Subaru Forester Complaints (2004)

219 consumer complaints on file.

#10299794January 14, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 2004 SUBARU FORRESTER XT IN FEBRUARY OF '09 WITH 93,008 MILES ON IT. THE DEALERSHIP HAD ALL SERVICE RECORDS RELATING TO THE VEHICLES HISTORY, AND ALL GUIDELINES WERE FOLLOWED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE IS 102,323 AND I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT THE TURBOCHARGER IS COMING APART AND NEEDS REPLACED OR THE VEHICLE WILL BE NON-OPERATIONAL. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO, WHICH I UNDERSTAND. MY MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT I TALKED TO INFORMED ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED ITS GUIDELINES FOR LATER MODELS OF THE VEHICLE TO A SHORTER RECOMMENDED INTERVAL BETWEEN SERVICES. THESE MODELS HAVE THE SAME ENGINE AND TURBOCHARGER AS MY VEHICLE AND THEY CHANGED THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE FROM 7,500 MILES TO 3,500 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THE POWER TRAIN COVERAGE EXPIRED AT 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES BUT MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THEY HAD CHANGED THEIR SERVICE REQUIREMENT FOR A REASON. THE MECHANIC SHOP THAT I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HAS HAD SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM CONCERNING THE TURBOCHARGERS. IT STATES VEHICLES THAT ARE TURBOCHARGED SHOULD HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,750 MILES TO PREVENT FAILURE/ DAMAGE TO THE TURBO AND THAT I WAS NOT TO DRIVE IT OR THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE UP AND CAUSE A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298765January 8, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE COULD SMELL GASOLINE IN THE CABIN AS IT WAS BEING LEAKED ON THE MOTOR. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE SEEMED TO HAPPEN IN ABOVE FREEZING WEATHER. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297967January 4, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2004 SUBARU FORESTER FUEL SYSTEM LEAK IN COLD WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296254December 17, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OWNER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD BUMPING THE CONCRETE PARKING POST. WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, IT AGAIN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BRUISING A PEDESTRIAN. SIMILAR BEHAVIOR WHILE PARKING OCCURRED IN THE SAME LOT A MONTH EARLIER BUT ONLY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LICENSE PLATE COVER. WE BELIEVE THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MATT SLIPPED AND HAVE REMOVED IT. WE DID TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE THROTTLE COMPUTER BOARD CLEANED AT THE PIN CONNECTOR AND MAP SENSORS, AS HAD BEEN SUGGESTED IN AN EARLIER NHTSA REPORT FOR THIS CAR YEAR AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC SAID THEY WERE NOT DIRTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10296026December 16, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 0F) VEHICLE LEAKS FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE STARTING AT 6:30 AM, WITH AN OUTDOOR AIR TEMPERATURE OF APPROXIMATELY -11F AFTER A 6 MILE DRIVE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AT 11:30AM, WITH AN OUTDOOR AIR TEMPERATURE OF APPROXIMATELY 3F, FUEL SMELL WAS NOTICED WITHIN ONE MILE. FUEL LEAK IS FROM HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE, JUST FORWARD AND BELOW THE MANIFOLD. CAR WAS TOWED TO SHOP AND SHOP REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL HOSE AND CLAMPS. PHOTOS OF EXACT LOCATION OF LEAK, COMPONENTS REPLACED, REPAIR BILL AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TEMPERATURE DATA AVAILABLE IN PDF FORMAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295423December 12, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
EXTREMELY STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE INTERIOR OF AN 04 SUBARU FORESTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284971September 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
OUR 2004 MODEL, MANUAL GEAR-BOX SUBARU FORESTER 2.5 X STALLS FAR TOO EASILY IN FIRST GEAR. RECENTLY, MY WIFE NARROWLY ESCAPED A HORRENDOUS ACCIDENT WHEN THE FORESTER'S ENGINE STALLED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM THE SIDE ROAD WHICH SHE HAS TO USE TO ACCESS THE HIGHWAY FROM HER PLACE OF WORK. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER MANUAL GEAR-BOX SUBARU OWNERS, INCLUDING THE SUBARU WRX AND LIBERTY, WHO HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY BE A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN ISSUE AFFECTING MOST RECENTLY BUILT MANUAL GEAR BOX SUBARU PASSENGER VEHICLES, BUILT BY SUBARU AT THEIR MAIN FACTORY IN JAPAN, AND DISTRIBUTED GLOBALLY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE USA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275703July 3, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVEN. CORRESPONDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 7V043000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267247April 29, 2009
SUSPENSION
A REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED ON OUR 2004 SUBARU FORRESTER XT. WE HAVE HEARD A SOUND ON AGAIN AND OFF AGAIN A FEW MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR, AS WELL AS IN RECENT MONTHS. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY A SUBARU DEALER AND WE HAVE HAD ALL REQUIRED SERVICES MADE OVER THE YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR. WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SUBARU OF WAKEFILED, MA WHEN WE LIVED IN SALEM, MA. THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS TERRIFIC. WE NOW HAVE IT SERVICED AT PENCE SUBARU IN RICHMOND. THE LAST TIME WE WERE AT THE DEALER WE HAD AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE AND I WAS RETICENT TO RETURN. THE SOUND GOT REALLY BAD ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR BEARINGS HAD FAILED. WE HAVE HEARD A SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR ON AGAIN AND OFF AGAIN FOR YEARS AND HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND WORKED ON NUMEROUS TIMES THINKING THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. RECENT RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE DESIGN OF THE BEARINGS OR THE HUB AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED MULTIPLE FAILURES WHILE OWNING THEIR CARS. IT SEEMS AS IF A RECALL IS IN ORDER HERE AND THE PARTS SHOULD BE REPLACED AT THE MANUFACTURERS EXPENSE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATING THE MATTER AND ANY GUIDANCE THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266071April 20, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AT 51,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263775March 31, 2009
WHEELS
NOISE FROM LEFT REAR WHEEL GREW LOUDER FOR WEEKS ON A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT TURBO WITH 87,800 MILES. TIRES PLUS IN COOPER CITY, FL, REPLACED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING. IT SEEMED UNUSUALLY SOON FOR NORMAL WEAR, AND I FOUND SIMILAR ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUBARU WHEEL BEARINGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256585January 28, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SMELLED FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. STOPPED VEHICLE AND STRONG ODOR OF FUEL UNDER HOOD. THE EVENING TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW ZERO AND EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS GARAGED, TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW FREEZING. NO SIGNS OF FUEL ON FLOOR OF GARAGE AND COULD NOT FIND LEAK BY OBSERVATION OF RUNNING ENGINE. I DID RESEARCH AND MANY SUBARU VEHICLES ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL LEAKS AT LOW TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER SAYS IT MAY TAKE REPAIRS IN EXCESS OF $500.00 TO RESOLVE FAULTY CLAMPS AND HOSES. I AM TRYING TO GET SUBARU OF AMERICA TO WORK WITH ME. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN A RECALL? ARE WE WAITING FOR FIRES OR ASPHYXIATION? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251052December 8, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MODEL IS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT. UPON STARTUP IN COLD WEATHER, THERE IS AN EXTREME SMELL OF RAW FUEL (GASOLINE) BOTH INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE AS WELL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN COLD WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250895December 5, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW ABOUT 15 DEGREES F. THERE WAS A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE CAR WITH HEATER ON. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG GAS SMELL UNDER HOOD. I DROVE CAR THE NEXT DAY AT 35 DEG F AND NO SMELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233706July 9, 2008
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT IS MOVED. THE CONNECTOR WIRE UNDER THE SEAT MUST BE CAUSE BUT THE DEALER WILL CHARGE $600.00 FOR REPAIR THAT THEY STATE MAY OR MAY NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ONE OR TWO YEARS OLD. A SEARCH OF YOUR RECORDS SHOWS THE EXACT PROBLEM IN COMPLAINT #10196583, AND IS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF COMPLAINT #'S 10149296 AND 10101059. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229725June 3, 2008
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MALFUNCTION. THE CONNECTOR IS LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND IS CONSTANTLY STRESSED BY SEAT MOVEMENT OR CONTACT BY THE DRIVER'S FEET. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS CHRONICALLY BUT INTERMITTENTLY ON. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE FIRST IDENTIFIED WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR OLD. THE REPAIR OF THE CONNECTOR WAS EVENTUALLY INEFFECTIVE. WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAGS ARE INACTIVE AND WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216010January 25, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
DURING GAS FILL-UPS, UNABLE TO FILL TANK WITHOUT CONTINUOUS START/STOPS (~20 TIMES FOR FULL TANK). HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT PUMPS AND DIFFERENT STATIONS (APPROXIMATELY 13 FILL-UPS NOW). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212671December 24, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED WHILE STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CLIPPED A TREE AT HIGH SPEED CUTTING ACROSS TWO HOME LAWNS. DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL OF CAR AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A REST AFTER BRAKE PEDAL HAD BEEN PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WHERE IT MADE CONTACT WITH THE TREE. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS OUTSIDE AT THE TIME (3:00 PM) BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED BY THE OUT OF CONTROL VEHICLE ALSO HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR CLIPPING THE TREE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE LIKELY GONE FORWARD INTO A HOME. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211510December 11, 2007
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
SUBARU REFUSES TO MAKE WINTER BLADES FOR THE REAR WIPER BLADE ON 2004-2008 SUBARU FORESTERS. THIS RESULTS IN REAR WIPER BLADES THAT ICE UP AND CANNOT EFFECTIVELY WIPE THE REAR WINDOW IN ICE OR SNOW. REAR VISION IS BLOCKED. THIS SUMMER BLADE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. STOPPING ALONG SIDE A HIGHWAY TO CLEAN THEM OFF CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS SINCE 2004. ALL THEY SAY IS THAT THEY WILL TALK ABOUT IT. CAN YOU MAKE THEM MANUFACTURE A WINTER BLADE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205942October 17, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR
BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 51,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Subaru Forester