Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Subaru Forester, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train32
- Suspension25
- Engine and engine cooling25
- Service brakes, hydraulic18
- Tires7
- Vehicle speed control6
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Electrical system4
- Wheels4
- Seat belts4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 13 1999 Forester vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 9 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 Subaru Forester failed the safety check 1.87% of the time — 6% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 144,497 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1999 Subaru Forester cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (92 kW, 123 hp) and 2.0 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 227 |
| 2.0 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 143 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
396 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 3% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen144
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde132
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt99
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld98
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af81
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse72
- Band onvoldoende profiel68
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af59
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
86 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 259 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 155 of these cars first registered in 1999 took their annual MOT test. 52% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1999 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 24.5% | 16.6% |
| Suspension | 14.8% | 13.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 13.5% | 7.3% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 12.9% | 9.3% |
| Brakes | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| Visibility | 5.8% | 6.9% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
47 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 323,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
235 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 74% arrived as used imports, 23% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 11.0–11.5 L/100 km (about 20–21 mpg US), CO₂ 253–265 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forester AWD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 12.3 | 9.3 | 11.0 |
| Forester AWD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 12.8 | 10.1 | 11.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1999 Subaru Forester.
| 2000069 17 Mar 2000 | Other Certain vehicle do not comply with Regulation 6 - Statement of Compliance. Compliance label was not expressed in both official languages in regard to vehicle c… |
| 1999043 17 Mar 1999 | Brakes On certain vehicles equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), the brake master cylinder secondary circuit may not function in extremely cold weather due to brake fl… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 INCREASED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Subaru told its dealers about the 1999 Subaru Forester: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 633865 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIR FLOW METER SENSOR. *JG |
| 632240 | SUBJECT REGADING AIR FLOW METER SENSING UNIT AVAILABILITY. *TT |
| 631081 | SUBJECT REGARDING POPPING OUT OF FIFTH GEAR CONDITION. *JG |
| 631014 | CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF A GROWLING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA. *TT |
| 626926 | INFORMATION REGARDING SEAT BELT LATCH SLIDES TO THE LOWER SEAT BELT ANCHOR. *YH UPDATED *EH |
| 622193 | SUBJECT REGARDING 1999 FORESTER SERVICE MANUAL. *TT |
| 613408 | CUSTOMER COMPLAINT THAT THE A/T TEMPERATURE LIGHT FLASHING AND CODE 38 FOUND IN THE TCM. *TT |
| 610541 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT THE A/T TEMPERATURE LIGHT FLASHING AND CODE 38 FOUND IN THE TCM. *TT |
| 610540 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIR INTAKE CHAMBER BOX BREAKAGE. *TT |
| 610111 | THIS BULLETIN MENTIONS IF YOU HAVE A 1999MY OR LATER VEHICLES WITH THE NEW (SECOND GENERATION) 4EAT AND ARE DIAGNOSING A CODE FOR A DUTY SOLENOID, CHECK THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN FOR ANY DENTS. *TT |
| 606645 | SUBJECT REGARDING BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SOME VEHICLES WITH ABS. *TT |
| 605778 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLING REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTOR . *TT |
| 10240110 | This bulletin announces the recommended cleaning procedures to followed when encountering vehicles with long time exposure to pollen on painted surfaces on vehicles imported from Japan. This bulletin does not apply to SIA built vehicles. |
| 10234829 | Repair Procedure for High-Pitched Sound from Extension Housing Area Using Latest Generation Production Parts |
| 10234828 | This Bulletin provides production change, repair procedure and parts information to address a customer concern of a high-pitched sound coming from the transmission extension housing area. |
| 10234261 | Remanufactured Automatic Transaxle Program |
| 10234260 | Repair Procedure for High-Pitched Sound from Extension Housing Area Using Latest Generation Production Parts |
| 10234258 | 5MT Transfer Driven Gear Bearings |
| 10219492 | This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models. |
| 10219491 | This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. |
| 10209915 | This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during diagnosis and repair of the Infotainment concerns. (Applicable to all models with Harman or Denso CP1 Infotainment). |
| 10198758 | This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models |
| 10198749 | This bulletin is to advise of SOAs revised catalytic converter recycling program shipping procedure. |
| 10187315 | To help reduce confusion and increase technician efficiency, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has developed the following cross reference list to help locate the appropriate Special Service Tool. |
| 10179378 | Special Service Tools Cross Reference List. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation