2000 Subaru Forester
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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These records cover every 2000 Subaru Forester. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Owner complaints
75 complaints7 involved a crash3 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Suspension
The contact owns a 2000 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle began to shake and suddenly veered into the left lane into oncoming traffic. The contact stated that the vehicle had stopped in the middle of the road. The contact was unaware of any warning…
The contact owns a 2000 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle began to shake and suddenly veered into the left lane into oncoming traffic. The contact stated that the vehicle had stopped in the middle of the road. The contact was unaware of any warning light being illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had to be pushed off the roadway. The contact stated that the passenger’s side front tire was at a 90-degree angle to the wheel well. The contact stated that he could see that the control arm had snapped. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the control arms, the inner power steering rack, and front stabilizer bar needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system
Tl-the contact owns a 2000 subaru forrester. The contact stated while driving 50 mph the vehicle started over heating. He pull to the side of the road and notice coolant coming from underneath of the vehicle. He notices the vehicle has a blown head gasket and leaking radiator coolant. The vehicle…
Tl-the contact owns a 2000 subaru forrester. The contact stated while driving 50 mph the vehicle started over heating. He pull to the side of the road and notice coolant coming from underneath of the vehicle. He notices the vehicle has a blown head gasket and leaking radiator coolant. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic shop who repaired the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 85,000...mw
- Vehicle speed control
On september 12, 2010, our 2000 subaru forrester went into unintended acceleration while backing out of a parking space causing the car to be totaled, damage to a ford F350 truck and injury to the owner of the truck. similar incident occurred in 2008 when going forward and coming to a stop before…
On september 12, 2010, our 2000 subaru forrester went into unintended acceleration while backing out of a parking space causing the car to be totaled, damage to a ford F350 truck and injury to the owner of the truck. similar incident occurred in 2008 when going forward and coming to a stop before entering a highway. car accelerated and had to press both feet on the brake until the brake met the floor. the car was taken to our regular mechanic, who examined it and could not diagnose the problem. he advised taking it to a subaru dealer which we did. they had the car from february 11 to march 10, 2008 but failed to find the cause of the problem. before the september 12, 2010 incident, the car would sometimes hesitate after a stop and then lurch forward, but would not go out of control as it did two weeks ago. the car was regularly maintained and inspected during the 10 years we had it. *tr
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system
Had 2000 subaru forester (83,000 mi) at dealer for inspection. dealer notified us that car failed due to external head gasket leak. dealer says there IS oil dripping on the exhaust system and it IS a fire hazard so unless we replace head gasket the car fails. subaru previously acknowledged a…
Had 2000 subaru forester (83,000 mi) at dealer for inspection. dealer notified us that car failed due to external head gasket leak. dealer says there IS oil dripping on the exhaust system and it IS a fire hazard so unless we replace head gasket the car fails. subaru previously acknowledged a defect with this 2.5L engine and had a campaign where the "fix" was adding a conditioner to the coolant. obviously the "fix" didn't do the job and others out there are a risk of a catastrophic fire. *Tr
- Power train › Manual transmission
TL* the contact owns a 2000 subaru forester. while driving between 35-55 mph the manual transmission slipped out of gear. He was able to continue vehicle operation. the failure occurred intermittently. the vehicle has not been inspected at this time. the failure mileage was 95,000. the current mileage was 101,000. updated 1/14/10 *cn updated 01/15/10.*jb
- Engine and engine cooling · Power train › Automatic transmission
TL* the contact owns a 2000 subaru forester. While driving 55 to 65 mph the engine began to over heat. A local mechanic stated that the head gasket cracked. The engine was replaced; however, the transmission has also failed. The contact IS aware of the safety risk. The current mileage was 170,000 and the failure mileage was 169,000.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine · Equipment › Recreational vehicle/trailer › Lpg systems › Lines and fittings
200 subaru forester blows head gasket for third time. fixed twice under manufacturer's recall. third time, subaru reports they will assist with half of payment because recall was discontinued in 2008. "repair" completed under recall, but wasn't really repaired. this consumer feels that I should not be responsible for any of this. repair needs to be completed and stay repair at manufacturer's cost. *tr
- Power train › Manual transmission
In early 2008 my subaru began popping out of fifth gear. this IS very inconvenient and unsafe as it causes an immediate loss of speed. on a freeway grade for example I have almost been rammed from behind by vehicles following too closely even though I was traveling at the speed limit in the right…
In early 2008 my subaru began popping out of fifth gear. this IS very inconvenient and unsafe as it causes an immediate loss of speed. on a freeway grade for example I have almost been rammed from behind by vehicles following too closely even though I was traveling at the speed limit in the right lane. upon investigation I learned that this IS a common defect in this model of subaru and IS covered by technical bulletin 17 01/01/2002. my mechanic removed the rear of the transmission and tightened the loose mainshaft nut at a cost of $417. this solved the problem for a while but a year and a half later the problem has returned. the car routinely pops out of fifth gear to the point the vehicle cannot be driven in that gear on the highway. I emailed subaru about this but they say it IS not their problem because the car IS out of warranty. I believe that this IS a design and/or manufacturing flaw which IS expensive to repair and IS a definite safety hazard which should be made right by subaru. *Tr
- Power train › Automatic transmission
I have an ongoing problem with my 2000 subaru forester. Off and on, since 2007, the car will not immediately engage when shifting into drive. I first noticed the problem when I would shift from reverse to drive. While in drive, with my foot on the accelerator, the car would not move. At first the…
I have an ongoing problem with my 2000 subaru forester. Off and on, since 2007, the car will not immediately engage when shifting into drive. I first noticed the problem when I would shift from reverse to drive. While in drive, with my foot on the accelerator, the car would not move. At first the delay was only a couple of seconds. And it would occur only after I had driven a few feet in reverse and then shifted into drive. now, however, the delay IS much longer and it can happen even when I have not driven in reverse. The car will not move. The only gear in which the car will move IS in reverse. So far, the car eventually does move, but I never know how long it will take. Early on, I couldn't detect a pattern in which this would occur. Lately, though, it seems to happen after I have driven the car at least twice during the day, turned it off each time and then restarted the car after it has sat awhile. When I start the car again, the car will not respond as it should. Today, for example, on my third errand of the day, the car would not move when I shifted into drive. So, I turned it off and on a few times, put my foot on the accelerator (and the brake) each time I turned it on, but the car would not engage. It finally did after about 10 minutes. The first time I took the car to the dealer in 2007, I was told they could not replicate the problem. (I didn't notice a pattern then). The next time I reported it to the dealer, I was told the transmission fluid was low and the filter needed to be replaced. However, as this has occurred even when the transmission fluid was not low, I don't see how this could be the problem. A search on the internet indicates that several people with subaru foresters (primarily 1999 and 2000) have reported the same problem. Although my car IS several years old, I have fewer than 45,000 miles on it. I have not yet had any dire consequences because of this problem, but I believe this IS literally an accident waiting to happen. Please help. *Tr
- Fuel system, other
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 subaru forester. while driving between 35-40 mph, the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that there was an evaporation leak in the fuel filler pipe. the pipe and the valve were replaced at the cost of $315. the failure mileage was 46,792.
- Power train › Automatic transmission
If I place my 2000 subaru forrester into drive it will not move, it will sit there for several minutes until suddenly it jerks forward into gear. Place into reverse it works well, moves in reverse. visit several reputable car repair forums online you will literally see hundreds of customers with these same problems posting from 2004-present. *tr
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Gas leak on fuel line of the engine on the passenger side of the engine. *tr
- Equipment · Suspension › Rear
I have had to replace rear wheel bearing on my 2000 subaru forester 3 times right and left rear over the last four years. I see through online reading that this IS a common complaint with the subaru and they have done nothing to fix the problem. Pressure needs to be put on them to remedy the situation. *tr
- Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings · Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap
Fuel filler pipe and associated mounting and emissions hardware are rusted out. check engine light IS on and code retrieved IS 0440. danger of leaking fuel during fill up. *tr
- Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings · Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap
2000 subaru forester with fuel problems. Customer states that the dealer said the rust was not covered under warranty. Dealer also told him that rust IS a common problem. He would like to be reimbursed and believes subaru needs to put out a recall. *kb the consumer stated the engine light first…
2000 subaru forester with fuel problems. Customer states that the dealer said the rust was not covered under warranty. Dealer also told him that rust IS a common problem. He would like to be reimbursed and believes subaru needs to put out a recall. *kb the consumer stated the engine light first activated due to a vacuum/pressure problem within the fuel system. The gas cap was replaced; however the problem continued. A further inspection revealed that the gas filler pipe had completely rusted through. In addition, the fuel lines had also been subjected to severe corrosion causing the rubber tubing to pull away from the gas filler pipe. it was discovered that the upper portion of the pipe assembly had a large deposit of sand and salt covering the rust. The area was covered by a plastic shroud. The consumer believed a more corrosion resistant material should have been used, possibly made of stainless steel. *Jb
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Engine and engine cooling problem car was overheating at 117000 miles. Thermostat replaced by dealer, but four weeks later, same problem recurred. Problem IS blown head gaskets, which are very expensive to fix. Looked on internet, and found all sorts of complaints from consumers, saying they'd had…
Engine and engine cooling problem car was overheating at 117000 miles. Thermostat replaced by dealer, but four weeks later, same problem recurred. Problem IS blown head gaskets, which are very expensive to fix. Looked on internet, and found all sorts of complaints from consumers, saying they'd had the same problem with their subaru's also. "conditioner' was apparently put into the engine in 2004, by dealer, because of known problems with head gaskets on subaru. It seems this conditioner just held the problem off long enough that the warranty expired, and now I have a multiple thousand dollar repair on my hands. from what I understand, the gasket design IS the problem. They now use a much stronger gasket. That doesn't really help me, since I have to pay all that money to have the faulty gasket replaced. Instead of using the 'conditioner' cheap fix in 2004, the poorly designed gasket should have been replaced as a recall. *Jb
- Suspension › Rear
10/19/04 right rear wheel bearing replaced on my 2000 subaru forester at 56,886 miles (previous maint performed on 3/2/04) at a cost of $324.40. right rear wheel bearing replaced again on 4/2/07 at 88,569 miles at a cost of $331.86 (previous maint performed on 6/20/06). Replacing the rear wheel bearing 3 times in less than 100,000 miles? *tr
- Power train › Automatic transmission
2000 subaru forester with a slipping transmission. when in drive, I depress the gas pedal and go nowhere. Just hear a shrieking. Its been coming on for a month now and now has gotten so bad I dare not drive it. it IS in the shop now and will be between 1500-2500 to fix. Their estimate IS that…
2000 subaru forester with a slipping transmission. when in drive, I depress the gas pedal and go nowhere. Just hear a shrieking. Its been coming on for a month now and now has gotten so bad I dare not drive it. it IS in the shop now and will be between 1500-2500 to fix. Their estimate IS that there IS a loss of pressure somewhere. They also have another 2000 forester in the shop with a similar problem, similar miles etc. unacceptable on a car with less than 80K miles. And very scary when you are on a slope and go to go and find yourself rolling backwards. Why IS there no recall on this problem? There seems to be reports all over the internet with the exact same problem!! *nm
- Steering
Steering locked up twice while driving, both times shortly after making sharp right turn out of home driveway. the first time, the driver was unable to turn the steering wheel at all after making the hard right turn out of the driveway. Then the steering returned to normal after wiggling the…
Steering locked up twice while driving, both times shortly after making sharp right turn out of home driveway. the first time, the driver was unable to turn the steering wheel at all after making the hard right turn out of the driveway. Then the steering returned to normal after wiggling the steering wheel. The second time, the driver made a hard right turn out of the driveway and then straightened out and proceed about twenty yards to an intersection at which point the driver was unable to turn the steering wheel for a right turn while driving at approximately 10 mph. the steering wheel simply would not turn. Then after several seconds the steering returned to normal. *nm
- Suspension › Rear
Left wheel bearing went out may 2004. Paid approx. $1300 to repair it at a subaru dealership. Right wheel bearing went out sept 2005. Paid approx $450 to replace it at a subaru certified repair shop. Now may 2006, left wheel bearing has gone out again, less than 2 years after it was replaced. The…
Left wheel bearing went out may 2004. Paid approx. $1300 to repair it at a subaru dealership. Right wheel bearing went out sept 2005. Paid approx $450 to replace it at a subaru certified repair shop. Now may 2006, left wheel bearing has gone out again, less than 2 years after it was replaced. The subaru dealer now wants $500-800 to replace it again as they say repairs are only under warranty for 12 mos. I have spent close to $2,000 on repairs for something that IS defective and obviously cannot be fixed. It does not make sense to spend another $800 to repair it again when it will only happen again and again. My vehicle has 94K on it. I drive less than 10K per year. This should not be happening. Subaru won't help me. Dealer won't help me. *Nm
- Power train › Automatic transmission
If I place my 2000 subaru forrester into drive it will not move, it will sit there for several minutes until suddenly it jerks forward into gear. place into reverse it works well, moves in reverse. place into drive, lightly press the accelerator pedal, it will jump forward into gear! Place…
If I place my 2000 subaru forrester into drive it will not move, it will sit there for several minutes until suddenly it jerks forward into gear. place into reverse it works well, moves in reverse. place into drive, lightly press the accelerator pedal, it will jump forward into gear! Place into drive wait for it to move: if I am on an incline it will roll backwards or forwards depending on the slope, otherwise I can sit there for a few minutes before it will jerk forward. Subaru states that they are not aware of this issue; later they state they are aware of the issue and state to replace the transmissions. However, visit several reputable car repair forums online you will literally see hundreds of customers with these same problems posting from 2004-present. All customers have subaru forrester's or outback's. All claim this hazard! some customers state a temporary fix: replace transmission fluid and for a few weeks/months these problems will disappear. All members of the forums state that they within weeks/months had to replace the transmission, many just gave up on their cars by trading them in. I find this highly unacceptable! Who else will then purchase these safety hazards? google on: subaru, transmission or subaru jerking forward into gear my automobile has been very well taken care of! The 5 year warranty just expired and my auto has less than 65,000 miles on it. I have been very diligent in doing all the maintenance and services according to the manufacturers manual as well. I see that 5 other individuals have complained of the same problems on your site. Please, please investigate into these issues. It's a hazard to have a car be placed into drive and then not move forward until you press the accelerator or it moves forward after 2 - 30 minutes of wait time! Please review the posts on several forums to see that many other individuals are experiencing this problem with the subaru cars. It's very unfortunate. Otherwise these cars are wonderful! *jb
- Suspension › Rear
Dt*: the contact stated mechanical vibration noise at frequency of wheel rotation, persisting after complete wheel change when changing from all-weather to winter tires. Repair shop continued diagnosis. Problem solved upon replacement of wheel bearings in left-rear wheel. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Letter received from subaru march 2004 stating that a cooling system conditioner needs to be added to the cooling system to prevent an external coolant leak at the vehicle's engine cylinder head gaskets. went to subaru as required by letter march 9, 2004, they add cooling system conditioner and I…
Letter received from subaru march 2004 stating that a cooling system conditioner needs to be added to the cooling system to prevent an external coolant leak at the vehicle's engine cylinder head gaskets. went to subaru as required by letter march 9, 2004, they add cooling system conditioner and I am told this will prevent leaks at the engine cylinder head gaskets and this IS stated in the letter too. note that the first time, I receive this notice IS 4 years after purchase. The most recent service, I had done by annapolis subaru was the coolant system service in november 2005. it IS february 2006 and my car needs a cylinder head gasket. according to service department at herb gordon subaru, the consequences of not replacing the cylinder head gasket IS engine failure. engine failure IS a safety risk. at no point are you warned that your engine may stop operating while driving. This IS a costly repair. I am told that subaru will pay for this repair if your car has less than 100,000 miles. My car IS well maintained and has 132,297 miles on it. The service person then tells me that the head gasket was redesigned by subaru to prevent this issue from happening again. Subaru IS responsible for designing a faulty head gasket on brand new automobiles, where IS the mandatory recall? *nm
- Tires
This complaint IS regarding goodyear assurance comfort tires. I purchased these tires for my 2000 forester on may 5, 2005. since that time one tire has developed a lump on the sidewall. this tire was replaced, and the replacement tire blew out 500 miles later while traveling on I-25 at 55 miles per hour. *nm
- Power train › Automatic transmission
The 2000 subaru forester, when shifted to "d", "3", "2, or "1" will not go forward. It will always go when in reverse! We have been told by several dealers that the transmission must be replaced (at the time the car had 70K miles and was 5+ years old - just out of warranty). This problem appears to…
The 2000 subaru forester, when shifted to "d", "3", "2, or "1" will not go forward. It will always go when in reverse! We have been told by several dealers that the transmission must be replaced (at the time the car had 70K miles and was 5+ years old - just out of warranty). This problem appears to be well known to subaru dealers. to mitigate this problem, I must tap the accelerator, and wait and wait 1 second to 30 seconds before the transmission will engage. A year ago, the transmission was drained, flushed and the filter replaced, that helped a little. The service writer said the transmission was out of warranty a should be replaced, he also said the warranty specified that before 40K miles the transmission should be drained, flushed, and the filter replaced. After reading the 2000 warranty and maintenance booklet (msa5m0001w, issued june 1999), page 42 (2000 my federal specification vehicles) and page 43 (notes) I found out that he was in error. Item 10 automatic transmission fluid IS an "inspection (i)" item only at 30K, 60K, 90K, and 120K miles. Page 43 "notes 4 and 9" are specific, repeat specific, to the automatic transmission fluid (item 10). Note 4 describes "severe driving conditions", but only two of them "appear (not specific to item 10)" to pertain to automatic transmission fluid, "c. driving in dusty conditions" and "g. Towing a trailer" - I and most other owners do neither. And as for note 9, the notes stop at 8, - 9 IS missing -, the california schedule of inspection and maintenance services and notes (pages 44 and 45) also have note 9 missing! internet citations attribute this hesitation problem to a software problem (this year was among the first years to have electronic transmission control - they mention) a pervasive and continuing problem that subaru IS attempting to avoid. The april 2005 consumer reports (page 92 reliability scores) also documents the higher incidence of transmission problems with the 1999 and 2000 forester.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 11010925This annocement is to inform dealers to the Gen 3.1 Head Unit OTA will be available via Wi-Fi. The update will take place in multiple batches with the first beginneing November 15th and the last being Decemeber 3rd. This update is for approximatelt 714,000 VINs.
- 11009701This bulletin details an important regulation issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which impacts the way some vehicles with accessories are sold. This regulation applies to any automobile retailer installing accessories on a vehicle prior to its first sale.
- 11009685This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
- 11008283This Service Information Bulletin announces the preferred practices to be used when handling vehicles equipped with Gen2 Telematics which are enrolled in the Subaru STARLINK Security Plus Service featuring Stolen Vehicle Recovery Plus with Immobilizer.
- 11008282This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
- 11008281This Service Information Bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines.
- 11008280This Service Information bulletin is being released as guidance for proper testing and charging of vehicle batteries.
- 11008279This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.
- 11008276The CP1.5 RCs OTA is available for all mid and high grade CP1.5 head units.
- 11008267This bulletin announces availability of the NEW genuine Subaru engine oil filter.
- 11008259This bulletin outlines the judgment criteria to be used when inspecting front transverse link bushings to reduce unnecessary bushing replacement.
- 11006935This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure for 2025MY vehicles.
- 11006934The purpose of this bulletin is to provide replacement key and immobilizer information along with an overview of the Subaru Lock Information web-site.
- 11006932This Service Information Bulletin announces important diagnostic information to utilize when the Data Communication Module (DCM) is being tested as a dark current/standby current source.
- 11006931This Bulletin provides additional diagnostics to follow when addressing a Telematics-related DTC B2A16.
- 11005624This annoucement provides parts personnel information about remanufactured transmissions that will no longer be available.
- 11005615This announcement provides information for retailers to install the latest infotainment system software for Denso CP 1.5.
- 11005614This bulletin announces important diagnostic information to utilize when testing the Data Communication Module (DCM) as a dark current/standby current source. All models equipped with Telematics except Solterra.
- 11005609This announcement provides information on Takata Recall Escalated Towing Program.
- 11005608This thermo control valve video contains information on the replacement of thermo control valve.
- 11005599This Bulletin provides SOA paint codes to help eliminate possible confusion for 2025 MY vehicles.
- 11005595This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
- 11005593This Bulletin provides guidance for diagnosing a leaking front or rear suspension strut.
- 11002730This information announces reprograming file availability for Gen 4.5 Denso CP1.5 Audio and Navigation systems. Inprovement for CarPlay concerns with hands-free calls when the receiving party is not able to hear the caller.
- 11002725This bulletin provides diagnosis and procedure information to be applied when diagnosing potential fluid leaks on front and rear brake calipers. This information has been developed to reduce unnecessary brake caliper replacement.
- 10241801The purpose of this bulletin is to provide replacement key and immobilizer information along with an overview of the Subaru Lock Information web-site.
- 10240110This bulletin announces the recommended cleaning procedures to followed when encountering vehicles with long time exposure to pollen on painted surfaces on vehicles imported from Japan. This bulletin does not apply to SIA built vehicles.
- 10235830Repair Procedure for High-Pitched Sound
- 10234908Replacement Key and Immobilizer info
- 10234829Repair Procedure for High-Pitched Sound from Extension Housing Area Using Latest Generation Production Parts
- 10234828This Bulletin provides production change, repair procedure and parts information to address a customer concern of a high-pitched sound coming from the transmission extension housing area.
- 10234261Remanufactured Automatic Transaxle Program
- 10234260Repair Procedure for High-Pitched Sound from Extension Housing Area Using Latest Generation Production Parts
- 102342585MT Transfer Driven Gear Bearings
- 10233111Replacement Key and Immobilizer
- 10232879Replacement Key and Immobilizer info
- 10232535Replacement Key and Immobilizer Info
- 10219492This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
- 10219491This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.
- 10209915This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during diagnosis and repair of the Infotainment concerns. (Applicable to all models with Harman or Denso CP1 Infotainment).
Every Subaru Forester model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.