2004 Subaru Forester Reliability
The 2004 Subaru Forester has 219 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about fuel / propulsion system and fuel system. Compared with nearby Forester model years (2002–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Forester's typical year, while the 2006 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
219
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
13
Complaints citing a crash
4
Complaints citing a fire
2004 Subaru Forester complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 model year, filed between 2004 and 2024. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel / propulsion system | 63 | 29% |
| Fuel system | 61 | 28% |
| Suspension | 25 | 11% |
| Engine | 23 | 11% |
| Air bags | 21 | 10% |
| Engine & cooling | 16 | 7% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 12 | 5% |
| Speed control / throttle | 12 | 5% |
2004 Subaru Forester recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2004 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V473000 | Oct 1, 2004 | Engine & cooling | On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the cover bolts for the engine oil control valve may not be sufficiently tightened, allowing oil to leak from around the cover gasket. |
| 11V464000 | Sep 6, 2011 | Suspension — front / control arm / lower arm | 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,… |
How the 2004 compares with nearby Forester years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Forester analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 92 | 1 | Speed control / throttle | Solid |
| 2003 | 191 | 3 | Fuel system | Avoid |
| 2004 (this page) | 219 | 2 | Fuel / propulsion system | Avoid |
| 2005 | 93 | 1 | Suspension | Solid |
| 2006 | 88 | 2 | Speed control / throttle | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2004 Subaru Forester
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2004 Subaru Forester can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2004 Subaru Forester reliability FAQ
Is the 2004 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2004 Subaru Forester has 219 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about fuel / propulsion system and fuel system. Compared with nearby Forester model years (2002–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Forester's typical year, while the 2006 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2004 Subaru Forester problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Subaru Forester are fuel / propulsion system (63), fuel system (61), suspension (25), engine (23). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2004 Subaru Forester have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2004 Subaru Forester, including 04V473000 (engine & cooling) and 11V464000 (suspension — front / control arm / lower arm). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2004 Subaru Forester compare with the 2003 and 2005 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2003 has 191 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid); the 2005 has 93 complaints and 1 recall (solid). The 2004 has 219 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2004 Subaru Forester?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Subaru Forester research
Other Subaru Forester model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2004 Forester, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.