1999 Subaru Forester

US Recalls

NHTSA Recall US

• 99V040000 1999-03-03

  Recall 99V040000

  VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.

  Recorded model years: 1999

A further 44 records exist for the Subaru Forester where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

Campaign applicability can depend on build date, equipment and market, and a remedy may already have been completed. Confirm any campaign against the official record using the VIN.

Manufacturer Bulletins

NHTSA Manufacturer Communication US

• 10240110 2023-07-11

  12-249-23R

  This bulletin announces the recommended cleaning procedures to followed when encountering vehicles with long time exposure to pollen on painted surfaces on vehicles imported from Japan. This bulletin does not apply to SIA built vehicles.

  Recorded model years: 1999

• 10219491 2022-08-23

  15-302-22

  This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.

  Recorded model years: 1999

• 10219492 2022-08-23

  01-167-08R

  This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

  Recorded model years: 1999

Showing 3 of 42 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 1,726 records exist for the Subaru Forester where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

A manufacturer communication is service guidance issued to dealers. It is not a safety recall, and its existence does not mean this vehicle has the described condition.

Investigations

NHTSA Investigation US

• PE99020 1999-03-05

  SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATION

  ODI HAS ONE COMPLAINT ALLEGING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE, LOCATED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND CENTER CONSOLE, BECAME DETACHED WHILE DRIVING.IN ADDITION, THE OWNER INSPECTED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE AND FOUND THAT THE BOLT WAS PARTIALLY BACKED-OUT.THE COMPLAINT VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH LEATHER SEAT COVERS AND HEATED FRONT SEATS.BECAUSE OF THESE OPTIONS, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE…

  Recorded model years: 1999

A further 3 records exist for the Subaru Forester where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

An investigation records that a regulator reviewed a suspected defect. It is not itself a finding of defect and not a recall.

Canada Recalls

Transport Canada Recall CA

• 2000069 2000-03-17

  Transport Canada recall 2000069

  Certain vehicle do not comply with Regulation 6 - Statement of Compliance. Compliance label was not expressed in both official languages in regard to vehicle classification. Correction: No corrective action will be taken for existing vehicles. Correct compliance label will be affixed in current production vehicles.

  Recorded model years: 1999

• 1999043 1999-03-17

  Transport Canada recall 1999043

  On certain vehicles equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), the brake master cylinder secondary circuit may not function in extremely cold weather due to brake fluid bypassing the fluid supply valve, which remains open. This condition can result in the brake pedal going to the floor during normal light brake application, thereby increasing stopping distance. Correction: Brake master cylinder will be…

  Recorded model years: 1999

A further 32 records exist for the Subaru Forester where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

Canadian campaigns are recorded separately from US campaigns and do not imply one another.

Consumer Complaints

NHTSA Complaint US

131 complaint records in the dataset for this vehicle and year.

Outcomes stated in those reports

• reports mentioning a crash 5
• reports mentioning a fire 1
• reported injuries 5

Outcomes as stated by the person who filed the report. They are not verified, not adjudicated, and carry no exposure denominator, so they cannot be turned into a rate.

By system

• Powertrain (transmission & drivetrain)35 (22.9%)Official recall records for this system: 6, covering model years 2002–2024.
• Suspension25 (16.3%)Official recall records for this system: 5, covering model years 2003–2019.
• Engine24 (15.7%)Official recall records for this system: 7, covering model years 2004–2024.
• Brakes19 (12.4%)Official recall records for this system: 7, covering model years 1998–2016.
• Tires & wheels11 (7.2%)Official recall records for this system: 3, covering model years 2018–2025.
• Speed control & accelerator6 (3.9%)
• Fuel system5 (3.3%)Official recall records for this system: 4, covering model years 2018–2026.
• Seat belts5 (3.3%)Official recall records for this system: 5, covering model years 2003–2013.

Other / uncategorized: 1 classifications (0.7%) were not assigned to a specific system by the source. They are counted but not treated as an issue area.

A single report can name several systems, so these figures overlap and must not be added together — their sum is larger than the report total above.

A further 6,461 complaint records exist for this vehicle where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

These are owner-submitted allegations, not confirmed defects. Counts are record counts in the dataset. No exposure denominator exists, so no failure rate or reliability score can be derived from them.