1998 Subaru Forester

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.

1. WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE CONSISTENTLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT STARTING 4 YEARS AFTER CAR PURCHASED NEW. AT 450.00 TO 500.00 EACH TIME. THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUES AND SUBARU NEEDS TO PAY OF EACH REPLACEMENT. 2. FUEL LINE LEAK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND AGAIN LISTED MANY MANY TIME ON ALL SUBARU FIX WEB SITES. COST TO FIX 1600.00 AND MORE IF FUEL TANK NEEDS REPLACING. AGAIN, SUBARU NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THIS. THESE HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE CAR PURCHASED. CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED SINCE PURCHASE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO REV DOWN. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE OXYGEN SENSOR OR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONTACT CALLED LIBERTY AUTO CITY (1000 E PARK AVE, LIBERTYVILLE, IL 60048, (847) 362-2683) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

WHEN AT THE GAS STATIONS I TRY TO PUT GAS INTO MY CAR, IT IS NOT GOING INTO THE TANK PROPERLY, IT KEEPS SHUTTING THE GAS NOZZLE OFF WITHIN SECONDS. VERY HARD TO PUT GAS INTO MY CAR.

INCREASING GRINDING NOISE FROM REAR OF CAR; DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND FAILING RIGHT REAL WHEEL BEARING; REPAIR FOUND FAILED SEAL ON AXLE; ONE CONTROL ARM REPLACED ALONG WITH AXLE AND BEARING. *TR

MY '98 SUBARU FORESTER IS EXPERIENCING REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AGAIN. THESE BEARINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND FAIL OFTEN, FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE WEB. *TR

MY 98 FORESTER HAD THE RIGHT REAR BEARING CHANGED 3 TIMES BY NON DEALER CHAIN. STARTED MAKING NOISE AGAIN. WHEN I WENT TO SUBARU, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT'S COMMON. HE HAS BEEN REPLACING THEM WITH LEGACY BEARINGS AND HAS NOT HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. ALSO THE VENT ON TOP OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL BLOWS OR SWEATS DIFF FLUID OUT ONTO DIFFERENTIAL. POTENTIAL FOR FREEZE UP OF DIFFERENTIAL ONCE ALL FLUID IS GONE. MECHANIC CLAIMS HE WOULD HAVE TO OPEN DIFFERENTIAL AND "NOTCH" SOME METAL GUARD IN THERE TO PREVENT THIS. THIS ALONG WITH BEARINGS-$600. *TR

MY 1998 SUBARA FORESTER WENT INTO A "SUDDEN ACCELERATION". LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS KILLED, BUT THE CAR SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. *TR

1998 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE IT WAS ON FIRE. *MC THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE KNOCK SENSOR 30 DAYS PRIOR. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *JB

VEHICLE LEAKING OIL AT FRONT SEALS AND GETTING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *NM

1998 SUBARU FORESTER'S TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS WHEN THE TIRE BLEWOUT IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO OFF THE ROADWAY AND STRIKE A CONSTRUCTION CONE, DELINEATOR POST AND SOUTH DITCH. THE VEHICLE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL, TAILLIGHT AND BUMPER WERE DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND HIT SOME BRUSH. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE HEATER WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS NOT A POLICE REPORT FILED. UPDATED 3/28/2006 - *NM

THE PLASTIC !! SPEEDOMETER CABLE GEARS (2) FAILED , CAUSING SPEEDOMETER FAILURE , AT OIL TEMP LIGHT TO FLASH , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME , ERRATIC IDLE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, ENGINE STALL . IF THIS IS NOT DANGEROUS I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IS !! COST ME $1300 TO HAVE IT FIXED AND YES THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE ! *JB

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILED. HEADS WERE SAVED, BUT ENGINE HAD TO HAVE TOP-HALF REBUILT.

(1) NOTICED PERIODIC OVERHEATING ON 1998 FORESTER WITH 2.5L DOHC ENGINE. (2) HEAD GASKET FAILED TEMPERATURE SPIKED AND COOLANT BOILED OVER, LARGE AMOUNT OF WHITE STEAM FROM HOOD. (3) DEALER SAID PROBLEM WAS HEAD GASKET AND THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED FOR $1800, SUBARU OF AMERICA WAS NOTIFIED AND DENIED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR ENGINE IN SPITE OF A LARGE NUMBER OF SIMILIAR HEAD GASKET. *AK

LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AT 65000 MILES AN UNLIKELY OCCURANCE AT THIS AGE . *AK

THE CONSUMER PLACED HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE LUNGED INTO GEAR TAKING OFF SOME 40 FEET, STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE DAMAGING BOTH VEHICLES. *JB

1. ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT -- THE CYLINDER WALLS ARE BEING BORED INTO TO PLACE THE ENGINE BOLTS ON THE SUBARU 2.5L ENGINES. IN THIS CASE THE CYLINDER WALL CRACKED THROUGH THE ENTIRE SECTION WHERE IT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY BORED INTO ON THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL COMPLETELY. EACH OF THE 4 CYLINDER WALLS ON MY VEHICLE WERE BORED INTO TO SOME DEGREE. I HAVE A 1998 SUBARU FORESTER L. WITH 72,000 MILES. THERE WAS NEVER AN INDICATION OF A PROBLEM PRIOR TO ENGINE FAILURE. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE PROBLEM. MORE INFORMATION AND PICTURES CAN BE FOUND AT: HTTP://WEBDEV.CE.UTEXAS.EDU/IRWIN 2. THIS CONSEQUENCES OF THE DEFECT RENDERED THE VEHICLE USELESS AND WORTHLESS. AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM OCCURRING. I FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED MAINTANENCE SCHEDULE GIVEN TO ME BY SUBARU AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY AMMENDMENTS TO THAT SCHEDULE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WE WERE LUCKY THE ENGINE FAILURE DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN A REMOTE LOCATION. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM TO DATE. I HAVE A CASE NUMBER (643095) PENDING WITH SUBARU AS OF 6/25/04, BUT WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE REVIEWED FOR ANOTHER 10 DAYS ON 6/28/04. THE ENGINE FAILED ON 6/16/04.*AK

PLEASE NOTE!..... MY 1998 FORESTER L-MODEL WITH ONLY 54400 MILES HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A LEAKY OIL PUMP....THUS CAUSING OIL TO BE DRIPPING FROM THE ENGINE, FRONT AREA, ON TO A PLASTIC SPLASH PAN....WHERE IT LIES UNTIL IT HAS BUILT-UP ENOUGH OF A PUDDLE THAT IT NOW SEEKS TO BE BLOWN REARWARD ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE PAN...(BETWEEN THE SPLASH-PAN AND THE ENGINE) UNTIL FINALLY IT IS BLOWN ON TO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPES LOCATED UNDER THE BODY OF THE CAR...ADJACENT TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (WHICH IS EXTREMELY HOT)....IT APPEARS THAT SUBARU IS TOTALLY AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS....IN FACT THEY HAVE A REPAIR KIT, WHICH COST $ 30.00...AND THE LABOR COST $ 293.00, THIS CONDITION IS 1. AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD, 2, A SAFETY HAZARD (POSSIBLE FIRE), AND 3, A RIP-OFF TO ALL CONSUMERS WHO OWN A SUBARU FORESTER, A OIL-PUMP SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 54,000 MILES FOR TWO-BOLTS COMING LOOSE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE BOLTS ARE LOCATED INSIDE THE ENGINE, HOUSING, AND PROTECTED BY NOT ONE, BUT TWO-SEPARATE COVERS.....AND A SPLASH PAN.....THERE IS A SEVERE PROBLEM....IN ANY ENGINE WHERE PARTS ARE FAILING AT 54,000 MILES IN-TODAY'S TECHNICAL-KNOWLEDGE DRIVE SOCIETY...THE MECHANIC KNEW EXACTLY WHERE TO GO TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM....AFTER I TOLD HIM I SMELT BURNING OIL!*AK

MY 1998 SUBARU FORESTER HESITATES ON ACCELERATION IN THE LOW RPM RANGE. ONCE OVER ABOUT 3000 RPM, IT RUNS FINE. ACCORDING TO A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RELEASED BY SUBARU IN JAN 1999, #11-53-98, THIS IS CAUSED BY THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE INCORRECTLY INTERPRETING VIBRATIONS IN THE ENGINE AS SKIPPING AND READJUSTING THE FUEL FLOW RATE. THE FIX REQUIRES INSTALLING AN UPGRADED ECM--TO THE TUNE OF WELL OVER $1000. THIS HESITATION PRODUCES AN UNSAFE SITUATION BECAUSE THE CAR MAY AT ANY TIME REFUSE TO ACCELERATE, OR ACCELERATE SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

BAD HEAD GASKET CAR IS OVERHEATING, SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE BURNING FROM EXHAUST. *LA