| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2004 Subaru Forester repairs by problem area
Engine (48%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (9%)
Brakes and Traction Control (5%)
Suspension and Steering (12%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (20%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (4%)
Other (2%)
Select a problem area
- Engine
- Transmission and Drivetrain
- Brakes and Traction Control
- Suspension and Steering
- Electrical and Air Conditioning
- Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim
- Other
Chart based on 213 repairs.
2004 Subaru Forester electrical repair cost distribution
$2500+ (0%)
$1000 - $2499 (5%)
$500 - $999 (15%)
$100 - $499 (50%)
< $100 (30%)
Chart based on 40 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2004 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| 75000 mi US $2000 |
Air bag sensors in the front seats malfunctioned. |
2004 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 210hp 2.5L I4 5-speed manual AWD
| 103000 mi US $150 |
Bad alternator and belt |
| 81000 mi | Air Bag light lit. Contact cleaner on yellow wire connection under drivers seat. Problem went away. |
2004 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 210hp 2.5L I4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 85000 mi US $50 |
Airbag light on- wire got snagged under passenger seat |
| 58000 mi US $210 |
Air bag warning light. Problem is in the passenger side impact air bag. There's a TSB on the problem. The recommended solution is to replace a connector in the air bag wiring Replaced connector as recommended in the TSB. Repair did not solve the problem |
| 136000 mi US $500 |
AC condenser damaged by road debris. Replaced condenser. No other damage, no idea how long ago the damage occurred. |
| 93000 mi C $300 |
a/c interrmittant |
| 108500 mi | clutch problem, new compressor needed |
| 109500 mi C $1200 |
compressor dead. re and re |
| 118300 mi C $500 |
drivers window motor replacement |
| 145000 mi US $850 |
A/C Compressor Replace, A/C evacuate and recharge |
| 165000 mi US $15 |
Replaced both headlights for the first time since owning the car |
| 46000 mi US $700 |
A/C belt pulley tensioner replaced recharged system done at dealer under extended warranty gold plan |
| 143800 mi US $200 |
air conditioning air sometimes has moldy smell, known issue with many vehicles from 200-2007, ac condenser too small is general consensus, not bad this year, very dry year, previous repair by spraying borax infused water in2 vents kills mold |
| 74000 mi | Rear windshield wiper motor is noisy. Dealer's estimated cost of repair is $300. Decided to wait until next service appointment for the repair because the dealer did not have the part (windshield wiper motor) in stock. |
| 88000 mi US $305 |
Rear windshield wiper motor noisy (noted on previous visit to this dealer). Replacement performed at Subaru dealer, noisy wiper motor replaced with new rear windshield wiper motor. Noise problem totally solved. |
| 91800 mi US $152 |
During preventive maintenance replacement of head light bulbs (still working but old) by Dealer, mechanic found melted l/f head light bulb socket. New wiring and l/f head light socket installed. |
| 59000 mi US $330 |
small ac coolant leak. |
2004 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 70000 mi | Belt squealing - had been replaced recently, shop believes it just needed adjusting and did so no charge. |
| 177000 mi US $250 |
A/C Compressor clutch quit functioning properly. Replaced with used A/C compressor. |
| 183000 mi US $20 |
FOG LIGHT REPLACEMENT bulbs |
| 168300 mi US $300 |
A/C repair |
| 169000 mi US $268 |
The alternator needed replacement. |
| 79980 mi | Air Bag light on |
| 86160 mi C $450 |
Driver's power window motor was seized, therefore replaced |
| 88040 mi C $160 |
Air bag light on. Faulty wiring detected under driver's seat. |
2004 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 142000 mi US $12 |
gap between a/c clutch and ac pulley out of spec. I removed the ac clutch and took out two spacers and re-installed. |
| 169000 mi US $110 |
Belt/pulley tensioner for the A/C belt broke and had to be replaced. Ran OK with broken tensioner, but couldn't adjust or replace the belt |
| 109100 mi C $250 |
Changed starter and battery, car stoped to start when minus 30 celcius in quebec |
| 52000 mi US $200 |
Replace 5-year old battery and corroded cables |
| 54000 mi | First reported slow cranking and failure to start in July; dealer svc dept. said all systems were up to spec after quick recharge. Failed to start again in late Dec. Initial test still showed no trouble, but next day found bad cell in batt. |
| 74400 mi | Replace door lock actuator. Replaced head light wiring harness. The drivers side headlight was burnt out. Upon inspection the wiring harness was melted. Replaced head light wiring harness |
| 140000 mi US $360 |
Replaced evaporator core and expansion valve behind dashboard.Core had leak. Added compressor oil and dye. Ran vacuum pump for one hour. Waited one hour to be sure vacuum held. Recharged system. Price includes gauges, pump and tools. |
| 166000 mi US $136 |
Wire, plug and blower fan receptacle damaged due to overheating at one contact. Remove contact from plug, cleanup and use epoxy glue to hold in place along with new wire. Resolder wires to main harness wiring. Install new blower fan. |
| 229000 mi US $300 |
Starter failed, replaced within a day, required towing cost $300 since it was remote area ... |
| 71000 mi C $500 |
The airbag sensor under the front seats in these older Subarus has a history of failure due to moving the seat back and forth. I had been noticing the airbag light coming on occasionally. Both front seat sensor harnesses were replaced. |
| 71300 mi C $100 |
This is a third trip back for the sticky transmission issue from earlier this year. This time, it was the seat heaters not working. During the previous repair, the harness for the seat heaters was not properly re-plugged. |
| 95000 mi US $800 |
AC compressor replaced AC compressor replaced |
See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs
See TrueDelta's information for all Subaru models.
