Subaru Forester Complaints (2002)

88 consumer complaints on file.

#10149986February 10, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVER OF FORESTER WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ABOUT 10 FEET AWAY FROM CAR IN FRONT. DRIVER TOOK FOOT AWAY FROM BRAKE PEDAL FOR A MOMENT AND CAR SURGED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. DRIVER SLAMMED BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT FORESTER CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD. DRIVER SWERVED TO TRY TO AVOID ACCIDENT BUT STILL CLIPPED BUMPER OF CAR IN FRONT AND CAUSED DAMAGE. FORESTER CONTINUED TO SURGE AND BUCK FORWARD FOR ANOTHER MOMENT BEFORE FINALLY STOPPING (DRIVER'S FOOT HAD REMAINED FIRMLY ON BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME). I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I HAD BOUGHT IT FROM JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING IN A SUBARU AND REFUSED TO EVEN INVESTIGATE IF THERE WAS A MECHANICAL ERROR THAT WOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF LEGAL FEARS. THEY IMPLIED THE ACCIDENT WAS MY FAULT AND I WAS LOOKING TO BLAME THEM. DESPITE MINOR DAMAGE, THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVABLE, YET I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I WAS SCARED OF DRIVING IT EVER AGAIN. I WAS LUCKY I ONLY HIT ANOTHER CAR'S BUMPER-- IT COULD'VE BEEN A BICYCLIST OR PEDESTRIAN WHO WAS STRUCK! MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS INVESTIGATING THE CLAIM AT THIS POINT, BUT I REFUSE TO DRIVE THAT CAR UNLESS SOMEONE FINDS THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE OUT OF CONTROL SURGING AND FIXES IT. I AM APPALLED SUBARU IS DENYING THIS PROBLEM EVEN EXISTS. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142617November 14, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON THREE OCCASIONS WHEN PLACING MY 2002 SUBARU FORESTER IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE HAS BEGUN TO RACE UNCONTROLLABLY. IN EACH INSTANCE, BECAUSE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND AVOID A CRASH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130903August 1, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THERE WAS NOT ANY WARNING OR INDICATION PRIOR TO THE VEHICLES FAILURE AND ALL SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTIONS WERE COMPLETED AND UP TO DATE. WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON OUR 2002 SUBARU FORESTER WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES AN HOUR. THE ONLY INDICATION OF THE FAILURE WAS A SUDDEN RISE IN RPMS ON THE TACHOMETER FOLLOWED BY THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND HAD TO INCH OUR WAY ALONG THE FREEWAY SHOULDER TO THE NEAREST OFF RAMP AND PROCEEDED SEVERAL MILES, COASTING DOWN HILL ,UNTIL THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER MOVE UNDER ITS OWN POWER. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123745June 1, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS BACKING MY 2002 SUBARU FORESTER OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING IT TO CROSS THE ROAD HEADING FOR MY NEIGHBORS' HOUSE. FLOORING THE BRAKE DID NOT HELP BUT I MANAGED TO TURN THE CAR SLIGHTLY, HITTING A TREE, WHERE IT CAME TO A STOP. THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME TWICE BEFORE IN THIS CAR, AND ONCE TO ANOTHER REGULAR DRIVER OF THIS CAR. ALL INCIDENTS WERE WHEN MANEUVERING SLOWLY, BUT SOME WERE WHILE IN REVERSE AND OTHERS WHILE MOVING FORWARD. IN ALL THE EARLIER INCIDENTS, WE WERE SOMEHOW ABLE TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND TO A STOP BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO A FRIEND WHO OWNS A 2002 FORESTER. NONE OF US HAVE EVER HAD IT HAPPEN IN ANY OTHER CAR, AND WE HAVE ALL BEEN DRIVING REGULARLY FOR 35 YEARS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121609May 19, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SUBARU FORESTER HAS "SURGED" SEVERAL TIMES, DURING PARKING MANEOUVRES.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109867February 4, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10108638January 21, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IDLING BEFORE THE CONSUMER GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTS IT INTO REVERSE WHILE THE FOOT WERE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE COMMENCES TO ACCELERATE AND LURCH BACKWARD AND RAN INTO THE ENTRANCE OF THE DRUG STORE. CONSUMER SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AGAIN AND HIT A METAL POLE. NO INJURIES WAS REPORTED AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WERE RESTRAINED IN THEIR SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOW TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND PICK UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE REPAIR SHOP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102219December 6, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
MY VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED ON THE LEFT SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH. DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE EXTENDED FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT SPUN MY VEHICLE INTO A TREE THAT DAMAGED THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. NEITHER LEFT NOR RIGHT SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004 I NOTIFIED SUBARU OF AMERICA OF THE AIRBAG FAILURE. THEY ASSIGNED CASE #700-407 AND SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE RICK POZNIAK. ON DECEMBER 3, 2004 SUBARU OF AMERICA THROUGH RICK POZNIAK INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE AIR BAG FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10103122December 3, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER PRESSED THE ACCELERATE PEDAL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP AND ACCELERATE AT THE SAME TIME. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THIS COULD BECOME A POTENTIAL DANGEROUS SITUATION. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099180November 22, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE, HE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A MEDIAN WALL HEAD ON. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *JB *SC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10096386October 25, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
2002 SUBARU FORESTER S - DEALER CLAIMS THAT NORTHEAST CLIMATE (SALT & WET ROADS) WILL CORRODE DISC BRAKES, CAUSING PADS TO FAIL TO RETRACT COMPLETELY AND THEREFOR CONTINUOUSLY RUB ON THE ROTORS, HEATING THEM AND CAUSING WARPING. DEALER CLAIMS BRAKES SHOULD BE INSPECTED AND CLEANED EVERY 15,000 MILES. MANUFACTURER'S MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE MAKES NO MENTION OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. REPAIRS COST $600.00. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091082September 15, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
I ALMOST HAD A BAD ACCIDENT, AND I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN OUR SUBARU FORESTER. I CAME TO A RED LIGHT, BEGAN TO SLOW USING THE BRAKE, AND FOUND THE CAR TRYING TO SURGE AHEAD INTO THE PASSING TRAFFIC: MY FOOT HAD CONTACTED THE ACCELERATOR AS WELL AS THE BRAKE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, BUT IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067567April 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
ON MARCH 4, 2004, WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 SUBARU FORRESTER, I SMELLED AN AWFUL SMELL AND THE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. CAR WAS TOWED TO PALM SUBARU, GAINESVILLE FLORIDA, @ 4:30 PM. PALM HAS PERFOMED ALL PRIOR SERVICES ON THIS CAR INCLUDING OIL CHANGES. PALM COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THAT DAY AND DIRECTED ME TO GATRO LEASING, WITHIN THEIR BUILDING, FOR A RENTAL. I DID NOT PROVIDE A CREDIT CARD FOR THE RENTAL WHICH I HAD FOR ABOUT 16 HOURS AND DROVE ABOUT 20 MILES. ON MARCH 5, I WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL FILTER WAS FAULTY I HAD NOT TIGHTENED THE GAS CAP AND THAT IS WHY THE EMISSION LIGHT WAS ON. NOW I AM BEING ASKED TO PAY THE $22.00 FOR THE RENTAL. I DON'T THINK THIS IS FAR SINCE PALM INSTALLED THE FAULTY OIL FILTER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063272April 20, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND TECHNICIAN INDICATED VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER. INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY.*AK THE PROBLEM THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED WAS SIMILAR TO A RECALL ISSUED FOR 1998 AND 1999 MODELS. AFTER THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED THE PROBLEM SUBSIDED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053684February 19, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CONSUMER STATED BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING THE DRIVER PRESSES THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, ALMOST RESULTING IN CRASHES. *AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056208January 30, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR HESITATES THEN LURCHES FORWARD AFTER PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. VEHICLE THEN HESTIATES AS IF LOSING POWER. HAD THE SAME PROBELEM IN AUGUST OF 2003 AND DEALER RESET THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER AND SAID NO PROBLEM. DEALER TRIED TO HAVE ME PAY FOR A FUEL INJECTOR CLEANING SERVICE THIS TIME. CAR HAS 29,000 MILES. I SPOKE A ANOTHER CUSTOMER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHO WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOTICED THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB SITE. SHOULDN'T THIS MATTER BE LOOKED AT FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054693January 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN
ON THE GREEN TRAFFIC SIGNAL I ACCELERATED AND THE CAR SURGED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I JAMMED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THREW THE SHIFT INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR STOPPED, THEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFT IN PARK, THE CAR SURGED IN REVERSE HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME. I PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED SURGING TWICE BEFORE THIS. MY 2002 SUBARU FORRESTER WAS RECALLED FOR THE PARKING ROD REPLACEDMENT IN APRIL 2003.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045331November 3, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIRBAG LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND WILL STAY ON DURING THE TIME THE IGNITION IS ON. IT WILL DO THIS FOR DAYS AND THEN IT WILL WORK CORRECTLY FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE REPEATING THE ABOVE BEHAVIOR. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044013October 15, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A HUMMING WINDING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC TOLD THE DRIVER THAT FRONT DIFFERENTIAL CAME APART, AND PIECE OF METAL WAS INSIDE OF TRANSMISSION, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033238August 21, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TRANSMISSION HESITATES FROM A DEAD STOP. YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS FOR 2 SECONDS OR SO, THEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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