| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2003 Subaru Forester repairs by problem area
Engine (49%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (10%)
Brakes and Traction Control (6%)
Suspension and Steering (17%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (14%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (3%)
Other (1%)
Select a problem area
Chart based on 261 repairs.
2003 Subaru Forester suspension repair cost distribution
$2500+ (9%)
$1000 - $2499 (19%)
$500 - $999 (16%)
$100 - $499 (37%)
< $100 (19%)
Chart based on 43 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2003 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 109200 mi US $300 |
Bad driver's side rear wheel bearing. Replaced bearing and bearing seals. |
| 121000 mi US $1000 |
Replaced failing rear bearings. Also got new front brakes. |
| 131800 mi US $1200 |
Steering rack worn out. Replaced. |
| 153500 mi US $250 |
Replaced front struts and mounts |
| 180000 mi US $50 |
Both rear wheel bearings needed replacement one for noise and one for loose tracking when driving. Replaced both knuckles, wheel bearings, hubs and seals. Lateral link bolts needed to be cut (rust) so had to replace them and the lower Lateral Link bushings Right front wheel bearing making "growling" noises above 30mph. Most noticeable at 40mph. Replaced bearing, seals and hub. |
| 97000 mi US $100 |
Control arms need replaced |
| 58000 mi | Left rear wheel bearing replacement. Covered under warranty. |
| 152000 mi US $1000 |
replace both front-end sway bar end links, replace ball joint cylinder |
| 313300 mi US $930 |
rear wheel bearings + belt tensioner |
| 316000 mi US $1100 |
Rear struts replaced |
| 144000 mi US $1600 |
replaced both rear wheel bearings, rear struts and strut mounts |
| 173000 mi US $450 |
Replaced stabilizer bars, old ones worn, causing suspension to make a knocking noise when going over bumps. |
| 149000 mi US $200 |
Front Tie rods replaced, 1 broke, 1 worn |
| 171000 mi US $300 |
REAR driver shock leaking & no longer any bounce. Rear passenger side replaced as well. |
| 207000 mi US $284 |
rear driver wheel bearing bad, making very loud noise. replacement 7 hrs long. |
| 120280 mi A $15 |
Grinding noise from power steering pump. Drained and replaced power steering fluid. |
| 122760 mi A $900 |
Steering rack was leaking fluid. Rack was replaced with a reconditioned one. |
| 146320 mi | Left-rear wheel bearing had been noisy for some time. Shop replaced it with a new one, but since the driveshaft had seized into the old one, a replacement driveshaft (second hand) was required also. |
| 148180 mi A $1700 |
Left rear wheel bearing that was replaced in August had become noisy again. Shop determined that it, as well as the (original) right bearing had failed and the hubs were also heat damaged. Bearings, hub as well as seals etc were replaced. |
2003 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 100000 mi US $2500 |
Leaking struts replaced |
| 73000 mi US $63 |
Power steering belt loose Stabilizer linkage loose |
| 75000 mi US $245 |
Sway bar linkage replaced Sway bar linkage replaced |
| 113000 mi US $350 |
Rack beginning to fail; needs replacement |
| 127000 mi US $940 |
Replacement of steering rack |
| 129200 mi US $498 |
Replaced rear passenger wheel bearing and hub |
| 194000 mi US $350 |
Replace ball joints |
| 189569 mi US $850 |
Replaced rear struts. |
| 137800 mi US $3600 |
both rear wheel bearings ($900) |
| 110360 mi $3000 |
Not only suspension. Several faults. Nothing repaired. Former owner have to give proper information about the car during sales process. Former owner has been accused of holding back information - which is illegal to do in this country. |
| 160200 mi US $450 |
Rear strut has developed thumps and rattle. Strut piston rod is binding inside strut body. This is a common Subaru problem with no permanent resolution. |
| 161000 mi US $630 |
Noticed steering rack was leaking fluid when car went in for state inspection. Entire steering rack and tie-rod assembly had to be replaced. |
| 178000 mi US $45 |
The drivers side rear wheel bearing began to make a whining/growling noise at various speeds. I dropped the car at a local repair shop. They were unable to remove the suspension bolts needed to provide clearance so that the drive axle could be removed from the rear hub that carries the bearing assembly . After a couple of days of soaking the bolts and trying heat etc. they told me that to do the repair would require cutting parts of the rear suspension apart and that I might want to reconsider dropping the amount of money needed to do the job into this car. I took the car back and have been driving it with the bearing un-repaired. Apparently frozen suspension bolts on this car are a common problem and so are frequent wheel bearing failures. |
| 177500 mi US $480 |
Drivers side Rear wheel bearing was replaced. |
| 173200 mi US $100 |
Leaking front drivers strut. Failed inspection. Brought it home, ordered the strut, fixed it 04/04. |
| 174000 mi US $35 |
removed used rear struts from a junkyard, replaced both rears but only one was leaky. Now I have one spare (inspector said both were wet but passable- trusted his word - only one was wet) |
| 68000 mi US $2000 |
Passenger side drive link and frame rusted through. |
| 180000 mi US $1000 |
Ball joint in front axle replaced. |
| 62000 mi US $180 |
Suspension issue. I don't recall what the part that was replaced is called. |
| 159500 mi US $700 |
Replaced all struts & then paid for a 4 wheel alignment |
| 49000 mi US $3000 |
Suspension arm broken |
| 99600 mi US $650 |
Needed new Power steering pump |
| 104500 mi US $25 |
Four wheel alignment and replace one front, left tie rod, prior to buying and having four new tires installed. Tie rod was replaced Free of charge coverage by an auto body repair lifetime warranty from a winter driving accident in 2013. |
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