Subaru Forester 1998–2002 problems by year and mileage
1st generation (SF)
NHTSA data through 18 October 2026534 complaints, 230 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 1998 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 101
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 1998
- Transmission and driveline23 reports
- Suspension17 reports
- Hydraulic brake circuit15 reports
Recall areas Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 1999 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 73,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 131
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 1999
- Transmission and driveline32 reports
- Engine and its cooling system25 reports
- Suspension25 reports
Recall areas Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2000 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 78,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 75
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2000
- Transmission and driveline21 reports
- Suspension19 reports
- Engine and its cooling system12 reports
The 2001 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 57,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 139
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2001
- Throttle and speed control29 reports
- Transmission and driveline23 reports
- Engine and its cooling system16 reports
The 2002 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 87,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 88
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2002
- Throttle and speed control23 reports
- Transmission and driveline16 reports
- Engine and its cooling system14 reports
Recall areas Power train — automatic transmission
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 2002; earliest: the 2001, and the 2001 is 1 year older (part of the gap is age). 1 of these years carries fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and shows no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 1998–2002 Subaru Forester reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 72,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 150,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 230
- Recalls
- 2
Most reported
- Transmission and driveline21.5% of complaints · median 56,000 mi
- Suspension15.9% of complaints · median 69,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system15.2% of complaints · median 82,000 mi
Documented problems
- Head Gaskets (EJ25D)1998
- Head Gaskets (EJ251/EJ252 SOHC)1999–2002
- Wheel Bearings1998–2002
- Body / Structure1998–2002
Owners filed 534 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998–2002 Subaru Forester; the transmission and driveline leads with 21.5% of them, and half of the 230 that record an odometer reading came by 72,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
No single peak: the middle half runs 41,000 to 100,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 1998–2002 Subaru Forester last?
On the 1998–2002 Subaru Forester, half of the 230 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 72,000 miles and 90% by 150,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
24 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 3 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Forester reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Subaru Forester 1998–2002 · 230 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
20,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 42 complaints
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 3 complaints (1.3%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 23,000
- 25%
- 41,000
- Median
- 72,000
- 75%
- 100,000
- 90%
- 150,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–20,000 | 19 | 8.3% |
| 20,000–40,000 | 34 | 14.8% |
| 40,000–60,000 | 38 | 16.5% |
| 60,000–80,000 | 36 | 15.7% |
| 80,000–100,000 | 42 | 18.3% |
| 100,000–120,000 | 24 | 10.4% |
| 120,000–140,000 | 8 | 3.5% |
| 140,000–160,000 | 9 | 3.9% |
| 160,000–180,000 | 10 | 4.3% |
| 180,000–200,000 | 7 | 3.0% |
| 200,000+ | 3 | 1.3% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Forester problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Subaru Forester 1998–2002
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Transmission and driveline115 reportsmedian 56,000middle half 35,000–91,000
- Suspension85 reportsmedian 69,000middle half 44,000–115,000
- Fuel system22 reportsmedian 80,000middle half 65,000–101,000
- Engine and its cooling system81 reportsmedian 82,000middle half 53,000–102,000
- Throttle and speed control76 reportsmedian 91,000middle half 32,000–109,000
- Fuel and propulsion system13 reportsmedian 121,000middle half 90,000–180,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 115 | 21.5% | 56,000 | 35,000–91,000 |
| Suspension | 85 | 15.9% | 69,000 | 44,000–115,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 81 | 15.2% | 82,000 | 53,000–102,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 76 | 14.2% | 91,000 | 32,000–109,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 55 | 10.3% | — | — |
| Airbag system | 31 | 5.8% | — | — |
| Tyres | 29 | 5.4% | — | — |
| Fuel system | 22 | 4.1% | 80,000 | 65,000–101,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 14 | 2.6% | — | — |
| Visibility equipment | 14 | 2.6% | — | — |
Known problems with the 1998–2002 Forester
Head Gaskets (EJ25D) 1998
The DOHC EJ25D suffers internal head gasket failure allowing coolant into the cylinder, producing overheating, coolant loss and combustion contamination. Distinct mechanism from the later SOHC failures.
Head Gaskets (EJ251/EJ252 SOHC) 1999–2002
The SOHC engines fail differently - external coolant seepage at the head gasket, weeping down the block, often with slow coolant loss and no overheating at first. Subject of a class action settlement; Subaru extended coverage to 8 years / 100,000 miles and specified a cooling system conditioner as part of the remedy.
Wheel Bearings 1998–2002
Front and rear wheel bearing failure producing a growling noise that changes with steering load; a routine failure item across early Foresters.
Body / Structure 1998–2002
Rear strut tower and rear quarter panel corrosion in road-salt regions.
Before you buy a 1998–2002 Forester: the 3-minute check
Generated from 230 mileage-tagged complaints, 2 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2 campaigns cover this generation.
- Check head gaskets (EJ25D) on 1998 cars. What each looks like: Known problems.
- Check head gaskets (EJ251/EJ252 SOHC) on 1999–2002 cars.
- Check wheel bearings on 1998–2002 cars.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Forester problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi40% below | At 90k mi64% below | At 120k mi84% below | At 150k mi90% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 35,000–91,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Suspension | 44,000–115,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 53,000–102,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 32,000–109,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel system | 65,000–101,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 90,000–180,000 | later | in window | in window | in window | earlier |
Figure 3 · Subaru Forester 1998–2002 · 230 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 40% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 84% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
1998–2002 Subaru Forester recalls (2)
NHTSA records 2 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
Oct 2002 · 2002 · Power TrainThe vehicle could then move/roll without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. The vehicle could then move/roll without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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…
Mar 1999 · 1998–1999 · Service Brakes, HydraulicThis condition causes the vehicle stopping distance to be increased, possibly resulting in a crash.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles equipped with anti-lock braking system (ABS). (The 1999 2.2 Liter legacy vehicles are excluded). In extremely cold weather, the brake pedal goes to the floor and the vehicle stopping distance is…
What can happen. This condition causes the vehicle stopping distance to be increased, possibly resulting in a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder.
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 534 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 71 (13.3%)
- Fires
- 7
- Injury reports
- 34
- Fatality reports
- 2
Forester problems by model year
The 2001 drew the most complaints of this generation, 139, most of them about throttle and speed control, and the 2000 the fewest, 75. A typical year drew about 101.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 101 | 18 | under 30 reports | Transmission and driveline (23) | 1 |
| 1999 | 131 | 50 | 73,000 | Transmission and driveline (32) | 1 |
| 2000 | 75 | 39 | 78,000 | Transmission and driveline (21) | 0 |
| 2001 | 139 | 73 | 57,000 | Throttle and speed control (29) | 0 |
| 2002 | 88 | 50 | 87,000 | Throttle and speed control (23) | 1 |
What Forester owners reported
The contact owns a 2000 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle began to shake and suddenly veered into the left lane into oncoming traffic. The contact stated that the vehicle had stopped in the middle of the road. The contact was unaware of any warning light being…
2000 · 90,000 miles · Suspension
Why is the brake line corrosion recall wqk-47 only for 2009-2013 foresters? I own a 1999 Forester which has just had a catastrophic brake line failure that is exactly the same as what is described in the recall. Corrosion of the brake lines is in the area of the junction block that is located under the car behind the…
1999 · 80,000 miles · Brakes
Put vehicle in reverse after being at bank and heard a huge clunk. Gentleman ran up to me and said not to move it. Got out and left front tire was about laying flat on ground. Had brother bring tow dolly and then took it apart. Ended up spending 600 just on parts as the control arms were rotted horribly. Left one as…
2002 · 162,000 miles · Suspension
the contact owns a 2002 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the suspension failed. While driving 55 MPH, the sound of a tire squealing was heard. The contact was able to maintain control of the steering wheel to drive to a safe location. The contact inspected the vehicle and found that the front passenger tire…
2002 · 132,000 miles · Suspension
Built from 230 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Forester generations
- Forester 2003–2008 582 reports with mileage, most about the fuel and propulsion system
- Forester 2009–2013 539 reports with mileage, most about the engine
- Forester 2014–2018 1,489 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Forester 2019–2024 801 reports with mileage, most about visibility/wiper