Most common 1999 Subaru Forester problems
Share of the 131 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru Forester complaints by model year
Best Forester years: 2013, 2024. Years to avoid: 2019, 2020, 2017, 2015, 2018. Compare all years →
1999 Subaru Forester recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles equipped with anti-lock braking system (ABS). (the 1999 2.2 liter legacy vehicles are excluded). In extremely cold weather, the brake pedal goes to the floor and the vehicle stopping distance is increased.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Subaru Forester:
Seat belt anchorage separation
Odi has one complaint alleging the passenger's side safety belt anchorage, located between the seat and center console, became detached while driving.in addition, the owner inspected the driver's side safety belt anchorage and found that the bolt was partially backed-out.the complaint vehicle was equipped with leather seat covers and heated front seats.because of these options, the front seat belts were installed by…
What 1999 Subaru Forester owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 32 →
As others have stated here and many more from various Subaru forums, I've been dealing with the shifting into drive issue (it acts as if it's in neutral) with the at. It can take several seconds to several minutes (and sometimes longer or not at all) before it engages. I usually have to rev/pump the accelerator until it corrects itself. Once I'm in drive all is well as long as I stay that way. This is random until it starts to get worse over time. I've read that this is fairly common and it's a worn piston seal or something that prevents enough pressure for the forward gear to engage. This began in 2010 with only 89K miles. The only temp fix has been to drain & replace the at fluid & filter, but that May only last for maybe 500-1000 miles or so. The latest temp fix includes that plus an additive (trans x) that works by swelling seals. …
This problem initially occurred only once a month or so, but has since deteriorated to occurring multiple times per day. When approaching a stoplight, or braking harder than usual, the vehicle will slip into neutral. The shifter does not move, it is still in drive, however, without warning, the car will suddenly stop responding to the accelerator (except the engine still revs). The only remedy is to rev the engine to high revs, over and over, until the transmission "catches", at which point the vehicle lurches forward, often violently, even with the brake depressed. This most often happens at stoplights/signs, however it will occur on the highway in traffic when brakes are applied hard. This seems to be quite potentially dangerous if it were to happen when it was necessary to move the vehicle out of the way of something oncoming and would not be able to. …
Engine & cooling all 28 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Subaru Forester. On several occasions, while driving, the engine overheated and seized. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was previously repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 170,000.
We have a 1999 Subaru Forester with a 2.5 l engine. We got a recall notice 2-2004 regarding external coolant leaks at the engine cylinder head gaskets. This recall covered vehicle years 1999-2002 or 4 years of vehicles. We took the vehicle in and had the specific (special conditioner) installed as required by Subaru. Unfortunately for us it took Subaru 5 years to acknowledge the problem as we are on the front end of the model years in question. Last week the head gaskets failed and with it a large repair bill. Subaru will not honor the extended warranty as we are outside it by less than 10% in mileage but within the specified 8 years in age. We live in southern california and it is our opinion the mileage amounts allowed do not represent this part of the country and are not real world. …
Suspension all 25 →
The car is 4 years old with 24100 miles. At 16000 miles, right rear wheel bearing failed and was replaced under warranty. At 22000 miles, right rear bearing noise returned and the dealer 'adjusted' the bearing for 'free', even though the 3 year warranty had passed. At 24100 miles, the bearing failed with grinding and smoking while vehicle was on the highway. Dealer refused to cover the event under warranty.a technician at the dealership told consumer that other foresters were having similar bearing problems,and that they we retold to stop using the OEM ball bearings, and go to a roller bearing.
I have had to replace rear wheel bearings on my 1999 Subaru Forester three (3) times. The left rear wheel bearings had to be replaced twice before 35K miles and the right rear wheel bearing just failed at 50K miles. Clearly Subaru has a design and/or manufacturing problem with the 1999 Subaru rear wheel bearings. I don't know if it is a serious safety issue but having a wheel bearing fail completely at highway speeds would seem like a bad thing.[I found out about your site on cartalk.com]. Nlm
1999 Subaru Forester engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Subaru Forester a good car?
Based on 131 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Forester rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Forester at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Subaru Forester?
The transmission & drivetrain — 32 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (28) and suspension (25).
How many recalls does the 1999 Subaru Forester have?
There is 1 recall for the 1999 Subaru Forester, the most recent from March 3, 1999 (master cylinder). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Subaru Forester?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2020, 2017, 2015 and 2018. See the full Subaru Forester years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Subaru Forester problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 74,000 miles; 28% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.