1999 Subaru Forester problems
Owners have filed 156 complaints about the 1999 Subaru Forester with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 22.4% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of suspension at 16.7%.
Complaints156
Crashes6
Fires1
Injuries8
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Power train 22.4% · 35
Suspension 16.7% · 26
Engine and engine cooling 16.7% · 26
Service brakes, hydraulic 12.2% · 19
Tires 4.5% · 7
Vehicle speed control 3.8% · 6
Fuel system, gasoline 3.2% · 5
Seat belts 3.2% · 5
Severity
Of those complaints, 6 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire and 8 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 23 model years of the Subaru Forester in this data, 1999 sits 15th by complaint volume. 2019 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 3 in the last three years against 4 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 72,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Vehicle first showed problem 11/99. Vehicle bangs into gear with tremendous jolt. Dealer replaced transmission and returned vehicle 12/9/99 after 25 days out of service. Problem reoccurred in 1/26/00 in new transmission. Dealer not willing to consider alternate solution but will replace transmission. Suspects problem is not transmission but another problem causing transmission to go bad. Power train
Every day I accelerate from my driveway immediately after start up the car hesitates and I do not understand why I have almost been in an accident because I pushed on the gas but there was a 1-2 second hesitation before the car took off. It is an automatic transmission and I live in ohio and it was spring and summer like weather and it did it from day one Power train
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 mechanic informed the consumer the failure was with the clutch. The transmission failed with only a 119,000 miles on the vehicle. Power train · reported at 119,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…