2003 SUBARU FORESTER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
238
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
11
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 SUBARU FORESTER
The 2003 SUBARU FORESTER has received a total of 238 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 11 technical service bulletins have been issued by Subaru of America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Fuel System Gasoline (29 complaints), Fuelpropulsion System (26 complaints), and Air Bags (20 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 SUBARU FORESTER
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2003 SUBARU FORESTER, potentially affecting up to 491,105 vehicles.
Recall 11V464000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
| 318,215 vehicles affected
Defect: SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, WEST VIRGINIA AND...
Consequence: A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: SUBARU WILL HANDLE THEIR VEHICLES AND SAAB WILL HANDLE THEIRS. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DEGREE OF CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND WILL EITHER RUSTPROOF OR REPLACE THEM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY...
View full details →Recall 03V047000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
| 326 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE/LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS COULD UNLATCH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE/LATCH ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY...
View full details →Recall 02V282000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
| 172,564 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.
Consequence: THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION JANUARY 8, 2003. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 SUBARU FORESTER
238 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
I bought a used vehicle and looked at it and they erased the codes I saw then erased it then I confronted them and was told nothing is wrong with the vehicle after telling them there is a recall on the suspension. Went to go get a alignment and was told it's severely unsafe to drive and the subframe is about to snap! The mechanic gave me photos and a report to return it imatelt but the used car lot said well u had every chance and I did it the mechanical stuff checked but the car place said everything is in good condition!
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while investigating the vehicle mileage at [XXX] , it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 21,084; however, the contact later discovered that on July 20, 2022, the mileage was 220,251. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the front of the vehicle and the contact became aware that the power steering was not functioning properly. After a visual inspection of the exterior of the vehicle, the contact observed that the passenger’s side wheel appeared to have detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed failures with the frame rail, stabilizer, and lower control arm. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the lower control arm had fractured from the frame. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The VIN was included, and the vehicle was repaired in 2018. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Forester. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer where an inspection was performed but nothing was replaced. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speed, the lower control arm cracked. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the lower control arm was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
The 2003 Subaru Forester Sub Frame is rusted. I live in Illinois.
Safety Rating for the 2003 SUBARU FORESTER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 SUBARU FORESTER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 SUBARU FORESTER
Subaru of America, Inc. has issued 11 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
07-75-13R — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
This Bulletin provides information regarding DTC P0606 related specifically to the determination of this code on Forester Turbo and applicable WRX models.
04-13-09R — STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
This post was revised in error. It has been corrected back and removed from the posting list. The message was corrected on 04-13-14R posting dated 11/14/2018.
SB-05-50-10R — TIRES
SUBARU: THERE IS A STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO AN IMPORPER WHEEL BALANCE. *RM
029605 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2.5L REMANUFACTURED SOHC SHORT BLOCK RELEASE. *TT
17 — AIR BAGS
SRS CODES 41 & 42. SUBARU TECH TIPS. *TT
170704 — AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
TROUBLE CODE 41 AND 42 IN THE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM OF THE SRS SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM. *TT
127703 — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
FRONT AND REAR DOOR PANEL CLIPS. *TT
09012003 — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WASHER NOZZLES-MAY ENCOUNTER POOR DISCHARGE FROM THE LEFT FRONT WINDSHIELD WASHER. *SC
010703 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SUBJECT REGARDING TECHTIPS - A SUBARU SERVICE / TECHNICAL SUPPORT LINE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - SPECIAL EDITION FORESTER. *TT
021403 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
STOP SALE ORDER ON VEHICLES WITH PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE LATCH.
Showing 10 of 11 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 SUBARU FORESTER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SUBARU FORESTER
- 1998 SUBARU FORESTER — 138 complaints
- 1999 SUBARU FORESTER — 156 complaints
- 2000 SUBARU FORESTER — 95 complaints
- 2001 SUBARU FORESTER — 169 complaints
- 2002 SUBARU FORESTER — 109 complaints
- 2003 SUBARU FORESTER (current)
- 2004 SUBARU FORESTER — 270 complaints
- 2005 SUBARU FORESTER — 105 complaints
- 2006 SUBARU FORESTER — 121 complaints
- 2007 SUBARU FORESTER — 89 complaints
- 2008 SUBARU FORESTER — 67 complaints
Other SUBARU Models
- SUBARU OUTBACK — 12,068 total complaints
- SUBARU LEGACY — 4,117 total complaints
- SUBARU IMPREZA — 3,406 total complaints
- SUBARU CROSSTREK — 1,431 total complaints
- SUBARU ASCENT — 1,230 total complaints
- SUBARU WRX — 1,207 total complaints
- SUBARU SVX — 373 total complaints
- SUBARU XV CROSSTREK — 354 total complaints