1999 Subaru Forester L review from North America

This car started falling apart at about 90,000 miles. Before this, it ran great and I loved it. Now I will never purchase another Subaru. This was my first and last.

VERY BAD: Premature head gasket failures (both) and ensuing complete engine failure.

The driver's side gasket went at 140,788 miles. Took it to one of the two dealers nearby, neither of which was ever very satisfactory. The car never worked right again. It was in and out of the shop, until the next gasket went at 150, 235 miles. Took the car to an independent Subaru repair shop. One week after the second gasket was fixed, the engine blew, requiring a completely new engine. Total costs, counting rental cars, is approximately $4,300.00. Despite increasing evidence of a design flaw and materials failure in the head gaskets, Subaru would do nothing. The independent repair shop I went to, which has been repairing Subaru's for 32 years, has clear evidence that failure in the gasket materials was to blame. They had a 2002 Subaru WRX with the same problem. Though still under warranty, Subaru claimed that a minor fender bender voided the warranty.

BAD: Other major repairs & non-routine maintenance.

- FRONT BOOT AND AXLE

- WATER PUMP

- CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SEALS.

The care began knocking (piston slap) and using oil; something other owners are also experiencing.

NOT GOOD: Subaru customer service and dealerships.

There are only two dealers within an hour's drive of where we live. I have never been pleased with either. Subaru will not recognize and repairs done by other than dealerships, even after warranty.

THIS IS NOTE "YOUR DADDY'S SUBARU": The mechanics I have dealt with outside the dealerships, have all stated that they have been seeing problems in the new design of Subaru, which came on the market in 1998/99. These are quality and design problems that were not there in the "old" model Subaru's.

BACK TO HONDA: This is the first car I have ever owned, in 34 years of driving which has completely failed. The last Honda I owned was an Accord LX. I gave it away at 324,000 miles. It required only one non-routine piece of maintenance in all that time - the carburetor float stuck.

This is not a well-built vehicle. I kept up good maintenance, using quality materials, and I never drove it off road. It is a "light-weight" and not an SUV at all.