Subaru Forester Complaints (2001)

139 consumer complaints on file.

#10158526May 30, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN I SHIFT INTO DRIVE (ANY OF THE DRIVE GEARS), THE CAR HESITATES TO ENGAGE (MOVE FORWARD) FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN 2-3 SECONDS AND UP TO 1 MINUTE. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE WAIT TIME IS RANDOM SO I NEVER KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE. THE OTHER DAY, I HAD TO REVERSE TO GET OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THEN THE CAR WOULDN'T ENGAGE INTO DRIVE FOR ANOTHER 45 SECONDS AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY A CAR COMING UP BEHIND ME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! I'VE READ ABOUT HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS BY OTHER SUBARU FORESTER (1999 - 2001) OWNERS ON-LINE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I SPOKE WITH BOTH THE DEALER AND SUBARU REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY WON'T COVER THE COST OF A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. I THINK THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND AM LOOKING INTO THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS FURTHER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158477May 28, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
FAILURE OF REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153213March 20, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY MOTHER WAS BACKING HER 2001 SUBARU FORESTER INTO HER PARKING SPACE AT WORK, WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE CAR CONTINUED OVER A PARKING MEDIAN, OVER A GUARD RAIL AROUND THE PARKING LOT, THROUGH A ROW OF BUSHES BEFORE EVENTUALLY STRIKING A TELEPHONE POLE AND STOPPING. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10146069December 26, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
SEVERAL TIMES, DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINES ALL THE WAY BACK UNEXPECTEDLY. WITH A CAR SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVER, THE CAR SEAT RECLINES DIRECTLY INTO THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145879December 21, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
AROUND 100K MILES MY 2001 SUBARU FORESTER (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) EXPERIENCED SEVERE HESITATION AND MISSING (BUCKING) IN ALL GEARS, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER. THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED AND MECHANIC ASSURED ME EVERYTHING WITH THE TIMING BELT AND CLUTCH WAS OK. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME SEVERE JOLTING AS BEFORE. IN LOWER GEARS CAR ACCELERATES EXTREMELY SLOWLY, AND OFTEN STALLS AFTER THE SEVERE SHAKING. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM; WHILE TAKING A LEFT OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD, MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND STALLED, AND I WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140722October 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWN HEAD GASKET @ 75,000 MILES (OIL LEAKS). NOT COVERED BY SERVICE PROGRAM WWP-99. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135252September 3, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR
I OWN THREE SUBARU VEHICLES ONE OF WHICH IS A 2001 FORESTER-L. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE R/R WHEEL BEARING ON MY FORESTER TWICE @ 28017 MILES AND AT 75375 MILES. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. I WAS REIMBURSED BY SUBARU FOR HALF THE COST FOR SECOND INCIDENT. IN DISCUSSION WITH OTHER FORESTER OWNERS AND LOCAL MECHANICS THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM (PLEASE SEE VQ 7510621 AND VQ 7510621). I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY 1998 LEGACY L WAGON, BUT IN FAIRNESS THIS WAS AT 112, 000 MI. MY FEAR HERE IS THAT I WILL ALSO INCUR THIS REPAIR ON MY 2002 IMPREZA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131665August 5, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. SHE GOT TOO CLOSE TO EDGE OF PAVED SURFACE ON NARROW SECONDARY ROAD AND TIRES DROPPED OFF EDGE. INSTEAD OF THERE BEING THE REQUIRED FLAT SHOULDER OR BERM, THERE IS A 4+ INCH DROP AT THAT POINT. THE DROP AND CORRECTING TO THE ROADWAY CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE ENDED UP ROLLING TWO OR THREE (WITNESS ACCOUNTS VARIED) TIMES AND ENDING UPRIGHT IN A FIELD. DURING THE VERY FIRST ROLLOVER MY WIFE WAS AWARE OF THE SEAT BELT COMING UNLATCHED. OBVIOUSLY, SHE THEN BECAME AN OBJECT BEING TOSSED ABOUT IN THE VEHICLE DURING THE REST OF THE CRASH SEQUENCE. THERE IS NO EVIDENT, PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE BELT OR BUCKLE MECHANISM. THE INERTIA LOCK STILL FUNCTIONS; THE BELT WILL CLICK INTO THE BUCKLE AND REMAIN THERE WITH A TUGGING MOTION IS APPLIED. OBVIOUSLY I CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE TYPE OF FORCES THAT WERE APPLIED DURING THE CRASH. I CONTACTED SUBARA OF AMERICA AT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT WITH THIS INFORMATION AND THEY WOULD ONLY LOOK INTO THIS IN THE EVENT THE INSURANCE COMPANY SEEKS TO SUBROGATE THE CLAIM TO THEM. THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AS THE SEATBELT DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT (FOR COLLISION LOSS PART OF CLAIM) AND PENNSYLVANIA LAW DOES NOT ALLOW SUBROGATION FOR MEDICAL CLAIMS. I WAS NOT SEEKING A LITIGATION SETTLEMENT IN CONTACTING SUBARU... I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD WANT TO INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE WAS KILLED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10129326July 19, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES ON MARCH 10, 2005, SHE TOTALED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, IT WENT INTO A DITCH. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN MAY 2004. THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE WENT ACROSS TRAFFIC INTO A DITCH. SHE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP; HE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED A TIRE THAT WENT FLAT. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE SECOND TIME, WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER ON A WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD IT WENT ACROSS THE ROAD AGAIN. IT ENDED UP IN A DITCH AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT. SHE HASDTWO CRACKS ON L-1 AND BOTH T-9 AND T-10 NEED SURGERY. SHE ALSO HAS A CRACKED STERNUM. SHE HAD TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL FOR FIVE DAYS. SHE IS CURRENTLY SEEING A SPECIALIST AND AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON. SHE FOUND AN ARTICLE IN THE SACREMENTO BEE ON APRIL 13, 2005 TITLE, CLICK AND CLACK. THIS ARTICLE WAS IN REFERENCE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN SUBARU'S.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10121902June 24, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR
DT: THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE BACK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. GOT LOUDER ON TURNS, MOSTLY TO THE RIGHT. *AK *SB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124558June 8, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT : ON 6/7/05 THE OWNER WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS DARK AND THAT HEADLIGHTS WERE FLICKERING ON AND OFF. DRIVER HAS TO HOLD THE SWITCH ALL THE WAY IN TO KEEP LIGHTS ON THE WAY HOME. NEVER NOTICED THIS BEFORE. OWNER CHECKED BUT COULDNT FIND A RECALL, AND HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ARRANGED FOR REPAIRS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121016May 16, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
HEAD GASKET BLOWN AFTER SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120833May 13, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
USING THE TURN SIGNAL LEVERL CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT. INITALLY THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED BRIEFLY AND STAYED ON, BUT THEY ARE NOW REQUIRING SOME JIGGLING OF THE TURN SIGNAL LEVEL TO STAY ON. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT IN SWITCHING BETWEEN HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM, USING THE SAME LEVER.I AM CONTACTING THE DEALER TODAY.BELOW IS LISTED THE NUMBER OF FAILURES OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS. I DIRECTED MYSELF TO THIS SITE, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ON YOUR LIST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119348April 29, 2005
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING IN CITY LIMITS CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE. AS SOME TIME PASSED THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. WITHIN TWO YEARS THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED TWICE. SEVERAL MILES LATER, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED TWICE. CURRENTLY, NOISE RECURRED AGAIN WITH OWNER NOT SURE WHICH REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117888April 14, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
HEAT STRIP ON WINDSHIELD CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115797March 24, 2005
TIRES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
RECALL WW-99 WAS ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT WAS NOT FOUND AT THIS TIME. THERE WAS EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAK INTO THE HEAD GASKET, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER WAS ONLY FLUSHING THE SYSTEM, AND WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ALSO, YOKOHAMA TIRES THAT WERE UNDER THE PROPER INFLATION FOR THE VEHICLE CAUSED IT TO SLIP AND SLIDE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ALL WHEEL DRIVE.*AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104780December 30, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2001 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. IT APPEARS, AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND OTHER SOURCES, THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS ALL PHASE 2 2.5 L ENGINES MADE BY SUBARU BETWEEN 1999 & 2002. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INTERNET WEB PAGES WITH COMPLAINTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. WHY HASN'T SUBARU BEEN ORDERED TO RECALL THESE ENGINES, THEY'RE ADANGER TO THE DRIVING PUBLIC! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099414November 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:REAR
CONSUMER STATED REAR WHEEL BEARING WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THIS PART WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098130November 1, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
BEGAN AS INTERMITTENT CLUTCH SLIPPING (JUDDER) WHEN COLD OR DAMP. IT IS NOW OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THIS MORNING. THEY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, KNEW ALL ABOUT IT AND THE TSB THAT SUBARU HAD ISSUED AND ADVISED THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN. WHEN I CAME HOME FROM WORK, I HAD A MESSAGE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER BASIC WARRANTY (36000 MILES) AND SINCE MINE WAS 48,000, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME SINCE SOA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD BY THE SVC MGR, HAS REMEDIED IT ON NEW MODELS, THIS IS A DEFECT. I LIVE ON A STATE ROAD WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC AROUND A CURVE. WHEN I ACCELERATE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I EXPECT THAT THE CAR WOULD SAFELY AND QUICKLY MOVE ME INTO TRAFFIC. THIS IS JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY SOA. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET IF ANYONE WAS LOOKING FOR THIS. AND EVEN THOSE WHO HAD REPAIRS MADE WITHIN THE WTY PERIOD COMPLAINED OF CONTINUING FAILURES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081093July 14, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBURU FORESTER PURCHASED MAY 12, 2001 IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. IN MAY OF 2004 CAR BEGAN TO HAVE SLOW START UP IN LST. AND 2ND. GEARS. DEALER SAID HE DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM WORSENED AND PROGRESSED INTO 3RD, 4TH. AND 5TH. GEARS. UNTIL ONE DAY IN JULY WHILE ON HIGHWAY CLUTCH EXPLODED. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN AS THOUGH BY A RACE CAR DRIVER WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM. DEALER SUGGESTED IN MY JUNE 04 PHONE CALL THAT CAR MIGHT NEED A TUNE UP WHICH IS WHY I DID NOT HESITATE TO DRIVE IT WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER LOOKING AT ATTORNEY INTERNET COMPLAINT SITE I FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR IF NOT EXACT COMPLAINTS AS I HAVE MADE TO DEALERSHIP. AT PRESENT DEALER HAS MY VEHICLE IN ANOTHER STATE AND TELLS ME I MUST PAY FOR THE 'CLUTCH DISC" AT L39. AND THE COST OF MY RENTAL CAR AT 30. DAY , REPAIR COULD TAKE 4-7 DAYS. ALSO, I PAID FOR THE TOW OFF THE HIGHWAY-THE FIRST TOW. THIS PROBLEM COULD COST ME $500. IF THE DEALER WOULD HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM INITIALLY IN MAY THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER OCCCURED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN IN CAR. VEHICLE LOST 20 MILES SPPED IN LESS THAN 10 SECONDS CAUSING ME TO QUICKLY AND CALMLY MOVE OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND AWAIT STATE TROOPER HELP. MECHANICS TELL ME THAT DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SHOULD HAVE INVESTIGATED CLUTCH PROBLEMS WHEN I MADE COMPLAINTS OF LOSS OF POWER IN 1ST. AND 2ND. GEARS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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