EXTREME HESITATION FROM STANDING STOP GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD AND TURNING. AT 5 SEPARATE INSTANCES THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE ROLLING STOP WITH NO ACCELERATION. AFTER 5 TO 7 SECONDS THE CAR FINALLY ACCELERATED . WHEN TURNING WITH PLENTY OF ROOM, FOR THEM, ONCOMING CARS BLARED THEIR HORNS, MISSING ME BY A FEW FEET. SOMEONE IS SHURELY HEADED FOR A HOSPITAL OR FUNERAL HOME ON THIS PROBLEM. BOTH NHTSA AND SUBARU HAVE BEEN WARNED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESULT FOR RECALL,REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. DEALERS ARE SAYING THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS NOW. MAYBE EVERYONE'S FIRST STOP SHOULD BE AT YOUR STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE IF WE DON'T GET RESULTS FROM EITHER OF YOU SOON.
2017 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 2017 record →
AIR CONDITIONING LINES/CONDENSER IS DEFECTIVE IN 2017 FORRESTER. FIRM SHOULD BE CONDUCTING A RECALL, BUT HAS NOT. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL.
ON APRIL 22, 2018, MY 2017 FORESTER WITH 22,000 MILES ON IT STALLED IN THE CARPOOL LANE OF A BUSY LA FREEWAY (THE 405 SOUTHBOUND NEAR LAX) AT 4:20 P.M. TRAFFIC IN THE LANE HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WHEN IT PICKED UP AGAIN, THE ENGINE STALLED. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. CHP ARRIVED 20 MINUTES LATER AND PUSHED ME TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. A TOW TRUCK THEN TOWED MY VEHICLE 47 MILES TO IRVINE SUBARU WHERE THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS ADVISED THAT THEIR MECHANICS FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR IN SPITE OF THE LOSS OF POWER WHICH JEOPARDIZED MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY PASSENGER. IT SHOULD BE MENTIONED THAT WHEN THIS EVENT OCCURRED, MY LOW FUEL LIGHT HAD NOT ALERTED ME TO THE FACT THAT MY FUEL LEVEL WAS LOW; MY ON-BOARD COMPUTER INDICATED I STILL HAD 80 MILES UNTIL EMPTY AND THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED ONE BAR. IN ADDITION, I CAN STATE WITH 100% CERTAINTY THAT MY TANK WAS NOT EMPTY AS THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IN FACT DROVE IT UP ON THE FLATBED OF HIS TRUCK WHEN HE LOADED IT THERE. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, I HAVE LOST FAITH IN THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE AND AM LEERY OF DRIVING IT LONG DISTANCES FROM HOME; A RESULT THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME GIVEN THAT THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY A YEAR-AND-A-HALF OLD. THE ONLY PHOTO I HAVE IS ONE OF MY VEHICLE LOADED ON THE TOW TRUCK AT THE TIME OF TOWING.
AFTER BACKING UP, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR (I WAS IN A SMALL PARKING LOT). THE ACCELERATOR LEFT MY FOOT AND FULLY DEPRESSED BY ITSELF WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED LIGHT IS ON AND PASSAGE AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR SHOWS OFF. THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED REPLACEMENT PART WHICH HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER SINCE SEPT. 9, 2017. PROBLEM STARTED IN SEPT. 2017, OCCASIONALLY WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND VEHICLE HIT A BUMP, THE SRS SHOWED WARNING INDICATOR AND PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNED OFF. SYSTEM WOULD RESET WHEN VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT WOULD OCCASIONALLY DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON SEPT. 9, THEY SAID THEY ORDERED PART AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN PART ARRIVED. I DIDN'T HEAR BACK FROM DEALERSHIP, SO CALLED THEM ON OCT. 26. THEY SAID PART WOULD BE IN AND I DROPPED VEHICLE OFF FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE FOR OCT. 31. ON NOV. 3 AFTER NOT HEARING FROM DEALER, I CALLED TO SEE WHY SERVICE NOT COMPLETED YET, AND WAS TOLD PART WAS STILL ON BACK ORDER, SHOULD BE IN SOMETIME IN DEC. THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM WORKED FINE AND NO PROBLEM UNTIL THE END OF FEB, 2018. THE RANDOM SRS WARNING INDICATOR WHEN PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND HITTING A BUMP STARTED REOCCURRING AGAIN. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN NUMEROUS TIMES, AND PART IS STILL ON BACKORDER. NOW THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECK INDICATOR IS ON ALL THE TIME, REGARDLESS IF A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON APRIL 24 AND THEY WERE GOING TO ESCALATE THE PART ORDER AND GET BACK TO ME. AS OF MAY 2 I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK, AND SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH NOW 2 REPLACEMENT WINDOWS ON MY 2017 FORESTER FOR WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE RELATED TO LOW QUALITY GLASS THAT SUBARU IS USING. GLASS DAMAGE - 1.7.18 - SMALL CHIP WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FROM ROAD DEBRIS. DRIVING ON I-25 SOUTH IN CO - REPAIRED / CHIP FILLED BY SAFELITE GLASS DAMAGE - 2.5.18 - SMALL CHIP NEAR CENTER TOP THAT EXPANDED INTO A 2 FOOT CRACK. CHIP / CRACK OCCURED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 6 EAST. SAFELITE REPLACED THE GLASS WITH AN OEM / SUBARU PART GLASS DAMAGE - 3.31.18 - SMALL CHIP THE SIZE OF THE HEAD OF A PIN, OCCURED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DRIVING ON I-25 IN CO LEFT LANE, NO VEHICLES IN FRONT, ONLY ONE VEHICLE TO MY RIGHT. RESULTED IN OVERNIGHT CRACKING OF OVER A FOOT LONG WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED REQUIRING MY WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED FOR A 2ND TIME.ALSO REPLACED BY SAFELITE THERE WERE SEVERAL ADDITIONAL SMALL CHIPS IN BETWEEN THE 1.7.18 AND 2.5.18 INCIDENT PRIOR TO THE WINDSHIELD BEING REPLACED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE, IT SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT WRIST, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,120. *TT *TR
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG PERIODICALLY TURNS OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE AND SUBARU HAS CONTACTED US ABOUT THE ISSUE. WHEN WE TALKED TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS A KNOWN INTERFERENCE ISSUE RELATED TO CELL PHONES AND OTHER DEVICES AND THAT IF IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN WE SHOULD BRING IT IN TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SEAT REPLACED. IT HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN PERIODICALLY. ONCE THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF, IT REMAINS THAT WAY UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED BACK ON. SOMETIMES IT IS ON WHEN YOU START THE CAR; SOMETIMES IT COMES ON QUICKLY, AND OTHER TIMES WE DRIVE FOR A LONG TIME AND EVEN GO WEEKS WITHOUT NOTICING IT. BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE COMPANY KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND THAT IT IS A SAFETY SYSTEM THAT IS AFFECTED, IT SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL.
CANNOT TURN OFF DISTRACTION OF A NOISY STEREO WHILE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN REVERSE. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN INTENTIONAL DESIGN FEATURE THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS.
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG IS OFF WHEN WE ARE DRIVING WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT PASSENGER. OUR STARLINK SYSTEM IS CONSTANTLY ALERTING THE DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM.WE HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES.THEY TELL US THEY CANT FIND THE PROBLEM.ALTHOUGH THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THANK YOU BILL
OWN A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER, WE HAVE LESS THAN 11,000 MILES AND LESS THAN ONE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. A SMALL STONE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, QUICKLY ENDS UP IN A 24" TO 30" LONG LINEAR CRACK UNLIKE MY OTHER TWO VEHICLES. WE ARE IN PROCESS OF REPLACING 3RD WINDSHIELD GLASS IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. IT APPEARS THAT THERE MAY BE AN OEM DEFECT. THIS LONG CRACK CREATES DANGER VISION PROBLEM. EVERY WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT REQUIRES RE-CALIBRATION OF EYESIGHT TOO. THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON INSURANCE AS WELL AS OWNERS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ASAP. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. WE REQUEST THAT CONSUMER PRODUCT RECALL INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE ASAP.
WHILE DRIVING SUBARU FORESTER 2017, A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND SMALL CRACK QUICKLY TURNED INTO 24" TO 30" LONG LINEAR CRACK AND AS A RESULT ENDED UP REPLACING WIND SHIELD GLASS AND RE-CALIBRATION OF EYESIGHT. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN LAST 8 MONTHS. IT APPEARS TO BE AN OEM ISSUE. UNLIKE MY OTHER TWO VEHICLES, THEY HAD SIMILAR ISSUE HOWEVER THE CRACK WAS SHIELD BY PROFESSIONALS AND NEVER DEVELOPED LINEAR CRACK.
AFTER BACKING UP IN A GAS STATION, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND LIGHTLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PETAL WITH THE INTENTION OF MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY. I FELT THE GAS PETAL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN ALL BY ITSELF - THE CAR TOOK OFF! I HIT A LANDSCAPE BOX TRUCK.
THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED, MIDDLE PASSENGER SIDE (NOT AWARE WHEN IT HAPPENED. ONE TIME CAME OUT INTO THE GARAGE AND NOTICED IT WAS CRACKED). IT ALSO WAS SEVERELY CHIPPED ONE TIME BEFORE (2500 MILES). SO IT HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 2 TIMES WITHIN 16,000 MILES AND LESS THAN ONE YEAR OWNERSHIP.
UPON STARTING, RPM SURGED TO OVER 4500, AND THERE WAS LOUD GRINDING NOISE, SOUNDED AS IF THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYING ITSELF. SOUNDED LIKE SEVERE METAL TO METAL SLAPPING WITH VIBRATION THAT STOPPED WHEN KEY TURNED OFF IGNITION. SUBSEQUENT START APPEARED NORMAL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AT 30F, DATE OF OCCURANCE 11/22/2017, 4930 MILES SINCE NEW. CAR WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS STATIONARY. FACTORY APPROVED DEALER SERVICE RESULT "NO PROBLEM FOUND AT THIS TIME". I FEEL AS IF ITS DEPENDABILITY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.
I WAS MERGING ON I-95 AT 4PM AND IT WAS RAINING, I WAS ACCELERATING INTO THE TRAFFIC PATTERN IN THE RIGHT LANE WHEN SUDDENLY THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT RESPOND, THE CAR PANEL WENT BLACK,NO LIGHTS OR INFO SHOWED. I COASTED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE,IGNITION ON. THE EMERGENCY LIGHT WOULDN'T GO ON, NOR THE BLUETOOTH OR SOS CALL LINE. I SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND INTO PARK AND WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE WITHOUT A PROBLEM. IF I HAD BEEN IN THE MIDDLE LANE OR NO WHERE TO PULL OFF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC . I TOOK IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY A GLITCH, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A GLITCH AT 70 MPH. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE MY GRANDKIDS IN THE CAR.
CAR STALLS, MOSTLY IN INTERSECTIONS WHEN WE TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT, MID-TURN. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL, PLASTIC, IS DANGEROUSLY-SLIPPERY, EXPECIALLY DURING THOSE STALLS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN PANIC SETS IN.
BOUGHT NEW FORESTER IN MAY 2017. WINDSHIELD CRACKED @ JULY 2017. REPLACEMENT CRACKED OCTOBER 2017. SUBARU DENIED COVERAGE BOTH TIMES. FIRST WINDSHIELD I WAS MOVING ON HIGHWAY BUT UNAWARE OF BEING STRUCK BY ANYTHING. IT WAS NEARLY 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND AC WAS ON NICE 68 DEGREES. SECOND WINDSHIELD APPEARED TO CRACK WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. SECOND WINDSHIELD LEAKED. CRACK IS NEAR WHERE LEAK WAS "FIXED."
I PURCHASED MY CAR IN JULY 2017 WITH 8800 MILES. ONE WEEK AFTER DELIVERY, MY SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. PER THE OWNERS MANUAL, I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE THE NEXT MORNING. THE SERVICE DEPT. SAID THERE IS SOMETHING FAULTY IN THE SEAT CUSHION & A NEW ONE IS ON ORDER, BUT WITH NO DELIVERY TIME PROVIDED. IT'S ALREADY BEEN TWO MONTHS SINCE THE ORDER WAS PLACED - NOT SURE WHAT THE REAL ISSUE IS. THE WARNING LIGHT WAS RANDOM AT FIRST BUT, NOW IT'S ON CONTINUOUSLY. I JUST HOPE EVERYONE IS PROTECTED IN MY CAR, IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE RECENTLY CONTACTED SUBARU'S CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEE IF I CAN GET ANY ADDITIONAL ANSWERS.
MY AIR BAG (SRS) WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON REPEATEDLY SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. IT WAS MENTIONED AT THE 5000 MILE SERVICE, BUT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. I AUGUST 2017 IT BEGAN STAYING ON MOST OF THE TIME. I TOOK THE CAR TO TIMMONS SUBARU IN LONG BEACH, CA, WHERE I WAS TOLD A PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION HAD TO BE ORDERED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SENSOR. THE CAR HAS BEEN THERE THREE WEEKS WITH NO PROGRESS, AND THEY ARE SAYING THEY HAVE MULTIPLE VEHICLES IN FOR THE SAME ISSUE BUT THERE IS NO RECALL.
I WAS ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY, ROUTE 90, IN NEW YORK STATE HEADING EAST ON AUGUST 8, 2017, GOING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH. I WAS GOING STRAIGHT IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE. I REACHED OVER WITH RIGHT HAND TO ADJUST VOLUME KNOB ON RADIO AND NOTICED VEHICLE DRIFTING SLIGHTLY TO RIGHT. I PULLED STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT TO ADJUST CAR AND VEHICLE VEERED SHARPLY INTO ADJOINING LANE (ON LEFT SIDE OF TRAVELLING LANE) AND THEN I COULD NOT IT STEER BACK INTO THE TRAVELLING LANE. IT SEEMED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE STEERING: IT FELT AS THOUGH I HAD LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. MY HUSBAND GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL, STEADIED IT, AND I REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER INCIDENTS. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO CAR IN THE ADJOINING LANE WHEN THE MY CAR VEERED INTO IT. THIS WAS REPORTED TO NATIONAL SUBARU ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2017.
07/03/17 FIRST OIL CHANGE. SEVERAL DAYS AFTER CAR HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION. 07/14 CAR STALLS WHILE MERGING INTO ROUNDABOUT. RESTART CAR & IT RUNS OK. 07/15 CAR STALLS MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE ENTERING INTERSECTION. TURN OFF EYESIGHT & CAR RUNS. DO NOT DRIVE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS. BRING CAR TO DEALER 07/20. 07/26 PICK UP CAR. NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION. STALLING PERHAPS DUE TO MOUSE'S NEST OR AN OIL OVERFILL. 08/02 CAR STALLS MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. WON'T RUN WITH OR WITHOUT EYESIGHT. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. PROBLEMS REPORTED TO SUBARU MAIN OFFICE. 08/14 CAR STILL AT DEALER WITH NO RESOLUTION YET. UNLESS A SPECIFIC CAUSE & FIX TO THIS PROBLEM IS FOUND I WILL NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR AGAIN. I HAVE A WORD DOCUMENT WITH ALL THE DETAILS BUT AM UNABLE TO ATTACH IT TO THIS FORM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ITSELF AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PROFILE SUBARU (1323 NH-16, CONWAY, NH 03818 (603) 447-3845), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500.
TAKATA RECALL I AM A FITNESS INSTRUCTOR AND IN THE HEALTH FIELD FOR VERY LONG TIME. SUBARU ALONG WITH OTHER CAR COMPANIES ARE USING THE NEW MANDATED FORWARD -HEAD REST . IT SHOULD MANDATED THAT THE HEAD REST ALSO COME WITH 2 OR 3 (FORWARD AND BACK ADJUSTMENT OPTIONS) ALL YOU CAN DO IS MOVE UP OR DOWN. I AM TINY. I HAVE TO SIT CLOSE TO THE WHEEL--AND THIS HEADREST JUTS ME FORWARD AND HAS CAUSED ME HORRIBLE NECK PAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE. I AM 39 YEARS OLD. I KNOW THIS WAS TESTED ON DUMMIES AND IT FOR PREVENTION OF WHIPLASH-- BUT CAN CAR COMPANIES --MAKE THEM ADJUSTABLE??????????? FORWARD AND BACK ??????? NOT JUST UP AND DOWN. FORWARD HEAD POSTURE IS ALSO LEADING TO HORRIBLE POSTURE PROBLEMS, ARTHRITIS, NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES FROM THE SPINAL CORD BEING SQUEEZED FROM FORWARD HEAD WHICH IS ALREADY HAPPENING FROM TEXTING AND COMPUTER USE... I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS GOT PASSED ? I HAVE TO PLAY IN SO MANY WAYS AND TURN THE HEADREST BACKWARDS AND HAVE TRIED TO USE THE BACK SEAT HEADREST .... NHTSA...MAY READ THIS AND GO----WHIPLASH ETC.. BUT THIS IS SO UPSETTING AND DISTRESSING ---FOR ME TO DRIVE WITH....MY NECK IS IN TERRIBLE SPASM ... CHANGE HEAD REST SETTINGS
STEERING STICKS WHILE IN A TURN AND RESISTS THE DRIVERS INPUT TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL, CAUSING EITHER FAILURE TO STRAIGHTEN ON DEMAND OR OVER-STEERING TO OPPOSITE SIDE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STRAIGHTEN. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE AND VARIES IN BOTH FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY, AND TYPICALLY OCCURS DURING EACH USE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MALFUNCTION SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY DURING SUSTAINED LEFT TURNS, AND IS MOST PROBLEMATIC ON CURVY ROADS WHERE FAILURE TO STRAIGHTEN WHEELS OR OVER-STEERING TO OPPOSITE SIDE COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS WHILE IN A TURNING MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND ON CURVY HIGHWAYS, USUALLY WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED MORE THAN ~20 DEGREES AND SUSTAINED BRIEFLY. THE ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO THE SUBARU DEALER. THEY DROVE AND INSPECTED THE CAR AND WERE UNABLE TO FIX OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS NEW AND WAS RECEIVED ON 06/09/2017.
CAR STALLS WHEN MAKING HARD LEFT TURN WITH LESS THAN 1/4 TANK OF GAS CAR WAS STOPPED AND LURKED LEFT. COULD EAILY REPEAT THE PROBLEM IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. FILLED GAS TANK AND PROBLEM DISSAPEARED.
WHEN CLOSING REAR POWER LIFT GATE, A STROLLER FELL PARTLY OUT OF THE TRUNK. I INSTINCTIVELY GRABBED IT, AND THE GATE HIT THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND STARTED TO SLAM ME INTO THE CAR BEFORE I COULD PULL MY HEAD OUT. THE DOOR DID NOT STOP CLOSING. ACCORDING TO THE SUBARU INSTRUCTION MANUAL, THE REAR GATE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY BY ENTRAPMENT. THE DOOR DID NOT STOP WHEN ENCOUNTERING RESISTANCE (MY HEAD). THE DEALER SAYS THAT I CANNOT CHANGE THIS TO A MANUAL CONTROL REAR HATCH WITHOUT DESTROYING THE STRUTS THAT HOLD THE DOOR UP. I CAN CLOSE IT MANUALLY AS LONG AS I REMEMBER TO TAKE THE HEIGHT CONTROL OFF WITH A BUTTON ON THE FRONT DASH EVERY TIME I USE THE CAR OUTSIDE THE GARAGE. WHEN HEIGHT CONTROL IS ON, WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE REAR DOOR BEFORE IT OPENS FULLY AND THEREFORE MUST BE USED IN OUR GARAGE, YOU CANNOT CLOSE IT MANUALLY. SINCE IT CLOSES SLOWLY (8 SECONDS -- LONG FOR CLOSING A DOOR), YOU HAVE TO BE VERY AWARE OF CHILDREN'S MOVEMENTS, WHICH ARE OFTEN RAPID, AND SUPPRESS YOUR OWN REACTIONS IF SOMETHING STARTS TO FALL OUT. THE DOOR SHOULD STOP READILY IF IT ENCOUNTERS AN OBJECT EVEN AS SMALL AS A FINGER OR ELSE IT SHOULD BE MANUAL AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO STOP IT AT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS WHEN OPENING IT MANUALLY.
DRIVER'S SUBARU WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A BOX TRUCK WHILE STATIONARY ON A HIGHWAY (DRIVER HAD STOPPED JUST SHORT OF A MULTI-CAR COLLISION BUT THE BOX TRUCK BEHIND HER WAS UNABLE TO STOP); BOX TRUCK PUSHED THE SUBARU INTO THE CAR IN FRONT. DRIVER'S SEATBELT WAS ON, BUT DRIVER'S CHEST STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND HER HEAD POSSIBLY HIT THE SIDE WINDOW. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEATBELT DID NOT STOP DRIVER FROM STRIKING STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, THE EMPTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ROCKETED FORWARD ON ITS RAILS ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT, AND AT LEAST THREE HINGES FLEW OFF THE PASSENGER SEAT RAIL MECHANISM.
FORESTER - 500 MILES - CONSISTENT AND CONTINUING PROBLEMS: CAR LURCHES FORWARD ON ITS OWN IN FIRST GEAR. - IN MOTION ENGINE NOT ONLY HAS EXCESSIVE (CAN LAST 5 SECONDS OR MORE) "REV-HANGS" SHIFTING UP FROM ANY GEAR BUT ACTUALLY INCREASES BY 700-900 RPMS. THIS HAS CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN SLOWING DOWN (REDUCING SPEED WITH DOWNSHIFT). WHEN USING BRAKE TO REDUCE SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE WILL BEGIN TO RACE, INCREASING UP TO 1500 OR MORE RPMS, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE. - IN MOTION 4TH GEAR - STICK SHIFT VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY - SO MUCH SO IT IS VISIBLE TO THE EYE AND SEEMS LIKE IT WILL HAVE TO WEAR OUT FROM THE FRICTION, - IN MOTION (INTERMITTENT) WHEN VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL ENGAGES ON UPWARD INCLINE A VERY LOUD (MULTIPLE) BANGING OCCURS AT THE REA CAR LURCHES . - TURNING, IN MOTION. ENGINE NOISE IS EXTREMELY LOUD COMPARED TO OTHER 2017 FORESTERS I HAVE DRIVEN.CAN SOUND LIKE IT IS READY TO THROW A ROD IN THE NEAR FUTURE - IN MOTION AND STATIONARY SUBARU STATES ALL IS NORMAL. SERVICE MANAGE AT DEALER STATES LOUD ENGINE IS DEFINITELY NOT NORMAL FOR THE 2017 MODEL AND HE EXPERIENCE THE EXCESSIVE REV-HANG BUT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO THESE THINGS BECAUSE SUBARU SAYS THIS IS NORMAL ARE NORMAL.
ON MARCH 1, 2017 I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. AFTER PROCEEDING STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND REACHING A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH I HEARD AN ALERT IN MY CAR, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY HEARD CARS BEHIND ME SOUNDING THEIR HORNS. I QUICKLY LOOKED UP INTO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW THAT THE TAILGATE OF MY CAR HAD OPENED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING MY DOG TO FALL OUT OF THE BACK. THIS OCCURRED AFTER TRAVELING FOR APPROXIMATELY 6-8 MILES WITHOUT EVER RECEIVING A DASHBOARD ALERT THAT THE TAILGATE WAS OPEN. THERE HAVE BEEN ELECTRONIC ISSUES WITH THE CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW. SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T RECOGNIZE THE KEY FOB AND THE DOORS WON'T UNLOCK, OR THE CAR WON'T START AND I GET AN ALERT THAT THERE IS NO KEY DETECTED (WHEN IT IS IN THE CUP HOLDER MERE INCHES FROM THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION START.) TWICE THE FASTEN SEAT BELT ALERT HAS LIGHTED AND CHIMED, WHEN THE DRIVER HAS THE SEAT-BELT FASTENED AND THERE ARE NO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. OFTENTIMES THE TAILGATE WON'T OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB OR BY UTILIZING THE OUTSIDE BUTTON - ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY IT TOOK ME SEVERAL MINUTES OF FUSSING WITH ALL THE CONTROLS BEFORE I COULD GET THE TAILGATE TO OPEN AT ALL. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE TAILGATE OPENED ON ITS OWN. THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I RECALL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY IS THAT AS I WAS GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DIPPED INTO A POTHOLE WITH A SIGNIFICANT JARRING.
SUBARU OF AMERICA DOES NOT CURRENTLY OFFER AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS AS AN OPTION ON ITS FORESTER PREMIUM TRIM. SUBARU OF AMERICA'S PARTS DEPARTMENT (PARTS.SUBARU.COM), LISTS THE AUTOMATIC LIGHT SENSOR AND SWITCH AS COMPATIBLE WITH THE FORESTER PREMIUM AND GIVES CONSUMERS DETAILS ON OFFICIAL DEALERSHIPS WHERE THESE PARTS CAN BE PURCHASED. SUBARU OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE, HOWEVER, CLAIMS THAT THESE PARTS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE 2017 FORESTER PREMIUM, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE INSTALLED, AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS IS TO UPGRADE TO THE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE LIMITED TRIM. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE PARTS DEPARTMENT IS INTENTIONALLY MISLEADING CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE PARTS SALES, OR WHETHER CUSTOMER SERVICE IS INTENTIONALLY MISLEADING CUSTOMERS IN THE HOPES OF SELLING CARS WITH HIGHER MSRP; EITHER WAY, SUBARU OF AMERICA IS MISLEADING CONSUMERS ABOUT SPARE/REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR A SAFETY CRITICAL VEHICLE SYSTEM.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY YESTERDAY 2/9/17, THE CAR WAS SEVERELY VIBRATING AT THE SPEED OF ABOUT 60- 65. IT WAS UNBEARABLE. MY WHOLE BODY WAS SHAKING AND STUFF ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS ALMOST FALLING DOWN. FUEL VS MILEAGE GAUAGE ON DIGITAL SCREEN WAS VISIBLY SHAKING. STEERING WHEEL WAS SO SEVERELY VIBRATING THAT MY HANDS AND ARMS REMAINED SHAKING EVEN AFTER I ARRIVED MY DESTINATION. IT WAS ABOUT 30MINUTE DRIVE ON THE HIGYWAY. I FELT I WAS IN VIBRATING MASSAGE CHAIR ALL THE WAY. IT WAS SNOW DAY BUT THE HIGHWAY WAS PERFECTLY CLEARED OF SNOW. I WAS NOT SPEEDING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR 8/6/17. IT STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEM SINCE SEPTEMBER, FIRST AIR CONDITIONAL DIDN'T WORK AT 1000MILES THEN I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER SAYING TRANSMISSION FLUID MIGHT NOT BE FILLED ENOUGH ON OCTOBER. OF COURSE THEY FOUND IT WASN'T FILLED ENOUGH WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE SERVICE. THEY SOLD DEFECTIVE CAR AND CALLED IT GREAT PRODUCT.
ENGINE LOW LEVEL OIL LIGHT CAME ON A FEW TIMES WHEN I DROVE UP MY DRIVEWAY OR OVER A FEW INCHES OF SNOW. MANUALLY INSPECTED OIL LEVELS THE FIRST FEW TIMES AND RESTARTED ENGINE. THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD GO AWAY. WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON WHEN DRIVING ON A FLAT SURFACE AND ALWAYS WENT AWAY WHEN PARKED ON FLAT SURFACE AND RESTARTED VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO LOUD ENGINE SOUND, KNOCKING SOUND OR SMOKE. PAGE 3-19 OF THE OWNERS MANUAL STATED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT MIGHT ILLUMINATE TEMPORARILY WHEN DRIVING ON INCLINED SURFACE. ONE DAY 15 MINUTES INTO MY COMMUTE ON A FREEWAY I HEARD A RATTLING NOISE AND THEN HEARD SERVER KNOCKING , SMOKE AND THEN THE WHOLE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE IN A FEW MINUTES. I HAVE TALKED TO SUBARU AND FORMALLY FILED A COMPLAINT. INSURANCE HAS DETERMINED IT IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE.
MY 2017 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHENEVER I ATTEMPT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BY DOWNSHIFTING, THE VEHICLE WILL OFTEN CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. THIS UNWANTED ACCELERATION IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING DOWN A GRADE, HOWEVER IT ALSO FREQUENTLY HAPPENS ON FLAT GROUND. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I AM GOING 35 MPH IN 4TH GEAR AND AM ANTICIPATING A STOP LIGHT AHEAD, I WOULD TYPICALLY RELEASE MY RIGHT FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND DOWNSHIFT TO 3RD GEAR, THEN 2ND GEAR WHILE LIGHTLY BRAKING TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE. INSTEAD, DOWNSHIFTING HAS MINIMAL AFFECT ON THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, WHILE DOWNSHIFTING MERELY INCREASES ENGINE RPM, NOT ASSIST IN BRAKING THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN SCENARIOS WHEN THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE HAS ACTUALLY INCREASED ON FLAT GROUND (WITHOUT DRIVER ACCELERATION INPUT) DESPITE DOWNSHIFTING. THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO HAPPENED ONCE ON ICY ROADS AND CAUSED ME TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A FRAME OF REFERENCE, I HAVE DRIVEN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AS A PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR ALL OF MY DRIVING LIFE (NEARLY 22 YEARS). I HAVE NEVER PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED A MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT ACCELERATES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT ON FLAT GROUND. IT SEEMS THAT THIS ISSUE OF UNWANTED ACCELERATION COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN AVOIDED. THANKS.
I HAVE CAUGHT THE BACK OF MY RIGHT SHOE 4 TIMES( SINCE BUYING THE CAR IN AUGUST) WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. IT CATCHES ON THE HARD PLASTIC ON THE FRONT LEFT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE FIRST THREE TIMES I WAS EXITING THE CAR IN TOWN AND COULD HAVE FALLEN INTO PASSING TRAFFIC HAD I NOT BEEN HOLDING ONTO THE DOOR. THE LAST TIME MY SISTER WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF ME AND CAUGHT ME. I HAVE TRIED TO LOCATE SEAT COVERS TO COVER THE PIECE OF HARD PLASTIC WITH NO LUCK. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE HELPFUL. THE DESIGN CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION: WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, ENGINE SPEED INCREASES TO 4000-4500 RPM WHILE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, DESPITE HAVING FOOT ENTIRELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. RPM REMAINS ELEVATED FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS BEFORE SLOWLY RETURNING TO NORMAL IDLE. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, ENGINE SPEED WILL INCREASE TO APPROXIMATELY 2500 RPM WHILE SITTING WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED AND FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR (FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE WAITING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT). DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A "RUNAWAY" CONDITION: THE ENGINE SPEED NEVER APPROACHES REDLINE, BUT INCREASES SMOOTHLY TO THE "TARGET" RPM, STAYS CONSTANT FOR AWHILE, THEN SMOOTHLY RETURNS TO IDLE. NOTE: OTHER 2017 FORESTER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR BEHAVIOR. SUBARU IS INVESTIGATING, BUT AT PRESENT IS SAYING, "IT'S NOT A BUG, IT'S A FEATURE." AFTER 50 YEARS OF DRIVING SCORES OF VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, I DISAGREE.
11/23/16 - AS I WAS SLOWLY ROLLING INTO A FRONT PARKING SPOT THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN - I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT SO I WOULDN'T CRASH FULL ON INTO THE BUILDING - TRYING TO CONTROL THE CAR - I WENT OVER A CURB THAT WAS JETTING OUT - DEFINING THE PARKING SPACES - MY RIGHT FRONT AND BACK TIRES WENT OVER THE CURB - JUST MISSING A TREE - FINALLY COMING TO A STOP - IF THERE WAS ANYONE THERE - I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM - THAT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED - AND ON MY PAPERWORK IT STATED "CUSTOMER STATES SUBARU SEEMS TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN - TECH FOUND NO CODES. TECH DROVE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE"
THE STEERING GETS LOCKED AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. THE WHEELS ARE NOT TURNED IN AND ARE STRAIGHT. DEALER CLAIMS"THIS IS NORMAL" CAN NOT START THE CAR WITHOUT FIGHTING WITH THE STEERING AND THE KEY. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS.
SINCE PURCHASE THE" RADIO/COMPUTER" HANDS-FREE PHONE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED. HANDS-FREE PHONE COMMUNICATION IS NOT POSSIBLE. YOU CAN CALL FROM THE CAR BUT THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END CANNOT HEAR WHAT IS SAID. IT WAS CHECKED AND IT IS NOT THE MICROPHONE THAT IS THE PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. REPLACEMENT SYSTEM IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE INTO AN INTERSECTION, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND RECEIVED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
CVT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS NOT FILLED WITH THE SPECIFIC AMOUNT FROM THE FACTORY. THIS IS THE SECOND ISSUE WITH THIS BRAND NEW CAR. FIRST THEY DIDN'T FILL ENOUGH FREON FOR AC SO IT STARTED BLOWING OFF HOT AIR AT 1400MILES A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT. AND AT TWO MONTHS NOT ENOUGH TRANSMISSION FLUID. I'M WORRIED WHAT ELSE THEY DID NOT PUT ENOUGH OR IS THEI QUALITY CHECKING GOOD ENOUGH TO PUT THE CARS LIKE MINE ON THE MARKET
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE SCREEN REFLECTED LIGHT ONTO HER FACE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT'S VISION WAS IMPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.
DRIVER SIDE VENTS ARE BLOWING WARM AIR WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON. ONLY 1400 MILES ON SINCE I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW LAST MONTH 8/6/16.
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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.
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