2004 Subaru Forester vs 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2004 Subaru Forester | 2004 Volkswagen Touareg |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 219 | 231 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 137 | 260 |
| Investigations | 1 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–21 | 14–18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 97,000 mi | 47,323 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Forester | Volkswagen Touareg |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 63 | 23 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 61 | 10 |
| Power Train | 12 | 50 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 49 |
| Air Bags | 21 | 27 |
| Suspension | 25 | 20 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 16 | 22 |
| Tires | 2 | 36 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 14 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 13 | 10 |
| Stalling | 6 | 21 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 27 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 8 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 5 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 5 |
2004 Subaru Forester
2004 Volkswagen Touareg
Compare all Subaru Forester vs Volkswagen Touareg 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.