2004 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Fuel/propulsion system is the leading concern among 219 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 13 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 8 people were injured.
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
Engine and engine coolingOct 1, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE COVER BOLTS FOR THE ENGINE OIL CONTROL VALVE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED, ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK FROM AROUND THE COVER GASKET.
IF LEAKING OIL CONTACTS COMPONENTS OPERATING AT HIGH TEMPERATURES, A FIRE COULD RESULT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE OIL-FLOW CONTROL VALVE COVER BOLTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Campaign 04V473000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
219 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Jul 17, 2007
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY BEFORE THE WARRANTY ON THE ITEM RAN OUT. DEALER CHECKED CONNECTIONS AND LIGHT WENT OUT. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT CAME AGAIN. CHECKED CONNECTION, LIGHT WENT OUT. LIGHT STARTED GOING ON INTERMITTENTLY. NOW WAS ON STEADILY. GOGGLING 2004 FORESTER AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATES THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT WAS A POOR DESIGN THAT EXPOSED THE CONNECTOR TO DAMAGE BY FEET OR OTHER OBJECTS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. *AK
Suspension, Jun 28, 2007
RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT 31000 MILESIN NOVEMBER 2005, AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. AT 67000 MILESIN JUNE 2007, BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR RECEIVED ALL RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGES AND SERVICES. IS ONLY USED FOR HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING.*AK
Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 10, 2007
HOOD LATCH RELEASED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH. OCCURRED TWICE IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES. THIS OCCURRED WHEN COMING OFF A BRIDGE AND THE ROAD BUMP CAUSED THE HOOD TO POP UP ONE INCH. THE SECONDARY LATCH CONTINUED TO OPERATE, BUT THIS COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE HOOD.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Sep 27, 2006
2004 FORESTER XT STALLED, HAD LOSS OF POWER DURING ACCELERATION AND JERKED VIOLENTLY. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *NM
Air bags, Feb 2, 2006, crash
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH SEATBELTS WERE WORN THE TWO OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Dec 26, 2005
WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 10 DEGREES F., CAR WILL NOT START OR STARTS ONLY WITH GREATEST DIFFICULTY. LAST YEAR(2004), SAME SORT OF STARTING PROBLEM WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A CRACKED IGNITION COIL. THIS YEAR DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM, ALSO CAN'T EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 4, 2005
EXCESSIVE SULFUR DIOXIDE ODOR (ROTTEN EGG). COMPANY REFUSES TO FIX CONVERTER, BLAMES FUEL. CONVERTER SHOULD HANDLE THE SULFUR CONTENT OF FUEL, REGARDLESS. *JB
Seats, Aug 24, 2005
1. NO FAILURE YET. CENTER, REAR PASSENGER, ROOF MOUNTED, SEATBELT IS CURRENTLY NOT BEING USED ON A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER X. 2. 10LB TUG ON THE CENTER, REAR PASSENGER, ROOF MOUNTED, SEATBELT ON A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER X WILL CAUSE THE HEADLINER TO CAVE. FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE SEATBELT RETRACTOR UNIT FOUND THAT IT'S MOUNTED ON A THIN GAUGE METAL (BENDABLE) FLAP BOLTED TO THE ROOF WITH ONE BOLT. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN YET. IT'S A NEW ITEM PROBLEM.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Tires, Jul 12, 2005
DT: CONTACT STATES HE HAS HAD TO CHANGE THE TIRES ON HIS VEHICLE ON 1-22-05. THE MILES ON THE VEHICLE WERE 14,394. THERE ARE NOW 21,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND HE HAS HAD TO CHANGE THE REAR CYLINDER ON THE CAR. THIS WAS COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. HE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. HE HAS ALSO TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER. ON 4-7-05 HE HAD TO CHANGE THE TIRES AGAIN AT 17,151. THE MANUFACTURER WAS RUDE TO HIM AND SAID HE HAD WAITED A LONG TIME TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TIRES. *NM
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Apr 28, 2005, crash
PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE. HAD FOOT ON BRAKE. APPROXIMATE SPEED OF CAR 10 MPH. CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE. LOOKED DOWN SAW THAT GAS PEDAL WAS TO FLOOR. CAR ACCELERATED INTO BRICK BUILDING. AS QUICKLY AS IT ACCELERATED IT STOPPED. WAS ABLE TO REVERSE CAR INTO PARKING SPACE. HOLE IN BUILDING DAMAGING ELECTRICITY FOR BUILDING. ENTIRE BUILDING WITHOUT ELECTRICITY FOR ENTIRE DAY. BUILDING HAS A 5' X 5' HOLE IN WALL AND CRACKS DOING UP AND DOWN AND AROUND CORNER OF BUILDING. CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP SINCE SUBARU(FORESTER 2004) DOES NOT DO REPAIRS. CAR WAS INSPECTED BY MECHANIC WHO SAID HE COULD SEE NO VISIBLE REASON WHY GAS PEDAL STUCK. FRAME OF CAR IN TACK, ESTIMATED DAMAGE $3600. CAR WILL BE REPAIRED AND SHIPPED TO SUBARU FOR INSPECTION PRIOR TO REPOSSESSION OF CAR. AIRBAG DID NOT ENGAGE DURING ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED. I CAME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, STEPPED ON BRAKE AND CAR ACCELERATED. IT TOOK BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. I THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS WINTER AND I SLID ON ICE, OR PERHAPS IT WAS JUST A FREAK ACCIDENT. DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL THE SECOND OCCURANCE.
Vehicle speed control, Mar 17, 2005
CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER WHILE DRIVING DURING DAY TIME WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. THE SUN LIGHT IS OBSTRUCTING CONSUMER'S VIEW TO SEE IF HE IS COMPLYING WITH THE SPEED LIMIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO CHANGE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE COMPLIED WITH THE DOT SPECS. *AK
Tires, Feb 16, 2005
THERE IS TEAR BETWEEN THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL ON THE RIGHT REAR SIDE TIRE, WHICH IS CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO NOT MAINTAIN EASY CONTROL WHEN BEING DRIVEN. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER. *JB *NM
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Feb 7, 2005
THE VEHICLE GENERATED EXCESSIVE STATIC SHOCK. *NM THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD GO NO MORE THAN 15- 20 MPH. *JB
Air bags, Jan 31, 2005, crash
WHILE DRIVING AT 28 MPH A HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONE PERSON WAS INJURED. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 29, 2004, crash
CAR PRODUCING NOXIOUS ODOR INSIDE. WHEN PARKING CAR IN GARAGE, ACCIDENTALLY STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR RATHER THAN BRAKE. HIT AND DESTROYED BACK WALL. COSMETIC DAMAGE TO CAR. DEALER CLAIMS LEAVES WERE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THROUGH TURBOCHARGE INTAKE. BUT, ODOR WAS OF BURNT RUBBER OR PLASTIC, NOT LEAVES. AND, THE CAR IS ALWAYS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. FINALLY, MOST LEAVES WERE DOWN SEVERAL WEEKS EARLIER THIS YEAR, I.E., BY END OF NOVEMBER. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 21, 2004, fire
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, RESULTING FROM OIL LEAKING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND BECAUSE OF PROXIMITY OF FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES. SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA) MAINTAINS THAT OIL LEAKED FROM OIL FILTER AND THAT THIS IS NO FAULT OF THEIRS. GIVEN THE HISTORY OF RECALLS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE IN JAPAN FOR LEAKING OIL AND FIRES I AM NOT SURE THAT THIS POINT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED. SOA REFUSED TO FIX DAMAGE AND TOLD ME TO FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM... WHICH I HAVE DONE. DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED TO BE $6-10K. MATTER WILL BE SUBROGATED TO INSURANCE COMPANY FOR SETTLEMENT.*AK
Fuel system, Gasoline, Air bags, Nov 5, 2004
FUEL DOOR RELEASE BUTTON DOES NOT WORK. AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *BF 5 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL DOOR RELEASE BUTTON FELL OFF. OPENING OF THE FUEL DOOR WAS AND CONTINUED TO BE DIFFICULT. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE A FULL REFUND FOR THE VEHICLE. *TC *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Sep 28, 2004
THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THE VEHICLE AND RECEIVE A REFUND FOR THE PURCHASE PRICE. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE IS MAKING A HIGH PITCH WHINING NOISE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE IS FROM THE REDUCTION GEAR TEETH TRANSMISSION AND WAS NORMAL. THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH HER 1998 SUBARU FORRESTER THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING AND ENGINE DAMAGE. A FAULTY THERMOSTAT CAUSED THE OVERHEATING. AN INITIAL TEST SHOW CARBON MONOXIDE INDICATING PROBABLE DAMAGE TO THE SLEEVES BETWEEN THE PISTONS AND CYLINDERS, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE SHORT BLOCK. OVERHEATED CAMS ARE WARPED DUE TO THE HEAT.
Power train, Sep 4, 2004
THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THE VEHICLE AND RECEIVE A REFUND FOR THE PURCHASE PRICE. *NM THE SUBARU DEALER OFFERED THE CONSUMER $1500.00 TO 2,000 DOLLARS TOWARD TRADING HIS VEHICLE IN FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. OFFER EXPIRES OCT 31,2004 *TC