Major Problems with 2003 Subaru Forester Derived from Complaints & Recalls

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Worst 3 complaints of 2003 Subaru Forester

2003 Subaru Forester AIR BAGS Victims: 2 Mileage: 27000 miles

2003 Subaru Forester AIR BAGS Victims: 2 Mileage: 25000 miles

2003 Subaru Forester FRONTAL Victims: 1 Mileage: 59287 miles

Browse 2003 Subaru Forester complaints by category

Problems with FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM and AIR BAGS are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Subaru Forester owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE i recently had an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous incident with my 2003 forester at of all places the local toyota...	29 ~ 94995 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM started and drove vehicle approx. 1 mile in 20 degree weather when i began to smell an extremely strong raw...	24 ~ 113452 miles
AIR BAGS consumer noticed while traveling air bag indicator light stayed on. dealer had been contacted technician could not duplicate problem. *ak...	20 ~ 48901 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL i have a 2003 subaru forester and i was pulling in a parking spot at a horse farm with my...	15 ~ 50119 miles
SUSPENSION tl* the contact owns a 2003 subaru forester. the contact stated that while the vehicle was being inspected it was...	14 ~ 122005 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE i had my vehicle serviced at ramsey subaru and was told the front sub frame is rusted and needs to...	10 ~ 121129 miles
ENGINE started and drove vehicle approx. 1 mile in 20 degree weather when i began to smell an extremely strong raw...	10 ~ 110909 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING intermittent stalling. jb. ak...	9 ~ 41950 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING took forester into subaru dealer for 3k oil change was told that almost all of my anti-freeze was gone and...	8 ~ 56750 miles
FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2003 subaru forester . the contact stated that he received notification of nhtsa campaign id...	5 ~ 105200 miles
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN manual clutch chatters. mainly 1st and 2nd gear only after sitting for long periods of time (6-12 hrs). started early...	4 ~ 7425 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN the hill-holder feature on the manual transmissio activates while backing into a parking space and utilizing the foot brake--as a...	4 ~ 5575 miles
UNDERBODY SHIELDS > FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE we took our 2003 subaru forester in to the dealership for an oil change and was told that the frame...	3 ~ 127413 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS dt*: the contact stated while driving at 35 mph on a gravel road a deer ran out in front of...	3 ~ 66196 miles
TIRES tire explosion while driving on freeway. no accident entailed. tire shows good tread left and no apparent source of puncture...	3 ~ 60025 miles
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS brake rotors failed at 15 000 miles. consumer stated that 2 000 miles later the rotors needed to be replaced	3 ~ 18333 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER this vehicle posed a serious safety problem because the vehicle only had one key hole but had five doors the...	3 ~ 88206 miles
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY a rock hit my windshield and within 5 min there was a crack across the entire bottomof the glass radiating...	3 ~ 2000 miles
SEATS subaru replaced regular seats with leather after market seats. also subaru stated that side impact air bags in rear may	3
STEERING i was driving at 55 mph when my right front control arm snapped. i looked to ensure no vehicles were...	2 ~ 157622 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER rear view mirror (self-dimming with compass) became cloudy and discolored. unable to clearly view activity behind vehicle. this is according...	2 ~ 90750 miles
LOWER ARM > CONTROL ARM > FRONT tl* the contact owns a 2003 subaru forester . the contact stated that he received notification of nhtsa campaign id...	2 ~ 113000 miles
WHEELS i purchased a subaru forrester with 38 k miles in august. during the thanksgiving holiday i noticed a rubbing noise...	2
STRUCTURE tl*the contact owns a 2003 subaru forester. while driving approximately 65 mph the front hood released unexpectedly. the contact was...	2 ~ 133850 miles
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING strong fuel smell inside the cabin during cold weather. it gets so bad at times that it causes irritation in...	2 ~ 50000 miles
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE fuel line failed leaking fuel in engine compartment. *jb...	2 ~ 57381 miles
FRONT > SEAT BELTS dt*: the contact stated while driving at 35 mph on a gravel road a deer ran out in front of...	2 ~ 43144 miles
ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT keyless entry remote became inoperative.*mr the consumer stated 80 to 90% of the time the keyless did not work. the	2 ~ 43650 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC had started to brake in order slow down vehicle and felt the brake pedal going to the floor. vehicle failed	2 ~ 35644 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES this vehicle posed a serious safety problem because the vehicle only had one key hole but had five doors the...	2 ~ 52900 miles
EQUIPMENT a rock hit my windshield and within 5 min there was a crack across the entire bottomof the glass radiating...	2 ~ 3000 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN the consumer received recall 02v282000. the vehicle has been taken to the dealer for 4 different repair appointments. on 3...	2
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS subaru replaced regular seats with leather after market seats. also subaru stated that side impact air bags in rear may	2 ~ 29644 miles
TREAD/BELT > TIRES tl* the contact owns a 2003 subaru forester equipped with firestone tire fr380 size p215-60-r16. the contact stated that the...	1 ~ 160000 miles
REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES > VISIBILITY rear view mirror (self-dimming with compass) became cloudy and discolored. unable to clearly view activity behind vehicle. this is according...	1 ~ 31500 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2013 subaru. consumer writes in regards to brake problems. *smd the consumer stated almost from the moment he purchased the...	1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl*the contact owns a 2003 subaru forester. the contact stated that his vehicle is experiencing the same wiring harness failure...	1 ~ 72000 miles
LATCH > TAILGATE > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES latches on the forrester cannot be opened unless you have a key fob. there is no way to access the...	1
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i recently had an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous incident with my 2003 forester at of all places the local toyota...	1 ~ 31000 miles
CONTROL MODULE > ANTI-THEFT > IGNITION i recently had an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous incident with my 2003 forester at of all places the local toyota...	1 ~ 31000 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM dt*: the contact stated the air bag light illuminated. the dealership determined the harness assembly underneath the floor board was...	1 ~ 57000 miles
MASTER CYLINDER > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2003 subaru forester purchased may 2003 1. brakes did not feel correct - low brake pedal 2. made appointment at...	1 ~ 18046 miles
FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while backing out of a parking space the vehicle accelerated. no impact reported. *ak the problem had not been completely...	1 ~ 11000 miles
SEAT BELTS (all) the air bags failed. the passenger side rear (fell) out of the carrier. the drivers auto lock on the...	1 ~ 25000 miles
OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL > OTHER > EQUIPMENT problems with fuses on the 2003 subaru forester. *mr the consumer noticed a blown fuse and that the control of...	1
AXLE ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN when at a stop both the left and right front axles broke. this happened twice. when taken to get serviced	1 ~ 63000 miles
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS when the passenger seat is reclined the car seat pinches the cable that connects the voltage that operates the air...	1 ~ 37000 miles
GLASS, SIDE/REAR > VISIBILITY the consumer hit her garage door with the vehicle breaking the rear hatch window. however when the glass broke it...	1
STRAP/WEBBING > TETHER > CHILD SEAT upon contacting the manufacturer on september 7 2004 consumer was told there was a recall and that she would receive...	1
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY this vehicle posed a serious safety problem because the vehicle only had one key hole but had five doors the...	1 ~ 27800 miles
DRUM > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC the emergency brake was engaged consumer drove the vehicle and burned other part of the rear brake system. dealer replaced	1
PARKING BRAKE the emergency brake was engaged consumer drove the vehicle and burned other part of the rear brake system. dealer replaced	1
WHEEL CYLINDERS > DRUM > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS the emergency brake was engaged consumer drove the vehicle and burned other part of the rear brake system. dealer replaced	1
FAN/MOTOR > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY heater and defroster failure...	1 ~ 3190 miles
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2002 subaru forester front door lock mechanisms are defective. january 2003 - passenger door would not latch and had to...	1 ~ 19200 miles
PEDALS AND LINKAGES > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC consumer called complaining about having problems with the brakes . also states that while she is driving and steps on...	1
WHEEL BEARING > FRONT > SUSPENSION while driving there is a very loud banging noise coming from the right rear tire. vehicle was towed to dealer	1 ~ 22000 miles

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