2003 Mitsubishi Montero vs 2003 Subaru Forester
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Mitsubishi Montero | 2003 Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 39 | 189 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 49 | 142 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 17 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–18 | 21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 81,500 mi | 90,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mitsubishi Montero | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 31 |
| Air Bags | 3 | 25 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 26 |
| Suspension | 3 | 22 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 19 |
| Structure | 1 | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 10 |
| Power Train | 6 | 9 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 27 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 14 |
| Stalling | 0 | 11 |
2003 Mitsubishi Montero
2003 Subaru Forester
Compare all Mitsubishi Montero vs Subaru Forester years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.