general problems of the 2004 Subaru Forester

Car was shifted from drive into neutral for operator to use a parking lot gate machine. The engine surged a little while in neutral but settled back down. When parking gate opened the operator shifted into drive and lightly pressed the gas pedal. The engine immediately surged to full throttle and rapidly accelerated across the driveway for a few seconds before being stopped by collision with a granite post. Operator could not brake hard enough to stop the vehicle in time. Driver injured in crash.

The turbocharger broke twice in the 2d quarter 2015. Shortly after the second time it was fixed, the car caught fire over the turbocharger unit (while being driven 9/18/15), under the hood. New Subarus have been recalled for this reason, but I think the replacement turbocharger was defective. The Subaru turbo fp # was 14411aa5329l.

In very cold weather (less than 10 f) the rubber gas lines leak very significant amounts of gas onto the engine and verynear the hot turbocharger. Another Subaru just caught fire in the o'neill tunnel. . Read more...

There has been a continuous oil leak from my 2004 Subaru Forester xs. My mechanic diagnosed the problem as a leak in the main seal between the transmission and the engine. This is not normal and it will cost me $1,000 to fix because the transmission will have to be removed. There are other complaints registered about similar oil leaks in this model year. Subaru should investigate.

Backing out of drive way, lower control arm failed, tearing the cv joint out. Upon inspection the control arm had rusted through at it's joint.

2004 Forester xt stalled, had loss of power during acceleration and jerked violently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer three times but they were unable to diagnose and repair the problem.