Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Subaru Forester owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
To whom it May concern, hello, I am the owner of a 2004 Forester xt which I love. I've owned the car for almost a year and its been nothing but reliable up to this point. The weather outside is frightful, and with that comes a common problem for many Subaru owners. During the cold snaps, say below 20f, there is strong fuel smells which fills the cabin. It only happens during start-up, and lasts about 15 mins before the car warms up. From searching many forums and internet threads it seems this problem has been occurring since early 2001. There was a recall notice (wvk-21)for the 2002 -2003 wrx's which had a same problem I am experiencing now. Unfortunately a recall was never issued for later model subarus which suffer the same problem. The problem is fuel leaking from 5 main fuel lines going into the intake manifold. …
There is a very strong and distinct smell of raw fuel coming from the engine compartment when the weather is below freezing (20f or below). The smell comes through the air vents into the passenger compartment and is strong enough to cause a headache for the passengers in the car. The smell is worst when the car is stopped after a drive. It seems that this is a known problem with Subaru wrx 2002 & 2003 cars and Subaru has issued a recall for them. This also seems to be a common enough problem for Subaru forrester cars from the same timeframe. On the website http://www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/2004/Subaru/Forester, almost 50% of the complaints out of 154 complaints is about this fuel leak issue. This seems to be a well known problem according to dealers and other Subaru forrester owners as well (http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f87/smell-gas-cold-starts-41319/). …
Fuel lines seep fuel onto the top of engine block and near turbo inlet area when temperatures are below ~20 degrees fahrenheit. The seepage occurs at the clamps between the metal and gas lines below the intake manifold. These clamps are not accessible without removal of many parts by a professional mechanic. Gas fumes fill the cabin when this occurs as well. Fumes are not bad when moving but if stopped at a stop sign or after starting the vehicle the fumes are very strong. This has been a known issue with other model subarus (2002 - 2003 Subaru impreza & impreza wrx) that have a very similar engine configuration but has never been addressed with the Subaru Forester. The concerns I have are 1) fire hazard of gas pooling on top of engine block near turbo and other components 2) fumes building up in the passenger cabin.
Basically I am experiencing the same raw fuel smell many others have described. The hose under the intercooler and several other hoses and parts visibly leaks and smells when temperatures are cold outside. I live in the pacific northwest...it's cold a lot here. I don't feel safe driving with my daughter in the car, for her health reasons, and really don't like wasting my hard earned fuel waiting for the car to warm up with the recirculating vent feature turned on and the fact that it drips the fuel out and onto the engine... Since soa has recalled the wrx's with the exact same issue, why do those of us that own legacys, outbacks, foresters and I would also assume bajas not be treated the same way? Soa needs to address this matter immediately and keep its loyal customers exactly that....loyal.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Subaru Forester. Whether the vehicle was parked or being driven, a fuel odor was detected in and outside the vehicle. The fuel odor was most noticeable while operating the heater. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to mid-hudson Subaru (1715 U.S. 9, wappingers falls, ny 12590 [phone]) several times, but no leaks or failures were detected. The contact stated that the dealer finally detected a fuel odor and diagnosed the failure as a malfunction with tubing or piping within the engine. The parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they would contact the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Dangerous!! I am the recent proud owner of a 2004 Subaru Forester xt. A couple of days ago we got our first freeze. I walk out to start my car and it's not turning over and a strong fuel smell is filling the cabin. I keep trying thinking that it May turn over. With no luck, and fearing something is wrong (or May possibly blow up), I stop and get out. Taking a closer look having parked it some dirt, I see that it is visibly moist under my car. The ground is saturated with gas. Luckily it didn't contact any spark in the engine or I wasn't smoking, because I wouldn't be here today to tell this story. It was a ton of gas. Please fix this before someone dies or gets seriously injured.
Just like 60 or so other 03-05 Forester xt owners, I'm experiencing the fuel leak from the rubber fuel line where it clamps on to the metal line to the front drivers side injector. Just like everyone else, the issue only occurred when temperatures dropped below about 20f - uncoincidentally, in my opinion, this was the first new england winter this car had ever seen. Subaru has issued a recall for wrx with the same exact issue involving the same exact hardware. Get on it Subaru, this is completely unacceptable and an extremely dangerous design flaw. You've already fessed up to the issue with other vehicles using the ej255 now don't forget about us fozzy owners.
My Forester has begun to smell like gas when it is turned on while it is cold outside. A fuel line is leaking on the right side fuel rail. The fuel is leaking right next to the exhaust manifold and the turbo (see, really hot parts, see also, dangerous). This is a well known issue with the car and is a serious safety hazard. I do not believe it is right to require owners to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars to keep their cars from bursting in to flames. Please see all the other complaints on this same issue and do something to protect and reimburse the owners of the vehicles for this safety issue. Thank you.
Fuel System complaints in other Forester years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2004 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA has 124 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2004 Subaru Forester, 57% of the model year's 219 complaints. The component named most often is storage (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Subaru Forester fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2004 Subaru Forester, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Subaru Forester fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles, and 1% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to fuel & propulsion system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.