Faults:

Sun roof opening mechanism failed at 60,000 miles.

Radiator cracked due to coolant leak in head gasket at 80,000 miles.

Rear wheel bearings replaced at 100,000 miles. Probably failed at 50,000 miles.

Back lights on radio have all failed.

Clock failed.

Windshield wiper drive arm failed at 100,000 miles.

General Comments:

I really like my Forester. It handles well, is relatively quick for a big car, is quiet on the highway, and gets respectable highway mileage.

What I don't like are the unusual, and expensive things that have failed. The power sunroof opening drive failed at 60,000 miles. The dealer said that there was no fixing it, so they had to replace the whole unit. ($800) I love the huge sun roof, but I don't know if I would get another one.

The head gaskets failed under warranty, but their failure caused a coolant leak which overheated the car and cracked the radiator. I was charged for a new radiator, but not installation. Since the car was torn apart anyway, I had them replace the timing belt. ($1,000)

The rear wheel bearings failed at some point, but the noise wasn't unbearable until 90,000 miles. ($600)

Crappy Yokohama tires don't last worth a damn. I put on some cheap Toyos and they have been great.

All of the lights on the radio have failed along with the clock. New clock: $80.00!

The windshield wiper drive arm bearing failed. Dealer wanted $35 for new arm and $100 installation. I went to Advanced Auto Parts and picked up a pack of Help! wiper arm bushings for $3.00 and fixed it myself in 15 minutes.

Who is the idiot that designed the motor pan cover that must be removed to change the oil/filter? It is a royal pain to remove/replace.

The cup holders are not very rugged, and they allow condensation to drip onto/into the radio.

Faults:

My 2001 Forester is a real disappointment to me. Both front boots have needed to be replaced. First time at 50,000 and now at 70,000. Is this a design flaw? I have owned all GM cars previous to this one and have never experienced this type of expense within these short time frames. Is Subaru going to issue a recall or refund? At this rate I will trade off the car much sooner than planned and purchase a non-Subaru vehicle.

General Comments:

I'm about to purchase a 2001 S with 106,000 miles on it. I'm concerned about some of the complaints I've read here. I'm fully aware of the wheel bearing problems as I owned a '99 S previously. On this model the head gasket, seals and clutch were just replaced so I'll take my chances. But not one reviewer has mentioned the best feature of this car, which is its crashworthiness. My daughter totaled the last Forester we had by wrapping the front end around a tree, crumpling the entire front end. But she and her 4 friends escaped without a scratch. An earlier side impact crash caused substantial body damage, but again no injuries. This is why I'm going to buy another Forester, despite the known mechanical problems I may encounter.