2004 Subaru Forester reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2004 Subaru Forester — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 270
- 10 in the last 5 years
- 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 ratesComplaint 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
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
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. Data as of 2026. 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?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.