Subaru Forester Complaints (2005)

93 consumer complaints on file.

#10671208January 8, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS
I HAD JUST LOCKED MY RESIDENCE GATE, LEAVING MY PROPERTY, I FASTENED MY SEATBELT, ADVANCED VERY SLOWLY, SAW THAT BOTH WAYS WERE CLEAR, ADVANCED SLOWLY MAKING A LEFT TURN, WHEN I WAS JUST 12 FEET, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE AND PROPELLED MY VEHICLE FORWARD INTO A HUGE TREE ACROSS THE ROAD. I DID NOT CONFUSE THE GAS PEDAL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS NO FLOOR MAT IMPEDING MY FOOT-WORK,I BRAKED THEN IT BEGAN RACING EVEN FASTER THEN I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING MORE TILL AFTER-DARK AND A FIREMAN TOLD ME AN AMBULANCE WAS COMING. I HAVE A BROKEN CERVICAL VERTEBRA C 2 AND MULTIPLE BRUISES MY CAR WAS "TOTALED". *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662825January 5, 2015
POWER TRAIN
2005 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SHUDDERS IN FRONT WHEN EXECUTING SHARP TURNS EITHER LEFT, RIGHT, DRIVING FORWARD, REVERSE AND AT VERY LOW SPEEDS.. *SMD AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE ALL-WHEEL VALVE MECHANISM HOUSED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10667849December 23, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON TWO DAYS PRIOR. CHECKED FLUID AND WAS A BIT LOW. I HADN'T NOTICED AND FLUIDS UNDER CAR SO DID NOT GIVE IT A SECOND THOUGHT. I WAS DRIVING ON SUNDAY AND HAD LOSS OF PEDAL AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND I NURSED IT HOME. I ADDED FLUID AND PUMPED PEDAL IN DRIVEWAY. THE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. I PULLED IT UP ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SOME SUBARU VEHICLES SAME AGE HAD BRAKE LINE ISSUES THAT WERE INVOLVED IN A RECALL. I TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THE SERVICE MANGER TOLD ME IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND THAT AS A GOODWILL GESTURE THAT THEY WOULD CREDIT $500 TOWARD THE $1850 BILL WHICH I THOUGHT WAS GRACIOUS. THE DEALER SAID THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE BRAKE LINES, BUT IT DID. I DON'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO FOR ME, BUT COULD OF BEEN A SCARY EVENT. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN MICHIGAN AND TOOK IT TO NORTH CAROLINA. I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO YOUR BRAKE LINE RECALL AND SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO PREVIOUS YEARS. THANKS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10655020November 14, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL LINES ARE LEAKING DUE TO COLD WEATHER THE SAME THING THAT WAS RECALLED FOR THE WRX ONCE ALREADY.S WHEN IT GETS COLD THE LINES CONSTRICT AND THE CONNECTIONS AREN'T RIGHT ENOUGH ALLOWING LIQUID GASOLINE TO LEAK OUT ONTO THE HOT ENGINE. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON THING. SUBARU NEEDS TO OWN UP FOR THIS ONE LIKE THEY DID THE WRX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617963July 31, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON JULY 28, 2014 I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT MY CONDO.THE BRAKES WOULDN'T STOP THE CAR AND THE ENGINE SEEMED TO SURGE FORWARD. THE PASSENGER WITH ME LOOKED DOWN AND SAID THE GAS PEDAL LOOKED TO BE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED, AND I AM STILL AWAITING FOR THE DAMAGE ESTIMATE FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587735May 12, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIP LASH AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10561868January 28, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ON JANUARY 24TH, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00AM, MY WIFE AND I GOT INSIDE MY SUBARU FORESTER. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED ON THE HEATER, WHEN WE BOTH SMELL A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. WE IMMEDIATELY DECIDED TO TAKE CAR TO THE DEALER, SINCE THE FUMES WHERE SO OVERWHELMING WE DROVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN. LUCKY FOR US THE DEALER IS A 15 MINUTES RIDE, BUT WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN AND NO HEAT TO MINIMIZE THE SITUATION AND THE WEATHER BELOW 20 DEGREES IS KIND OF HARD. WE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD US THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS BELOW 30 DEGREES THE FUEL LINES SHRINK, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. I WAS TAKEN BACK TO KNOW THIS KIND OF HAZARD WAS NOT RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THAT OTHER FOLKS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ON THEIR SUBARU FORESTER. I FURTHER LEARNED THE REPAIRS WERE ESTIMATED AT OVER $1,300.00, BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL THE FUEL LINES IN ORDER TO STOP THE LEAK. IT SEEMS THIS IS ISSUE HAPPEN TO VEHICLES FROM 2000-2003 BASED ON RECALL (SUBARU RECALL NO. WVK-21IT). I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE FATAL. THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION IS A FIRE HAZARD AND DUE TO THE STRONG FUMES THAT CAN OVERWHELM A PERSON TO LOSE CONSCIENCE WHILE DRIVING. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE UNDER THIS CONDITION. I BELIEVED THAT THE COST OF REPAIRS SHOULD BE A BURDEN OF THE MANUFACTURER AND NOT OF THE OWNER PER THE RESOLUTION OF THE MENTIONED EARLIER BY SUBARU'S RECALL. AS IS INDICATIVE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WILL SEEM TO ME THAT THIS IS A SITUATION WORTHY OF AN INVESTIGATION FROM DOT, OR IS IT GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A FATALITY, AND WE GO BACK TO SAYING "I TOLD YOU SO". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561506January 26, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
IT HAD BEEN COLD, BELOW FREEZING IN THE MID WEST, MOST OF THE TIME I WOULD RECIRCULATE THE CABIN AIR, BUT EVERY TIME WHEN I BRING IN FRESH AIR FROM OUTSIDE TO CLEAR THE MOISTURE, I EXPERIENCED A STRONG ODOR OF RAW GAS COMING IN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THEN I NOTICED FUEL WAS ACTUALLY LEAKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ONE SECTION OF THE RUBBER HOSE WAS DAMP AS A RESULT OF FUEL DRIPPING OVER IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561534January 26, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE MORNING OF JAN 24, 2014 MY WIFE AND I CAME STARTED THE CAR AND NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELLS WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR, TURN ON THE HEATER AND DROVE AWAY. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT THE DEALER, BECAUSE THE FUMES WHETE SO STRONG THAT WE HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN WITHOUT HEAT TO MINIMIZE THE SMELL, OTHERWISE WE COULD HAVE EASYLI BE OVERCOME BY THE GAS FUMES. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE FUEL LINES SHRINK DUE TO THE COLD BELOW 30 DEGREE'S THUS LEAKING RAW FUEL WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS RUNING. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED BY YOUR AGENCY BEFORE IT TURNS INTO A FATALITY. FURTHERMORE, IT SEEM THAT PREVIOUS SUBARU MODELS HAD THIS ISSUE AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED (SUBARU RECALL NO. WVK-21IT) I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT TO REPAIR THI PROBLEM WILL COST AN ESTIMATE OF $1,340.00, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS KNOWING AND MOST LIKELY THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE(S) FUEL HOSES. I GUESS I AM VERY LUCKY THAT NO FIRE STARTED. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS AND GET BACK TO ME WITH A REASONABLE EXPLANATION, SINCE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561406January 24, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL LEAK LOCATED NEAR THE FUEL RAIL ONLY APPARENT WHILE VEHICLE IS COLD, ONCE IT WARMS UP IT APPEARS TO GO AWAY . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557836December 30, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAR HAS RAW FUEL/GAS SMELL ON COLD STARTS WHEN IDLING. FUMES CAN BE NOTICED BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. OCCURS ONLY WHEN THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. FUMES DISAPPEAR ONCE THE ENGINE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. FUEL LINE LEAK(S) ARE OCCURRING UNDER THE MANIFOLD WHERE THE SCREWS TO TIGHTEN CAN NOT BE REACHED. SUBARU DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE COST TO REPAIR FOR PARTS AND LABOR WOULD BE $750 AS THE MANIFOLD NEEDS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NEEDED REPAIR. I HAVE DRIVEN CARS TO 180K AND 155K IN THE SAME GEOGRAPHICAL FOOTPRINT AND HAVE NEVER HAD A FUEL LINE LEAK. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARU AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED LIKE THEY DID ON THE 02-03 WRX!!! THIS IS A MAJOR LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. I'M GOING TO SUBARU NORTH AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY WILL PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536969August 23, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS UNSAFE TO OPERATE BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE OF ROAD SALTS THAT WERE NO WASHED OFF THE VEHICLE, THE FRAME BEGAN TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513793May 28, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT AN UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WENT ACROSS AN INTERSECTION AND JUMPED A SIDE WALK BEFORE IT FINALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514235May 23, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE - SHOP EVALUATION SHOWS MASTER CYLINDER FAILING - ORIGINAL MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED WITH NEW PART AT 31858 MILES DUE TO FAILURE (BRAKE FLUID BLEEDING BACK INTO RESERVOIR). WILL HAVE TO REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER AGAIN. [NOTE : VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER]
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510628May 4, 2013
AIR BAGS
A RED LIGHT RUNNER IMPACTED MY VEHICLE IN AN INTERSECTION. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE RIGHT REAR OF MY VEHICLE. THE RED LIGHT RUNNER WAS IN A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 AND I ESTIMATE THE SPEED BETWEEN 50 TO 60 MPH. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT DROVE MY VEHICLE INTO A CAR TO MY LEFT THAT WAS WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AT THE INTERSECTION. THE STATIONARY VEHICLE WAS A 2004 FORD BRONCO. THE LEFT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO THE LEFT FRONT OF THIS VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVABLE AND TOTALLED. THERE WERE TWO RAPID LATERAL IMPACTS TO MY VEHICLE YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY SEAT RESTRAINTS WERE ON. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10509582April 25, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER SEVERAL FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. A TROUBLE CODE DETECTED A MALFUNCTION WITH THE THROTTLE SENSOR. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496373February 4, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN IT IS BELOW 20 DEGREES F AND THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, THERE IS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, INDICATING A LEAK NEAR THE CABIN AIR INTAKE. SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER FORRESTER XT OWNERS ON VARIOUS WEB SITES (SEE WWW.SUBARUFORRESTER.ORG FOR EXAMPLE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10492986January 14, 2013
SUSPENSION
LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED AT WELD DUE TO RUST THROUGH AND CAUSED CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE CONTROL ARMS WERE INSPECTED BY DEALER APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE RECALL FOR THIS COMPONENT. THEY WERE DEEMED TO BE SAFE AFTER A "PUNCH TEST" AND RUSTPROOFING APPLIED. THE RECALL ALSO PROVIDED FOR REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER MY CAR WAS NOT DETERMINED TO NEED REPLACEMENT AS A RESULT OF THE PUNCH TEST. IT APPEARS THAT THE TESTING PROCEDURE FOR THIS RECALL MAY BE TOO SUBJECTIVE AND/OR INEFFECTIVE AND THAT CONTINUED FAILURES WILL BE FORTHCOMING. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10490491December 30, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 30F. NO SMELL WHEN ENGINE RICHES NORMAL WORKING TEMPERATURE. NO SMELL IN THE WARM WEATHER. POSSIBLE ISSUE RUBBER FUEL LINES. CAR IS NOT TO OLD TO HAVE RUBBER PARTS DEFECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490207December 27, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WAS IN THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL LINES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,260.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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