2003 Subaru Baja 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 Subaru Baja | 2003 Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 38 | 189 |
| Recall campaigns | 10 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 186 | 142 |
| Investigations | 2 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 5 | 17 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20 | 21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 28,875 mi | 90,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Baja | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 31 |
| Air Bags | 5 | 25 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 26 |
| Suspension | 3 | 22 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 19 |
| Structure | 2 | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 15 |
| Power Train | 7 | 9 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 6 | 27 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 14 |
| Stalling | 0 | 11 |
2003 Subaru Baja
2003 Subaru Forester
Compare all Subaru Baja 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.