2003 Subaru Forester Engine Problems
- 9
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
What owners report
- head gasket · 7 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 4 |
| 60–100k mi | 2 |
| 30–60k mi | 2 |
| 100–150k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine
My 2003 subaru forester - purchased new - currently has 55,000 miles on it. It was last serviced 3 months ago. At that time, nothing was mentioned about coolant problems or leaks. Last week, on the turnpike, the rpm needle started swinging wildly and i lost power. I managed to get to the shoulder of the turnpike and shut down and by that time smoke was pouring out from the engine. The problem diagnosed is that the…
ODI 10281824
Engine
I purchased a new subaru forester xs in july 2003 and had it serviced regularly at now defunct subaru dealerships. While i was driving one day, the car suddenly overheated. The foreign and domestic auto service mechanic i was able to reach showed me that the engine was leaking coolant in 3 places, requiring a costly repair of the head gasket. I learned from him that this head gasket failure was a common problem with…
ODI 10268187
Engine
I had regular service done to my car at clay subaru of norwood massachusetts. The representative stated that the mechanic noticed some oil seepage from the head gasket. They recommended that i get the head gaskets replaced within a year. Since that time i have monitored the oil level and have had to replace about a quart in between regular oil change intervals. I am concerned because i know this represents major…
ODI 10254368
Engine
Dealer advised the head gasket is leaking coolant and recommended repair which will require extensive labor. Vehicle only has 69,000 miles. Vehicle was purchased 20 nov 2002 and had a 60,000 mile/5 year power train warranty. Servicing was done on a regular basis and vehicle has not been driven excessively. *nm
ODI 10182280
Engine
Tl* - the contact owns a 2003 subaru forester. The vehicle's failure occurred on four occasions. The mechanic stated that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The contact called a subaru dealer and north american subaru. The contact stated that when the vehicle's mileage exceeded 100,000 it required a new head gasket. The contact was advised that the previous incident was a leak in the radiator, which was repaired…
ODI 10178337
Engine
Dt*: the contact stated there was a pining noise in the engine, when the vehicle was first started in cold weather. The noise stopped after two minutes. The dealership determined this was normal operating conditions, although there was a service bulletin instructing to replace the pistons.
ODI 10155374
Clutch Assembly · Engine
Clutch jitter; started immediately: clutch was replaced under warranty at 11,900 miles. Spoke with cousin in canada who bought the same car the same day. Already has replaced clutch once and is having trouble again with jitter. Vehicle stalls frequently upon cold start. Computer was removed from vehicle and sent back to factory to be recalibrated at 11,900. *la
ODI 10047507
Engine
When starting the engine first thing in the morning, the engine fumbles then stalls.*ak
ODI 10029067
Engine
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *JB. *AK
ODI 10011889