2003 Subaru Forester complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PINING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED IN COLD WEATHER. THE NOISE STOPPED AFTER TWO MINUTES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN INSTRUCTING TO REPLACE THE PISTONS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON A GRAVEL ROAD A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MISS THE DEER; THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HIT A DOUBLE POST HEAD ON, THEN SLID DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND STOOD ON ITS NOSE. IT THEN FLIPPED ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE, ROLLED ONTO ITS TOP AND THEN RESTED ON ITS WHEELS. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE, BUT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT. FRONTAL AND SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONSULTED. *AK

2003 SUBARU FORESTER SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTION. *MR WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE MANNER AND STRUCK TWO PARKED VEHICLES THAT WERE 10 FEET AWAY. ONE OF THE VEHICLE'S HIT ANOTHER CAUSING DAMAGE. *SC *JB

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETELY CORRECTED. THE CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN IN A PARKING LOT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. WHEN BACKING OUT, THE VEHICLE STARTED OUT SLOW BUT WOULD THEN SURGE IN REVERSE. THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE STICKING TO THE SLIDERS. THE PADS WERE REMOVED AND THE CORROSION WAS CLEANED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED LIKE IT WAS IN CRUISE AND WHEN THE CONSUMERS FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE GAS, THE SPEED WOULD REMAIN THE SAME. *SC *JB

PROBLEMS WITH FUSES ON THE 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. *MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED A BLOWN FUSE AND THAT THE CONTROL OF HER REAR VIEW MIRRORS WERE NOT WORKING. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING FUSE #4, THE LABEL AND MANUAL STATED "2003 FORESTER MANUAL" A8070BE/MSA5M0304A-PAGE 12-6) DIFFERED IN AMPERAGE FOR NOT ONLY THE #4 BUT ALSO #8 (ABS SOLENOID). THE CONSUMER PROMPTLY CHANGED THE FUSES TO 20 AMPS EACH. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUAL WAS WRONG AND THAT THE LABEL WAS RIGHT. THE CONSUMER PROMPTLY CHANGED BACK TO THE 15 AND 30 AMP FUSES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED CLARIFICATION IN WRITING FROM SUBARU ABOUT THE PROPER AMPERAGE AND OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME MANUAL. *SC

WHEN AT A STOP BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLES BROKE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. WHEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE SNAP RINGS.*AK CONSUMER HAS BOTH AXLE ASSEMBLIES. *TT

THE VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD WHEN PUT IN REVERSE CAUSING IT TO HIT THE FRONT DOOR OF A STORE. THE OWNER THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SHOT IN REVERSE, WHILE ACCELERATING FORWARD, THE CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A HOUSE. OWNER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *JB CAUSE NOT YET DETERMINED. *TT

THE WINDSHIELD HAS REQUIRED THREE REPLACEMENT SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. THE FIRST TWO REPLACEMENTS RESULTED IN NOISE EMANATING FROM THE TOP-CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD BY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE THIRD REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD INVOLVED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE RESULT SO FAR HAS BEEN POSITIVE. ALTHOUGH, IN ORDER FOR THE INSTALLER TO INSURE THAT THE NOISE WAS HALTED, HE HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE WHEN SETTING THE WINDSHIELD AS WELL AS USE A HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANT. THE RESULT OF THESE PROCEDURES WILL RESULT IN THE NEXT WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT, WHEN IT BECOMES NECESSARY, TO BE A DIFFICULT ONE AND WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THE NOISE WILL NOT COME BACK! *AK

ROTOR PREMATURELY WORN. CAR WAS PURCHASED 10/03. ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE TURNED TWICE SINCE PURCHASE DATE. *JB

WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS RECLINED THE CAR SEAT PINCHES THE CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE VOLTAGE THAT OPERATES THE AIR BAGS. WHEN THE CABLE IS PINCHED IT DEACTIVATES THE AIR BAGS, PREVENTING THEM FROM DEPLOYING. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS ASKING $600.00 FOR REPAIRS OF A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK

THE CONSUMER HIT HER GARAGE DOOR WITH THE VEHICLE BREAKING THE REAR HATCH WINDOW. HOWEVER, WHEN THE GLASS BROKE, IT BROKE INTO PIECES AND DID NOT DISINTEGRATE. THE GLASS COMPANY CAME OUT AND EXPLAINED TO HER THAT THE GLASS HAD NOT GONE THROUGH THE PROPER PROCESSING, AND THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

UPON CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004 CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL, AND THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT ADJUSTOR STRAP. HOWEVER, BRITAX DID NOT SEND THE REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER MADE ANOTHER CALL TO BRITAX, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT SHE EVER CALLED. SAFETY SEAT INFORMATION: MARATHON, SERIAL# E9L06057760, BATCH#503780, MANUFACTURED IN 03-17-03. *AK

DEALERSHIP REPLACED THREE TIMES THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO CRACKS. *AK

2002 SUBARU FORESTER - MANUAL TRANSMISSION. PERIODIC CLUTCH SHUDDER WHEN DRIVING.*AK

KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE BECAME INOPERATIVE.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED 80 TO 90% OF THE TIME THE KEYLESS DID NOT WORK. THE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED TWICE WITH AN AFTERMARKET SYSTEM. THE SECOND SYSTEM HAS ONLY FAILED ONCE. *JB *SC

TIRE EXPLOSION WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. NO ACCIDENT ENTAILED. TIRE SHOWS GOOD TREAD LEFT, AND NO APPARENT SOURCE OF PUNCTURE, HITTING ROAD HAZARD OR ANY OTHER DAMAGE. TIRE WILL BE REPLACED . TIRE WAS STOCK ON NEW (2003 SUBARU FORESTER) VEHICLE WITH APPROX 20,000 MILES. TIRE IS A YOKOHAMA GEOLANDER 900, P215/60R 94H WITH SERIAL NUMBER ON IT: C6288U-16. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE OTHER THREE TIRES ARE SAME TYPE. WONDERING IF ANY DEFECTS LED TO FAILURE?*AK

A ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND WITHIN 5 MIN THERE WAS A CRACK ACROSS THE ENTIRE BOTTOMOF THE GLASS, RADIATING DOWN INTO THE HEATING ELEMENT. $975. NE YEAR LATER, ANOTHER ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND ANOTHER CRACK RESULTED IN EXACTLY THE SAME POSITION. IS THERE A FLAW IN THE SUBARU GLASS? I WILL HAVE THIS ONE REPLACED WITH AFTER MARKET GLASS WITHOUT THE HEATING ELEMENT. $632 . *AK

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AT 15,000 MILES. CONSUMER STATED THAT 2,000 MILES LATER THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

THIS VEHICLE POSED A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD ONE KEY HOLE, BUT HAD FIVE DOORS, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO ACCESS THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR/KEY HOLE. ONCE THE CONSUMER WAS IN THE VEHICLE A LOCK PAD ON THE DOOR ALLOWED FOR ENTRY THROUGH THE OTHER DOORS, OR A KEY REMOTE. THE CONSUMER'S LOCK PAD ALSO DIDN'T WORK TEMPORARILY SO THE CONSUMER COULDN'T OPEN THE HATCH. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEMS. *JB THE REMOTE ENTRY DEVICE DID NOT WORK TEMPORARILY SO THE CONSUMER HAD TO GAIN ACCESS WITH THE KEY TO THE ONLY HOLE ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR, BUT THEN THE POWER LOCKS FAILED SO THE CONSUMER HAD NO WAY TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK. THERE WAS NO RELEASE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND NEEDED A NEW HARNESS TO RE-FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE ODOMETER ALONG WITH THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN OWNERSHIP. *SCC THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER WINDOWS *JB

CLUTCH JITTER; STARTED IMMEDIATELY: CLUTCH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 11,900 MILES. SPOKE WITH COUSIN IN CANADA WHO BOUGHT THE SAME CAR THE SAME DAY. ALREADY HAS REPLACED CLUTCH ONCE AND IS HAVING TROUBLE AGAIN WITH JITTER. VEHICLE STALLS FREQUENTLY UPON COLD START. COMPUTER WAS REMOVED FROM VEHICLE AND SENT BACK TO FACTORY TO BE RECALIBRATED AT 11,900. *LA

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED, TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

HAD STARTED TO BRAKE IN ORDER SLOW DOWN VEHICLE AND FELT THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP RIGHT AWAY. HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DEALERSHIP CONCERNING BRAKES. PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL IT SHUT DOWN, THEN VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER AND I WAS PULLING IN A PARKING SPOT AT A HORSE FARM, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR JUST ACCELERATED AND I HIT A TREE. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY HAVE NOT CALLED ME BACK. MY DEALER HAS REPLACED THE COMPUTER BUT IS NOT ABLE TO STATE THIS WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE PUT $305 FOR CAR RENTAL $250 DEDUCTIBLE FOR INSURANCE OUT OF MY POCKET NOT TO ALSO INCLUDE A DAY OF WORK MISSED DUE TO TRYING TO STOP CAR WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKE AND BANGED BOTH KNEES. ALSO I CAN NOT EXPRESS THE FEAR THAT THIS HAS PUT IN ME BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN ME ANY REASONS OR ANSWERS. THEY JUST IGNORED THE WHOLE ISSUE . I DO KNOW OTHER SUBARU'S HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN BUY THESE CARS SINCE THE 80'S. I WOULD HAVE SWORN BY THIS COMPANY UNTIL NOW. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THEY WOULD DENY SUCH AN ISSUE. ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BECOME SERIOUSLY HURT. I NOW CRY AT THE COMMERCIAL THAT STATES THE FORESTER IS THE SAFEST SUV. I TRUST MY DEALER BUT HOW CAN I BE SURE IF THEY REPLACED THE PROPER PARTS IF SUBARU WILL NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. MY DEALER HAS TRIED TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND BUT CAN NOT STATE THAT REPLACEMENT WILL BE RESOLUTION. I DON'T FEEL MY INSURANCE OR MYSELF SHOULD BE PUT OUT DO TO A MECHANICAL PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION BEFORE. I AN SCARED TO DEATH EVERY TIME I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS CAR AND ANY OTHER CAR AT THIS TIME.*JB

MANUAL TRANSMISSION. CLUTCH SHUDDERS (CHATTERS) IN 1ST AND SOMETIMES 2ND GEAR. PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER CAR HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR A WHILE (SUCH AS OVERNIGHT), AND ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING. CAR WAS BOUGHT USED WITH 14,000 MILES, AND HAD THIS PROBLEM FROM WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT. DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.*AK

CLUTCH CHATTER, 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. 18000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A VERY LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER IS REPLACING THE BEARINGS. *AK

WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THE ENGINE FUMBLES THEN STALLS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT INTERMITTENTLY GO FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND BURNED OTHER PART OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED DRUM AND WHEEL CYLINDER. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LOOSE WHEN BRAKING, SEAT MOVES FORWARD. WHEN STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL SEAT TRAVELS BACKWARD. *JB

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V282000. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR 4 DIFFERENT REPAIR APPOINTMENTS. ON 3 DIFFERENT INSTANCES THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT AVAILABLE ONCE CONSUMER ARRIVED FOR APPOINTMENT. ONE 1 OCCASION, CONSUMER CAME IN FOR SATURDAY APPOINTMENT AND WAS TOLD RECALL REMEDY COULD NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON SATURDAY. NOW, CONSUMER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE BACK FOR ANOTHER 3 MONTHS. *NLM

2002 SUBARU FORESTER FRONT DOOR LOCK MECHANISMS ARE DEFECTIVE. JANUARY, 2003 - PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH AND HAD TO TIE IT SHUT. DEALER REPAIRED IT PROMPTLY. MARCH 2003 - DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN - HAD TO CRAWL ACROSS THE SHIFTER TO GET OUT. MANIPULATED INSIDE LOCK LEVER AND EVENTUALLY FREED UP MECHANISM. THIS WOULD NOT BE SAFE IN AN EMERGENCY.*JB

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *JB. *AK

MANUAL CLUTCH CHATTERS. MAINLY 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, ONLY AFTER SITTING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME (6-12 HRS). STARTED EARLY, AROUND 7,000 MILES. FIRST TIME I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT, SUBARU SAID THAT I WASN'T DRIVING IT PROPERLY. 3RD TIME I REPORTED IT (AT 15,000 MI), SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE NOW GOING TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT WITH A HEAVIER DUTY CLUTCH SO THE PROBLEM MAY OCCUR AGAIN. *JB

HEATER AND DEFROSTER FAILURE

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES . ALSO STATES THAT WHILE SHE IS DRIVING AND STEPS ON THE BRAKE PAD THE BRAKE PAD FEELS LIKE IF SOMETHING IS ABSORBING THE PAD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IS NORMAL BECAUSE A NEW BRAKE SYSTEM. TS

THE HILL-HOLDER FEATURE ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIO ACTIVATES WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND UTILIZING THE FOOT BRAKE--AS A RESULT IN ORDER TO RESUME BACKING UP TOO MUCH FORCE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MUST BE USED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH BACKWARD

SUBARU REPLACED REGULAR SEATS WITH LEATHER AFTER MARKET SEATS. ALSO, SUBARU STATED THAT SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS IN REAR MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK