Subaru Forester Complaints (2005)

93 consumer complaints on file.

#11041352October 30, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I CAN SEE GAS RUNNING DOWN MY ENGINE BLOCK. THE LEAK IS ON PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF MY EJ255. SMELLS OF GAS VERY STRONGLY. I AM WORRIED A FIRE MIGHT START BECAUSE IT IS VERY NEAR THE TURBOCHARGER. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY. BOTH ON A CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY. AND ALSO WHEN TURNING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11003422July 6, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES
THE REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND FAILED WITHOUT NOTICE. ONE SEVERAL MODEL OF SUBARU, BRAKES LINES WERE REPLACED FOR CORROSION DUE TO A RECALL. WHEN ORDERING THE REPLACEMENT PART I NOTICED IT APPLIED TO SOME OF THE CARS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND SOME THAT WERE NOT. IT SEEMS TO MY THAT MY FORRESTER HAD PRECISELY THE SAME LINES THAT WERE RECALLED ON OTHER MODELS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN YOU ORIGINAL SETTLEMENT WITH SUBARU. WE HAVE MANY OLDER CARS IN THE FAMILY AND NOT ONE OF THEM HAS EVER EXPERIENCED A BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SUBARU IS NEGLIGENT IN SUPPLYING CARS WITH BRAKE LINES THAT CORRODE MORE EASILY FROM THE OUTSIDE THAT AUDI, TOYOTA, LEXUS AND HONDA - JUST FROM OUR EXPERIENCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11002123June 29, 2017
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR GENERAL INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARMS SHOWED CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11001357June 26, 2017
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GALLEY WEST SIDE IMPORTS TO GET THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) COMPLETED AND THE TECHNICIAN PUT ANTI-CORROSIVE ADHESIVE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED FIVE YEARS LATER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED AT 60 MPH, THEY FELT AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE WHITE WHEEL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERE RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10969290March 29, 2017
SUSPENSION
SEPTEMBER 6, 2011, SUBARU RECALL 11V464000 OR WYX-34, FRON LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK DUE RUST AND CORROSION FROM ROAD SALT. CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TO PUNCH TEST, AND RUSTPROOF IF OK; REPLACE AT NO COST IF TEST FAILED. MY DEALER ON DEC 19, 2011 PERFORMED PUNCH TEST, AND REPORTED TO SUBARU IT PASSED AND WAS RUSTPROOFED, ACCORDING TO SUBARU RECORDS. MILEAGE WAS97,158. ON MARCH 27, 2017, MY FORESTER FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE OF RUSTED THROUGH FRONT CONTROL ARMS. MILEAGE WAS 128,056. SUBARU REFUSED ANY SUPPORT, SAYING THEY DID WHAT WAS NECESSARY IN RECALL BY RUSTPROOFING. RUSTPROOFING OBVIOUSLY DID NOT WORK. THE FORESTER FAILED ON THE LIFT INSPECTION, FORTUNATELY, NOT BY KILLING THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, OR OTHER INNOCENTS ON THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10968943March 28, 2017
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10968199March 23, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED AND THEN IDLED FAST AND SLOW BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PRODUCED A FAILURE CODE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10945918January 18, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL LINES LEAKS IN COLD WEATHER . THERE IS A RECALL ON THE WRX FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. ON START UP THE VEHICLE WILL LEAK GAS OUT OF THE FUEL LINES AND WILL STINK INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR . IT GOES AWAY (OR I GET USED TO IT) AFTER ABOUT 30 MIN. THIS ISSUE IS A PROBLEM WITH ALLOT OF THE SUBARUS FROM THESE YEARS . I'VE CALLED AND EMAILED SOA AND THEY AREN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE FOR ME . NOW I HAVE TO BUY A FUEL LINE KIT FROM THEM AND GASKETS AND TRY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER .... NEEDLESS TO SAY I'M NOT HAPPY AND IT'S DANGEROUS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10935865December 16, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
IN COLD WEATHER, AROUND 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND BELOW, I AM EXPERIENCING A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSED BY CONTRACTED FUEL LINES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 03-05 FORESTERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH TURBOS. SUBARU SHOULD BE HELP ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS, AS IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT WAS RECALLED ON SIMILAR VEHICLES AROUND THE SAME MODEL YEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10928853November 30, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS I WAS PARKING AT MY HOME. FLAMES DRIPPED DOWN ONTO THE DRIVERS SIDE AXLE. AS I RETURNED QUICKLY WITH NO WATER THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I RAN A MILE TO THE NEIGHBORS HOUSE AND CALLED 911. WE THEN HEARD THE BOOM OF THE EXPLODING FUEL TANK. WE RETURNED TO THE SCENE WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF THE INCIDENT AND THE CAR WAS ABLAZE. NOTHING SURVIVED THE FIRE. THE HEAT MELTED THROUGH THE MOTOR STRAIGHT THROUGH THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE MOTOR OIL WAS BOILING. LOST ALL VALUABLES AND VEHICLE. THE MOTOR SWAP WAS DONE TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO WITH A FACTORY MOTOR FROM MANUFACTURER. THIS MOTOR HAS A ACTIVE RECAL. SUBARU IS BURING ME IN PAPERWORK AND SO FAR OFFERED NO COMPENSATION OR HELP SINCE THE FIRE ON 11/26/16. LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AND UNBURNED. SHAME ON SUBARU NOT OFFERING ANY ASSISTANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10928516November 29, 2016
WHEELS, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN HIGHWAY SPEED, A BURNING RUBBER ODOR EMITTED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BUCKET SUSPENSION PLATE UNDER THE SHOCK ABSORBER FAILED, WHICH IMPACTED THE SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND CAUSED THE STRUT TO FRACTURE ON THE TIRE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STRUTS, SHOCK ASSEMBLIES, AND BOTH REAR TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 02/03/17*LJ UPDATED 7/11/18*JB *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10820631January 16, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DURING COLD WEATHER STARTS THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT FUEL LEAK UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WITH GAS POOLING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, NEXT TO THE TURBO ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL RUBBER GAS HOSE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HARD LINES UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND IT SEEMS THE COLD CAUSES THE RUBBER TO SHRINK. THIS MAKES THE HOSE CLAMPS NOT EFFECTIVE ENOUGH TO KEEP PRESSURE ON THE LINES AND GAS IS SEEPING OUT FROM THOSE CONNECTIONS (WHICH ARE PRESSURIZED). WITH RAW GAS POOLING NOT ONLY ON A HOT ENGINE BLOCK (CLOSE TO SEVERAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS) BUT ALSO NEXT TO A VERY HOT TURBO ON 2003-2005 FORESTER XT'S WHICH ARE FACTORY EQUIPPED, THIS SEEMS TO POSE A SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10810423December 15, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
STRONG FUEL SMELL IN COLD DAYS IN CABIN, LEAKING FUEL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10764553September 17, 2015
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL HAD LODGED UP INTO THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762792September 10, 2015
STEERING
LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM BROKE IN 2 EXACTLY AS PREDICTED BY THE RECALL NOTICE. SUBARU SAID THE RECALL HAD BEEN COMPLETED, MEANING THEY SPREAD SOME RUST INHIBITOR ON IT AT SOME POINT IN THE PAST. THEIR FINAL RESPONSE WAS THAT THE CAR WAS TOO 'OLD' TO OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CAR HAS ONLY 80K MILES AND NOTHING ELSE ON THE VEHICLE HAS BROKE IN HALF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10732538July 7, 2015
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT INTO A DITCH. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731707July 2, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE CONTACT RELEASED PRESSURE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE ONTO AN EMERGENCY LANE AND PARKED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731137June 29, 2015
SUSPENSION, STEERING
AFTER A SCRATCHY, METALLIC NOISE THAT APPEARED SUDDENLY IN THE LOWER FRONT, WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION,STEERING WAS CEASED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED. THIS RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS DECLARED AS A TOTAL LOSS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10691164February 27, 2015
SUSPENSION
MY CAR WAS AT MY MECHANICS GETTING LOOKED AT. HE NOTICED THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM BRACKETS WERE CORRODED (THE PASSENGER SIDE IS SEVERELY CORRODED), TOLD ME ABOUT IT AND STRESSED THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP ASAP TO HAVE IT REPLACED. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CONFIRMED THE RECALL FOR MY CAR, MENTIONED THE SERVICE HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED (BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER ENDED UP TAKING PICTURES OF THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND SENDING THEM TO SUBARU OF AMERICA FOR APPROVAL TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS. THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10683548February 15, 2015
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
THIS IS NOT AN ACCIDENT (YET) BUT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS FAILING - IT WAS THE KIND THAT HAS ALL THE "FEATURES" DIMMER, COMPASS ETC BUT IT IS FADING AND I CONSIDER THAT A SAFETY CONCERN. THE FADING MAKES IT LOOK LIKE AN OLD FASHIONED MIRROR WITH A TARNISHED LOOK THAT IMPEDES VISIBILITY AND CREATES BLIND SPOTS. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND IT IS COMMON BUT I WONDER WHY IT HAS NOT BEEN CONSIDERED A RECALL SINCE MIRRORS ARE SAFETY EQUIPMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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