Subaru Forester Complaints (2007)

74 consumer complaints on file.

#10929415December 1, 2016
ENGINE
BLOWN HEAD GASKET. 2007 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5XT. 54K MILES. PROBLEM PRESENTED ITSELF VIOLENTLY AS I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY. SUDDENLY ENGINE TEMP-GAUGE FLUCTUATES AND STARTS TO RISE. PULL OVER, COOLANT IS FORCEFULLY EXITING OVERFLOW TANK. SHUT CAR DOWN, TEMP GAUGE DROPS QUICKLY. NO EXTERNAL SIGNS OF LEAKING COOLANT WITH SUBSEQUENT REFILL AND TESTING. AFTER COOLANT WARMS UP (3 MINUTES IDLE) COOLANT BEGINS TO VIOLENTLY EXIT RADIATOR CAP (WHEN OFF) OR OVERFLOW TANK. EXHAUST VERY SOOTY. SHAKES MY CONFIDENCE IN SUBARU AND THEIR ENGINEERING TO HAVE A HEAD GASKET BLOW THIS EARLY. SUBARU COOLANT CONDITIONER IS A RE-BRANDED STOP-LEAK. WAS LOOKING AT THE NEW BRZ, NOW I WILL NOT BE BUYING AND DO NOT RECOMMEND SUBARU UNLESS MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGES AND MAKES AN EFFORT TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10919887October 28, 2016
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE EXITING A CAR WASH FACILITY, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED, SPED ACROSS THE STREET, AND STRUCK A CURB. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CEMENT DIVIDER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 01/25/2017*CT UPDATED 7/2/18*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10919027October 26, 2016
ENGINE
ENGINE FAILED ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THERE WAS NO DIGNOSTIC CODE FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS FOUND BY SUBARU DEALERSHIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10839173March 1, 2016
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10783189October 19, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DEAR SIR, I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS SUBARU FORESTER CAR ([XXX]) IN GEORGIA, BUT HAD NOTICED THAT BEFORE ALLOWING IT TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION, THE MANCHESTER CENTER, VT/MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENT VERMONT DIDN'T ENSURED THIS VEHICLE HAD PASSED ALL THE RECALLS REQUESTED BY YOUR SUBARU COMPANY FOR THIS MODEL OF FORESTER (I SEE AT LEAST ONE OPEN RECALL NO.WVU31 REPROGRAM ECM NOW WHICH WAS NOT PASSED). BESIDE, ACCORDING TO CARFAX AND AUTOCHECK REPORTS, IT SEEMS THE CAR DIN NOT WENT THROUGH 2010 RECALL (WVN24: ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) REPROGRAMMING & FUEL TANK ONE-WAY FUEL VALVE). I PRESUME BECAUSE OF THIS, THE ERROR CODE P1400 APPEARS CURRENTLY ON THE CAR DISPLAY. THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE ASKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING WHICH ENTITY IS BEARING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE 2 PROBLEMS? I ASKED ALSO SUBARU INC. TO ALLOW SERVICING MY CAR FREE OF CHARGE FOR INSPECTION AND REMOVAL OF ERRORS TO THE CLOSEST SUBARU DEALER, BUT NOT REPLY YET. HOW IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CAR WAS ALLOWED BY VERMONT MOTORS DEPARTMENT TO BE SOLD OUTSIDE OF USA, EVEN IF RECALLS WERE ACTIVE? AS A CITIZEN OF EU MEMBER STATE, I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO START A CASE FOR ALLOWING SELLING OUTSIDE OF USA A CAR BEING UNDER SUBARU RECALLS. I MEAN SUBARU RECALLS NO. WVN24 AND WVU31, THE LAST EVEN HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED NEITHER TO CARFAX, NOR TO AUTOCHECK, WHICH REPORTS I PURCHASED BEFORE. HOPE YOU'LL OFFER ME ENTIRE ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10705935April 15, 2015
POWER TRAIN
MY VEHICLE REGULARLY SHIFTS IN A VERY IMPRECISE WAY, AT THE WRONG TIMES, IN PARTICULAR AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE IS ALSO UNUSUAL DELAYS IN SHIFTING DOWN WHEN QUICK POWER IS APPLIED, SOMETIMES RESULTING IN DELAYS IN EMERGENCY OR QUICKLY NEEDED MANEUVERS. THE CARE BEHAVES IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAYS AS IN NHTSA COMPLAINTS #10480933 AND #10317114. I HAVE FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN OTHER FORA IN SPECIALIZED CAR WEBSITES, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN AND ENGINEERING DEFECT ON THE PART OF SUBARU, WHICH HAS GRAVE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. I CALLED ONE DEALERSHIP AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AT SUBARU, AND WAS TOLD THAT NO BULLETINS OR RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS DEFECT. IN BOTH CASES, I WAS TOLD THAT THE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, ABOUT $2,000 TO $3,000 WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT, WHICH HAS GROWN GREATER AS THE CAR AGES, SUBARU SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL AND REPAIR THE DEFECTS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10704014April 6, 2015
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE FAULT INDICATORS CAME ON AND THE ERROR CODE P2441 WAS PRESENT BOTH AT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AND AT THE SECOND OCCURRENCE AT 105,000 MILES. AT THE SECOND OCCURRENCE THE PRICE FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM WAS SET AT $2123. AT THIS PRICE AND GUESSING AT THE PRICE OF OTHER PARTS THE CAR'S REPLACEMENT VALUE SHOULD COME TO AROUND $200,000. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM PERVASIVE TO ALL SUBARUS, NOT JUST FORESTERS, FEATURING A TURBO CHARGED ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10695266March 19, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOUND WITH APPROX. 1" - 1-1/2" FREE WATER IN THE ENTIRE INSIDE BOTTOM. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. SUBARU SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ALSO HAD HIS PERSONAL SUBARU HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WATER FILLED. OTHER SUBARU'S ALSO AT DEALERS SERVICE AREA ALSO CONTAINED WATER. WATER & ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE. SERVICE REP. HAD PREVIOUSLY SEARCHED FOR RECALLS/TECH. BULLETINS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND FOUND NONE. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE THESE ASSEMBLIES, WE REPLACED BOTH BELIEVING THAT IT COULD SOON OCCUR TO THE REMAINING ASSEMBLY - WHICH DID HAVE DEW/FOGGY MOISTURE INSIDE BUT NO FREE WATER - YET! FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US FOR OTHER INFORMATION. HAVE PATIENCE, MY SENIOR CELL PHONE FAILS AT TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668534December 28, 2014
AIR BAGS
OUR SUBARU FORESTER 2007 WAS IN A FRONT END CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS ALONE IN CAR, THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS. DAMAGE TO CAR WAS CONSIDERED "TOTAL LOSS" BY INSURANCE COMPANY (ASSESSED DAMAGE WAS AT LEAST $7500 WITH JUST A VISUAL INSPECTION). FRONT OF CAR HAD SEVERE DAMAGE, AND WAS PUSHED IN. SUBARU WAS TRAVELING WEST AND HIT SIDE OF A LARGE TOYOTA MINIVAN THAT WAS TRAVELING NORTH AT ABOUT 40MPH (AND HAD GONE THROUGH A RED LIGHT IN INTERSECTION). FORCE OF SUBARU HIT TO TOYOTA WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE TOYOTA TO SWING AROUND AND HIT ANOTHER CAR SITTING AT STOPLIGHT. CONSIDERING SEVERITY OF CRASH AND DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IT SEEMS AIR BAGS IN SUBARU SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. AIRBAGS IN OTHER CAR (TOYOTA) DID DEPLOY. LUCKILY, DRIVER OF SUBARU WALKED AWAY WITH MINOR CUTS AND PAIN. DRIVER OF SUBARU SAW CRASH COMING AND WAS ABLE TO BRACE SELF A BIT FOR CRASH, AND WAS BRAKING AT TIME OF IMPACT. HAVE PICTURES IF NEEDED FOR ANALYSIS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10652878November 5, 2014
ENGINE
HEAD GASKETS ON ENGINE STARTED TO LEAK. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE 2007 FORESTERS. WHY WAS THERE NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584657April 24, 2014
ENGINE
BOTH CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS LEAK OIL AND COOLANT. ALL HOSES ARE BRITTLE. THE DEALER ESTIMATES $3000 DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS 60000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS OFFERED $500 ASSISTANCE WHICH IS TOO LOW. *TR DO OTHER SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565349February 21, 2014
ENGINE
HEAD GASKETS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562063January 29, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PULLED INTO MY SISTER'S DRIVEWAY. DRIVEWAY IS SHORT; LESS THAN 2 CAR LENGTHS. THE FRONT OF HER HOUSE IS ABOUT 6 FEET OR LESS AHEAD OF END OF DRIVEWAY. I BRAKED AS I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE. I WAS ABLE TO BACK THE CAR AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10558574January 6, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW ROUGHLY 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, A STRONG FUEL ODOR FILLS THE CABIN. FLATIRONS SUBARU IN BOULDER, CO, COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT AN INDEPENDENT SUBARU MECHANIC IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM INSTANTLY. HE SAID THE FUEL LINE HAS A SMALL RUBBER MID-SECTION WHICH CONTRACTS WITH COLD WEATHER AND PRODUCES A LEAK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555995December 13, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, BUT THE CAR RUNS FINE. I HAD IT CHECKED AND MECHANIC SAID GAS CAP PROBLEM AND RESET. AFTER THAT TIME I WAS VERY CAREFUL TO TURN THE GAS CAP UNTIL I HEARD 2 PLUS CLICKS (RECOMMENDED BY SUBARU). I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM 4 TIMES SINCE THEN AND FINALLY WAS TOLD THE LAST TIME I HAD IT RESET WHILE AWAY FROM HOME THAT IT COULD BE A CRACKED FUEL CUT VALVE. THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED 8 MONTHS AGO AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO GET IT FIXED OR RESET THE CHECK ENGINE. BECAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE, TEXAS INSPECTION FAILED AND NOW DEALER WANTS OVER $900.00 TO REPLACE THE CRACKED VALVES. I THINK THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY SUBARU SINCE THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM AND OCCURS BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART OR BAD DESIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520787June 19, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE BLOWER FAN QUIT. AFTER REMOVING THE BLOWER FAN IT WAS FOUND THAT POWER CONNECTION TO THE FAN HAD COMPLETELY MELTED. THE WIRES HAD BURNED THROUGH AND PLASTIC AROUND THEM WAS COMPLETELY BURNT AND DEFORMED. NO FUSES WERE BLOWN WHICH IS WORRISOME BECAUSE THIS IS THE EXACT TYPE OF THING FUSES ARE DESIGNED TO PREVENT. HAD THE WIRES NOT BURNED THROUGH AND CUT THE POWER TO THE FAN THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508471April 16, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF WAS NOT CLOSING PROPERLY. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SUNROOF MOTOR WAS GOING BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BENT SUNROOF FRAME. THE SUNROOF MOTOR WAS COVERED UNDER MY SUBARU EXTENDED WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE BENT SUNROOF FRAME WAS NOT. SINCE THE SUNROOF WAS HARDLY USED IN THE PAST 5 YEARS, I MAINTAINED THAT IT WAS EITHER A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR AN ASSEMBLY ERROR. SUBARU REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE FRAME REPLACEMENT. THEREFORE, BY REPLACING JUST THE MOTOR I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM OF THE BENT SUNROOF FRAME WHICH IN TIME WILL MAKE THE SUNROOF MOTOR GO BAD. I ENCOURAGE OTHERS WITH SIMILAR SUNROOF PROBLEMS TO FILE COMPLAINTS. WITH ENOUGH COMPLAINTS, SUBARU MAY DECIDE TO COVER THESE REPAIRS UNDER THEIR CLASSIC EXTENDED SERVICE WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505526April 3, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS ADVISED BY AN EMPLOYEE AT MIDAS WHO HAPPENS TO OWN 3 SUBARUS THAT THE HEAT SHIELD ALWAYS COMES LOOSE ON SUBARUS WHICH IS ALARMING. ALTHOUGH IT ONLY COST ME $40 TO REPLACE, I FEEL A LITTLE UNEASY AS I'VE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 1 1/2 YEARS. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE (USED), I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO A SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD FIND AND I SHOULDN'T WORRY. AT ALMOST TWO YEARS, I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ALTHOUGH NOTHING MAJOR HAS HAPPENED AND I'M HOPING AND PRAYING IT DOESN'T AS I AM THE MOTHER OF A 3 YEAR OLD CHILD AND WOULD HATE FOR MY CAR TO EITHER CATCH ON FIRE OR FOR ME TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO SUBARUS NEGLECT TO CORRECTLY INVESTIGATE THE REAL PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504024March 14, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED 02/18/13 WHEN WE WERE GOING 70 MPH ON A INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR THIS OCCURRENCE WAS APPROX. 78,500 MILES. BOTH TIMES WHILE DRIVING, THE HOOD POPPED OPEN. THE SAFETY LATCH KEPT THE HOOD FROM TOTALLY OPENING. WE BELIEVE THE HOOD WAS SECURED PROPERLY AND HELD OVER 600 MILES BEFORE EACH INCIDENT AND THE CAR WAS TRAVELING MOST OF THAT 600 MILES AT 60 - 70 MILES AN HOUR. BOTH TIMES WE WERE ON A LONG TRIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502197March 9, 2013
POWER TRAIN
REAR AXLE HANGER BEARING GAVE OUT. HAD TO REPLACE REAR AXLE. TIRES ALWAYS MAINTAINED METICULOUSLY. CONCERNING BECAUSE SYMMETRICAL AWD FAILURE IN WINTER DRIVING IS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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