Subaru Forester Complaints

513 consumer complaints on file.

#11504591January 31, 2023
ENGINE
My vehicle stalls at stop signs and red lights at Least once or twice a day regularly I’ve taken to the dealer and they said I was the reason it does that but the car is barely 2 years old bought new it has been doing that since last year it needs to be fixed
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11504472January 30, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I was driving in downtown Chicago with my cousin. We had already been in the car driving around the city for ~15 minutes, so the car was warm. I had approached a stoplight, and we both heard a thud. I had assumed, because it had recently snowed, that it was some slush dropping on my car from a light. So, we were both looking around (specifically up), for what it could be. However, when we both looked forward again, we saw a 6-inch crack in my windshield. It's in the middle of my windshield in between my two wipers. As I further drove, the crack continued to grow for another 4-5 inches to the right. After doing a bit of research, Subaru has had issues with windshields before, and has settled a class action lawsuit (CLA) related to it. The crack that I experienced is the same type of crack that occurred with the windshields in the CLA. I had reached out to my insurance company (Progressive), and they did not have any idea about this issue with Subarus and said that it was not covered to replace it. I have not reached out to dealership yet for information. There was no warning lights, no drastic speed, no rocks or physical damage to the region that could explain the crack. However, if something like this could occur when barely anything is happening, what is the safety for a windshield when the car is on a highway, when a stone hits, when its sub-zero temperatures, etc.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11504436January 30, 2023
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
My Forester needed new tires at 13,250 miles. I had my tires rotated and that is when Subaru noticed the worn tires. I called Subaru Corporate and they informed me that do not replace tires. I bought new tires and then went to have a wheel alignment. The technician told me he could do the alignment but he couldn't adjust the Lane assist diagnostic or the VDC and other safety features. Now I am unsure what to do. I have tried to resolve this with Subaru of America without resolution. Hopefully, you will be able to help me. Why are Subaru dealers not doing these adjustments? Thanks for your help with this serious situation. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11503510January 24, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield developed multiple small chips for no apparent reason. I am the only one who drives the car and never felt any rock or pebble hitting my windshield. Chips were small (less than 1cm). I took the car to my authorized Subaru Dealer (Pembroke Pines, Florida) to be inspected and they told me that windshield needed to be replaced. They did not accept that this was a manufacturer problem and they told me it was not covered by my warranty. They referred to a company they work with to replace my windshield. I am uploading pictures of some of the chips. There were more but I did not take pictures of all of them. Chips were all over the windshield which obviously is very unlikely to happen and never happened to me before with any of my cars.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11502294January 17, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES
My brake rotors warped at 6900 miles. They were resurfaced and covered under warranty. The shop indicated that because I washed my wheels in the course of a 4 minute car wash 3 blocks from my house that I caused them to warp. The symptoms included very rusty view from eye level and shuddering on braking. This was the front axle. Today I took car in at 42000 miles rotors and pads have to be replaced front and back rotors surfaced and pads replaced. My car was aok but sat for 2 weeks after Xmas and upon driving again they instantly suffered on braking and were very rusty. I am not a hard or fast braker. I do occasionally tow a 4x6 small wood box trailer that does not have its own brakes.. way too old… steel frame wood sides. It sounds silmilar to the issue the ascent has. My concern is obviously safety first and second cost to replace every 20-30k miles adds $1200 to $1800 and it should not be that way. Ever car prior to this has gone at least 120k before needing any brake replacement parts. Is it the ceramic pads leaving material on the rotors, not rotor warp? Is it improper tightening of parts per specs? Is it hub warp? Lugs overtightened? And how can I and many others (google it) avoid this safety issue and the costs??
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11501719January 13, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 incidents. First day we took car home the vehicle infotainment system failed while phone was connected to Apple CarPlay. Screen went black and there was a loud noise like interference. Has happened repeatedly since, supposedly due to needing a firmware update but it’s been a well documented problem in Subaru automobiles for several years and the manufacturer has done nothing to alleviate the flaw. Second incident involves the windshield cracking in the lower driver side with no apparent cause from anything striking the windshield. Again, this is a well documented issue and there are several complaints on nhtsa.gov from other unhappy customers
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11500711January 8, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Over the past year that I have had my vehicle, having bought it in April 2022, I have had my windshield crack 3 times. Each crack has occurred around the end he’s of the windshield. One was caused by a rock hitting the windshield while driving less then 20 miles per hour - resulting in two cracks up the windshield.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11500187January 4, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that after the vehicle had been parked for approximately 3-hours, the alarm sounded indicating that the locks were being tampered with. The contact stated that the doors were locking and unlocking independently. The contact stated that several electrical features had malfunctioned. The contact stated that on occasion, the brake pedal was spongy when depressed, and the check engine and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle occasionally failed to start up as needed. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11499659January 1, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The hood wobbles in light wind (imagine a windy day) or from a passing vehicle or semi, it seems very flimsy in protecting the hood from just flying open one day.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11499550December 30, 2022
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while shifting the vehicle into the drive gear, the vehicle accelerated at high speed without any warning and drove into the wall of her garage causing front damage to the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to turn off. No one was injured. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 8,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11498027December 19, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Windshield has cracked twice in last month, in separate areas. I replaced the windshield on 11/9/22 and identified a new crack on 12/18/22.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11497741December 16, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Because of your regulations mandating the black spot in cars with HID/LED headlights, we notice a dark line in our windshield when driving in unlit areas at night. This makes it hard to see. Using the brights help, but this is an infraction within our neighborhood and similar dark, forested places. It seems that you have solved one problem but created a new one. This dark windshield line is particularly hard on seniors, whose night vision is commonly diminished.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11497251December 13, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The battery was completely discharged overnight when the car was only 4 months old. We had a flatbed tow to a dealer who charged the battery and performed tests which all checked out ok. Said we weren't driving the car often enough. This same battery discharge happened 3 more times, approximately 30 days apart each time. August 20 was the first time, September 19, October 13 and November 16, all in 2022. Car was purchased new in April 2022. Took it into the dealership where we bought it; they did tests also saying everything was ok, not being driven enough. The 4th time the overnight discharge happened was about a week after our dealership tested it. Every time this has happened the car was driven the previous day. Car is driven 4-5 times a week for local errands. Currently has 1,100 miles and is 8 months old. We are senior citizens and need a dependable car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11497153December 12, 2022
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while pulling into a parking space, the vehicle accelerated independently without warning, causing the vehicle to drive over the curb. The contact desperately depressed the brake pedal several times and the vehicle came to a complete stop. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 1,430.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11496858December 10, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Woke up this morning to a cracked windshield. Car was garaged over night and I drove it around 8:30pm the evening before and their was no crack. Now have a 4” crack in the passenger side windshield.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11496857December 10, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Went to my car on the morning of Dec 10 and found a 4” crack in my windshield. I drive the car the night before around 9pm and it was in my secure garage overnight. No crack the evening before. Next morning - cracked. This is an ongoing problem with Subaru
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11496649December 8, 2022
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while depressing the brake pedal and attempting to park in the driveway, the vehicle excessively independently accelerated in speed. The brake pedal failed to stop the vehicle and the vehicle was shifted into Park in order to come to a stop. The vehicle caused damage to the door and garage. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was contacted, and they stated they were not aware of any recalls or complaints for the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 10,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11496173December 5, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER, STRUCTURE:BODY
In the afternoon when I returned to my vehicle, a large crack (roughly 8 inches) formed on the lower sector of the windshield that appeared to have oriented by the mounting of the passenger wiper arm. I inspected the windshield for damage such as a rock chip and could not find anything to suggest that the integrity was compromised in any way. Their was no visible damage to the windshield other than the crack that formed. The crack formed while the vehicle was parked in a parking lot
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11495463November 30, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY
Glass cracked for no reason. According to this article Subaru has been sued related to 2017-2020 Foresters for a similar reason https://www.torquenews.com/1084/new-ruling-subaru-cracked-windshield-lawsuit-now-adds-25m-cars
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11494718November 23, 2022
ENGINE
Engine stalled 2x within 8 days at major intersections (both times), therefore blocking a lane in the intersections. Was told 1st time it was a gliche by dealership. Upon researching prior recalls for this make and model, engine stalls have been an issue. Dealership still can’t figure out issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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