1999 Subaru Forester L from North America - Comments

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.

Just got back from an oil change at the dealership this morning. I have 137,000 miles on my 1999 Forester, and was advised I might want to pick up some brochures in the showroom, because there is a leak in the drivers side head gasket. Went online to see if other Subaru owners experienced other problems, and found this review. We are now debating whether to repair the vehicle or not, and based upon this review, it may not be worth it.

I also have a 1999 Forester with similar oil leak problems. A year ago I had to have the right rear wheel bearing and axle replaced.

Today I found out that either the transmission or 4WD needs to be replaced. I am very disappointed with Subaru.

I was running a '94 Impreza WRX I picked last year for 145,000 yen ($1,450) at auction in Tokyo. It had done 100,000 km admittedly. One of the minor problem was a slow oil leak. To avoid oil marks on the ground rather than buy a litre of oil once every two months, I got some of this "Stop Leak" magic stuff. Worked like a charm. If the leak's not too serious, this sort of product will address it, assuming the owner's can open the hood and find the oil filler cap. With an increasing number of men as ignorant as women when it comes to car mechanics, they only have themselves to blame when they pay through the nose for minor, unnecessary work.

Just got the bad news from the Suby shop on my '99 Forester. I turns out I have an oil leak from the head gasket. Car has less than 65000 miles. I have one of those bad 2.5L engines with the coolant recall. The recall and warranty extension Subaru offers only applies if the problem is a coolant. From everything I read the problem is a bad original equipment head gasket and that it failed. Denying my warranty is just splitting hairs.

I have a turbo model 2000 forester 2L and it does nothing, but perform.

I have modified the vehicle with suspension mods, engine/turbo mods and braking mods, and it's the best vehicle I have owned!

Like all cars, there are lemons, but if you are having issues you should consider the type of maintenance you offer your vehicle as well as calling the manufacturer to task.

Of the about six other brand of cars I have used in eight years, my Subaru Forester has been most fantastic... Besides routine oil change, the 1999 model road goddess still performs at optimal capacity even in very harsh usage & handling. At 98000 mileage, I have little to worry, even when embarking on long, sudden journey. I plan getting a newer model and I hope it would be this reliable. Indeed, for me, it's Subaru or nothing, except...

Bought a used Forester with 65,000 miles on it in October, 2008. Started bubbling in the back-up reservoir then overheating. Replaced hoses, thermostat, temperature sensor, water pump only to find out that the head gasket is cracked and there is severe internal damage. In addition, oil pan gasket leaked and had it replaced as well. In less than 3 months, I put $1000 of repairs into a vehicle that is not even worth the tires it's sitting on. Also, digital clock stopped working, reverse lights stopped as well, and clutch is starting to make noises. Worst car I've ever owned in my life.

I've been shopping for a used Subaru for my daughter, her second Legacy. I've owned 3 Subarus, all great cars. A 1981 GL wagon with lever 4-wheel drive, a 1987 GL turbo wagon with a push button in the stick, and a 1990 Legacy full-time. All were solid, reliable vehicles.

However, from Subaru junk yard guys to independent mechanics, all tell me that after 100,000 miles on the older 2.5 engines, you are on borrowed time in regards to head gaskets. As an example, I looked at a 2001 Legacy L today. I thought the Legacy L always had a 2.2 engine, but no, this one had a 2.5 with 145,000 miles on it. How did I notice the discrepancy? When I saw the coolant showing at the head gaskets, I realized it was a 2.5, not a 2.2. Stick with the older 2.2 if possible.

I just bought a 1999 Subaru Forester, and the first day I drove it off the lot, I realized the car itself accelerates. Since I just bought the car, I could just return it and get a Volkswagen, Honda, Toyota, but not Subaru. This site helped me figure out whether to keep my newly bought used Forester and keep on fixing the head gasket and other engine problems later, or just simply buy a better car. Thanks for having this great website.