2001 Subaru Forester Recalls
No NHTSA recalls on record for the 2001 Subaru Forester. That means NHTSA has no open safety campaign for this vehicle — it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Owners have filed 169 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Complaints by component
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“When the temperature gets cold and I turn on the defrost to warm up the car while parked I can smell gas in the vehicle. It goes away once I start driving. This is a problem many subaru owners have because a hose loosens and allows gas to leak out. Once the car warms up the hose tightens and the…”
“While pulling out of a curbside parking place on a city street the engine started racing and I could not control it by stomping on the brakes or applying the emergency brake. As I was wrestling to keep the surging car under control another car came driving by and was sideswiped. On two prior…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 subaru forester. While driving approximately 55 mph and engaging the brake pedal, the abs malfunctioned and erroneously activated, which prevented the brakes from stopping the vehicle. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a concrete median, which…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 subaru forester. While driving approximately 35 mph, the rear end of the vehicle swayed from side to side without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The…”
“Tl* the contact owns 2001 subaru forester. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the rear cross member became fractured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the rear cross member failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified…”
“When it is below 25 degrees fahrenheit, fuel lines and related components (including retaining clips and fittings) leak gasoline, causing gas fumes to enter the passenger compartment. This problem is sometimes referred to as a fuel line seep. Fumes then enter the passenger compartment via the…”
“In cold weather we get a strong fuel smell. The smell enters the car and gives everyone a headache. Other subaru owners we know have the same problem. Subaru knows of this problem but will not make a recall. Estimates for a fix run about $300. *tr”
“Subaru forester smells of gas inside cab when weather is cold. Gas leak visible first time it occurred in 2013. I tightened a clamp and leak stopped. This winter I cannot see the leak, but the fuel smell overtakes my car about 5 minutes into warming up. Eventually it dissipates but I do believe…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Subaru Forester as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.