Subaru Forester Complaints (1999)

131 consumer complaints on file.

#10067584April 21, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066514April 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER S LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO. IN DECEMBER 2003, AT APPROX. 71,200 MILES, THE CAR BEGAN LOOSING ANTIFREEZE. I DISCOVERED THAT I NEEDED A HEAD GASKET JOB. NOW I FIND THEY HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I DISCOVERED THE MYSTERIOUS "VANISHING OIL" PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. AT 75,775, I CHECKED THE OIL AND FOUND IT MOSTLY GONE! I RETURNED TO MY MECHANIC, WHO FOUND NO EXTERNAL LEAK AND NO SIGN OF OIL BURNING ON THE SPARK PLUGS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH (SEE NHTSA COMPLAINTS), THIS APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. I CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND ADD OIL AS NECESSARY. I SEEM TO NEED 1 QUART PER 1500 MILES, APPROXIMATELY. NOW, THE FINAL PROBLEM. ON 3/24/04, AT 77,848, I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH, HEARD A STRANGE NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND COASTED TO A SAFE TURN OUT. AFTER TOWING THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE TOP OF THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAD POPPED OFF, RELEASING THE HYDRAULIC AND OF COURSE THE TIMING BELT. HE HAS NEVER SEEN A TENSIONER FAIL, AND OUT OF THE HUNDREDS OF NEW TIMING BELTS HE HAS DONE, HE ONLY HAD TO REPLACE ABOUT A DOZEN THAT WERE OUT OF SPECS. WE DEBATED A COURSE OF ACTION AND, SINCE IT IS A NON-INTERFERENCE MOTOR, I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TENSIONER AND NOT THE ENTIRE MOTOR. HE ALSO DID A HAND CRANK TO CHECK FOR RESISTANCE OR OTHER HEAD DAMAGE. AFTER WAITING NEARLY 2 WEEKS FOR PARTS (DUE TO SUBARU'S PART ORDERING METHOD), HE REPLACED THE TENSIONER. WHEN TESTING THE ENGINE, IT DID NOT SOUND RIGHT. HE DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND FOUND NO COMPRESSION ON 3 CYLINDERS! SO NOW I HAD THE SHOCKING PROSPECT OF NEEDING A NEW ENGINE!I DECIDED I BETTER GET HELP FROM THE DEALER, AS THIS ALL APPEARS TO BE A QUALITY ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO THIS ENGINE AT THIS MILEAGE. THE CAR IS NOW AT STOHLMAN SUBARU IN VIENNA, VA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057598March 17, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE CONSUMER HIT A LIGHT POLE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HIT A UTILITY POLE BUT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SORE MUSCLES. *NM *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065344March 11, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIR, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, THEY CLAIMED THE CLUTCH WAS CONSIDERED A WEAR ITEM. THE CONSUMER HAS RETAINED A LAWYER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061661March 9, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH TEMPERATURE GAUGE SUDDENLY WENT INTO THE HOT ZONE. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. CHECKED THE FLUIDS LEVEL, ADDED WATER, AND GOT BACK ON THE ROAD, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK INTO THE HOT ZONE. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060599March 6, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WITH ABOUT 15-18K MILES, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STUTTERING IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. IT WAS ALWAYS WORST IN WINTER, WHEN IT WAS COLD. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR OTHER ISSUES AND FOUND SEVERAL CHAT ROOMS WHERE PEOPLE WERE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. I TOOK THE CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALERS WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHEN READING THE CHAT ROOMS, SOME PEOPLE DID HAVE THE DEALERS SAY THIS WAS A PROBLEM. I CALLED SUBARU'S CUSTOMER LINE AND WAS TOLD TO GO TO THE DEALER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061457March 5, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT AND MIXING WITH THE OIL. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET DEALER WAS OFFERING A LIQUID CONDITIONER, AND HOLDING THE CONSUMER RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070659January 15, 2004
WHEELS
3 RIGHT WHEEL BEARING FAILURES. AT 16000 MILES THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (9-11-01). AT 22000 MILES (4-23-03), RIGHT REAR BEARING NOISE RETURNED AND DEALER 'ADJUSTED' THE BEARING. WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, BUT DEALER DID NOT CHARGE FOR 'ADJUSTMENT'. AT 24100 MILES, BEARING FAILED WITH GRINDING AND SMOKE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. A 100 MILE TOW WAS NECESSARY. THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. MY POSITION IS THAT IT WAS NEVER FIXED THE FIRST TIME. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALS OTHERS WITH SIMILAR TALES. ONE TOLD OF HAVING BEARINGS REPLACED 6 TIMES. SUBARU ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (#035002, DEC. 23, 2002) ADVISING OF A NEW WAY TO INSTALL THE REPLACEMENT BEARINGS. A TECH AT MY DEALER SAID THAT THEY WERE TOLD TO START MAKING REPLACEMENTS USING A ROLLER BEARING INSTEAD OF THE OEM BEARING. ONE OTHER PROBLEM - AT ABOUT 20000 MILES AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, REQUIRING TOWING TO THE DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069104January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE SEIZED AND BLEW AT 30,000 - I PROVIDED SUBARU WITH ALL RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES THAT COMPLIED WITH WARRANTY. SUBARUA DENIED WARRANTY WRITING THAT OHIO HAS SUCH SEVERE WEATHER THAT THE WARRANTY PROVISIONS DID NOT APPLY. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT SUBARU HAS NO SUCH WARRANTY POLICY. SUBARU DESTROYED MY ENGINE OIL, AFTER RECEIVING A CERTIFIED LETTER DIRECTING THAT THE OIL BE PRESERVED FOR TESTING, CHARGED ME FOR THE OIL'S DISPOSAL, TORE DOWN MY ENGINE, DESTROYED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, CHARGED ME FOR THE ENGINE TEAR DOWN, AND HAS REFUSED TO COOPERATE IN DISCOVER - I SUED - COURT ORDERED SUBARU TO COMPLY WITH DISCOVERY, AND SUBARU ADMITTED THAT IT'S LETTER DENYING MY WARRANTY WAS BASED ON A FALSE REASON. MY TRIAL AGAINST SUBARU IS IN SEPTEMBER - TRYING TO FIND OTHER INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HELP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053050January 13, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:LUBRICANT, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
MULTIPLE MAJOR AND COSTLY REPAIRS TO A VEHICLE THAT IS DRIVEN ON HARD ROAD SERVICES ONLY, AND IN A SAFE MANNER. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. REPAIRS INCLUDE REPLACE OXYGEN SENSOR & EMISSION CONTROL COMPUTER. I WAS EVENTUALLY REIMBURSED FOR THIS SERVICE/PART WHICH TOOK 7 VISIITS TO DEALER AND MUCH CONVINCING ON MY PART. OTHER MAJOR REPAIRS INCLUDE REPLACE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION SEAL (2 VISITS), REPLACE OIL PUMP, REPLACE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING. REPLACEMENT OF OTHER WHEEL BEARINGS IS POSSIBLE AND PENDING. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THIS CAR, JUST WAITING FOR THE NEXT MAJOR REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046289December 2, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONSUMER HEARD A RUBBING NOISE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE REAR STRUT SPRING PLATE CORRODED AND WAS PUSHED DOWN ONTO THE TIRES. *AK THE REAR STRUTS WERE REPLACED. *TT *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045541November 5, 2003
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
UNSAFE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT JACK PROVIDED WITH 1999 SUBARU FORESTER L AND IN ALL LIKELHOOD WITH SUBSEQUENT MODELS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A FLAT ON A LEVEL STREET, THE JACK BENT AND COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO RETURN TO THE PAVEMENT. FORTUNATELY, NO HARM WAS DONE, BUT THIS JACK MIGHT CAUSE BODILY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE IN THE FUTURE, IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY DONE SO IN THE PAST. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042762November 5, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH PREMATURELY BURNED OUT. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CLUTCH WOULD CHATTER OR DISENGAGE IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED, BUT FAILED AGAIN. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT. THERE WAS NO SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM.*AK THE REPLACEMENT CLUTCH HADN'T FAILED COMPLETELY . IT STARTED EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE FIRST ONE BUT AT AN ACCELERATED PACE. CONSUMER NOTED MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS IN THE BAY AREA EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AND ARE NOT RIDING THE CLUTCH. *PH *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041177October 3, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, IT BURNS WELL OVER A QUART OF OIL WHEN IT TRAVELED 1000 MILES. HENCE HAVING TO REPLACE 3 TO 4 QTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THIS IS ?NORMAL.? I THOUGHT THAT THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PUT THIS ON THE STICKER INFORMATION OF ALL NEW CARS WHILE OTHERS ARE DOCUMENTING THE SAME INFORMATION. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032914August 15, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD WITH 24100 MILES. AT 16000 MILES, RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 22000 MILES, RIGHT REAR BEARING NOISE RETURNED AND THE DEALER 'ADJUSTED' THE BEARING FOR 'FREE', EVEN THOUGH THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY HAD PASSED. AT 24100 MILES, THE BEARING FAILED WITH GRINDING AND SMOKING WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE EVENT UNDER WARRANTY.A TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT OTHER FORESTERS WERE HAVING SIMILAR BEARING PROBLEMS,AND THAT THEY WE RETOLD TO STOP USING THE OEM BALL BEARINGS, AND GO TO A ROLLER BEARING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024038June 13, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE CONTINUES TO RUN HOT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021117June 5, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STRUCTURE
1999 SUBARU FORESTER S. AT 40,000 NEW TRANSMISSION. AT 45,000 SPEED ODOMETER STICKING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NOW AT 96,000 MILES LEAKING HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALL MAJOR PROBLEMS REQUIRING MAJOR MONEY TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021032June 4, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CHRONIC ENGINE AND OIL LEAKAGE OF A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER. NO SATISFACTION FROM 2 DEALERSHIPS (BALD HILL SUBARU AND PILGRIM SUBARU). I HAVE NOTED THE LAST DATE OF SERVICE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONSTANT AND CHRONIC. I HAVE LOST TIME FROM WORK, HAD BREAKDOWNS ON 2 VACATIONS, AND HAVE CONSTANT ANXIETY ABOUT THE SITUATION. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017962May 1, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD 29000 MILES. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014299April 12, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY 1999 SUBARU FORESTER THREE (3) TIMES. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE BEFORE 35K MILES AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING JUST FAILED AT 50K MILES. CLEARLY SUBARU HAS A DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 SUBARU REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BUT HAVING A WHEEL BEARING FAIL COMPLETELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WOULD SEEM LIKE A BAD THING.[I FOUND OUT ABOUT YOUR SITE ON CARTALK.COM]. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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