Subaru Forester Complaints (2003)

189 consumer complaints on file.

#10563471February 8, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM LAST YEAR ALSO AT ABOUT 134000 MILES. WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES WOULD BE MY BEST GUESS, THE WHOLE CAB OF THE CAR FILLS WITH GASOLINE FUMES. PRETTY POWERFUL SMELL. I NOTICE ONLINE IN MANY, MANY PLACES THAT SUBARU IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. THEY ARE ONLY FIXING WRX MODELS UNDER A RECALL. THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT HAVE A WRX. I WILL PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED, THOUGH SUBARU SHOULD STEP UP TO ALL MODELS WITH THIS VERY DETRIMENTAL ISSUE. THE DEALER IS ACTING A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS DENYING THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SEEMS LIKE THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ALL ISSUES THAT ARE SO PROMINENT ON THE INTERNET. MOST ARTICLES POINT TO FUEL LINES AT INTAKE MANIFOLD ARE FAILING. FAILING WOULD DEMAND TSB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563334February 7, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DURING COLD WEATHER, (LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 15 DEGREES F), THERE IS A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE INSIDE OUR GARAGE THE STRONG FUEL ODOR CONTINUES UNTIL GRADUALLY LESSENING. A VISUAL INSPECTION DOES NOT REVEAL AN OBVIOUS FUEL LEAK. OTHER SUBARU MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND AN ONLINE SEARCH SUGGESTS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT TO MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562998February 5, 2014
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRE FR380, SIZE P215-60-R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES BECAME PREMATURELY WORN, OUT-OF-ROUND AND EXHIBITED TREAD AND BELT SEPARATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS 53,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562159January 30, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP DROPS BELOW 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP. TURNS OUT ITS FROM LEAKING FUEL LINES UNDER THE HOOD. THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM BY SUBARU WITH SEVERAL OF THERE CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562186January 30, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN RIGHT AFTER STARTUP AND THROUGHOUT SHORT TRIPS, ESPECIALLY WITH HEATER ON. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOST OFTEN WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE NEAR OR BELOW THE FREEZING MARK. DID NOT EXPERIENCE BEFORE THIS WINTER, NOW OCCURS DAILY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED! IF SUBARU KNOWS THAT THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562074January 29, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE UNDER HOOD WHEN STARTING CAR COLD. AUTO REPAIR CENTER FOUND LEAKING FUEL LINE. TIGHTENED CLAMPS. THEN THE FOLLOWING WINTER, 1.24.14 AGAIN SMELLED RAW FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTED ENGINE COLD. AUTO REPAIR DID A PRESSURE TEST OF FUEL SYSTEM AND TRACED LEAKS TO FUEL RAIL ON TOP OF ENGINE/ LEFT CYLINDER HEAD INJECTOR RAIL. AUTO CENTER OWNER SAID HE HAD 7 SUBARU OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS WITH THE EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561792January 28, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN I START MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER IN VERY COLD WEATHER THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. I KNOW THAT NHTSA ISSUED A TSB ON 2002-2004 SUBARU WXT MODELS BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THE FORESTER, OUTBACK, AND LEGACY OF THOSE YEARS, WHY? IT IS THE SAME FUEL PROPULSION LAYOUT AND THE RUBBER HOSE CONNECTION AT THE STEEL LINE IS WHERE THE LEAK HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SERVICED 4 OF THE 5 PAST YEARS AND HAD INJECTORS REPLACED WHEN NOW I KNOW IT IS ACTUALLY THE RUBBER HOSE SHRINKS BACK IN COLD WEATHER THUS THE GAS DRIPS AND POOLS ON THE MANIFOLD. THE WHOLE FUEL LINE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A TSB FOR ALL 2002 - 2004 SUBARU MODELS THAT USE THE SAME FUEL PROPULSION LAYOUT AS THE 2002 - 2004 WXT DID. IF YOU GOOGLE '2003 SUBARU FORESTER GAS SMELL' YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I AND ALL THE OTHER OWNERS OF THESE 2002 ' 2004 MODEL SUBARU'S SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY CONTINUOUSLY FOR REPAIRS THAT WILL KEEP ON HAPPENING EVERY WINTER UNTIL THE LINES ARE REPLACED. WHEN WILL THE RECALL HAPPEN? ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT UNTIL A CHILD / FAMILY DIES FROM A CAR EXPLOSION OF AN UNKNOWING FAMILY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR CATCHES FIRE OR EXPLODES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM? IF YOU LIVED IN A HOUSE WITH A GAS LEAK YOU WOULD GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY, WOULDN'T THIS BE THE SAME ABOUT YOUR CAR? THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE A.S.A.P. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561917January 28, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THIS PAST WEEK, WITH THE TEMPERATURES HERE IN NEW JERSEY DIPPING INTO THE TEENS, I SMELLED THE DISTINCT ODOR OF GASOLINE IN MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER IN MY DRIVEWAY BEFORE I HIT THE ROAD. THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG, I HAD TO TURN BACK HOME AS MY CHILDREN WERE NOT FEELING WELL FROM THE SMELL. THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT NEVER TO THIS DEGREE. I WENT TO THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED MANY CALLS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. HE INDICATED THAT THE COLD WEATHER CAUSED THE LINES TO CONTRACT AND ALLOWED GASOLINE TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. HE SAID THAT THE AS THE WEATHER WARMED UP, THE LINES WOULD EXPAND AGAIN, THUS MINIMIZING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WAS TO HAVE THE LINES CHANGED. WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS A HAZARD TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL I COULD HAVE THE LINES REPLACED, HE SUGGESTED THAT I LIMIT MY DRIVING SINCE GASOLINE DRIPPING ONTO A HOT ENGINE WAS DANGEROUS. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE LINES, AND HE STATED NO. SINCE THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NOT EVIDENT IN LATER MODELS OF SUBARU, I THINK THAT OTHER OWNERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561439January 25, 2014
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER NOTICE STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING IN CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561034January 22, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PURCHASED 2003 SUBARU FORESTER FROM DEALER IN MARCH OF 2011. DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE SERVICE RECORDS. STRONG RAW FUEL ODORS COMING INTO CABIN WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 40 DEGREES. REMNANTS OF ODOR LAST SEVERAL DAYS AFTER WARMER TEMPERATURES RETURN. RECEIVED ESTIMATE FROM DEALER OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO TEAR CAR APART TO FIND OBVIOUS FUEL LINE LEAK PLUS COST TO FIX LEAK (LABOR AND PARTS.) THIS YEAR I HAVE NO OTHER CAR TO DRIVE AND MUST GET TO MY TWO JOBS. RESULT OF 20 TO 30 MILES A DAY IN THE COLD TO GET TO WORK IS EXTREME FATIGUE, PERSISTENT COUGH, NAUSEA AND SEVERE HEADACHE. PHYSICIAN HAS ORDERED LUNG CT AS XRAY SHOWS UNIDENTIFIABLE ABNORMALITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560750January 21, 2014
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS WHEN THEY NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V464000 (SUSPENSION), HOWEVER THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560752January 21, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559281January 9, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
AT COLD TEMPERATURES, FUEL LEAKING SOMEWHERE FROM VEHICLE, CAUSING STRONG ODOR INSIDE AND OUT OF CABIN. CONCERNED THAT THIS AMOUNT OF FUEL COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO BREATHE AND/OR CAUSE RISK FOR FIRE. NEED MORE PROACTIVE RESPONSE FROM SUBARU ON THIS MATTER, AT THIS POINT 26 OF 115 COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR ARE FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559069January 8, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THERE'S A NOXIOUS SMELL OF GASOLINE ENTERING THE CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER. IT DISSIPATES WHEN DRIVING, BUT COMES RIGHT BACK WHEN IDLE. THIS WENT AWAY DURING THE SUMMER, BUT HAS RETURNED FOR THE WINTER OF 2013/14. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558867January 7, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN STARTING MY CAR IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURE THERE IS A VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CABIN. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT MY HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW SMOKE. IT IS CURRENTLY PARKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR THREE DAYS IN OUR CURRENT COLD WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558933January 7, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2003 FORESTER HAS RECENTLY BEEN EXPERIENCING EXTREMELY STRONG SMELLS OF FUEL WHEN DRIVING IN THE COLD WEATHER. INHALING FUEL VAPORS ARE VERY DANGEROUS, HERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH INHALATION OF FUMES: INHALING GASOLINE FUMES BRINGS CONCENTRATED HYDROCARBONS INTO YOUR LUNGS AND BLOODSTREAM. SOME OF THE INGREDIENTS IN GASOLINE ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC AND ARE MUTAGENS. LIVER DAMAGE AND PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE ARE POSSIBILITIES. THE SIDE EFFECTS CAUSED BY THE INHALATION OF GASOLINE CAN RANGE FROM CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) DEPRESSION, WHICH CAN INCLUDE: EYE AND THROAT IRRITATION, MILD OR PRONOUNCED DIZZINESS, HEADACHE, LACK OF APPETITE, DROWSINESS AND IN-COORDINATION. IN MORE SERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN CAUSE UNCONSCIOUSNESS, PULMONARY EDEMA, AND DEATH. SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558941January 7, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2003 FORESTER HAS EXTREMELY STRONG AROMAS OF FUEL WHEN STARTING & DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. FUEL VAPORS ARE VERY DANGEROUS, HERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS OF INHALATION: INHALING GASOLINE FUMES BRINGS CONCENTRATED HYDROCARBONS INTO YOUR LUNGS AND BLOODSTREAM. SOME OF THE INGREDIENTS IN GASOLINE ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC AND ARE MUTAGENS. LIVER DAMAGE AND PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE ARE POSSIBILITIES. THE SIDE EFFECTS CAUSED BY THE INHALATION OF GASOLINE CAN RANGE FROM CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) DEPRESSION, WHICH CAN INCLUDE: EYE AND THROAT IRRITATION, MILD OR PRONOUNCED DIZZINESS, HEADACHE, LACK OF APPETITE, DROWSINESS AND IN-COORDINATION. IN MORE SERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN CAUSE UNCONSCIOUSNESS, PULMONARY EDEMA, AND DEATH. SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BECAUSE THEY INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558579January 6, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
IN BELOW FREEZING COLD WEATHER MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558415January 3, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOES BELOW FREEZING, THERE IS THE ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558036December 31, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED AT RAMSEY SUBARU AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT SUB FRAME IS RUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. IT SEEMS MORE LIKE THE THIN CHEAP METAL IS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THE WARRANTY IS ONLY GOOD FOR 5 YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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