE--AS A RESULT IN ORDER TO RESUME BACKING UP TOO MUCH FORCE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MUST BE USED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH BACKWARD
Air bags, Seats, Jun 26, 2002
SUBARU REPLACED REGULAR SEATS WITH LEATHER AFTER MARKET SEATS. ALSO, SUBARU STATED THAT SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS IN REAR MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK