Page 3 of 3 · complaints 101–147 of 147

2011 Subaru Forester complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2011 record →

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 16, 2015NJ

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE SUN VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FELL ON ITS OWN, OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW. WHEN I PUSHED IT BACK UP IT PROMPTLY FELL BACK DOWN - IT WOULD NOT STAY IN ANY OTHER POSITION BUT HANGING STRAIGHT DOWN. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET A SCREW DRIVER TO REMOVE THE VISOR TO KEEP IT FROM OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW. NOW MY DRIVER SIDE VISOR IS STARTING TO NOT STAY COMPLETELY UP AGAINST THE CEILING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN TWO WAYS, ONE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT STAY UP AND OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW, AND TWO IT CAN NOT BE USED AS A SUN VISOR (AS INTENDED) TO KEEP THE SUN FROM BLINDING ME. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY FOUR-YEARS OLD; I DID CONTACT THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL, AND IT IS NOT COVERED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE BOTH OF MY VISORS APPEAR TO BE BAD, I BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A LOT OF VEHICLES WILL START HAVING THIS PROBLEM.

Structure › Body1 injured
Filed Jul 19, 201561,000 milesNY

ON JUNE 8 2015 I ATTENDED A MEETING. WHEN THE MEETING ENDED AT 8 PM, IT WAS RAINING HARD. I HURRIED TO THE CAR, OPENED THE DRIVER?S DOOR WITH MY LEFT HAND AND SMACKED THE CORNER OF THE DOOR INTO MY LEFT EYEBROW. THE BLEEDING WAS SUBSTANTIAL, DRIPPING LARGE DROPS ONTO THE GROUND AND ONTO MY DRESS. A STRANGER STOPPED, ADVISING ME TO KEEP CONTINUAL PRESSURE ON THE WOUND UNTIL IT STOPPED BLEEDING. EVENTUALLY IT DID SO AND I DROVE HOME ONE-HANDED WITH THE OTHER KEEPING PRESSURE ON MY FOREHEAD. SINCE THE BLEEDING HAD ENDED, A PRESSURE BANDAGE KEPT IT STOPPED FOR THE NIGHT. THE BLACK EYE HAS FADED. THERE IS NO PERMANENT DAMAGE EXCEPT FOR A 5/8" SCAR ACROSS MY EYEBROW AND A RUINED DRESS. INSPECTING THE DOOR THE NEXT MORNING, I REALIZED THE CORNER OF THE DOOR COMES TO AN ACUTE ANGLE. THE DOOR ITSELF IS WEATHERSTRIPPED AND HAS A RUBBER GASKET. BUT THE EXPOSED METAL CORNER OF THE DOOR HAS NO PROTECTION. IT IS TOTALLY EXPOSED! I HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF BEING A 5?8? FEMALE WHOSE EYE HEIGHT MEETS THE CORNER OF THE DOOR. I ALSO HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF BEING LEFT-HANDED SO I OPEN THE DOOR WITH MY PRIMARY HAND. (OPENING A DRIVER?S DOOR WITH THE RIGHT HAND OFFERS SOME PROTECTION BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE ARM.) SUBSEQUENT TO THIS EVENT, I WROTE SUBARU CORPORATE AS WELL AS THE LOCAL DEALER. THEIR REPLY THANKED ME FOR SUGGESTING A DESIGN CONCEPT (I THINK THAT WAS THE PHRASE). A 'GOODY BOX' FROM SUBARU ARRIVED SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 21, 201537,000 milesMD

AS I WAS PULLING INTO A HEAD ON PARKING SPACE, I BEGAN TO APPLY MY BRAKES AND MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PUMP MY BRAKES AND STOP THE CAR. A WITNESS WHO WAS SITTING ON A BENCH NEARBY SAID HE HEARD MY CARBURETOR REV. I AM NOW SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 30, 2015OK

2011 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BATTERY REPLACEMENT AND KEY REPROGRAMMING REPAIR COSTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK AND THEN STOP. *JB

Engine
Filed Mar 10, 20151,200 milesVA

VEHICLE HAS HAD ABNORMALLY HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION SINCE PURCHASED. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 5, 2015MD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A DEALER, BUT THE REMEDY WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 5, 2015MD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S OIL CONSUMPTION WAS EXCESSIVE AND THAT THE ENGINE OIL WOULD BE DEPLETED MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 4, 201525,000 milesWI

I AM THE CARE TAKER AND SON OF THIS CAR'S ELDERLY OWNER AND DRIVER, AND I JUST GOT A SECOND RECALL NOTICE (14V-830) THAT SAYS, "DUE TO INCOMPLETE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED TO OUR RETAILERS, YOUR VEHICLE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TREATED WITH THE PROPER AMOUNT OF ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL" (REFERRING TO FIRST RECALL REPAIR).THE RECALL ALSO SAYS TO CONTACT YOUR WEBSITE "IF YOU BELIEVE THE SUBARU RETAILER HAS FAILED OR IS UNABLE TO REMEDY YOUR VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME." IT WILL NOT BE WITHOUT A CHARGE, THAT IS, COST TO ME. LIKE RECALL ONE I WILL HAVE TO TAKE OFF WORK AND LOSE PAY AND SPEND THE TIME AND EXPENSE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO AND FROM THE DEALER, ALL BECAUSE OF SUBARU'S IMPROPER MANUFACTURING (RECALL ONE) AND POOR EXECUTION OF THE SUPPOSED REPAIR (RECALL TWO). THEREFORE SUBARU CORP SHOULD PAY ME OR MY MOTHER, OR PAY THE DEALER TO PAY ME FOR THE EXPENSES I WILL INCUR FOR THE "WITHOUT CHARGE" REPAIR. AMOUNT REQUESTED IS $50. *TR

Engine
Filed Jan 13, 2015103,000 milesNY

I PURCHASED MY 2011 SUBARU FORESTER USED FROM A DEALERSHIP IN NY. I STARTED NOTICING THAT IT WAS BURNING THROUGH OIL. I TOOK IT TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT THAT IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AND THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. SUBARU DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE THOUGH SO I HAVE TO MAKE A CLAIM ON MY WARRANTY AND OF COURSE THEY HAVE FOUND A LOOP HOLE TO NOT COVER THE REPAIR (PISTON RINGS ARE DAMAGED DUE TO FAULTY CYLINDER WALLS AND, CONVENIENTLY, THE CYLINDER WALLS ARE NOT CONSIDERED AN INTERNAL PART SO THE WARRANTY WON'T COVER). NOW I'M LEFT WITH EITHER REPLACING MY ENGINE OR TAKING A LARGE HIT ON MY TRADE-IN VALUE. HAD I KNOWN THAT I WOULD'VE BEEN REPLACING THE ENGINE LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER BUYING THE CAR I WOULD'VE NEGOTIATED A MUCH LOWER PRICE FOR THE CAR OR WENT WITH A DIFFERENT MAKE/MODEL. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE AN ENGINE OR BUY A NEW CAR, I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE THAN TO CONTINUE TO POUR OIL INTO THIS CAR AND HOPE THAT I DON'T BREAK DOWN ON THE EXPRESSWAY OR BACK ROADS DURING MY 60 MILE COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK OR WHEN I HAVE MY CHILD IN THE CAR. *TR

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Jan 7, 201540,000 milesIL

WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND SNOWSTORMS. WIPER BLADES FREEZE AND WILL NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. SNOW AND ICE GATHER IN THE TROUGH WHERE THE BLADES REST AND BLOCK FLUID. WARMING FEATURE WILL NOT CLEAR THIS PROBLEM AS THE SNOW AND ICE CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE IN THIS AREA. SALT CANNOT BE CLEARED FROM THE WINDSHIELD EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS FULLY WARMED UP AND THE WIPER WARMING FEATURE IS ACTIVATED. THE REAR WIPER ASSEMBLY ALSO FREEZES AND ACCUMULATES LARGE ICE CHUNKS. MY VISIBILITY BECOMES IMPAIRED BY OVER 75% CAUSING AN EXTREME HAZARD. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 14, 201422,736 milesMO

WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CEL) IS ACTIVATED BY AN EMISSION CONTROL FAILURE SUBARU HAS PROGRAMMED A SHUT DOWN OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (AS WELL AS SHUT DOWN OF CRUISE CONTROL). THIS ABS SHUT DOWN COULD OCCUR FOR A SIMPLE LOOSE GAS CAP WHICH IS COMMON CAUSE OF CEL FAILURE. THE SECTION 3-16 ON CEL WARNING LIGHT/MALFUNCTION INDICATOR DOES NOT INFORM THE OWNER THAT A CEL EVENT WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE DISABLING OF THE ABS. THE DRIVER FINDS THIS OUT ONLY BECAUSE THE CEL IS ACCOMPANIED BY BLINKING CRUISE LIGHT AND STEADILY ILLUMINATED ABS LIGHT. PER OWNER MANUAL SECTION 7-23 FOR 2011 FORESTER WHEN THE ABS IS DISABLED THE CAR/DRIVER/PASSENGERS ARE A RISK OF LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND DIRECTIONAL STABILITY. THREE CEL EVENTS OCCURRED FROM JUNE 2013 TO DECEMBER 2014 FOR SAME PROBLEM BECAUSE THERMOSTAT WAS NOT TO BE REPLACED PER SERVICE BULLETIN 09-56-13/10/21/13 UNTIL ECM RE-PROGRAMMING OCCURRED. THEREFORE I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE WITHOUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM 3 TIMES 6/13; 8/14 AND 12/14 UNTIL REPAIRS COULD BE SCHEDULED. I AM REQUESTING THAT SUBARU NOT BE ALLOWED TO DISABLE THE ABS FOR CEL/EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. THIS IS BECAUSE I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE UNPREDICTABLE CEL EVENTS SOME DURING WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR WHICH ABS FUNCTION WAS CRITICAL. THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET ASSEMBLY WEE REPLACED.

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Nov 25, 2014MA

DRIVEWAY ACROSS FROM TWO WAY STREETS, CHURCH AND MAIN STS. CARS PARKED ON EITHER SIDE OF DRIVEWAY, MAKING EXITING DIFFICULT AND PRECAUSIONS MUST BE TAKEN. UPDATED 5/1/15 *JS

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Nov 3, 201422,000 milesNY

WHILE BACKING UP (CAR IN REVERSE) AT ABOUT 5 MPH, ACCELERATION OCCURRED MAKING THE CAR GO BACKWARDS VERY FAST. PRESSING THE BRAKE PAD TO THE GROUND HAD NO AFFECT. THE CAR, REVERSING OUT OF CONTROL, SIDE-SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. CAR FINALLY BACKED UP INTO A HUGE FORKLIFT WHICH WENT THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW AND STOPPED THE CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT THE SUBARU FORESTER WAS TOTALED. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 2, 201450,000 milesDE

PASSENGER LOW BEAM LIGHT CONTINUES TO BURN OUT. *TR

Engine
Filed Oct 16, 201414,000 milesRI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AFTER EVERY OIL CHANGE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

Engine
Filed Sep 18, 201487,000 milesFL

OIL LEAKING FROM VALVE COVERS. IT IS CHRONIC ACROSS OTHER MODELS. JUST SEARCH REPAIR HISTORIES OF SUBARU BOXER ENGINES. *TR

Engine
Filed Sep 15, 201463,000 milesCA

ENGINE BEGAN MAKING LOUD KNOCKING SOUND WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. I PULLED OFF AND PARKED AND CALLED FOR TOW TRUCK. DEALER SERVICE REPORTS THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 63,000 MILES AND GETS REGULAR MAINTENANCE. EACH TIME I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED, THE ENGINE IS A QUART LOW. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. THIS IS HARD TO BELIEVE FOR A MODERN VEHICLE WITH REDUCED (PARTIAL ZERO) EMISSIONS. I CHECK THE OIL REGULARLY AND AM SHOCKED THAT SUBARU SELLS CARS WITH ENGINES THAT BARELY LIVE PAST THE 60000 MILE DRIVE-TRAIN WARRANTY. SOMETHING IS FUNDAMENTALLY DEFECTIVE WITH THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF SUBARU'S ENGINES IF THIS IS HOW THEY ARE ENGINEERED TO PERFORM. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ONLINE AND MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I AM FORTUNATE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE SAFELY. SUCH A SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE COULD VERY EASILY HAVE ENDED IN A CRASH. *TR

Structure › BodyCrash
Filed Sep 9, 201481,743 milesMD

MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND AT LEAST 2 OTHER CARS AT AROUND 4:45 P.M. ON 9-8-14. MY ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED RACING AND PULLING MY CAR TOWARD THE CAR SITTING IN FRONT OF MINE. I ALREADY HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BECAUSE I WAS STOPPED. I PRESSED EVEN HARDER ON THE BRAKE AS THE CAR TOOK OFF OUT OF MY CONTROL. THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING AND MY CAR CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE. *TR

Engine
Filed Aug 17, 201476,000 milesNY

I WAS DRIVING DOWN TO QUEENS TO SEE MY WIFE'S FAMILY AND AS SOON AS I PASSED A TRUCK I HEARD SOMETHING HIT MY CAR. AS SOON AS I GOT INTO LONG ISLAND, I HEARD THE ENGINE REVVING AS IF IT WERE A DIESEL ENGINE. I STOPPED AT A SHOP AND THEY LISTENED TO IT AND SAID THAT IT IS AN INTERNAL ISSUE IN THE ENGINE AND NOT TO DRIVE IT. THEY HELPED ME OUT BY FINDING THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND THEY CALLED. THE GUY FROM THE SHOP CALLED SUBARU AND THEY TOLD HIM TO CALL THE TOW TRUCK TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR SHOP. THAT WAS MESSED UP, HAVE A NON PARTY CALL FOR A TOW?? THEN THE GUY TAKING MY ORDER, DIDN'T GIVE ME A RECEIPT NOR MY COPIES OF THE SERVICES FROM THE PAST. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I AM ENTITLED TO A RENTAL CAR BUT WAS STUCK WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND NEEDED A VEHICLE TO GET BACK TO WORK WHICH I LIVE 3-1/2 HOURS AWAY FROM THE SHOP AND NOW I AM STUCK PAYING FOR TOLLS AND HAVE A HOLD ON MY CREDIT CARD BECAUSE OF SUBARU. ON FRIDAY I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CALL, I HAD TO CALL BECAUSE THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK. THEN THEY TELL ME THAT IT IS THE ENGINE AND THEY HAVE TO DROP THE OIL PAN ON MONDAY. THE WORST THING IS THAT I HAD REPORTED ENGINE PROBLEMS AT 47,000 MILES WHICH I HAVE IT DOCUMENTED FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHING.... JUST LIKE ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I HAD WITH MY WINDOW IN THE PAST... AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON IN THE PAST.... NOW AFTER THIS MAJOR ISSUE THEY WANT MORE PAPERWORK... THIS IS JUST MESSED UP. *TR

Engine
Filed Jul 25, 201481,000 milesMA

MY VEHICLE IS CONSUMING/ BURNING OIL RAPIDLY, ADDING IN 2-4 QUARTS BETWEEN RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGES. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE UNDER ENGINE TO SUGGEST A LEAK. MULTIPLE OIL CHANGES AND MECHANIC UNABLE TO FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF A LEAK FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALS THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IN MULTIPLE SUBARU ENGINES. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 14, 2014OH

I CALLED BOARDMAN SUBARU REGARDING RECALL ISSUED ON BRAKE LINE AND SPOKE TO THEIR SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER. HE SAID THEY ARE NOT RECALLING SUBARU'S BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE LINE ISSUE THAT THIS IS JUST THE NATIONAL SAFETY AND THEY AREN'T DOING ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT THIS DATE!!!HE TOLD ME MY CAR WAS SAFE. I AM VERY CONCERNED. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 27, 2014NY

EVERY TIME I GET MY OIL CHANGED THE DEALER INFORMS ME I AM DOWN A QUART OF OIL WHICH THEY SAY IS NORMAL. I HAVE OWNED 20 CARS AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND I THINK I AM GETTING THE RUN-AROUND. CAN YOU HELP? *TR

Structure › BodyFire
Filed Jun 19, 201434,000 milesNY

CAR WAS BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 3RD FOR KNOCKING SOUND,I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE WHICH WAS REPLACED, CAR PICKED UP JUNE 10 AFTER REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. WHILE DRIVING ON JUNE 10TH IN THE EVENING, THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK AND KICK AND NOT RESPOND TO PUSHING ON GAS PEDAL, AT ONE POINT STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN SLOWED DOWN, PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTED THAT BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING OUT FROM HOOD. CAR BURNED SIGNIFICANTLY WHILE FIREFIGHTERS TRIED TO PUT IT OUT. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Apr 2, 201427,000 milesNY

MY WIFE'S CAR LOCKED ITSELF WITH KEYS AND BABY INSIDE ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN WINTER (DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE) AND OUR BABY WAS LOCKED IN THE COLD CAR FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR WHILE WE WAITED FOR AAA. MY WIFE THOUGHT SHE HAD SOMEHOW KNEELED ON THE KEY/REMOTE IN HER HANDBAG WHILE PUTTING THE BABY IN HIS CAR SEAT. SINCE THEN SHE HAS TAKEN CARE NOT TO TOUCH THE KEY (AND REMOTE) BEFORE SHE GETS IN THE CAR TO DRIVE. TODAY SHE PLACED THE KEY/REMOTE ON THE FRONT SEAT, THEN PUT THE BABY IN THE CAR SEAT (IN BACK), CLOSED THE BACK DOOR, AND THE CAR LOCKED ITSELF WITH HER OUTSIDE AND THE BABY INSIDE. AAA ARRIVED QUICKLY AND OPENED THE CAR. THE AAA GUY SAID HE HAS HAD MORE SUBARUS WITH DRIVERS LOCKED OUT THAN ANY OTHER MAKE. I ALSO SPOKE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE SUBARU DEALER WHO SOLD US THE CAR ABOUT THIS INCIDENT, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS MODEL YEAR HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM FAIRLY OFTEN, AND THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED IN SUBSEQUENT MODELS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO SUBARU CORP CUSTOMER SERVICE--THEIR CASE NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 10, 201432,000 milesPA

BRAKE SWITCH WENT BAD. NO TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, OR 4 WAYS. DURING A 300 MILE TRIP, PART OF WHICH WAS IN THE DARK. WAS STOPPED BY STATE POLICE AND TOWED TO DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA OF SCRANTON) WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. *TR

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Mar 9, 201429,000 milesNY

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES HAVE MALFUNCTIONED FOR ME NUMEROUS TIMES AND I WILL NOW ONLY DRIVE MY SUBARU (DESPITE ALL WHEEL DRIVE, WHICH WORKS WELL) WHEN ROAD CONDITIONS ARE GOOD. ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING MID-DAY ON PLOWED BUT SNOWY ROAD; DOWNHILL; I WAS NOT TURNING, BUT WANTED TO GO MORE SLOWLY AND TAPPED BRAKES. ANTI LOCK BRAKES KICKED IN AND CAR BEGAN TO SKID; SKIDDED OFF ROAD AND INTO A MAILBOX; NEEDED TO BE TOWED OUT. AFTER BEING PULLED OUT, AND CONTINUING DOWN HILL, AT 10 MPH, CAR BEGAN TO SKID AGAIN. FRIEND FOLLOWING ME SAID IT APPEARED FRONT BRAKES WERE WORKING AND BACK BRAKES WERE NOT. HAD TWO MECHANICS LOOK AT THE BRAKES (ONE I TRUST AND THE DEALER) AND BOTH TOLD ME THEY ARE FINE. DEALER SAID THE COMPUTER RECORD DIDN'T RECORD A PROBLEM BUT I THINK SOFTWARE THAT MANAGES THE ABS IS MALFUNCTIONING. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW NUMEROUS BLOG DISCUSSIONS ABOUT DISCONNECTING ABS ON SUBARUS IN WINTER SO I THINK OTHERS MUST BE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS - FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST AND THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS/PEDESTRIANS SO NO ONE WAS HURT. I HAVE DRIVEN A SUBARU FOR 13 YEARS IN ALL KINDS OF CONDITIONS SO I DON'T THINK IT IS ME NOT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE ABS. ABS PROBLEM OCCURS IN CONDITIONS WHEN I THINK AWD IS HELPFUL BUT I NEED TO SLOW DOWN -- HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH AWD WHEN I AM GOING UPHILL OR NOT BRAKING. *TR

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Feb 27, 201433,548 milesPA

MY HUSBAND PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU FORESTER IN MAY OF 2011 FOR ME WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS. IT WAS A BIG INVESTMENT FOR US AND I HAD HOPED TO DRIVE MY NEW SUBARU FORESTER 2011 FOR SEVERAL YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT, I NOTICED THE BRAKES TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY FASHION OR QUICKLY ENOUGH. I TOLD MY HUSBAND ALL THE TIME, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO DRIVE MY CAR, ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT ITS BRAKES. I HAD MY VEHICLE REGULARLY SERVICED AS PER THE COMPANIES WARRANTY REQUIREMENTS AND AT ONLY AUTHORIZED SUBARU SERVICE & DEALERSHIP CENTERS. I RECENTLY TOLD THE SERVICE DEPT AT MY 30,000 MILE SERVICING ABOUT THE BRAKES ISSUES I HAD AGAIN, TO THEIR ATTENTION BUT THEY SAID THAT- 'THAT WAS THE WAY THE FORESTER'S BRAKES WERE AND THAT I HAD TO PUSH THE PEDAL HARD TO THE FLOOR(PUMP THE BRAKES) TO STOP IT QUICKLY ENOUGH" AND MY BRAKES WERE FINE ACCORDING 30,000 MILE SERVICING, AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR RESPONSE I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD 25 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY APPEARED IN FRONT OF ME TO STOP TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. I PUSHED THE BRAKES BUT MY VEHICLE JUST WOULD NOT STOP QUICKLY ENOUGH. I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. TO DISCOVER THAT MY FRONT BUMPER NOW HAD A HUGE CRACK IN IT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A VEHICLE WHOSE BRAKES ARE SO BAD THAT IT WILL NOT STOP THE VEHICLE QUICKLY ENOUGH AND NEEDS TO BE PUMPED TO STOP IT SOONER(WHICH MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THE ONE

EngineCrash
Filed Feb 17, 201423,500 milesNH

I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, APPLIED MY BRAKES AND WAS ABOUT TO PUT MY 2011 SUBARU FORESTER INTO PARK WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND DROVE INTO A STORE FRONT. THE CAR TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET BEFORE HITTING THE WALL AND PLATE GLASS WINDOW. MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 1, 201330,295 milesVA

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR 30K MAINTENANCE. WHEN I PICKED IT UP DEALER HAD CHANGED BRAKE FLUID (BRAKES HAD BEEN FUNCTIONING PERFECTLY PRIOR). WHEN LEAVING DEALER LOT BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND I WENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY ONCOMING VEHICLE DODGED ME. I PUMPED PEDAL AND GOT BRAKES AND WENT BACK INTO DEALERSHIP. THEY BLED BRAKES AND SAID IT WAS READY. WHEN BACKING OUT OF SPACE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN WENT TO FLOOR BUT VEHICLE STOPPED. I CALLED A SERVICE WRITER OVER AND SHOWED HIM PEDAL ON FLOOR. I LEFT CAR AND NEW MASTER CYLINDER WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED NEXT DAY. I WENT TO PICK UP VEHICLE AND AGAIN PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND I HAD ANOTHER SERVICE WRITER WITNESS IT. TOOK PIC WITH CELL PHONE. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR IF ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AND WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. I TOLD HIM ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND BRAKE PEDAL SHOULD NEVER GO TO FLOOR IF ENGINE RUNNING OR NOT. IF BOOSTER BLEEDS DOWN PEDAL MAY GO SOMEWHAT LOWER THAN NORMAL. PEDAL HAD NEVER WENT ANYWHERE NEAR FLOOR BEFORE. I REFUSED TO DRIVE CAR AS I DEEMED IT DANGEROUS. IF PEDAL WAS PUMPED IT WOULD COME TO NORMAL POSITION. HE FINALLY AGREED TO CONTACT SUBARU REPRESENTATIVE TO LOOK AT IT NEXT WEEK. IF I HAD NOT HAD MECHANICAL BACKGROUND AND HAD LISTENED TO HIM AND DROVE A CAR WHERE THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO TO FLOOR WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULTS? AT NO TIME EVEN AFTER I MENTIONED IT WAS THE ABS SYSTEM CHECKED FOR AIR TO MY KNOWLEDGE. NORMAL BLEEDING AT WHEELS WILL NOT R

Structure › BodyCrash
Filed Jul 9, 201328,000 milesNY

PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A LOCAL TRAIN STATION. CAR WAS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. NOT SURE IF KEYS WERE IN IGNITION OR NOT. WHEN REACHING OVER TO GET HANDBAG AND TOTE I HEARD THE ENGINE REV UP VERY SUDDENLY AND LOUDLY, CAR JUMPED 6" CURB AND PROPELLED FORWARD ABOUT TWO FEET WHEN RIGHT FRONT BUMPER HIT TREE AND CAR STOPPED. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I WAS NOT INJURED. BEFORE I EVEN KNEW ABOUT THIS WEBSITE I TOLD THE ADJUSTER AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CAR TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN. THE ONLY REACTION I GOT WAS STRANGE LOOKS. TOLD BY BODY SHOP THAT CAR WAS "TOTALLY FIXABLE" WITHIN TWO WEEKS. $7,000 IN BODY WORK 3 WEEKS LATER WAS TOLD ENGINE WAS "RUNNING ROUGH" AND IT WAS SENT TO SUBARU DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. TOLD THAT ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT - MACHINING HEAD; VALVE REPLACEMENT; NEW GASKETS ETC. FIVE WEEKS LATER SUBARU STILL HAS MY CAR. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO PRIOR TO KNOWING ABOUT THIS WEBSITE AND SEEING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM I ORDERED A NEW SUBARU USING THIS ONE AS A TRADE IN. SUBARU WON'T GIVE ME A TRADE IN VALUE UNTIL CAR IS FIXED AND THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FIVE WEEKS AND STILL HAVEN'T FIXED IT. I LIVE IN THE SUBURBS AM 62 YEARS OLD AND I'VE BEEN TAKING TRAINS, BUSES, MY BIKE AND WALKING TO GET TO WORK AND TO DO EVERYDAY ERRANDS. NO OFFER OF A LOANER FROM SUBARU ALTHOUGH I'VE ASKED TWICE. CONTACTED CORPORATE SUBARU AND REPORTED WHAT I READ ON THIS WEBSITE AND MY OWN EXPERIENCE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE HARD TO PROVE. LAST WEEK CORPORATE SAID THEY WOU

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jul 2, 201330,000 milesOH

DRIVER (ADULT FEMALE) WAS BACKING UP TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER LIFTED FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND HIT THE BRAKE. VEHICLE ACCELERATED EVEN MORE. CRASHED INTO A GUY WIRE ON AN ELECTRIC POLE, SNAPPING OFF THE TOP OF THE POLE. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE SECOND DRIVER (ADULT MALE) WAS BACKING UP IN THE DRIVEWAY TO TURN AROUND. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. SECOND DRIVER NOW A BELIEVER. *TR

Engine
Filed May 9, 20139,000 milesPA

AFTER OWNING 3 OTHER SUBARUS, WE FIGURED IT WAS A GREAT IDEA TO BUY A 4TH. WELL, SUBARU HAS CHANGED THE ENGINE DESIGN ENOUGH WHERE AS THE OIL NEEDED IS A SUPER LIGHT WEIGHT SYNTHETIC 0W20. AFTER ABOUT 2000 MILES CONSISTENTLY, THE CAR WILL ALWAYS NEED OIL. WE HAVE 40,000 ON IT NOW AND AFTER MULTIPLE OIL CHANGES THE CAR STILL USES WAY TOO MUCH OIL. NOT A GREAT CHOICE OF A CAR IS WHAT I AM THINKING NOW. SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP IN FROM THE NHTSA AND DETERMINE WHY A NEW CAR WOULD BE LOSING OIL AS FAST AS THE SUBARU DOES. I HAVE READ OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. MAYBE IT IS TIME TO START AN ONLINE PETITION TO HELP NUDGE NHTSA AND SUBARU. *TR

Engine
Filed Mar 27, 201312,000 milesNY

ON THE LAST TWO DATES THIS VEHICLE STARTED UP BY ITSELF WITHOUT INPUT FROM KEY OR REMOTE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNLOCKED BY REMOTE WHICH IS THE MANUFACTURER REMOTE. THE DOOR WAS OPENED THEN THE "LOCK" BUTTON IN THE DOOR WAS PRESSED AND THE DOOR CLOSED. AFTER THE DOOR WAS SHUT THE ENGINE STARTED UP. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE ENGINE WOULD STILL KEEP RUNNING EVEN THOUGH THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THIS VEHICLE WAS FITTED WITH A REMOTE STARTER BY THE DEALER (NOT FACTORY). THE REMOTE START WAS CHANGED TWICE, I'M ON THE THIRD SET. THE DEALER ASKED ME TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE AGAIN ON FRIDAY MARCH 29TH SO THAT THE REMOTE START INSTALLER CAN LOOK AT IT AGAIN. ORIGINALLY WHEN THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING I WOULD HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE WIRE FROM THE BATTERY TO STOP THE ENGINE AS EVERYTHING ELSE FAILED TO STOP IT. SUBSEQUENTLY WHEN THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING IT WOULD ONLY BE SHUT OFF WITH THE REMOTE STARTER. THIS PROBLEM STILL KEEPS HAPPENING OCCASIONALLY. *TR

Air BagsCrash
Filed Feb 7, 201310,300 milesFL

PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT THE CVS DRUG STORE, PINE ISLAND RD AND DEL PRADO BLVD IN CAPE CORAL FL., PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS ON ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, HITTING A PARKED CAR HEAD ON. MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND MY CAR HIT THE PARKED CAR SO HARD IT DROVE IT OVER A CONCRETE BARRIER OUT OF THE LOT. THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR ALONE WAS $10,000. THE OTHER CAR WAS DESTROYED. I HAVE HAD SUBARU CARS FOR 33 YEARS. THIS FORESTER WAS MY 8TH SUBARU. WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED, I WAS THROWN BACK, MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE BRAKE OR GAS PEDAL. THE CAR KEPT RUNNING AFTER THE ACCIDENT UNTIL I TURNED IT OFF. STATE FARM INSURANCE SENT A SAFETY DIRECTOR OVER TO CHECK THE CAR (AFTER IT WAS FIXED), THE BODY SHOP ALSO HAD AN INSPECTOR CHECK THE CODES ON THE COMPUTER. I GOT RID OF THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT HAD IT HAVE 11 MONTHS ON THE LEASE BECAUSE I DID NOT TRUST IT. *TR

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Jan 26, 201316,500 milesWV

I HAD PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU FORESTER IN AUGUST OF 2011 WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS. IT WAS A BIG INVESTMENT FOR ME AND I HAD HOPED TO DRIVE MY NEW SUBARU FORESTER 2011 FOR SEVERAL YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT, I NOTICED THE BRAKES TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY FASHION OR QUICKLY ENOUGH. MY WIFE, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO DRIVE MY CAR, ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT ITS BRAKES. I HAD MY VEHICLE REGULARLY SERVICED AS PER THE COMPANIES WARRANTY REQUIREMENTS AND AT ONLY AUTHORIZED SUBARU SERVICE & DEALERSHIP CENTERS. I BROUGHT THE DEFECTIVE BRAKES TO THEIR ATTENTION BUT THEY SAID THAT- 'THAT WAS THE WAY THE FORESTER'S BRAKES WERE AND THAT I HAD TO PUSH THE PEDAL HARD TO THE FLOOR(PUMP THE BRAKES) TO STOP IT QUICKLY ENOUGH.' I WAS GREATLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR RESPONSE TO MY CONCERNS AND AS A PRECAUTION I BEGAN TO KEEP AN EVEN GREATER DISTANCE FROM ALL OF THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. RECENTLY, I WAS ENTERING A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 10-15MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY APPEARED IN FRONT OF ME. I PUSHED THE BRAKES BUT MY VEHICLE JUST WOULD NOT STOP QUICKLY ENOUGH. IF I WOULD LET GO OF THE BRAKE AND THEN PUSH IT AGAIN HARDER AND FASTER TO THE FLOOR( PUMP THE BRAKE) AS THE SERVICE CENTRE HAD PREVIOUSLY ADVISED ME THEN I WOULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SO I SWAYED MY CARS STEERING WHEEL AND AVOIDED MEETING WITH AN ACCIDENT BUT MY VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT TOUCHED THE RAILING AT ABOUT 5MPH ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT MY FRONT BUMPER NOW HA

Seat Belts
Filed Jan 9, 201330,000 milesOR

MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND THE REAR SEATBELTS WERE REPLACED ON 1/5/2013. HOWEVER, THE NEW SEATBELT LATCHES ARE TOO FLUSH TO THE SEAT AND ARE DIFFICULT TO BUCKLE/UNBUCKLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE NEW MIDDLE SEATBELT LATCH AND STRAP INTERFERS AND BLOCKS BUCKLING THE SIDE SEATBELTS. *TR

Engine
Filed Oct 11, 20124,300 milesKY

PURCHASED CAR NEW 12/2010, DEALER TOLD ME IT USED SYN OIL AND ONLY NEEDED TO BE CHANGED EVERY 7500 MILES. 03/2011 THE CAR HAD 4300 MILES AND WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL IT WAS NOT SHOWING ON THE DIPSTICK. DEALER DID NOT TELL ME THAT THE FORESTERS USE OIL. IT WAS OVER 2 QUARTS LOW. IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS NOW AND SUBARU HAS STILL DONE NOTHING FOR MY CAR. ALL THEY TOLD ME WAS IT'S IN YOUR OWNERS MANUAL AND THEY USE A QT EVERY 1200 MILES. THIS IS CRAZY FOR A NEW CAR. 6 QTS FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND 5 QTS IN BETWEEN. CAN'T DEPEND ON THIS CAR. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON LONG TRIPS. ENGINE IS VERY NOISY. SUBARU DECEIVED ME AT TIME OF PURCHASE, I WOULD NEVER BOUGHT A CAR THAT USES OIL LIKE THIS. *TR

Engine
Filed Aug 12, 201221,000 milesNJ

I WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY HEARD A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND THEN STOPPED. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALERSHIP. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ONE OF THE CONNECTING RODS PUNCTURED THE ENGINE BLOCK WHICH CAUSED ENGINE OIL TO SHOOT THROUGH THE HOLE ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK, MELTING THE WIRING, AND CAUSING THE SMOKE. *TR

EngineCrashFire
Filed Jun 13, 201211,440 milesCA

A VEHICLE 2 CARS IN FRONT OF ME DROPPED A LOAD OF FREIGHT ON THE FREEWAY--POSSIBLE ONE LANE OVER. THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES, AND ONE MAY HAVE SWERVED INTO MY LANE. I WAS ABLE TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES AND SLOW TO ABOUT 15-20 MILES PER HOUR BEFORE I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WITHIN 20 SECONDS OF HITTING THAT CAR, FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. WITHIN 2 MINUTES MY CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE PASSENGER CABIN WAS FULLY INVOLVED. THIS WAS AN ALMOST BRAND-NEW CAR WITH NO AFTERMARKET PARTS, AND LITTLE FRONT-END DAMAGE. IT SEEMS SUSPICIOUS THAT SUCH AN ACCIDENT WOULD CAUSE SUCH AN INTENSE AND FAST-SPREADING FIRE. HAD CHILDREN BEEN RESTRAINED IN SAFETY SEATS, I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE HAD TIME TO GET THEM OUT OF THE CAR. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Apr 18, 2012WA

LATCH SYSTEM IN A 2.5X BASE MODEL IS INAPPROPRIATELY PLACED FOR AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT COMMON CAR SEAT BASES. UNABLE TO USE LOWER LATCH ANCHORS WITH A GRACO SNUGRIDE 30 OR 35 BASE. IN ADDITION, THE SUBARU FORESTER DOG GUARD ACCESSORY WHICH INSTALLS BETWEEN THE CARGO AREA AND THE REAR SEAT INAPPROPRIATELY USES BOTH OUTSIDE UPPER LATCH ANCHORS. *JS

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 6, 201222,241 milesIN

I AM BEING TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LACK OF OIL CHANGES. I CHANGED THE OIL ON 7/6/11 AT 10,639 MILES. THE ENGINE THEN FAILED AT 22241 ON 2/1/12. THE ENGINE HOLDS 5.5 QUARTS OF OIL BUT PER THE MANUFACTURER HAD NONE IN IT AT THE ENGINE FAILURE. HOW DOES A NEW VEHICLE BURN 5.5 QUARTS OF OIL IN 11602 MILES? THERE WAS ALSO NO WARNING LIGHT OF ANY KIND TO TELL ME THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS LOW. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE OIL LEVEL HAD TO BE LOWER THAN 2 P.S.I FOR THE LIGHT TO GO OFF AND WARN ME AND AT THAT POINT THE ENGINE WOULD ALREADY BE DAMAGED. I GOT NO ADVANCE WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY ENGINE OR THE OIL LEVEL. THE ENGINE SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING. I AM BEING TOLD THAT I HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL IN EXCESS OF $9500.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE. HOW CAN A MANUFACTURER HAVE AN ENGINE THAT DOES NOT WARN THE CONSUMER THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM? I AM VERY PUZZLED BY THIS AND THE FACT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THE WARRANTY WAS VOIDED IS THE SAME DEALERSHIP CHARGING ME EXORBITANT RATES FOR A NEW MOTOR? PLEASE HELP OR GIVE ME A SUGGESTION. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Nov 22, 2011300 milesSC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AT 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED APPROXIMATELY FIVE FEET BEYOND WHERE SHE INTENDED TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. DURING THE SECOND FAILURE, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,500. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VIN WE HAVE IS INCORRECT. HOWEVER, SHE SUPPLIED THE CORRECT VIN TWICE, BUT IN ONCE CASE, THERE ARE TOO MANY NUMBERS AND THE SECOND CASE, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH NUMBERS. UPDATED 02/06/12

Engine and Engine CoolingCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 15, 20112,837 milesNY

ON 5/24/11, WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, MY FORESTER WAS HIT BROADSIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT RAN A RED LIGHT. THE IMPACT OF THE SPEEDING VEHICLE CAUSED THE FORESTER TO SPIN 360 DEGREES AND FLIP-OVER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I WAS LEFT TRAPPED INSIDE THE FORESTER AND WITNESSES POINTED OUT THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE FORESTER FLIPPED OVER. APPARENTLY THERE IS NO ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION KILL SWITCH. FURTHERMORE, THERE IS NO INTERIOR RELEASE OF THE REAR HATCH. AS A RESULT I REMAINED TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND CONCERNED ABOUT A GASOLINE LEAK AND POSSIBLE EXPLOSION. I WAS EVENTUALLY REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE BY EMTS AND BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF SIMILAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN A REMOTE AREA OR IF THE DRIVER WAS MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED, MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE RESULTED. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Oct 4, 201111,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE. ON ONE OCCASION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN OCCURRENCE OF ABNORMAL ACCELERATION AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FOUNDATION OF A BUILDING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Sep 20, 2011OR

2011 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER STATES FUEL FILLER NECK IS RUSTED AND THERE IS NO FLAPPER ON TOP OF THE NECK *TGW THE CONSUMER RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FUEL FILLER NECK REPLACED. IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED, THE REPLACEMENT NECK HAD THE SAME DEFECT AS THE OLD ONE. THE CONSUMER REPORTED THE DEFECT TO SUBARU AND THE REPRESENTATIVES INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE DISCLORATION ON THE NECK WAS NOT RUST AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHY IT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. SUBARU REFUSED TO OFFER ANY KIND OF FULL EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE THAT WAS THE DESIGN FOR THE 2011 MODELS. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 8, 2011472 milesCA

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 472 MILES. CALLED DEALER REPAIR, WHICH INSTATED THAT IT WAS JUST THE GAS CAP LOOSE, WHICH HE HAD US REMOVE AND RETIGHTEN. WE WERE ADVISED TO KEEP DRIVING IT AND THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO OUT. WE DROVE IT FOR A FEW MORE DAYS AND THEN HAD TWO DIFFERENT LOCAL MECHANICS SHOPS CHECK THE CODE ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. BOTH SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS MISFIRING, EITHER RANDOM MISFIRE, OR MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS 3 AND 4. WE CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN, WHO SAID THAT THE MECHANICS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND WERE WRONG, BUT THAT WE SHOULD BRING THE CAR IN NEXT WEEK. WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON 8/30/11, WITH ABOUT 872 MILES NOW ON IT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. THE DEALER CHECKED THE CAR AND SAID THE SOME CAM SHAFT ADJUSTERS WERE NOT SET PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ADD A SHIM KIT TO CORRECT THIS! (ON A NEW CAR!) THE NEXT DAY, CAR STILL DIDN'T WORK, THEY HAD TO CALLED SUBARU MANUFACTURER AND TRIED AT LEAST 5 OTHER PROCEDURES AND CAR STILL DOESN'T WORK. THE CAR IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD AS A NEW CAR. THEY HAVE HAD THE COVER OVER 10 DAYS NOW AND STILL NOT FIXED. WE JUST WANT A NEW CAR, AND GET OUT OF THAT ONE. PLEASE HELP. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed May 11, 20111,200 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 400.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2011 Subaru Forester → · Every Forester year → · How the figures are calculated →