Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 141 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Subaru Forester, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 28 | 20% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 23 | 16% |
| Suspension | 21 | 15% |
| Service brakes | 16 | 11% |
| Tires | 6 | 4% |
| Seat belts | 5 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 3% |
| Engine | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
(PARTIAL COPY OF MESSAGE I SENT TO SUBARU EARLIER THIS WEEK.) [MY] FORESTER IS OLD, BUT I WOULDN'T BE REPLACING IT IF I DIDN'T NEED ANOTHER HEAD GASKET. YOU SURELY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM YOUR 4 CYL. ENGINES HAVE H
NHTSA complaint: Engine
WHY IS THE BRAKE LINE CORROSION RECALL WQK-47 ONLY FOR 2009-2013 FORESTERS? I OWN A 1999 FORESTER WHICH HAS JUST HAD A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE THAT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. CORROS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
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 REPA
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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 S
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THERE ARE DAYS WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE. IT GOES IN REVERSE BUT STILL NOT ENGAGE THE DRIVE GEAR. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK OF THE VEHICLE SITTING AND NOT BEING TURNED ON IT WILL ENGAGE AND WORK FINE. BUT WIL
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NOTE: BELOW IS AN EXTRACT FROM A MESSAGE I SENT TO AN ATTORNEY IN WISCONSIN IN 2011 REGARDING THE PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM REPAIRED AT MY OW
NHTSA complaint: Engine
IN ONE MONTHS TIME WE HAVE HAD 4 SEPARATE COOPER WEATHERMASTER S/T2 205/70R15 TIRES HAVE SIDEWALL FAILURE. THESE ARE SNOW TIRES USED ONLY DURING WINTER MONTHS. 3 OF THE 4 TIRES WERE PURCHASED FOR THE 2010/11 WINTER, A
NHTSA complaint: Tires
199 SUBARU FORESTER. LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN SARBANES ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT WITH CONCERNS ABOUT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH SUBARU VEHICLES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PUT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE. A MECHANI
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1999 Subaru Forester. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.
| Reliability raw | 75 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 73 | good |
| Depreciation | 74 | good |
| Performance | 60 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 141 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 28 of them (20%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 75/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.