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Fuel systemPart report

2003 Subaru Forester Fuel system Problems

Complaints
57about this part
Share
30%of 189 total for the year
Median mileage
102,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 57 complaints about the fuel system of the 2003 Subaru Forester, 30% of the 189 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 102,000 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“When the weather turns cold there the smell of gasoline in the cabin it happens when the car is in idle mode when driving the smell dissipates but you can still smell it faintly I noticed it last year I went to the dealership in september 2016 and they noticed a pooling of gasoline but they notice anything because the weather was warm so they tightened they tightened the engine to the chassis”

NHTSA complaint #10940304, filed 2017-01, 90,000 miles

“Started and drove vehicle approx. 1 mile in 20 degree weather when I began to smell an extremely strong raw gasoline odor. The passenger compartment was inundated with the odor. I checked for leaks but did not see any(it was at night). I slowly drove home with my passenger-side windows open. Haven't driven the vehicle since....”

NHTSA complaint #10494578, filed 2013-01, 75,000 miles

“When starting my car in very cold temperature there is a very strong raw gasoline smell in the cabin. After driving the car to a doctor's appointment my husband checked under the hood and saw smoke. It is currently parked. This has happened for three days in our current cold weather.”

NHTSA complaint #10558867, filed 2014-01, 60,000 miles

“The previous night was -17, I didn't drive the car all day. At 6:30 pm I drove the car for 1/2hour, all was well. 2 hours later (-3 degrees) I got in the car and drove 15 min at which time I came to a stop sign and turned right onto another road and the smell of gas inside the car began. I looked up the symptoms online and found I'm not the only one. No action has been taken.”

NHTSA complaint #10378535, filed 2011-01, 115,000 miles

“My 2003 Subaru Forester has a fuel leak smell that enters the car interior.. It's not a rich fuel mixture exhaust smell, it's the smell of raw fuel inside the cabin. It comes and goes. I see online others are having this problem. Subaru should be held accountable and forced to have a recall to fix the problem once and for all.”

NHTSA complaint #10303426, filed 2010-01, 100,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Fuel system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202639%
20251717%
202323%
202288%
202173%
2020142%
2019223%
2018214%
2017112%
2016246%
2015579%
2014215%
201323%
201288%
201153%
2010135%
2009106%
200836%
20071216%
20061315%
20052224%
200412457%
20035730%
20021113%
2001107%
200068%
199954%
199855%

Other parts of the 2003 Subaru Forester

Air bags
25 complaints
Suspension
22 complaints
Engine cooling
19 complaints
Body and structure
19 complaints
Vehicle speed control
15 complaints
Engine
12 complaints
Brakes
10 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
9 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaints
Other or unknown
6 complaints
Equipment
5 complaints
Electrical system
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Subaru Forester

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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