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Subaru Forester

2004 only

223 classified complaints 1 recall

2004 Subaru Forester have 223 classified complaints on record for that year specifically, plus 1 recall. The most common issue in this year is Tank, lines and filler, typically surfacing around 114,000 miles.

Computed directly from stored federal records for 2004 model years only — not blended with the rest of this vehicle's production run. See the full Subaru Forester report for every year combined.

Where this year fits

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2025

Complaints filed per individual model year — highlighted bars link to their own dedicated page.

What breaks, and when — 2004 only

Tank, lines and filler · Fuel system 138 complaints

Median onset: 114,000 miles.

More common in older model years.

Control arms, ball joints and bushings · Suspension 26 complaints

Median onset: 160,364 miles.

Tends to show up later than this model's other issues. · More common in older model years. · Typical repair: $230–$700 nationally.

Airbags, seatbelts and restraints · Body and interior 16 complaints

Median onset: 76,000 miles. 6.3% of these reported an injury, a death, or a crash with fire.

Tends to show up earlier than this model's other issues. · More common in newer model years.

Stalling and no-start · Engine 8 complaints

Median onset: 57,000 miles. 50.0% of these reported an injury, a death, or a crash with fire.

Tends to show up earlier than this model's other issues. · More common in older model years.

Turbocharger and intercooler · Engine 8 complaints

Median onset: 102,323 miles.

More common in older model years. · Typical repair: $1,520–$2,820 nationally.

Oil consumption and leaks · Engine 4 complaints

Median onset: 102,000 miles.

More common in older model years.

Doors, windows, latches, seats and trim · Body and interior 4 complaints

Median onset: 51,750 miles.

Tends to show up earlier than this model's other issues. · More common in newer model years.

Manual clutch, flywheel and hydraulics · Transmission 3 complaints

Median onset: 160,000 miles.

Tends to show up later than this model's other issues. · More common in older model years. · Typical repair: $1,070–$1,980 nationally.

From owner-filed complaints to NHTSA, not independently verified. Federal mileage reporting on recent complaints is sparse — see how it works. Cost ranges are national estimates from book labor hours and parts pricing, not this vehicle's actual repair history — they don't account for your location or shop type.

Cost estimator: what will this one cost you?

Enter the car's year and mileage. See which known problems are due in your next 3 years, what each costs at your state's labor rates, which ones to ask the seller about, and routine maintenance to budget for.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — complaints and recalls, scoped to 2004 model year. See the full Subaru Forester report for every year and full specs/safety data.