2004 Subaru Forester consumer reviews

Head gasket needed replaced at 135,000 miles. A/C compressor went bad at 140k. Seats uncomfortable. Lower control arm snapped when driving. Very dangerous. Recall was useless. Subaru would not reimburse. Very disappointed. Reliable? My experience NO.

Insanely reliable. Nothing needed to be replaced in the time I’ve had it, and its 20 years old! Currently at 146k miles. Hope to see my specific Forester reach up to the >250k miles mark like many others!

I am the sole owner of a 2004 Forester XS which is still going at 277,000 miles. It has proved to be a reliable car with proper maintenance, and have trusted it so far on many backcountry and off-road adventures. By 2022 standards, the car is just adequately powered, but I was able to tow a #1800 trailer many a time. The engine required an extensive rebuild at 185K miles, which is typical for a Subaru, and the transmission was swapped out for low-miles used transmission at 250K miles - surprising good considering its life history. Road noise/air leaks around the windows are the biggest problem. The sunroof actuator broke mid-life, which was disappointing. Otherwise, a quality car.

A lot of road noise ( wind etc...)stereo( audio )system sucks. Hard start a lot of times. Doesn’t seem reliable. Drives pretty good as far as acceleration and handleing, but doesn’t seem as great as I hear from most people.

It has plenty of leg room as for parts i take mine to subaru to get the parts they are like any other car some parts are expensive but i know i get a great job and have no complaints whatsoever i suppose other garages could do the jobs but with subaru i know il get a great job done and no complaints ..

It's a wonderful car my first Subaru to drive and am satisfied Secondly the stability on the road is good and it's fuel efficient .

My previous car had broken down and needed a quick cheap fix to the situation while resolving my finances. I had heard horror stories about used car dealerships so went in as a skeptic. They were nice enough to explain i was buying a used car and to expect a few wear and tear issues. I bought it with the express intention of just owning it for a few months. I took it to my mechanic changed the fluids and it served me well with minimal maintenance for three years before i decided to get another. After this experience and how much i saved i do not see myself buying a brand new car

This Forester has stuck with me through thick and thin, has been reliable and extremely useful transportation both for commuting and for vacation trips. It’s been well maintained on a regular basis and has a new oil change and a new battery. My mechanic says it’s in good shape and he’s sure it will pass inspection as-is. The car is extremely clean and has had a thorough professional detailing. Snow tires with wheels included. Roof rack for kayaks can also be included. Foresters regularly last many more miles. Subaru's description of its specifications: This XS model includes automatic climate control, heated seats, a 6-CD player, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and 16” aluminum wheels, as well as the standard foglights, hill hold feature, folding mirrors, roof rack, intermittent front and rear wipers, cruise control, and keyless entry. Safety: The AWD Forester is praised for its performance in bad weather and road conditions. It earns 5 stars from the NHTSA in front and side crash tests, owing to dual front and side-impact air bags, ABS brakes, 16-inch tires, and active head restraints.

The Subaru Forester is a great car. As a tall woman, 5’10”, I need room for my legs when driving and as a passenger. This vehicle gives me plenty of head and leg space. The interior is comfortable for long trips and holds a lot of gear in the back. It is well built and dependable. Our prior Forester lasted with its original engine to 297,000 miles. That is why we bought another one!

This car is a great apex of power, performance, and utility. This car also gives good returns on fuel economy. I would buy it again if I could.