Subaru Forester Complaints (1998)

101 consumer complaints on file.

#10046309December 10, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING SHOWED SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR EVERY 30000 TO 40000 MILES. THE DEALER/INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE PART. *AK *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047895November 12, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR
PROBLEMS WITH WHEEL BEARINGS ON 1998 SUBARU FORESTER. *MR THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE RIGHT SIDE WERE REPLACED TWICE. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033834August 13, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
DEALER HAS HAD TO REPLACE FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS THREE TIMES. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AT THIS TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029063July 24, 2003
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
MY PARENTS RECENTLY GAVE MY DAUGHTER A 1998 SUBARU FORESTER AND SHE IS HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THE BABY'S CARSEAT TO TIGHTEN DOWN PROPERLY. I EMAILED SUBARU ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SUGGESTED USING A ROLLED TOWEL TO FILL THE VOID AND MAKE IT TIGHTER. SHE HAS TAKEN THE CAR TO SERVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAY THEY KNOW OF NO PROBLEMS. IS THE ROLLED TOWEL SAFE TO USE? SHE MAKES SURE THAT HER CARSEAT IS PROPERLY INSTALLED, EVEN PURCHASING A RATCHETING SYSTEM TO TIGHTEN. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, EVEN TO THE POINT OF SELLING THE CAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025425July 4, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH CHATTERS BADLY AND CLUTCH DOES NOT ENGAGE UNTIL THE PEDAL IS ALMOST FULLY DEPRESSED WHEN VEHICLE SITS OVERNIGHT. PROBLEM SEEMS MORE PRONOUNCED IN COLDER WEATHER, BUT OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION TO CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION, THE CONDITION MAY CAUSE FIRST AND REVERSE GEARS TO GRIND WHEN SELECTING THESE GEARS FROM A STOP. AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AND THE CLUTCH OPERATES NORMALLY. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO SUBARU REPAIR SHOPS NUMEROUS TIMES, INCLUDING AT 33,220; 59,451; 74,213; AND 92,380 MILES. THE SUBARU REPAIR SHOPS CAN USUALLY DUPLICATE THE CHATTER, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CLUTCH ENGAGING ONLY AFTER BEING ALMOST COMPLETELY DEPRESSED. AT 92,380 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONLY 1.5 MILES IN THE MORNING TO THE SUBARU REPAIR SHOP WITH THE POOR CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT STILL OCCURRING, AND THE SUBARU REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY STILL COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED AND REPAIRED SHORTLY AFTER THE 33,220 MILE SERVICE COMPLAINT AT SUBARUS EXPENSE, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARU FORESTERS, AND POSSIBLY OTHER MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBARUS (FOR PLE, ://FORUMS.VMAG.COM/SUVSUBARU0200/MESSAGES/5197.HTML).*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010563March 16, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, EQUIPMENT
MY SPOUSE HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT WITH OUR 1998 SUBARU FORESTER. THE FRONTAL IMPACT CAUSED BOTH AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN IT DEPLOYED BROKE THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) DOOR WINDOW AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. NO ONE WAS SEATING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT THAT MAY BE A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR ALIGNED. *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001063December 17, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER WAS PARKING ON AN UPGRADE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY PUT VEHICLE IN PARK ATTEMPTED TO EXIT WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE CROSSING A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND STOPPING IN SOMEONES YARD. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HIT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9006755December 13, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FOOT BRAKE WAS RELEASED, CAR SUDDENLY & WITHOUT ANY ACTION ON MY PART ACCELERATED AT A VERY FAST SPEED INTO THE GARAGE---AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770487December 5, 2002
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
NO SUMMARY. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8019026September 18, 2002
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
EVAPORATOR CORE SPRUNG A LEAK, RESULTING IN AIR CONDITIONING FAILING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8009657May 13, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
IN LEFT REAR WHEEL THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN BEARINGS. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BEARINGS THREE TIMES IN PAST FOUR YEARS. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005690March 14, 2002
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER REPLACED CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#564372February 19, 2002
SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
LEFT SIDE AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY LEAKED, DEALER REPLACED RIGHT SIDE FRONT AXLE, SWAY BAR LINKS MADE NOISE, DEALER LUBED LINKS, THERE WAS A NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE ALL TIRES, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION WAS GIVEN. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8002093January 14, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS VERY FAST, CRASHING INTO TWO VEHICLES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TURNED ON IGNITION THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY FAST IN REVERSE AND CAUSED ACCIDENT, CONSUMER IS ALSO HAVING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS THE BATTERY DRAINING, SECURITY SYSTEM GOES OFF WHILE PARKED, AND THE DOORS LOCK BY THEMSELVES. *YD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#564238December 31, 2001
SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN
LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE AXLE SHAFTS LEAKED, DEALER REPLACED, REAR SWAY BAR LINKS DISASSEMBLED AND DEALER LUBED LINKS. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785746October 19, 2001
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
CONSUMER STATES THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED, AND FOUR MONTHS LATER THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING THEN FAILED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785747October 19, 2001
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND IT STAYED ON THE FLOOR, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A BOLT IN THE TRANSMISSIONS CLUTCH PIVOT BALL THAT BROKE AT THE POINT THAT ENTERS THE TRANSFER CASE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#894863August 21, 2001
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH BOARD LIT UP, AND HORN NO LONGER WAS FUNCTIONAL. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER IS WOULD COST $1,000.00 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#894197August 13, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
IN JUNE OF 1999 RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A LOUD NOISE BEING MADE DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. THEN, ON 27-JUL7-2001, LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS CAUSING ANOTHER LOUD NOISE, AND WAS BEING REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A GROOVE HAS BEEN FOUND IN THE FRONT AXLE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2ND WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749137July 25, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
YESTERDAY AFT. MY CAR DROVE ITSELF INTO A STORE WINDOW WITH ME AT THE WHEEL. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL DISASTER. I WAS ALREADY PARKED THERE, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT TOOK OFF WITHOUT MY TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. IN FACT, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). MY BRAKING WOULDN'T STOP IT, SO I MANAGED TO GET IT INTO A FORWARD GEAR. HAD I NOT, THE CAR MIGHT WELL HAVE DRIVEN FURTHER INTO THE STORE AND HURT THE SEVERAL SHOPPERS. ONCE IN A FORWARD GEAR, THE CAR THEN IT TOOK OFF FORWARD ON A WILD RIDE; AGAIN, I WAS MERELY THE PASSENGER. I MANAGED TO STEER THE CAR FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE IT DECELERATED, MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ALL THIS TIME, WHILE I CLEARED A LIGHT POST AND TWO CARS ON EITHER SIDE, AS WELL AS TRAFFIC IN THE ROAD. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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