Most common 2004 Subaru Forester problems
Share of the 219 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 →
2004 Subaru Forester recalls (2)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
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,…
Remedy: 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.
Engine and engine cooling
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Subaru Forester:
Front suspension control arm failure
On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of…
What 2004 Subaru Forester owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 124 →
Car was shifted from drive into neutral for operator to use a parking lot gate machine. The engine surged a little while in neutral but settled back down. When parking gate opened the operator shifted into drive and lightly pressed the gas pedal. The engine immediately surged to full throttle and rapidly accelerated across the driveway for a few seconds before being stopped by collision with a granite post. Operator could not brake hard enough to stop the vehicle in time. Driver injured in crash.
We owned a 2004 Subaru Forester for 6 years. 2 years ago I experienced an incident where starting out the accelerator stuck at an advanced rate of speed. I was able to quickly gain control and brake the vehicle and thought it was an aberration. Recently on starting out from a ferry boat the accelerator again stuck at an advanced rate of speed. I avoided people and many cars but did collide with a wall and 1 car, finally stopping the Subaru by driving up a hill, over a curb and into a fence. I had mechanics check the accelerator system. They said they could find no defect in the system but that other factors could contribute to "sticking" such as faulty floor mats or placement od brake and/or accelerator pedals. …
Engine & cooling all 39 →
Car was shifted from drive into neutral for operator to use a parking lot gate machine. The engine surged a little while in neutral but settled back down. When parking gate opened the operator shifted into drive and lightly pressed the gas pedal. The engine immediately surged to full throttle and rapidly accelerated across the driveway for a few seconds before being stopped by collision with a granite post. Operator could not brake hard enough to stop the vehicle in time. Driver injured in crash.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Subaru Forester. While driving various speeds, the rpms began to increase and the vehicle overheated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and caught fire from the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed and later deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
Suspension all 25 →
The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while having a routine safety check performed on the vehicle, she learned that the lower control was completely rusted. The contact learned that the repair was covered under a special coverage. The contact stated that because the vehicle was not registered in a stated listed for the special coverage, the vehicle was not eligible for the free repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and opened a case. The manufacturer confirmed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.
My vehicle had a recall on the lower control arms that would rust and and break. That is exactly what happened while I was driving with my family. Control arm broke causing other parts to get destroyed. The fender breaks and other parts. The recall was performed before hand but it obviously wasn't repaired correctly because it caused me to crash. Dave wright auto Subaru retailer in Iowa is refusing to repair my failed recall attempt. Consumer stated failed repair caused the consumer to crash and damaged more of my vehicle.
2004 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 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 21 / 19 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Subaru Forester a good car?
Based on 219 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Forester rates average: about 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 2004 Subaru Forester?
The fuel & propulsion system — 124 complaints, 57% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage. Next are the engine & cooling (39) and suspension (25).
How many recalls does the 2004 Subaru Forester have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2004 Subaru Forester, the most recent from September 6, 2011 (lower arm). 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 2004 Subaru Forester problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 97,000 miles; 14% 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.