2004 Subaru Forester engine problems
23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2004 Subaru Forester — 11% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 subaru forester. The contact stated that there was a leak in the head gasket. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer herb gordon subaru (3161 automobile blvd, silver spring, md 20904, (866) 520-7894) where it was diagnosed with the head cover gasket with needing to be…”
filed Jan 12, 2021
“Car was shifted from drive into neutral for operator to use a parking lot gate machine. The engine surged a little while in neutral but settled back down. When parking gate opened the operator shifted into drive and lightly pressed the gas pedal. The engine immediately surged to full throttle and…”
filed Mar 29, 2020
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE COVER BOLTS FOR THE ENGINE OIL…Campaign 04V473000 · Oct 1, 2004
Engine problems in other Forester years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Forester | 3 | 3% |
| 2024 Forester | 1 | 4% |
| 2023 Forester | 5 | 7% |
| 2022 Forester | 10 | 11% |
| 2021 Forester | 32 | 15% |
| 2020 Forester | 74 | 12% |
| 2019 Forester | 106 | 13% |
| 2018 Forester | 31 | 6% |
| 2017 Forester | 46 | 8% |
| 2016 Forester | 60 | 15% |
| 2015 Forester | 131 | 21% |
| 2014 Forester | 69 | 17% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2004 Subaru Forester
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.