2001 Subaru Forester

Photo: OSX / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

2001 Subaru Forester: common problems and reliability

An average Forester year.

146 owner complaints, most about vehicle speed control. No recalls.

Should I buy a 2001 Forester?

The 2001 Subaru Forester has 146 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are vehicle speed control and power train.

Safety record for the 2001 model year

146
Owner complaints
0
Recalls
32
Crash reports
0
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2001 Subaru Forester vehicles (US, public record).

The Year Score compares this year with other Forester years only. How we score it

Is 2001 a good year for the Forester?

Across the 29 Forester model years we track, complaint volume runs from 50 (2008) to 833 (2019). With 146 complaints, the 2001 Forester sits about the same as the model's median of 141.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

vehicle speed control
30
power train
23
service brakes
17
suspension
17
engine and engine cooling
16

What owners say across generations

Overwhelmingly positive sentiment across multiple generations, with the Forester consistently praised for its practicality, safety, all-weather capability, and long-term reliability when properly maintained.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Forester. See the full Forester owner picture and every model year.

Typical used price

Used Forester listings typically run $15,000–$24,194.

Other Forester model years

Compare every Forester year side by side to see how 2001 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Forester against its rivals

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