2000 Subaru Forester from North America - Comments

My girlfriend has an 01 forester, today the check engine light came on. took it to autozone and the code was p1490. I looked around and most people said that indicates a bad thermostat. can anyone verify? if so email me at braversage@gmail.com.

Recently replaced my 1997 turbo Forester (99,000km) with a 1998 turbo Forester (38,000km). The older vehicle was making rumbling rear-bearing noises, gradually getting louder. Ran for some 10,000km with the bearing noise. Never gave up the Ghost, but it was on my mind. When you're going to be the last owner you can run it into the ground. Older (say 10 years old) Legacy Outback and Grand Wagon are discounted into the ground at the auctions here in Japan. Although Legacies don't seem to have the same rear wheel bearing problems. Even a low "mileage" could easily be under $2,000 to drive out of the auction gates. Foresters can be under $3,000, with an unpopular colour. Then throw in "accident/repair" and you are talking cheap. These are completely different parameters to US and UK. In Japan you assume you will be last owner, and will run the vehicle to 100,000km when the expensive servicing is due (cambelt). The cambelt will probably last for another 30,000km, but when that lets go it's "Game Over". So if it's a runner, you scrap it by sending it to UK or passing it on to your nere-do-well brother-in-law. Subaru really need to get their act together very soon, because the word is out there.

I purchased my 2000 Subaru Forester brand new and has been driven it for more than 130K miles. This is my first and will be my last Subaru. No mas!

Replaced clutch at 75K miles, $1000

Replaced both rear wheel bearings in 2006, twice within four months, $1200

Repaired AC in 2006, $150

Replace both front CV boots this year, $1,100

Replaced engine head gasket this year, $3,000. (Subaru knew about the gasket problem because I got a notice in 2000 or 2001 saying that I need to bring my car to a dealership so they can put a "conditioner" in the coolant to prolong the life of the head gasket. I did that, and also put in the conditioner every time I change the coolant.)

Now the "Check Engine" light is on, the dealership wants another $1200 to replace the catalytic converter. I guess I have to bite the bullet, spend the money to fix it so I can sell the damn car.

Just a quick question, I have recently bought a 2000 forester with 160K and it was running fime when I brought it home. In trying to start it it seems to have jumped its timing and I want to know if they are an interference engine where the valves will bend if the belt lets go? Also is it common for them to jump the timing that easily.

I have a 2000 Subaru Forester and I am about to replace the sixth wheel bearing. Four on the driver side and this will be the second for the passenger side. I like several things about the car, but the cons are getting expensive. The ONE cup holder up front is in a horrible place, too. Hopefully Subaru will take care of their customers and start replacing the bearings with a lifetime warranty. They must have some engineering problem with these cars. Maybe they have figured it out by now. For the early customers with the bearing problems though, they really should give them a better incentive or lifetime warranty on the bearings. It is not our fault if you can't build a car right. I will go back to Honda, they have good cars over all. I have heard too many complaints about Subaru lately. Plus the dealership here is rude.

I have a 2003 Subaru Forester. I bought it used when it had roughly 24,000 miles on it. The day I drove it home from the dealership on the interstate, I noticed that the temperature gauge was in the red. I got the car home and immediately called the dealership (which was a Toyota dealership). They said that the car is still under warranty so I should take it to a Subaru dealership to see if the problem is covered under the 30,000 mile warranty and if it wasn't, they would try to fix the problem for me for free depending on what it was. I took it to the Subaru dealership. I had a blown head gasket. They took care of it and it was covered under my warranty. Last year the shifter started sticking and I need to have some wire replaced to fix that. I had to have my entire brake system completely replaced last year also. Now, my car has started hesitating and the check engine light is coming on. It seems like there is always something going wrong with it.

I have a 2000 Forester, 78k miles, and it's been absolutely fabulous. Honestly, I don't think the reviews in this site are representative of the reliability of Foresters, because most owners are having too much fun driving theirs!

Sure, they aren't perfect. I'm going to have to replace my knock sensor one of these days. This is how all vehicles are, and most are worse. As for those who jump ship to Honda, sure they're nice, but you pay through the nose, and good luck if you want all wheel drive or a straight stick. My dad has a WRX, and it's been a great car too. For those who are considering buying one, don't read the rants on this forum--go read a credible source like Consumer Reports! They know the truth!

I have a 2001 Subaru Forester and I've had the right rear wheel bearing replaced five times and that one has now gone bad. The worst part of it is that the tire on that wheel also wears much more quickly. And when you have all wheel drive, you're supposed to have all the same tires with fairly similar wear. So it's very expensive when you have to buy new tires. If one is worn much more than the others, what do you do then? Subaru should solve the problem and recall all those wheel bearing issues.

I have a 2000 forester. All in all a great vehicle. Last year I dealt with the check engine light indicating a need to replace both catalytic converters to the tune of 1400. Now it seems I have a blown head gasket probably around 2,000. A bitter pill to swallow for a car with 132,000 miles on it. I probably will look into other 4wd since these problems are all to common in subbies.

I have a 2002 Forester with 109k miles. My issues since buying new have been a transmission timing issue, four rotors, eight sets of brake pads, heat shield removed, new tires every 20k miles, overhead clock has not worked for years and electrical lights that turn off and on at their own discretion.

Now the larger issues.

I'm fairly certain the head gasket needs replaced (I lose oil and you can smell it burning from time to time).

CV Boot and front axle are now in need of changing.

Plus, I can list several other small annoying issues.

Please listen to me, I think Subaru's are good cars for what they are designed to do and they perform when needed. Problem is that they are very expensive to maintain. I have had two Honda's that I drive the same and they never had problems like my Subaru. I like to drive cars until they die and unfortunately I just don't trust this car to take me there any longer.

I drive a 2002 Forrester that is driving me crazy. I haven't paid it off but the repair bills keep coming.

Now the power steering fluid is leaking onto the exhaust. That will be about $800. My girls were driving it to visit relatives over Christmas and it broke down on the highway... the ignition coil had gone which cost $800.00, with the tow.

My electronic compass has been broken since I bought it, the open door light indicator is constantly on... my mechanic says that's too expensive to fix and the back window washer has disconnected.

This car is a major UGH. I strongly disagree with the previous post, because after all of this I would NEVER say that Subarus are good cars, recommend one or buy another.

'97 Impreza - 95,000 miles replaced right rear bearing at Subaru dealer (because they are suppose to have the RIGHT equipment). 17 months later and only 17,000 miles the same bearing is bad. Went to dealer and all they would say is that they would have to replace at my expense. No offer to help defray the cost from dealership and they had the audacity to suggest that I accused them of putting it on incorrectly. I told them if they thought that this is normal wear and tear on a wheel bearing, and they would not help with any of the repair, I would NEVER buy another item from them for as long as I am alive.

I have a '99 Subaru Forester with only 58,000 miles. I have replaced rear bearings 4 times. One repair at the dealer cost $1800 (part of which was for brake work) - they claimed they had to replace the axle too. I never went back there again. Subsequent repairs have been cheaper, but not permanent. The last one lasted only 9 months.

Most of my driving is over smooth paved roads, in residential areas, at speeds < 45 mph. The vehicle has never been off-road or in sand. The tires are correctly mounted and well balanced. The wheels are properly aligned. There is no usage conditions that would pre-dispose the car to these types of failures.

My Forester has also suffered the head-gasket failure that is so common in these vehicles. The repair cost $1740, which covered the gaskets, faulty timing belt tensioner, new timing belt (done pro-actively while the engine was all apart) and a host of other miscellaneous gaskets and seals.

The gas lines in my car rusted out after 9 years, which was another expensive repair. Apparently the lines run through the interior of the car, and you have to disassemble the interior to get at them.

I would not recommend a Subaru to anyone, and am puzzled how well they are ranked in Consumer Reports for reliability.

I bought my first Forester in 1998 and clocked 210000 Km on it with practically no problems (changed the clutch once, and a small oil leak after 180000 kms).

I now have a 2003 Forester with 42000 kms and it drives beautifully. Very sorry for the authors of the other posts on this Blog, but IMHO this is a GREAT CAR.

My girlfriend is looking to buy a used car. She had bought a 97 Stratus about 4 years ago that turned out to have a cracked head, which caused her to have to replace the whole engine only a couple of months after buying the darn thing.

Now she wants a reliable car, and she almost bought a 2000 Forester, because I told her Consumer Guide gives Suburu high ratings for reliability.

I am so glad I read the comments here first, because I would have felt awful if she had ended up with a nightmare car again!

I'm going to tell her to go with a Toyota. My 89 Camry has 215 thousand miles on it, and it looks awful, but it always starts and runs, and the most expensive thing I've ever had to replace was a CV joint that went bad due to a torn boot that let in dirt and moisture. It cost $140.00 to repair. That and an alternator is all I've ever had to fix in 215 thousand miles.

I too am disappointed that Consumer Guide gives Suburu high ratings with this problem so many have had.