1st generation (SF) · SF · 667 complaints, 269 with mileage
Owners filed 667 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998–2002 Subaru Forester, and 269 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 100,150 miles. The median is 73,500 miles.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (19.0% of complaints, typically around 55,500 miles), the engine and its cooling system (13.6% of complaints, typically around 82,000 miles), the suspension (13.3% of complaints, typically around 68,607 miles).
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 127 | 19.0% | 55,500 | 30,000–91,000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 91 | 13.6% | 82,000 | 53,400–100,150 |
| Suspension | 89 | 13.3% | 68,607 | 44,100–115,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 77 | 11.5% | 91,497 | 32,000–109,000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 59 | 8.8% | — | — |
| Tires | 31 | 4.6% | — | — |
| Air Bags | 31 | 4.6% | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 24 | 3.6% | 82,500 | 65,000–101,000 |
| Visibility | 14 | 2.1% | — | — |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 | 2.1% | — | — |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 138 | 23 |
| 1999 | 156 | 57 |
| 2000 | 95 | 44 |
| 2001 | 169 | 85 |
| 2002 | 109 | 60 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 73,500 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 19.0% of complaints (127 reports, 58 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 91,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 13.6% of complaints (91 reports, 53 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 82,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 53,400 and 100,150 miles.
The suspension accounts for 13.3% of complaints (89 reports, 45 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,607 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,100 and 115,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 11.5% of complaints (77 reports, 30 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 91,497 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 32,000 and 109,000 miles.
The fuel system accounts for 3.6% of complaints (24 reports, 12 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 82,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 65,000 and 101,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 1.9% of complaints (13 reports, 10 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 121,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 90,000 and 180,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2001 model year drew the most — 169 complaints — while 2000 drew the fewest at 95. The median year sits at 138.
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Of the 667 complaints filed against this generation, 90 reported a crash; 7 reported a fire; 64 reported an injury; 4 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 13.5% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 43,000 and 100,150 miles, with a median of 73,500. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the engine and its cooling system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 55,500, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
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.
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.
Front and rear wheel bearing failure producing a growling noise that changes with steering load; a routine failure item across early Foresters.
Rear strut tower and rear quarter panel corrosion in road-salt regions.