2004 Subaru Forester reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2004 Subaru Forester from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 270
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- 63 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 19 reported crashes · 11 injuries · 4 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#1,983
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+88
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2002-2006
+1
median 269 complaints in 819 records
Top component share
23%
Fuel/Propulsion System: 63 complaints
What owners report fails — 2004 Subaru Forester
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 63
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 58
- ENGINE 23
- SUSPENSION 20
- AIR BAGS 19
1 recall on record for the 2004 Subaru Forester
- NHTSA 11V464000 · 2011 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2004 Subaru Forester
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2004 Subaru Forester units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Subaru Forester reliable?
NHTSA has 270 consumer complaints on record for the 2004 Subaru Forester and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (63 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2004 Subaru Forester units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Subaru Forester?
Owners most often report problems with: fuel/propulsion system (63), fuel system, gasoline (58), engine (23), suspension (20). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2004 Subaru Forester?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2004 Subaru Forester. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.