2001 BMW X5 vs 2001 Subaru Forester
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 BMW X5 | 2001 Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 160 | 139 |
| Recall campaigns | 12 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 72 | 111 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 31 |
| Fire reports | 16 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–16 | 21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,829 mi | 57,023 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW X5 | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 31 | 16 |
| Power Train | 15 | 23 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 29 |
| Air Bags | 16 | 12 |
| Electrical System | 24 | 2 |
| Suspension | 7 | 15 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 18 | 0 |
| Visibility | 14 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 9 | 7 |
| Electrical failures | 6 | 0 |
| Overheating | 5 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 12 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 11 |
2001 BMW X5
2001 Subaru Forester
Compare all BMW X5 vs Subaru Forester years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.