2003 Subaru Forester XS 4 cylinder

Faults:

Had the pistons replaced twice.

General Comments:

This is by far the worst car I have ever owned.

Should have bought another bmw. as a matter of fact that's what I did.

Dealer service is terrible they act like nothing could ever go wrong with the forester.

After the second set of pistons were put in the car I traded it in.

Would never buy another forester.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 21st January, 2006

2003 Subaru Forester LX

Faults:

This car has no horsepower. It takes a long time to reach cruising speed.

The backseats are uncomfortable for children much less adults.

General Comments:

In general it has not given any mechanical serious mechanical problems and it is very reliable, practical, but it could be a little bit cheaper.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 18th June, 2005

2nd Feb 2006, 19:28

A frowny face seems a bit extreme for "it could have been a bit cheaper".

2003 Subaru Forester XS 2.5

Summary:

Looks nice, but I am concerned about the reliability

Faults:

2 front airbags had to be replaced.

A/C button broke.

Front driver's window leaks water.

Transmission recall on parking rod.

Transmission slips or hesitates.

Random 'thud' noises coming from rear and front.

Stock tires had to be replaced due to excessive hydroplaning.

Body is starting to rust in some areas.

General Comments:

I am worried about the reliability of this car and the dealer is not good to deal with. I will never buy another Subaru again. The regular maintenance is expensive, and the dealer will not fix things like rust, even though it is under warranty. The transmission worries me also.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 28th November, 2004

16th Feb 2011, 23:45

I must say, that by my own experience, to get a car to rust in 38,000 miles is insane. You must have neglected it in a way of washing it regularly, and think of precautionary maintenance, the transmission fluid should be changed every 30,000 miles, that is probably a factor for your not so good tranny performance. If it were changed on time I think you would have had a better experience.

2003 Subaru Forester XS

Summary:

Price was a little high for quality, but the AWD is great!

Faults:

I have had several rattles develop in the cabin area that I cannot quite pinpoint. I have gone to the dealer for major service (15, 30K) and felt the price was outrageous! One of the front speakers on the "premium" sound system have already blown and of course right after the bumper to bumper warranty was up. The middle seat in the back is not leather (even if the car has the leather package) and has began to crack. If you are looking at a used Subaru watch for this in the Forester.

General Comments:

I like how this car drives. It feels a lot like a car, and the storage is a great plus. We haul a lot of stuff in this vehicle -- including our Siberian Husky dog. I have the leather package and the seats are a little bit uncomfortable after 40K miles. The all wheel drive is a plus and obviously a big selling point for Subaru - it is great in the winter!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 20th November, 2004

2003 Subaru Forester SX 4 cyls

Summary:

Fraud

Faults:

Check engine light went on at 14250 miles.

The engine noise and vehicle vibration.

General Comments:

This car is very unreliable.

Spend in the repair shop 31 days and still has the same problems.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 15th June, 2004

12th May 2014, 15:12

What was the fault code?

2003 Subaru Forester X 2.5L

Summary:

A well thought out wagon for a reasonable price

Faults:

Two weeks after purchase, it started stalling on startup. The dealer then had the "idle valve" cleaned and now it no longer stalls.

Loss of coolant and engine overheating on very cold days. The dealer tightened a coolant hose clamp which was causing a leak.

General Comments:

I love the look and the handling of this station wagon. It is not as practical as the old Loyale wagon was, mainly because it has less cargo space and no mat to protect the carpet when the back seats are down to transport a dirty bike, wheelchair, gardening equipment, etc. The interior is comfortable and practical, with plenty of leg room front and back. Rear visibility is not as good as with the previous Foresters, because of the high backseat headrests and smaller cargo side windows.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th February, 2004

2003 Subaru Forester XS

Summary:

A rational SUV alternative

Faults:

The front speakers have twice blown. Annoying, but not the end of the world. The dealer fixed the problem.

General Comments:

If you are finished worrying about having a car as some sort of status symbol and are looking for an exceptionally reliable, well-built small SUV, this is the car for you. The trim is hardly luxurious, but this car runs very well.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th October, 2003

2003 Subaru Forester STX 2.5

Summary:

Excellent performance and reliability

General Comments:

We will have put 30,000 miles on the Forester in its first year. It has been very economical and reliable. Comfortable. A great car so far.

You get what you pay for. And this Forester is more expensive than comparable models from Honda or Toyota. That is the only drawback for me. I don't expect resale to be as high as the others - but am not planning on selling either.

We have changed the oil every 3,000 miles. That has been the only maintenance cost so far. Excellent.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd October, 2003