NHTSA vehicle safety data
2004 Subaru Forester Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2004 Subaru Forester has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 219 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Subaru dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Subaru Forester, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2004 Subaru Forester owner complaints
Owners have filed 219 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Subaru Forester, describing incidents dated September 1, 2004 to March 28, 2024.
Most-cited components
- Fuel/Propulsion System 124 complaints
- Engine 39 complaints
- Suspension 25 complaints
- Air Bags 21 complaints
- Power Train 12 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 12 complaints
Of the 219 complaints on file, 13 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 219 complaints, owners report 8 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11580020 · Filed
leaking fuel lines under turbo in engine compartment when in cold weather
ODI #11504474 · Filed
The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and extended to the floor, causing the braking distance to be extended. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who discovered that the brake hoses had failed due to…
ODI #11463133 · Filed
My vehicle had a recall on the lower control arms that would rust and and break. That is exactly what happened while I was driving with my family. Control arm broke causing other parts to get destroyed. The fender breaks and other parts. The recall was performed before hand but it obviously wasn’t…
Owner-reported
2004 Subaru Forester mileage at failure
188 of the 219 complaints on file for the 2004 Subaru Forester give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | Median 105,000 miles | Middle half 70,000–130,000 miles | Based on 112 complaints |
| Engine | Median 85,000 miles | Middle half 70,000–120,000 miles | Based on 32 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Subaru Forester in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Preliminary Evaluation PE11-011: Front suspension control arm failure
Closed September 23, 2011
FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM/TRANSVERSE LINK
NHTSA #11V464000 · Suspension — Front — Control Arm — Lower Arm · NHTSA notice
Reported September 6, 2011 · SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Potentially affected: 318,215 vehicles
Subaru campaign WVX-34 · Owners notified December 31, 2011 · Vehicles built September 5, 2000 – November 26, 2007 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
THIS IS SUBARU'S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER WVX-34.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .
SUBARU/OIL FLOW CONTROL VALVE
NHTSA #04V473000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice
Reported October 1, 2004 · SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Potentially affected: 26 vehicles
Subaru campaign WWU-05 · Owners notified October 8, 2004 · Vehicles built February 4, 2003 – March 5, 2003 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
IF LEAKING OIL CONTACTS COMPONENTS OPERATING AT HIGH TEMPERATURES, A FIRE COULD RESULT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
SUBARU RECALL NO. WWU-05.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Other Subaru Forester model years
Check your 2004 Subaru Forester VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Subaru Forester at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Subaru VIN