2001 Subaru Forester Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Vehicle Speed Control (16.5% of complaints) — recall and investigation status for this vehicle is currently unavailable.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints here are 3.9× the median for that category across the 1731 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 23 · 16.5% | not available | — |
| Air Bags:frontal | 10 · 7.2% | not available | — |
| Suspension:rear | 9 · 6.5% | not available | — |
| Power Train:clutch Assembly | 9 · 6.5% | not available | — |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 7 · 5% | not available | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 7 · 5% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 139 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for this vehicle. New recalls can be issued at any time — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“WHILE PULLING OUT OF A CURBSIDE PARKING PLACE ON A CITY STREET THE ENGINE STARTED RACING AND I COULD NOT CONTROL IT BY STOMPING ON…”NHTSA complaint 10846270 — filed 03/12/2016 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“ON MONDAY AT 4:50 PM I WAS DRIVING N A SCHOOL ZONE AND REALIZED THAT I WAS HAVING TO RIDE MY BRAKES I ALSO THOUGHT…”NHTSA complaint 10519550 — filed 06/12/2013 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET. TRIED TO CANCEL CRUISE CONTROL WITH STALK, IT DID NOT DISENGAGE. TRIED REPEATEDLY, IT DID…”NHTSA complaint 10391168 — filed 03/11/2011 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Subaru Forester?
Vehicle speed control issues are the most-reported category, cited in 23 of 139 NHTSA complaints (16.5%), followed by air bags:frontal (10), suspension:rear (9), power train:clutch assembly (9). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2001 Subaru Forester have?
139 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 31 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 24 reported injuries. 3 deaths were reported.
Does the 2001 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for this vehicle. New recalls can be issued at any time — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2001 Subaru Forester's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
