IllustrationTHE ALL WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED, THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION WHICH ALMOST CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A LOT OF SNOW WAS PACKED IN THE WHEELS.*JB
2001 Subaru Forester
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Subaru Forester do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 131.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forester years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
80–25K
2225–50K
1450–75K
1775–100K
6100–150K
6150K+
73 reports with mileage · 66 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
31 crash reports0 fire reports20 injury reports
What owners actually said
139 reportsDEALER INSTALLED ON THE HOOD AN ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD DEFLECTOR, SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH THE WINDSHIELD REFLECTOR COLLAPSED AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER GUARANTEE IS OVER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR
SUBARU FORESTER 2001 - WAS BACKING UP AND ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK - FLYING BACK IN REVERSE ABOUT 50 FEET - HITTING TREE AND COMING FORWARD ABOUT 20 FT.
CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER A SNOW STORM THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME IMPACTED WITH SNOW CAUSING VERY SEVERE VIBRATIONS THAT COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *JG *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISES FROM THE BRAKES. DEALER AND SUBURU MANUFACTORY WERE NOTIFIED. *MR
SCREECHING SHOUND COMING FROM WHEELS. MR
VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION, HIGHWAY, STREET. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION..CAR WAS IDLING FEW MINUTES IN PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY,BEFORE ENTERING GARAGE. WHEN SHIFTED TO DRIVE, WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, CAR REVVED UP, ACCELERATED, CRASHED THROUGH GARAGE WALL INTO FAMILY ROOM OF HOME. BRAKES DID NOT WORK;ONLY IMPACT STOPPED CAR. AIRBAG DID NOT OPEN.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, OWNER SAW A DEAD COW LEFT IN THE ROADWAY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MANUEVER DRIVER STRUCK THE COW AND VEHICLE BECAME AIR-BORN. VEHICLE HIT THE GROUND WITH NOSE/FRONT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.