2nd generation (SG) · SG · 890 complaints, 716 with mileage
Owners filed 890 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003–2008 Subaru Forester, and 716 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
40% of failures occur beyond 100,000 miles — a wear pattern. The car generally reaches substantial mileage before trouble starts.
The most-reported areas are the fuel and propulsion system (13.1% of complaints, typically around 120,000 miles), the fuel system (13.0% of complaints, typically around 85,000 miles), the suspension (11.5% of complaints, typically around 126,000 miles).
1 recall campaign cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 117 | 13.1% | 120,000 | 83,200–150,000 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 116 | 13.0% | 85,000 | 55,100–114,000 |
| Suspension | 102 | 11.5% | 126,000 | 89,000–157,900 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 77 | 8.7% | 51,000 | 16,228–82,000 |
| Air Bags | 72 | 8.1% | 59,287 | 33,710–90,000 |
| Engine | 65 | 7.3% | 107,719 | 76,485–133,000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 62 | 7.0% | 60,000 | 26,279–95,000 |
| Power Train | 45 | 5.1% | 40,000 | 12,819–104,000 |
| Structure | 37 | 4.2% | 92,000 | 41,600–136,934 |
| Electrical System | 29 | 3.3% | 68,000 | 29,500–95,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 238 | 190 |
| 2004 | 270 | 224 |
| 2005 | 105 | 89 |
| 2006 | 121 | 91 |
| 2007 | 89 | 70 |
| 2008 | 67 | 52 |
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 81,550 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 13.1% of complaints (117 reports, 99 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 120,000 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 83,200 and 150,000 miles.
The fuel system accounts for 13.0% of complaints (116 reports, 109 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,100 and 114,000 miles.
The suspension accounts for 11.5% of complaints (102 reports, 81 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 126,000 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 89,000 and 157,900 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 8.7% of complaints (77 reports, 64 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 51,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 16,228 and 82,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 8.1% of complaints (72 reports, 53 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 59,287 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 33,710 and 90,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 7.3% of complaints (65 reports, 57 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 107,719 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 76,485 and 133,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2004 model year drew the most — 270 complaints — while 2008 drew the fewest at 67. The median year sits at 113.
That makes 2004 an outlier: roughly 2.4 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
NHTSA records 1 recall campaign covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 890 complaints filed against this generation, 114 reported a crash; 22 reported a fire; 74 reported an injury; 4 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 12.8% 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, a late-failure pattern shifts the question from whether to when. 40% of reported failures occur beyond 100,000 miles, so an example approaching that figure is approaching the range where other owners started reporting problems. The middle half of all failures falls between 45,653 and 126,000 miles.
On inspection, the fuel and propulsion system and the fuel system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The fuel system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 85,000, 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.
External head gasket coolant seepage on the naturally aspirated SOHC engine, same mechanism as the late first generation - slow coolant loss, weeping at the head-to-block joint.
Turbocharger failure from oil starvation, commonly traced to the banjo bolt filter screen in the turbo oil feed line clogging with sludge or debris. Subaru later deleted the screen. Failing turbos frequently send debris into the engine, escalating cost.
Ringland failure on the turbocharged EJ255 - the piston ring land fractures under detonation, producing loss of compression and blow-by. Heavily concentrated on tuned or hard-driven cars.
Continued front and rear wheel bearing failure across the generation.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 11V464000 | 2011-12-31 | Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm |