2001 Subaru Forester

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

70/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 146 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Subaru Forester, and it carries no recalls. 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Vehicle speed control	23	16%
Power train	21	14%
Suspension	17	12%
Engine and engine cooling	14	10%
Air bags	8	5%
Service brakes	7	5%
Fuel/propulsion system	5	3%
Wheels	5	3%
Exterior lighting	5	3%
Fuel system	4	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

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 UN
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS COLD AND I TURN ON THE DEFROST TO WARM UP THE CAR WHILE PARKED I CAN SMELL GAS IN THE VEHICLE. IT GOES AWAY ONCE I START DRIVING. THIS IS A PROBLEM MANY SUBARU OWNERS HAVE BECAUSE A HOSE LOOSENS
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN AND AROUND THE CAR. WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, I WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE HOSE CLAMPS ON THE FUEL LINES WERE L
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

IN DECEMBER, LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR USED, WHILE DRIVING I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A FLAT TIRE. I WAS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM A SERVICE STATION SO DROVE TO IT, BUT DRIVING THAT SHORT DISTANCE RUINED
NHTSA complaint: Wheels

WHEN TURNING THE TURN SIGNALS ON, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY, SUDDENLY PLUNGING YOU INTO DARKNESS. THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE MADE OF INFERIOR PLASTIC THAT CLOUDS OVER WITH AGE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. THEN IT GETS CLOSED IN THE DOOR BECAUSE IT HANGS LOOSE. IN THE BACK SEAT, THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT HAS THE WRONG PART SO IT CANNOT BE LATCHED. BECAUSE OF THIS, I CANNOT SAFELY DRI
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED AND ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED, WHICH PREVENTED THE BRAKES FROM STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE DRI
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNO
NHTSA complaint: Structure

The seven scores

Reliability raw	73	good
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	73	good
Depreciation	74	good
Performance	60	average
Efficiency	40	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 41% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 72% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 54% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 81% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 73: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2001 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 73: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2001 Subaru Forester?

Owners have filed 146 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and vehicle speed control is the most reported area with 23 of them (16%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 2001 Subaru Forester reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 73/100 (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.

How long will a 2001 Subaru Forester last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2001 Subaru Forester?

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.