2004 Subaru Forester
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Fuel System
Fuel System leads by volume: 124 of 219 complaints (57%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (5) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 189 in 2003 to 219 in 2004.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | vs. 2004 Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,950 | 2,950 | 2,950–4,300 | 2,700–4,100 | 2,850–3,900 | |
| Combined MPG | 21 | 21 | 18–21 | 19–23 | 20–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19 / 25 | 19 / 24–25 | 16–19 / 21–25 | 17–20 / 22–27 | 17–20 / 24–27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 423 | 423 | 423–494 | 386–468 | 404–444 | |
| Complaints filed | 88 | 189 | 219 | 93 | 88 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 21 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 12 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | |
| Injuries reported | 8 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2004 Subaru Forester have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2004 Subaru Forester?
Fuel System: 124 of 219 NHTSA complaints (57%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Subaru Forester get?
EPA rates it 18–21 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2004 Subaru Forester?
EPA estimates $2,950–$4,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 17 mpg | 21 mpg (low) | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 19 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 16 mpg (low) | 22 mpg | 18 mpg (low) | $4,300 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 19 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 39 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 124 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 22 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 12 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM · Campaign 11V464000 · Sep 8, 2011
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 THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION IF THE HANGER BRACKET IS EXPOSED TO SALTY AND HUMID ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS ROADS CONTAINING SNOW MELTING AGENT.
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 RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · Campaign 04V473000 · Sep 30, 2004
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE COVER BOLTS FOR THE ENGINE OIL CONTROL VALVE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED, ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK FROM AROUND THE COVER GASKET.
Consequence: IF LEAKING OIL CONTACTS COMPONENTS OPERATING AT HIGH TEMPERATURES, A FIRE COULD RESULT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE OIL-FLOW CONTROL VALVE COVER BOLTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.