2003 Subaru Forester Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003

Crash Test Rating

Source NHTSA

MPG (up to)

21 City / 27 HWY

Source FuelEconomy.gov

Horsepower

165

Seats

Positive Owner Reviews

Mar T

Great car! Very sporty and family friendly. Great gas mileage and reliability.

This car is the most reliable car I have ever been in. It is getting older in age but the quality is still great. I have put over 260,000 miles and still runs perfect. The inside is not too big or too small. I have two kids and they fit in the back seat comfortably.

Tamara K

Love my older Subaru and it is dependability.

I love this car, it has over 175,000 miles and drives like a dream. I do have a small oil leak, but nothing that cannot be fixed fairly inexpensively. I can take it anywhere - I take my kids all around town, also out of town skiing, and on the mountain fishing and camping. My subi goes pretty much wherever I want it to, the all wheel drive really works well.

McKinley B

16 years old and still running great

My car has had typical issues of any car that is now 16 years old but it still works so great. It is super cheap but issues should be expected. There is so much room and its gotten a ton and I mean a ton of miles on it and still goes. I have been so grateful for my Subaru although even the letters are falling off the back of my car.

Edward R

Great Car, O2 sensor issues

The car Runs great and it gets good gas mileage as well. The brand does have a known issue with the o2 sensor going bad due to the location on the bottom of the undercarriage causing a check engine light and requiring a repair before it would pass my states emissions testing protocols.

Kayla H

Drives great in the Colorado snow

I really enjoy this car. It handles amazing in the snow. The symmetrical all wheel drive really helps stay on the road in snowy conditions. The only downside of this car is that it uses a lot of oil. I have to top it off about every other time I fill up.

Melissa Anne C

Runs very good and gets good gas mileage

It runs very good. I only have to fill the tank about every two weeks and it cost me about 25.00 every two weeks to run. The ac will freeze you out during the summer and the heater will burn you out during the winter months. It only holds 18 gallons of gas

David G

I love my Subaru. Great family or work vehicle.

Great car for being sixteen years old. Green/gold. 4 door. Power windows. Power mirror. Am/FM. CD player. Cassette player. Lumbar spine support in driver seat. Hatchback w/ spacious rear great to work out of, carrying lots of groceries, or luggage for family vacation. Rear seats fold down for additional space. Compared to more modern vehicles gas mileage is below average.

Kathryn M

It looks good and very reliable and all wheel drive!

I love it! Only complaint is it's hard to get in back seat! Also trim for front windows don't keep air out very good! Great for driving long distance and very comfortable. Also great driving in rain , snow. Is fantastic driving on winding roads up and down! My husband thought he was a race car driver.

Negative Owner Reviews

Susan S

It seems like it will run forever. I have confidence that my vehicle is reliable.

I like that it sits higher up than other sedans. I like the hatchback feature. I do not like that it is older and the hatchback doesn't latch properly. The color is hideous.

Austin M

Review for a 2004 Subaru Forester

My 2004 Subaru Forester is the typical Subaru when it comes to gas it's great! However, it comes with its own set of undesirables at the same time. The ride is quite noisy and bumpy, and don't expect anything updated about this vehicle in the technology department (it's a 2004, so...yeah). Overall, I would recommend it as a great starting vehicle for a youngster such as myself, but don't make this your forever vehicle. Strive for something better in the long term! :)

Taiwan E

Make sure the handling is good, and the internals are up to date.

Because it is an ugly color. It has dents on the right side. And someone keyed it. And I had to replace the radiator.

Laura L

Subaru Forester XS Dream!

The wagon features heated seating in the front drivers side and passengers side. It also has a sunroof. There are many issues once you hit over 250,000 miles. Catalytic converters and batteries as well as alternators and other aspects of the car will need to be replaced. The AC leaks. The window motors will stop working after a while. It's expensive to fix most things with a Subaru because it is a foreign vehicle. It is very spacious and that is one reason I use it so much.

Halle K

It has a sunroof and it is loud. Also the window on the passenger side is broken

I've put more that it's worth into it with repairs. It is old but I also know that a Subaru is reliable

Nichole P

The Subaru forester is a very dependable and reliable car.

It is a good car and great on gas, it just has the known very for subaru oil leaks. It wouldn't be a subaru without the leaks.

Ricky T

Low key car that does it purpose for 10 years.

Reliability wise an disappointed. , the brakes did not work all while exiting the freeway and it is making lots if noises too. It is cheap to full tank gas.

Mohamed B

Low maintenance, good power

Great, low horsepower so it's not fast, but it's tough and strong, low maintenance, i love this specific one

Subaru Forester Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

165 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats

Photos may not match model

2003 Subaru Forester Owner Reviews

4.37

113 Reviews

Write Review

5 stars

56%

4 stars

28%

3 stars

13%

2 stars

1 star

Halle K on March 31, 2021

It has a sunroof and it is loud. Also the window on the passenger side is broken

I've put more that it's worth into it with repairs. It is old but I also know that a Subaru is reliable

Victor S on March 24, 2021

Is my don't touch is not a toy Good to drive is nothing

No complaints good on gas fun to drive Love it need some paint job

View All Reviews (113)

Ranks #3 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2003 Subaru Forester has an average owner rating of 4.36 out of 5 which ranks it #3 of 15 other Compact SUVs.

Tie

2003 Audi allroad

4.5

Tie

2003 Toyota Matrix

4.5

2003 Honda Element

4.39

2003 Subaru Forester

4.37

Ranks #3 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2003 Subaru Forester has a combined MPG of 28 which ranks it #3 of 15 other Compact SUVs.

Tie

2003 Toyota RAV4

31 MPG

Tie

2003 Toyota Matrix

31 MPG

2003 Ford Escape

28 MPG

2003 Subaru Forester

27 MPG

Is The 2003 Subaru Forester A Good Car?

Yes! It is safe and reliable and easy to drive. There are lots of shops that can repair It if It breaks down. It is not very fuel efficient though.

Cindy H.

Yes it is. I currently have over 133,000 miles and have put less than $8,000 for upkeep and repairs in the last 15 years.

Curtis F.

Yes/no. I have had many issues with the tires/alignment/wheel bearings. Other than those issues, the car has treated me well.

Anna M.

How Reliable Is The 2003 Subaru Forester?

Yes, the 2003 Subaru Forester is a reliable vehicle. It has no major problems that I am aware of, other than not being fuel efficient

Jill E.

It is very reliable. I have had very little trouble with it. My biggest complaint is the wing window seals in both front doors need to be replaced every two years.

Erika I.

It has left me sit on the side of the road a few times, but only because I drive it hard and put many miles on. Also, the AC does not work consistently.

Rod S.

Is The 2003 Subaru Forester A Good Value?

I bought the car for $20,000 in 2002. All things considered I believe it's an excellent value for the cost.

Nicole G.

7,000. The Subaru cost was nice and fit my budget, however I did get it second hand. I do not think I would be able to afford a new Subaru even though, since it is a good car, the good value wouldn't... Read More

Melissa T.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2003 Subaru Forester pcv valve location?

Answer: The 2003 Subaru Forester pcv valve location is found by watching: https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=BudbR8aFZ-U Your oil needs to be replaced eventually. Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. If...

2003 Subaru Forester: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2003 Subaru Forester came standard with a 2.5L 4Cylinder engine in all models and there was no option for any other motor. The capacity for this engine will be 4.2 US quarts when the filter is included. For...

See all Frequently Asked Questions

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front