2001 Subaru Forester: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2001 Subaru Forester
On the 2001 Subaru Forester, the failure owners report most often is other speed control problem, with 22 reports on file. The earliest to appear is wheel bearing or hub failure, reported by a median of 40,000 miles. Overall it scores 66 out of 100, high risk for a 2001.
High risk for a 2001 — 201st riskiest of the 320 2001 vehicles we can rate. 169 owner reports; fleet size borrowed from other years of the same model.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 36 named failure modes on the 2001 Subaru Forester, and the three most-reported carry 31% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other speed control problem leads with 22 reports and about 0.5 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other powertrain problem follows with 17 reports, usually reported between 21k to 60,000 miles.
Head gasket failure follows with 14 reports, usually reported between 66k to 95,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into adas (27), engine (24) and brakes (22).
At what mileage it happens
85 of the reports on the 2001 Subaru Forester came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 60,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 39% by 50,000 miles, 81% by 100,000 miles and 89% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 2 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 40,000 and 50,000 miles, which alone holds 13% of the dated reports.
20% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: wheel bearing or hub failure around 38k, other powertrain problem around 45k and head gasket failure around 77k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 36. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 2 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 35 mention a crash and 22 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 6.80, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other speed control problem at $250–$2,000, other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, head gasket failure at $1,400–$4,000 and wheel bearing or hub failure at $350–$1,200. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
34% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other speed control problem | adas | 22 | 7 | — | 55k | — | 0.5 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 17 | 11 | 21k | 45k | 62k | 0.4 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 14 | 14 | 66k | 77k | 94k | 0.3 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 11 | 8 | 28k | 38k | 74k | 0.3 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 10 | 3 | — | 41k | — | 0.2 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 10 | 4 | — | 56k | — | 0.2 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Other engine problem | engine | 7 | 4 | — | 63k | — | 0.2 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 6 | 3 | — | 57k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 5 | 4 | — | 140k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 5 | 5 | — | 81k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 5 | 2 | — | 113k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 4 | 4 | — | 78k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 3 | 1 | — | 40k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 2 | 1 | — | 80k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 2 | 2 | — | 57k | — | 0.0 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 84k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 2 | 2 | — | 94k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 100k | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 38k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Overheating | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 86k | — | 0.0 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 45k | — | 0.0 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 11k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 100k | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Windshield cracking | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 47k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 6 | 1 | — | 31k | — | 0.1 | — | Moderate |
This year had no usable recall paperwork, so the fleet-size estimate is the median of other years of the same model. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2001 Subaru Forester draws about 4.1 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 79th percentile of complaint rates among 2001 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. This year had no usable recall paperwork, so the fleet-size estimate is the median of other years of the same model.
The working figure is 41,633 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2001 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other speed control problem
On 3/31/2004 I was exiting the parking lot of a supermarket in jackson, when suddenly, my 2001 forester lurched forward and continued to accelerate even as I was breaking. It went out into cooper street (a very busy street). Fortunately there were no oncoming cars. It continued over the curb and hit several trees before it stopped. *nm
While coasting, the vehicle accelerated without warning. The problem forced the consumer off the road. The consumer managed to have the vehicle towed. Please provide more information.
Other powertrain problem
While driving at any speed the RPM's were acting erratic. The dealer inspected the vehicle and stated the clutch needed to be repaired. Consumer stated the vehicle was still under warranty, but the manufacturer and dealer refused to cover the cost. Please provide further information. *ph *jb
I own a 2001 subaru forester l. My husband and I purchased the vehicle new and it now has 41000 miles. It has experienced repeated failures of the rear wheel bearings, at (right rear) 16000, (left rear) 25000. The vehicle now has symptoms of a third failure at 41000 mi. The vehicle was serviced by a dealer for each complaint. I have estimated date of first failure as I do not exactly remember..*ak
Head gasket failure
My 2001 subaru forester has a blown head gasket. It appears, after searching the internet and other sources, that this is a major problem that affects all phase 2 2.5 l engines made by subaru between 1999 & 2002. There are numerous internet web pages with complaints from all over the country. Why hasn't subaru been ordered to recall these engines, they're adanger to the driving public! *ak
Recall ww-99 was issued by the manufacturer that was not found at this time. There was external coolant leak into the head gasket, which could cause the vehicle to overheat. Dealer was only flushing the system, and was unable to remedy the problem. Also, yokohama tires that were under the proper inflation for the vehicle caused it to slip and slide even though it was all wheel drive.*ak *nm
How it ranks in the 2001 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2001 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2001 — 201st riskiest of the 320 2001 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 29 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2000 comes out best at 61 and 2024 worst at 83, with 2001 itself at 66.
If the model year is negotiable, 2000 scores lower than 2001 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 1998–2004 generation specifically, 2000 is the strongest year at 61 and 2003 the weakest at 69.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 1998-2004 generation, 2000 Subaru Forester scores best at 61 and 2003 Subaru Forester worst at 69.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other powertrain problem from about 21k, wheel bearing or hub failure from about 28k and head gasket failure from about 66k.
On a 2001 Subaru Forester with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other powertrain problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
Where these figures stop being useful
169 owner reports; fleet size borrowed from other years of the same model. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 169 reports, 85 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 50% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Subaru Forester?
The most-reported failures are other speed control problem (22 reports, median 55,000 miles), other powertrain problem (17 reports, median 45,000 miles) and head gasket failure (14 reports, median 75,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2001 Subaru Forester problems start?
Wheel bearing or hub failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 40,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 30,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 60,000 miles.
Is the 2001 Subaru Forester reliable?
It scores 66 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 201st riskiest of the 320 2001 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2001 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Subaru Forester is best?
Within the 1998–2004 generation, 2000 scores best at 61 out of 100 and 2003 worst at 69. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed