Subaru Forester Complaints (2000)

75 consumer complaints on file.

#10025742July 9, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH SHUTTER, THROUGH ALL FOUR GEARS ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICILE IS COLD. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I BROUGHT IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STANDARD TRANSMISIONS FOR 40 YEARS AND NEVER HAVE I EXPEREINCED THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE SUBRAU HAS A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH AND FOR SOME REASON REFUSES TO CORRECT THE SITUATION .*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021411June 11, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDS REPLACING AT 51,000. THESE SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER AS THEY DO IN MY OTHER VEHICLES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018396May 7, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR
COMPLAINED TO SERVICING DEALER ABOUT EXCESSIVE NOISE. REPORT WAS AT 49,622 MILES, BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED. THIS COMPONENT IS NOT NORMALLY INSPECTED OR REPLACED IN THE ORDINARY SCHEDULE OF MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED CARE. MY WEB RESEARCH SHOWS QUITE A FEW REPORTS OF THIS SAME FAILURE, INDICATING INADEQUATE DESIGN OR FAULTY COMPONENTS. AVERAGE MILES TO FAILURE SEEM TO BE AROUND 50,000. INCREASINGLY, THESE CASES WILL BE SHOWING UP GIVEN THE AGE AND TYPICAL MILEAGE OF THESE CARS. ANYONE WHO IGNORES THE SOUND LEVEL INCREASE IS LIABLE TO EXPERIENCE A COMPLETE FAILURE ON THE ROAD WITH DEFINITE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE COMPILING STATISTICS ON THIS DEFECT, EXCEPT PERHAPS SUBARU. THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT SUBARU AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM'S FREQUENCY (A TSB ON IMPROVED REPLACEMENT METHOD), BUT THEY HAVE NOT REGULARLY AGREED TO COVER REPAIR COSTS OR ALERTED OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM'S EXISTENCE. IN MY CASE, REPAIR IS SCHEDULED SIX DAYS FROM NOW. MY COMPLAINT CALL TO SUBARU AMERICA RESULTED IN A PROMISE TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND CALL ME BACK WITH A RESPONSE ON WHAT ACTION THE COMPANY WOULD TAKE. IT IS NOW 2+ DAYS AWAITING RESPONSE. FORESTER (AND PERHAPS IMPRESA) OWNERS SHOULD BE ALERTED TO WHAT IS A VERY STEALTHY FLAW. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE SUPPLYING GOOD INFORMATION AND ADVICE, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING THEIR PRODUCT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015184April 4, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE OXYGEN SENOR FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE SENOR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10012030March 18, 2003
POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE'S POWER TRAIN ASSEMBLY FAILED AND CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO MAKE A CHATTERING NOISE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010304March 11, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR
HAD TO HAVE WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR REPLACED AT ONLY 44,000 MILES ON MY 2000 SUBARU FORESTER. UPON RESEARCH HAVE FOUND WHEEL BEARINGS TO BE A DEFECTIVE COMPLAINT AMONG SUBARU FORESTER AND IMPREZA OWNERS. SOME OWNERS CLAIMING THAT WHEEL BEARINGS MUST BE REPLACED EVERY 30,000 MILES.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005601February 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
CHATTERING CLUTCH ON 2000 SUBARU FORESTER. THIS CONSTANTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS COLD AND CONTINUES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FOUR FORWARD GEARS. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND I KNOW IT IS NOT MY DRIVING/SHIFTING SKILLS. A CHECK OF A MESSAGE BOARD SHOWS THAT OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM OUTSIDE OF DRIVER ERROR. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT. MY CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THIS. BUT IF THIS IS AN ACTUAL DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER, I WANT IT KNOWN THAT I HAVE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO THE ISSUE OF BAD O2 SENSORS ON THIS CAR. MINE WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES BEFORE A RECALL WAS DONE. THAT WAS 32,000 MILES AGO AND NOW THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON ONLY AFTER A 60,000 MILE SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP IS ASKING ME TO DO MORE REPAIRS AS A PROCESS OF ELIMINATION TO ZERO IN ON THE CAUSE OF THE LIGHT SHOWING. I FEEL THEY DID SOMETHING DURING THE MAINTENANCE SERVICE AND WANT ME TO PAY FOR THEIR ERRORS. IF IT IS ANOTHER O2 SENSOR THAT HAS GONE BAD, DOESN'T THE STATE OF CA HAVE A 50,000 WARRANTY ON ALL EMISSION COMPONENTS? WOULD IT BE COVERED?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8023350November 26, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHILE TRAVELING, CONSUMER NOTICED A GRINDING SOUND EMITTING FROM THE REAR WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY DEALER TECHNICIAN WHO NOTICE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THEY CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HUB ASSEMBLY. TS *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8015686August 7, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
BOTH REAR TIRES ARE WEARING ONLY ON OUTER EDGE. DEALER HAS DONE ALIGNMENT, BUT IT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007159July 16, 2002
POWER TRAIN
BEGAN NOTICING AND COMPLAINING OF CLUTCH CHATTER AT 20,000 MILES. MENTIONED AT EVERY SERVICE VISIT AND TOLD BY DEALER THAT IT WAS NORMAL OR THAT THEY ADJUSTED THE CLUTCH. CAR WOULD BE FINE FOR A MONTH AND THEN CHATTER WOULD RETURN. PARTICULARLY OCCURS WHEN COLD AND TRYING TO ENGAGE IN FIRST GEAR. TOLD AT 44,000 MILES THAT THE CLUTCH WAS WORN AND NEEDED REPLACING. WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CHATTER THEY NEVER RESOLVED, THEY KEPT SAYING THAT WAS NORMAL AND THE EARLY WEAR MUST BE DUE TO MY DRIVING. REPLACED THE CLUTCH AND ONCE AGAIN, A FEW MONTHS LATER CHATTER RETURNED. ANOTHER DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE FLYWHEEL AS WELL SINCE 99% OF CLUTCH CHATTER IS CAUSED BY THE FLYWHEEL SURFACE. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHO AGAIN SAID THE CHATTER WAS NORMAL AND WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE CAR STILL JERKS WHEN I SHIFT INTO FIRST WHEN IT IS COLD, MAKING IT VERY UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER TO DRIVE. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****764329
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#786009May 30, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED. *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8006491March 27, 2002
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BURNED DUE TO THE WRONG LUBRICANT FOR THE SEAL. THE NOISE IN THE REAR ALERTED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. NLM *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8003096January 29, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
FROM 14,000 MILES TO PRESENT 34,000 MILES FRONT WHEEL BEARING IS BEING REPLACED FOR FOURTH TIME BY DEALER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#755752December 17, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
THE FUEL FILLER DESIGN IS SUCH THAT IT IS TO COMPLICATED FOR GAS STATION ATTENDANTS TO CORRECTLY PUT ON. IT WILL CROSSTHREAD EASIER THAN IT WILL GO ON CORRECTLY. WITH OUT PROPER PRESSURE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, LIKE MANY CARS IT WILL STALL ABRUPTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN NEW JERSEY IT IS ILLEGAL TO PUMP YOUR OWN GAS, OR EVEN GET OUT OF YOUR CAR TO CHECK THAT THE CAP IS PROPERLY INSTALLED. SUBARU REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE DEALER WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FUEL FILL CAPS, OR THAT THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE DEALER WILL JUST RESET THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND CONSIDER IT A LOSS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#896198September 12, 2001
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOORS INTERMITTENTLY WON'T CLOSE. DOORS HAVE APPROXIMATELY A BIG GAP OPENING. CONSUMER HAS THIS PROBLEM NEARLY ONCE A WEEK. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749945August 6, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
REAPEADED WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748442July 14, 2001
TIRES:SIDEWALL
FOUR OF THE 5 ORIGINAL TIRES HAVE HAD SIDEWALL BLOWOUTS, ALTHOUGH I CAREFULLY MAINTAIN TIRE PRESSURE. IN THIS LAST EVENT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE EXPLODED AS THE CAR WAS EXITING RTE9 IN NJ TO THE SERVICE ROAD [A MILD S EXIT RAMP AT ABOUT 38 MPH]. THE CAR LOST STEERING CONTROL AND BOUNCED OVER THE CURB. THE REAR TIRE ALSO EXPLODED WHEN IT FOLLOWED OVER THE CURB. IN PREVIOUS EVENTS BOTH RIGHT SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT IN TWO SEPARATE TIMES WHILE MY SON WAS RETURNING FROM COLLEGE ON THE TACONIC PARKWAY IN NEW YORK. 4 OUT OF FIVE IS A GREAT BASEBALL AVERAGE BUT A LOUSY TIRE SCORE FOR FAILURES DUE TO BLOWOUTS. I SUSPECT A BAD BATCH THAT MAY BE ON A LIMITED NUMBER OF FORESTERS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: ELYTCHB349 TIRESIZE: 205/70R/15)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561813June 27, 2001
TIRES
THE VEHICLES TIRES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF BALDING AT ONLY 23000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD ONLY LAST ANOTHER 7000 MILES, BEFORE THE TIRES WERE REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEWOUT, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTIMG REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889722June 4, 2001
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
COMPONENTS OF VEHICLE THAT RELY ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OPERATE ERRATICALLY AND WILL TURN ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD OF VEHICLE WILL COME ON AND STAY ON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#886375April 20, 2001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DESIGN OF BELT, WHENEVER GETTING INTO VEHICLE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT HE ALWAYS WAS SEATING ON TOP OF SEAT BELT BEFORE HE COULD FASTEN IT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. *AK THE SEAT BELT WAS VERY HARD TO BUCKLE UP. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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