2003 Subaru Forester: Recalls, Complaints & Safety Ratings
The 2003 Subaru Forester has 3 NHTSA safety recall campaigns and 191 owner complaints on file. Check a specific VIN to confirm whether recalls apply, whether repairs were completed, and what to verify before you buy.
Run a full report for this Forester
2003 Subaru Forester pages show model-level safety data. A Carchieve VIN report checks the exact car before you buy.
The 2003 Subaru Forester has 3 safety recall campaigns and 191 owner complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Below is the public model-level safety record. To see whether a specific Forester had applicable recalls repaired and what its decoded VIN says, run that car's VIN.
Safety recalls
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE/LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.
What owners complain about
The systems 2003 Subaru Forester owners report most often to federal regulators:
NHTSA crash-test ratings
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2003 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes. The 2003 Subaru Forester has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns associated with this model year. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer when the exact VIN is affected. Check your specific VIN to confirm applicability and completion.
What problems do 2003 Subaru Forester owners report?
Owners have filed 191 complaints with the NHTSA for the 2003 Subaru Forester, most often about the fuel system, gasoline, fuel.
How do I check a specific Forester's history?
Enter the 17-character VIN into Carchieve. You get the recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings shown here for that exact vehicle, plus full decoded specifications and a guided title and odometer check.
Check a specific 2003 Subaru Forester
This page covers the model. For one exact car, run its 17-character VIN to confirm recalls, decoded specifications and buyer checks.
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