Subaru Forester Complaints (2003)

189 consumer complaints on file.

#10557095December 23, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN THE WEATHER IS BELOW 20 DEGREE THE FUEL LINES LEAK CAUSING THE CAB TO FULL WITH GASOLINE FUMES. THIS SMELL CAUSES HEADACHES A NAUSEA FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. THE SMELL BEGINS TO SUBSIDE AFTER THE FUEL LINES HAVE WARMED UP AND EXPANDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556307December 17, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2003 FORESTER HAS HEAVY SMELLS OF FUEL WHEN STARTING IN COLD WEATHER ONLY. THIS WAS PREVENT LAST WINTER AND HAS RETURNED THIS WINTER. FUEL VAPORS ARE VERY DANGEROUS. SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555207December 8, 2013
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON MY SUBARU FORESTER IS ON YET AGAIN. IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES. IN READING ONLINE THERE ARE WIRED BROUGHT TOGETHER AT A CONNECTOR THAT WHEN BOTH ENDS ARE PUSHED TOGETHER THEN THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WILL GO OUT. JUST USING GOOGLE ONLINE TO SEARCH I HAVE COME ACROSS DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS. AS THIS IS A VEHICLE SAFETY COMPONENT, SUBARU SHOULD REPAIR THIS AT NO COST. WHY SUBARU COULD NOT HAVE IMPLEMENTED A MUCH MORE SECURE, RELIABLE CONNECTOR FOR SUCH A CRITICAL SAFETY SUBSYSTEM IS BAFFLING AS A MORE RELIABLE CONNECTOR SHOULD NOT COST BUT A COUPLE OF DOLLARS MORE. SUBARU SHOULD BE REPAIRING THIS AT NO CHARGE TO VEHICLE OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553958November 27, 2013
ENGINE
UPON STARTING AND RUNNING THE VEHICLE IN TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING (32 DEGREES F), THE FUEL LINES NEAR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IN THE ENGINE BAY LEAK GASOLINE, TRANSMITTING AN UNBURNT FUEL SMELL TO THE CABIN VIA THE HVAC SYSTEM AND BLOWER FAN. THESE FUMES ARE TOXIC AND THEREFORE HAZARDOUS TO MOTORIST AND PASSENGER HEALTH. ALSO, FUEL DRIPPING NEAR A HOT INTAKE MANIFOLD IS A FIRE HAZARD. THE LINES APPEAR CORRODED IN SPOTS AND THE FUEL LEAK IS VISIBLE AND APPARENT. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, BASED UPON THE INSPECTION, THE APPARENT FUEL LEAK IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE HOT ENGINE IS A MAJOR HAZARD FOR THE MOTORIST OF THE FORESTER AND OTHER MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD - THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED AND SUBARU SHOULD ANNOUNCE A RECALL ON ALL (2003) FORESTER MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553887November 26, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS IS LEAKING IN THE ENGINE AS A RESULT OF COLD WEATHER. STRONG GAS SMELL. WHY DID SUBARU USE FUEL LINES THAT CONTRACT IN COLD WEATHER? THIS SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL BY SUBARU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553602November 24, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS IS LEAKING IN THE ENGINE AS A RESULT OF COLD WEATHER. STRONG GAS SMELL. WHY DID SUBARU USE FUEL LINES THAT CONTRACT IN COLD WEATHER? THIS SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL BY SUBARU. ONLINE RESEARCH CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT HIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544615September 20, 2013
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
(ALL) THE AIR BAGS FAILED. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR, (FELL) OUT OF THE CARRIER. THE DRIVERS AUTO LOCK ON THE SEATBELT FAILED, THE REAR STORAGE COVER POPPED (OUT) OF ITS HOLDERS, FLEW TO THE FRONT (V'ED), HITTING HER IN THE RT TEMPLE, AS SHE (BOUNCED) BACKED AND FORTH HITTING THE DASH AND CENTER POST DRIVERS DOORS. GEICO (GAVE) ME THE CAR INCASE SUBARU WANTED TO SEND AN INVESTOR. CALLED THEM AT THEIR CORP. #. THREATENED TO SUE ME IF I WENT PUBLIC. HAD TO HIRE A LAWYER IN FAIRBANK. TWO RIVERS WOMAN KILLED IN COLLISION PUBLISHED MARCH 17, 2005 BY [XXX] , STAFF WRITER A VEHICLE COLLISION CLAIMED A WOMAN'S LIFE NEAR 10 MILE CHENA HOT SPRINGS ROAD ABOUT 5 P.M. WEDNESDAY. [XXX], OF TWO RIVERS DIED AFTER SHE LOST CONTROL OF HER SUBARU ON THE SLIPPERY ROAD, VEERED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND WAS STRUCK BY A COMMERCIAL VAN. "HER VEHICLE WAS SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL," SAID ALASKA STATE TROOPER [XXX]. [XXX], WHO WAS DRIVING EAST, STARTED FISHTAILING AND VEERED INTO THE WESTBOUND LANE. THE VAN DRIVER, 51-YEAR-OLD [XXX], WAS DRIVING WEST. [XXX] DIED FROM HEAD INJURIES. THE CRASH IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. [XXX]WITH HIS THREE GRANDDAUGHTERS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE. "I JUST HEARD THIS GOD-AWFUL COMMOTION,"[XXX] SAID. "I HEARD IT, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT." HE USHERED THE THREE CHILDREN, WHO HAD BEEN SLEDDING ON A SNOW BERM, INTO THE HOUSE AND RAN OUT TO THE ROAD. [XXX] PINNED IN VEHICLE. NO PULSE, WASN'T BREATHING. EMERGENCY RESPONDERS HAD TO PRY OFF THE SUBARU'S PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND CUT THE SEAT BELT TO FREE. THE COLLISION INFLATED THE VAN'S AIR BAGS AND[XXX] SUSTAINED ONLY MINOR INJURIES, OFFICIALS SAID. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10537652September 3, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
2013 SUBARU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ALMOST FROM THE MOMENT, HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, HE AND HIS WIFE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, HIS WIFE EXPERIENCED A SLOW BRAKE RESPONSE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL AND WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. HIS WIFE SUFFERED A BACK INJURY. THE SECOND TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AGAIN, AND THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. CONSEQUENTLY, HIS WIFE HAD ANOTHER ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN EITHER ACCIDENT. UPDATED 04/04/14*LJ
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10525666July 18, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
REAR VIEW MIRROR (SELF-DIMMING WITH COMPASS) BECAME CLOUDY AND DISCOLORED. UNABLE TO CLEARLY VIEW ACTIVITY BEHIND VEHICLE. THIS IS, ACCORDING TO INTERNET RESEARCH, A COMMON DEFECT IN THE SUBARU REAR VIEW MIRRORS IN THE ERA OF (APPROXIMATELY) 2003-2008. NO RECALL HAS BEEN RECEIVED. AN E-MAIL TO SUBARU LAST EVENING EXPLAINING THIS PROBLEM WAS ANSWERED BY TELLING ME TO ORDER A NEW MIRROR FROM A LOCAL DEALER. THEY NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE DEFECT AND PROVIDE NEW MIRRORS. IT'S AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE AND MUST BE CORRECTED BY SUBARU IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524573July 12, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES UNTIL HE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502241March 10, 2013
WHEELS
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. EACH TIME, IT WAS STATED BY THE MECHANIC TO BE A FAULTY WHEEL BEARING, BUT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF INSTANCES, A QUESTION HAS BEEN RAISED OF POSSIBLE OTHER SOURCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494888January 28, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER AND NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM MY VENTS, INCREASING WHEN I TUNED ON MY HEAT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WAS BEHIND A CAR USING DIESEL FUEL. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS 11 DEGREES F. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE SUBARU DEALER WHEN ON THE SECOND DAY IT INCREASED AND I HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO FOR VENTILATION AS THIS WAS MAKING ME FEEL LIGHT HEADED AN ILL. I WAS TOLD BY THE PERSON IN REPAIR THAT AN EMPLOYEE OF SUBARU HAD COME IN ALSO THAT DAY WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. MY CAR WAS FOUND TO HAVE LEAKS IN THE GAS LINES. I WAS TOLD HIS HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER. SINCE SUBARU ADVERTISES THEIR VEHICLES AS THE COLD WEATHER VEHICLES I FIND THIS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND FEEL THEIR SHOULD BE A RECALL, SINCE THEY HAVE RECALLED SOME OF THEIR OTHER VEHICLES FOR THIS VERY SAME REASON. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING TO SAY THE LEAST. I WAS TOLD IT WILL COST 750.00 TO REPAIR. I FEEL HIS IS A DEFECT AND MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOUED BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494764January 25, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN WEATHER IS COLD, THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE CAR. HAPPENS ON ANY MORNING WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494578January 24, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
STARTED AND DROVE VEHICLE APPROX. 1 MILE IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL AN EXTREMELY STRONG RAW GASOLINE ODOR. THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS INUNDATED WITH THE ODOR. I CHECKED FOR LEAKS BUT DID NOT SEE ANY(IT WAS AT NIGHT). I SLOWLY DROVE HOME WITH MY PASSENGER-SIDE WINDOWS OPEN. HAVEN'T DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE.... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491465January 4, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE OCCUPANCY SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487891December 10, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL, THE VEHICLE WOULD EMIT AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR INTO THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE VAP VALVE WAS REPLACED BY A SERVICE CENTER BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS NOT A FUEL LEAK PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 01/18/13*LJ UPDATED 1/25/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470754August 15, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE PARKING AT THE OFFICE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BY BRAKING HARD. THERE WAS NO RUG OBSTRUCTING THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKES. I WARE A SIZE 7 SHOE, THEREFORE THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF PRESSING BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. IT WAS SCARY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466580July 19, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR IN THE SHOP, STILL REMAINS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462559June 21, 2012
AIR BAGS
2003 SUBARU FORESTER. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. DEALER STATED THAT AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE HARNESS WIRES WERE CORRODED AND REQUIRED HARNESS REPAIR. SUBARU PARENT COMPANY SAID THERE IS ONLY A 30000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE AIRBAG WIRES.... THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE. SHOULD BE COVERED U DER 100,000 WARRANTY. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462062June 18, 2012
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000. UPDATED 7/9/12 *CN THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME ASSEMBLY WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. UPDATED 07/10/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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