2001 Subaru Forester Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 4%of 139 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 57,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the seat belts of the 2001 Subaru Forester, 4% of the 139 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 57,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Wife was driving our 2001 Subaru Forester. She got too close to edge of paved surface on narrow secondary road and tires dropped off edge. Instead of there being the required flat shoulder or berm, there is a 4+ inch drop at that point. The drop and correcting to the roadway caused her to lose control and the vehicle ended up rolling two or three (witness accounts varied) times and ending upright in a field. During the very first rollover my wife was aware of the seat belt coming unlatched. …”
NHTSA complaint #10131665, filed 2005-08, 57,000 miles“Aotomobile skidded of road d/t snow/slush stopping in culvert. Damage to front end considered substantial. Air bags did not deploy and seat belt apparently did not hold occupant since her head hit the windshield. She was transported to local er. The fact that the airbags did not depoly impressed the police and emts at the accident site.”
NHTSA complaint #738943, filed 2001-01“Brakes lightly applied due to slush on roadway,brakes did not work vehicle crashed, driver suffered concusion as head hit windshield and air bags did not depoly. Seat belt did not hold driver firmly. Subaru home office notified, chris, customer service rep appears not very concerned and almost callous in response to our concerns. Ins co has elected to further investigation the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #739891, filed 2001-01“Seatbelt is fastened under the hip, and it's like t shape design. Seat belt pinches consumer in the side, to the point that is really hard to get buckle unloosened. In an accident it may be hard to get out of vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #861178, filed 2000-05“While traveling 40 MPH on snow while trying to slow down consumer ran off road .air bags did not deploy with front end damage. The seat belt not adquately restrain the driver.”
NHTSA complaint #878895, filed 2001-01Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 2% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 1 | 1% |
| 2020 | 3 | 1% |
| 2019 | 6 | 1% |
| 2018 | 10 | 2% |
| 2017 | 10 | 2% |
| 2016 | 6 | 1% |
| 2015 | 9 | 1% |
| 2014 | 9 | 2% |
| 2013 | 3 | 4% |
| 2012 | 3 | 3% |
| 2011 | 7 | 5% |
| 2010 | 6 | 2% |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
| 2003 | 3 | 2% |
| 2001 | 5 | 4% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 4 | 3% |
| 1998 | 2 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2001 Subaru Forester
29 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsBrakes
16 complaintsEngine cooling
16 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsAir bags
12 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsWheels
7 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsTires
5 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology