VehicleVerdict

1999 Subaru Forester engine problems

The 1999 Subaru Forester has 29 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 19% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

29

Engine complaints

19%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Forester engine complaints by model year135 complaints1998: 17 complaints1999: 29 complaints2000: 19 complaints2001: 18 complaints2002: 15 complaints2003: 31 complaints2004: 40 complaints2005: 10 complaints2006: 22 complaints2007: 15 complaints2008: 9 complaints2009: 39 complaints2010: 40 complaints2011: 67 complaints2012: 29 complaints2013: 26 complaints2014: 72 complaints2015: 135 complaints2016: 60 complaints2017: 47 complaints2018: 31 complaints2019: 111 complaints2020: 76 complaints2021: 31 complaints2022: 10 complaints2023: 6 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 2 complaints
Forester engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, IT BURNS WELL OVER A QUART OF OIL WHEN IT TRAVELED 1000 MILES. HENCE HAVING TO REPLACE 3 TO 4 QTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THIS IS ?NORMAL.? I THOUGHT THAT THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PUT THIS ON THE STICKER INFORMATION OF ALL NEW CARS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 1, 2003

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1999 Subaru Forester have?

NHTSA has 29 complaints about the 1999 Subaru Forester engine — 19% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.