RecallMyCar

2003 Subaru Forester Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2003 Subaru Forester, and owners have filed 189 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
189
owner complaints to NHTSA
17 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
21
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2003 Subaru Forester

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Suspension: lower arm

    NHTSA 11V464000 Reported 318,215 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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,…

    Remedy: Subaru will handle their vehicles and saab will handle theirs. Dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them. This service will be performed…

  2. Buckle assembly (seat belts)

    NHTSA 03V047000 Reported 326 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right front seat belt buckle/latch assemblies. Owner notification began february 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do…

  3. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 02V282000 Reported 172,564 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission parking rod assembly. Owner notification january 8, 2003. An interim owner notification will be sent during november 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…

189 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Subaru Forester have filed 189 complaints with NHTSA; 17 describe a crash. Reports cite 9 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 91,191 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 33 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I bought a used vehicle and looked at it and they erased the codes I saw then erased it then I confronted them and was told nothing is wrong with the vehicle after telling them there is a recall on th”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 23, 2025 · Unknown or other

“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while investigating the vehicle mileage at [XXX] , it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The veh”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 23, 2025 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2003 Subaru Forester (Forester AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined21 mpg
City / Highway19 / 24–25
FuelRegular
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine4 cyl, 2.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Subaru Forester model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Forester model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1998 Subaru Forester1101
1999 Subaru Forester1131
2000 Subaru Forester075
2001 Subaru Forester0139
2002 Subaru Forester188
2003 Subaru Forester3189
2004 Subaru Forester2219
2005 Subaru Forester193
2006 Subaru Forester288
2007 Subaru Forester174
2008 Subaru Forester150
2009 Subaru Forester17178
2010 Subaru Forester17262
2011 Subaru Forester16147
2012 Subaru Forester15105
2013 Subaru Forester1277
2014 Subaru Forester2403
2015 Subaru Forester3615
2016 Subaru Forester3415
2017 Subaru Forester1587
2018 Subaru Forester3498
2019 Subaru Forester3833
2020 Subaru Forester0601
2021 Subaru Forester0209
2022 Subaru Forester198
2023 Subaru Forester174
2024 Subaru Forester229
2025 Subaru Forester396
2026 Subaru Forester324

Checking a specific 2003 Subaru Forester

How do I know if my 2003 Subaru Forester has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2003 Subaru Forester; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V282000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Subaru models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.