1999 Subaru Forester — Known Issues & Recalls

Your engine has overheated and seized while driving on multiple occasions without any warning lights appearing on your dashboard. This problem happened before after a previous repair, but it came back again. At 170,000 miles, your engine may need a coolant system inspection, thermostat replacement, or head gasket repair to prevent future overheating.

Your Forester's head gasket has failed for the second time, requiring replacement. You've had to replace it once before at your own expense, and the replacement gasket failed again after about 40,000 miles. You believe Subaru knew about this recurring problem with their 4-cylinder engines, especially since your car came with a coolant conditioner additive from the dealership, suggesting the company was aware of cooling system issues related to head gasket failure. Fixing this will require removing the cylinder head and installing a new head gasket.

Your cooling system is losing coolant at a higher-than-normal rate, causing your temperature gauge to approach the red line without warning. The owner believes this is due to design issues with different metals in the engine expanding at different rates, combined with weak gaskets that allow coolant to leak and burn away. Dealers treated the cooling system with a conditioner before sale, but this is a temporary fix that eventually fails. Fixing this problem would likely require replacing the gaskets and possibly other cooling system components.

Your transmission is slipping into neutral without warning, especially when braking or approaching traffic lights, even though the gear shifter stays in Drive. The engine revs but the car won't move forward until you rev the engine repeatedly at high RPMs, causing the vehicle to suddenly lurch forward—sometimes violently. This problem started happening once a month but now occurs multiple times daily, and while a transmission fluid flush helped temporarily, the issue has returned and is getting worse. The transmission may need internal repairs or a complete replacement to fix the mechanical failure causing the slipping.

Your transmission may delay engaging when you shift into Drive, sometimes acting like it's in Neutral for several seconds to minutes. You might need to rev the engine repeatedly to get it to engage, though once it does, it works normally. This issue started at 89,000 miles and has gotten worse over time; temporary fixes include frequent transmission fluid and filter changes, sometimes with additives to help seals, but these only last 500–3,500 miles before the problem returns.

You're having trouble shifting your car into drive, and a mechanic identified a problem with the clutch. Your transmission failed at 119,000 miles, which is relatively early for this component. Fixing this will likely require clutch replacement or transmission repair/overhaul.

Your check engine light came on, and you noticed corrosion around the gas cap and a fuel smell in your garage. A mechanic diagnosed the problem as a rusted fuel filler neck, which was leaking fumes and risked allowing gasoline to leak out. The fuel filler neck was replaced for $330, and the mechanic indicated the corrosion may have been caused by a material defect rather than normal wear.

Your check engine light came on and kept returning even after you replaced the gas cap and had it reset. When you removed the gas cap, you noticed corrosion around the filler neck area with a small hole forming in the metal. A repair shop replaced the fuel filler neck, confirming it was severely corroded and could have eventually allowed gasoline to leak through.

You noticed fuel leaking onto the ground while filling your gas tank. After inspection, you found the fuel filler pipe had rusted through — road debris clogged the plastic covering around it, trapping moisture and accelerating rust formation on the mild steel pipe. The dealer confirmed this is a common replacement part for your vehicle. Fixing this will involve replacing the rusted fuel filler pipe with a new one.

Your engine's head gasket failed while you were driving on the highway, causing the car to stall and become unable to drive. This is a complete engine failure that requires professional repair or replacement.

Your 1999 Subaru Forester had a recall in 2004 for coolant leaks at the engine cylinder head gaskets. Subaru installed a special coolant conditioner as part of the recall, but your head gaskets failed last week anyway, resulting in a large repair bill. Subaru won't cover the repair under their extended warranty because your mileage is just slightly over their limit, even though your car is within the 8-year age window. The mechanics you consulted believe the conditioner was only a temporary fix rather than a proper repair.

While driving 40 mph, you pressed the brake pedal to avoid a dog, but your brakes failed to stop the vehicle and it crashed into a telephone pole. The insurance company determined this was a maintenance issue rather than a defect. Your vehicle's VIN was not included in any recall for this issue.

Your 1999 Forester has a brake system problem, and you've found information online suggesting there's a recall that should apply to your vehicle. However, your dealer is telling you the recall only applies to different model year Foresters and won't cover yours. You believe your car should be included in the recall since it's also a Forester. Getting your dealer to clarify which model years are actually covered under the recall, or seeking a second opinion from another Subaru dealer, may help resolve the coverage question.

Multiple dashboard and interior lights have failed on your 1999 Forester over the past few years. The gear shift illumination went out first, followed by the overhead clock light, and most recently the lights for your speedometer, gas gauge, and odometer have stopped working. You now have to use your cabin light to see your dashboard instruments while driving, which is unsafe and inconvenient. Fixing these issues typically involves replacing failed LED bulbs or the instrument cluster backlight assembly.

When you shift from 3rd to 4th gear or from 4th to 5th gear on the freeway, your engine unexpectedly drops to idle speed instead of staying engaged as you accelerate. This happens during normal driving when you're trying to speed up. The issue likely involves the transmission's shift solenoids or engine control module needing inspection or replacement.

Your brake lines corroded and failed near the junction block under your car behind the passenger seat, causing your brake pedal to become soft and sink toward the floor. You were able to stop the car by pumping the brakes repeatedly and noticed a large puddle of brake fluid underneath. The fix will likely involve replacing the corroded brake lines and possibly the junction block, followed by a complete brake system flush and refill.

Your transmission occasionally won't shift into Drive, though Reverse works fine. After the car sits unused for about a week, it will suddenly engage and work normally again—but the problem returns a few weeks to a couple months later. This suggests an issue with the transmission's engagement system that may require inspection or fluid service.

You experienced four separate sidewall failures with Cooper Weathermaster S/T2 snow tires within one month, with three tires having less than 5,000 miles and one being brand new with only 100 miles. The failures included two blowouts (rear driver side and rear passenger side) and two sidewall bubbles (front driver side), occurring between mid-November and December 16th, 2012. The dealer replaced each failed tire with a new one of the same brand and model, but the replacement tires also developed the same sidewall bubble defect. This issue likely requires investigation into whether the tires have a manufacturing defect or if there's a fitment problem with your vehicle.

While coasting, your Forester unexpectedly accelerated on its own. The vehicle was towed to the dealer at 48,700 miles, where technicians checked the engine, transmission mounts, and speed control system but found no apparent problem. The issue may require further diagnostic testing to identify the cause of the unwanted acceleration.

Your 1999 Forester is experiencing multiple issues including transmission problems, brake issues, a faulty knock sensor, a squeaking noise from the cargo panel, and a failing catalytic converter. These problems are also affecting your gas mileage. Repairs will likely involve transmission service, brake inspection and replacement, knock sensor replacement, cargo panel adjustment or repair, and catalytic converter replacement.