Skip to main content
MyRecallCheckNHTSA recall explorer

NHTSA model-year recall report

2003 Subaru Forester Recalls

3 campaigns in our verified NHTSA snapshot, with source consequences, remedies, and VIN-specific next steps.

Check exact VIN status Decode a VIN

3

NHTSA campaigns

3

Affected systems

0

Urgent advisories

Sep 6, 2011

Latest campaign date

At a glance

What the record says

This model year's count is below the Subaru Forester average of 5.0 campaigns per listed year. That is context only—not proof that this year is safer or less safe.

The most frequent affected category is Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm, appearing in 1 campaign.

  1. 1

    Read

    Review every campaign and urgent instruction below.

  2. 2

    Verify

    Check your exact VIN with NHTSA or the manufacturer.

  3. 3

    Repair

    Contact an authorized dealer if a campaign applies.

Source campaign records

All 2003 Subaru Forester recall campaigns

Shown newest first. NHTSA summary, consequence, and remedy text is preserved without truncation.

NHTSA campaign 11V464000

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm

Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

Reported Sep 6, 2011

What is recalled

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.

Safety consequence

A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 03V047000

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly

Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

Reported Feb 20, 2003

What is recalled

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE/LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS COULD UNLATCH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE/LATCH ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 02V282000

Power Train › Automatic Transmission

Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

Reported Oct 30, 2002

What is recalled

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.

Safety consequence

THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION JANUARY 8, 2003. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

Other Subaru Forester model years

Compare campaign histories within the same model. Counts are descriptive, not a safety grade.

20263 campaigns20253 campaigns20242 campaigns20231 campaign20221 campaign20193 campaigns20183 campaigns20171 campaign20163 campaigns20153 campaigns
View all model years

Other 2003 Subaru recall reports

2003 Subaru Legacy15 campaigns2003 Subaru Outback15 campaigns2003 Subaru Baja10 campaigns2003 Subaru Impreza6 campaigns2003 Subaru WRX2 campaigns

2003 Subaru Forester recall questions

How many recalls does the 2003 Subaru Forester have?

This verified dataset contains 3 NHTSA campaigns associated with the 2003 Subaru Forester. A campaign can apply to some, not all, vehicles of the same model year.

Does this confirm an open recall for my 2003 Subaru Forester?

No. This page is a model-year campaign history. Use NHTSA's official lookup or an authorized dealer to confirm whether a campaign applies to your exact VIN and whether the repair remains open.

Are vehicle recall repairs free?

When a safety recall campaign applies to your VIN, the manufacturer remedy is generally provided at no charge through an authorized dealer. Confirm eligibility and scheduling with the manufacturer or dealer.

Source: NHTSA. Dataset includes campaigns through Jul 30, 2026. Last processed Aug 8, 2026. Methodology