Most common 2001 Subaru Forester problems
Share of the 139 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 →
What 2001 Subaru Forester owners say
Speed control & acceleration all 29 →
While pulling out of a curbside parking place on a city street the engine started racing and I could not control it by stomping on the brakes or applying the emergency brake. As I was wrestling to keep the surging car under control another car came driving by and was sideswiped. On two prior occasions I had taken this car to check out the surging which takes place when the car is starting up. The dealership and the independent repair shop that I consulted both assured me that they had adjusted the idle and the car was now safe to drive. But is it?
Dt: the consumer states on March 10, 2005, she totaled vehicle. The vehicle accelerated on its own, it went into a ditch. This was the second time this happened. The first time was in May 2004. This time, the vehicle went across traffic into a ditch. She had to call a tow truck. She took the vehicle to the dealership; he test drove the vehicle and replaced a tire that went flat. The mechanic told her the vehicle was fine. The second time, when going around a corner on a winding mountain road it went across the road again. It ended up in a ditch and the vehicle was totaled. There was a police report. She hasdtwo cracks on l-1 and both t-9 and t-10 need surgery. She also has a cracked sternum. She had to stay in the hospital for five days. She is currently seeing a specialist and an orthopedic surgeon. She found an article in the sacremento bee on April 13, 2005 title, click and clack. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 23 →
Manual transmission suburu Forester purchased May 12, 2001 in chicago, illinois. In May of 2004 car began to have slow start up in lst. And 2nd. Gears. Dealer said he did not find a problem. However, problem worsened and progressed into 3rd, 4th. And 5th. Gears. Until one day in July while on highway clutch exploded. Dealership suggested car had been driven as though by a race car driver which caused the problem. Dealer suggested in my June 04 phone call that car might need a tune up which is why I did not hesitate to drive it with my children in it at highway speeds. After looking at attorney internet complaint site I found numerous similar if not exact complaints as I have made to dealership. At present dealer has my vehicle in another state and tells me I must pay for the 'clutch disc" at l39. And the cost of my rental car at 30. Day , repair could take 4-7 days. …
Bought my 2001 Forester used with approximately 64,000 miles on it. After owning it for about 6 months noticed hesitancy when trying to pull out. Slowly started getting worse. Car would sit for about 10 to 15 seconds after being put into drive before engaging and if foot is not on brake, has a harsh engagement (whiplash type thing where it throws you forward). So, after much research and finding out that there are probably 1000s of other Forester owners with the exact same problem, I contacted Subaru of America who of course told me to take it to my local dealer and if they found anything wrong, Subaru might give me some goodwill assistance. Well as they found that the transmission filter was not a Subaru brand and nor was the fluid, they wanted to change it and then run a diagnostic test, saying that maybe that other filter caused the problem. …
Engine & cooling
As soon as the car aged to 75,000 miles I started having problems. The closest Subaru dealer is 51 miles away from my current location. Not easy to get to. My in town mechanic has only been trying to treat the symptoms. I've had thermostat, heater core, valve covers, spark plug wires replaced, hoses replaced, and still has not fixed the issue. I took it to a Subaru dealer this morning, still overheating, and he says I have a blown head gasket and I will have to replace valve covers, wires, obviously the head gasket and possibly a few other parts. Labor alone is a 1000 dollars. Subaru should take full responsibility for this as I am noticing that there are several posts and several websites with owners having the exact same issues. I really have enjoyed owning a Subaru up until now. I don't know what else can be done.
I was driving down the freeway at night when I heard a loud bang noise and looked behind me and saw black smoke and had lost all power, no power steering, no brakes and no lights I had to try to cross 2 lanes of traffic to get my car to the shoulder while it was decelerating. I got the car to the shoulder and noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment, and was worried of a possible fire. I got out and called a tow truck and had it towed. The result was a blown head gasket that had blown the rod through the back pillar and sprayed oil over everything causing the battery to short out which LED to the power loss. The whole engine on the car needed to be replaced for the second time. Bought car with a rebuilt engine from same problem at 141,000 miles.
2001 Subaru Forester engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Subaru Forester a good car?
Based on 139 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Forester rates average: 1.2× 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 2001 Subaru Forester?
The speed control & acceleration — 29 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about accelerator pedal. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (23) and engine & cooling (18).
How many recalls does the 2001 Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 Subaru Forester. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2001 Subaru Forester problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 57,000 miles; 41% 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.