Does the 2004 Subaru Forester have any recalls?

2 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026, covering: suspension, engine and engine cooling. Recalls apply to the model and year; whether a particular vehicle is included, and whether it has been repaired, depends on its VIN.

How do I check if my 2004 Subaru Forester recall has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask a Subaru dealer. Recall repairs are free. NHTSA's VIN search doesn't list recalls that were already repaired.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2004 Subaru Forester?

219 complaints filed with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public that NHTSA uses to decide what to investigate.

2004 Subaru Forester recalls

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

2 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026

For the 2004 Subaru Forester. These apply to the model and year, not to one particular vehicle: check your VIN to see whether yours is included and whether it has been repaired.

Has your Subaru been repaired?

Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.

Check your VIN with NHTSA

NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Subaru dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.

2004 Subaru Forester recalls, newest first

September 6, 2011NHTSA 11V464000318,215 vehicles potentially affected

Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm

Summary: Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 impreza, model year 2003-2008 forester, and model year 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles manufactured from September 5, 2000 through November 26, 2007 originally sold, or currently registered in, massachusetts, maryland, michigan, new hampshire, new york, pennsylvania, vermont, wisconsin, connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, maine, minnesota, missouri, new jersey, ohio, rhode island, west virginia and the district of columbia. The front lower control arms may break at the hanger brackets due to corrosion if the hanger bracket is exposed to salty and humid environments such as roads containing snow melting agent.
Consequence: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will handle their vehicles and Saab will handle theirs. Dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during December 2011. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Owners may contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

October 1, 2004NHTSA 04V47300026 vehicles potentially affected

Engine and engine cooling

Summary: On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the cover bolts for the engine oil control valve may not be sufficiently tightened, allowing oil to leak from around the cover gasket.
Consequence: If leaking oil contacts components operating at high temperatures, a fire could result in the engine compartment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and retighten the oil-flow control valve cover bolts. The recall began on October 8, 2004. Owners should contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

Owner complaints

Owners have filed 219 complaints about the 2004 Subaru Forester with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public; NHTSA uses them to decide what to investigate.

Crashes reported: 13
Fires reported: 4
Injuries reported: 8
Deaths reported: 0

Most complained-about components

Fuel/propulsion system63
Fuel system62
Gasoline58
Engine23
Suspension20

Other 2004 Subaru models

Most recalled 2004 vehicles

2004 Honda Accord (22 recalls)
2004 Ford E-250 (18 recalls)
2004 Blue Bird Vision (17 recalls)
2004 Ford F-150 (16 recalls)
2004 Chevrolet Silverado (15 recalls)

All of 2004’s most recalled vehicles

Questions

Does the 2004 Subaru Forester have any recalls?: 2 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026, covering: suspension, engine and engine cooling. Recalls apply to the model and year; whether a particular vehicle is included, and whether it has been repaired, depends on its VIN.
How do I check if my 2004 Subaru Forester recall has been fixed?: Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask a Subaru dealer. Recall repairs are free. NHTSA's VIN search doesn't list recalls that were already repaired.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2004 Subaru Forester?: 219 complaints filed with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public that NHTSA uses to decide what to investigate.