Subaru Forester Complaints (2001)

139 consumer complaints on file.

#10074292May 26, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE COASTING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE PROBLEM FORCED THE CONSUMER OFF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071410April 22, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
INQUIRY AS TO WHY THE 2001 SUBARU LEGACY CRUISE CONTROL RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO THE FORRESTER. *PH CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SIMILAR PROBLEM STATED ON RECALL ON SUBARU LEGACY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057624April 20, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER WHEN THE TWO RIGHT TIRES WERE ON ICE ,AND THE TWO LEFT TIRES WERE ON DRY PAVEMENT. WHEN THIS OCCURRED IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065990April 12, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
"CLUTCH SHUDDER" OCCURS SHORTLY UPON STARTUP, FIRST APPLICATION OF 1ST GEAR OK STOP ONCE AND APPLY 1ST GEAR AGAIN AND THE SHUDDER IS SEVERE, SHAKING AND COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION; THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR NEXT 2-3 MILES WARMING THE CAR DOES NOT REMOVE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD - THERE IS NO FORWARD ACCELERATION. TEMP IT FREQUENTLY OCCURS 56 62 DEGREES, HOWEVER ONCE IT BEGINS IT CAN RE-OCCUR AT HIGHER TEMPS LATER IN THE DAY. OCCURRENCE IS INTERMITTENT. I REPORTED PROBLEM TO SUBARU IN SAN JOSE, THEY SAID "NO PROBLEM FOUND" AFTER I LEFT THE CAR IN SERVICE FOR 3 DAYS - THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPEAT THE PROBLEM. THE CLUTCH SHUDDER HAPPENS TO ME FREQUENTLY DURING THE TEMPS RECORDED ABOVE - I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA WE HAVE THOSE TEMPS OFTEN IN THE MORNING SPRING/FALL. THE # OF 600 FAILURES IS AN ESTIMATE - I COULD NOT ENTER "ESTIMATE" IN THIS FORM. I HAVE HAD THE CAR OVER 3 YEARS AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS WORSE. MY SISTERS SUBARU OUTBACK HAS SAME PROBLEM WITH SAME RESPONSE FROM SUBARU SERVICE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064505April 4, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON 3/31/2004 I WAS EXITING THE PARKING LOT OF A SUPERMARKET IN JACKSON, WHEN SUDDENLY, MY 2001 FORESTER LURCHED FORWARD AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AS I WAS BREAKING. IT WENT OUT INTO COOPER STREET (A VERY BUSY STREET). FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO ONCOMING CARS. IT CONTINUED OVER THE CURB AND HIT SEVERAL TREES BEFORE IT STOPPED. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064206March 30, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
2001 SUBARU FORESTER (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) EXPERIENCES TERRIBLE "CLUTCH SHUDDER" (ALSO CALLED CLUTCH CHATTER AND CLUTCH JUDDER) STARTING FROM A STOP IN 1ST GEAR, AND OCCASIONALLY IN 2ND GEAR, MOST OFTEN WHEN CAR IS COLD (MORNING). THE SHUDDER IS EXTREMELY SEVERE, SHAKING THE WHOLE CAR AND RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER. SINCE THIS HAPPENS STARTING FROM A STOP, THE PROBLEM CREATES A HAZARD WITH INTERSECTIONS; THERE IS ENOUGH POWER TO GET THE CAR INTO AN INTERSECTION, THEN THE CLUTCH SHUDDER REQUIRES COMPLETE REAPPLICATION OF THE CLUTCH, CAUSING THE CAR TO REMAIN IN THE INTERSECTION FOR AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061370March 4, 2004
TIRES, WHEELS:RIM
WHEN DRIVING IN COLD TEMPERATURES TIRES LOOSE AIR. TIRES NEEDED AIR EVERY 10 MILES. THIS COULD BE CAUSED BY THE ALUMINUM RIMS BEING USED. THEY CORRODED AND LOST THEIR SEAL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054813January 24, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MY 2001 SUBARU FORESTER HAS HAD A CLUTCH SHUDDER WHEN STARTING THE CAR COLD SHORTLY AFTER I LEASED THE VEHICLE. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH I BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF MY SUBARU TECHNICIAN IN JAN OF 2001. THEY SAID THEY CHECKED OUT THE CLUTCH AND EVERYTHING "LOOKS FINE". IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT IF I CAN'T REPRODUCE IT FOR THEM THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER FORESTER OWNERS ABOUT THIS AND SUBARU HAS ISSUED A TSB # 03-51-02R. WHY DOES THE CONSUMER HAVE TO TELL THESE PEOPLE HOW TO FIX THE VEHICLES THEY SERVICE? *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054540January 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE PINGING NOISE RESULTING FROM SHORT SKIRT VALVE DESIGN FAILURE. REQUESTED ADVICE FROM MANUFACTURE WAS TOLD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. DEALER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. ENGINE LIFE IS GREATLY REDUCED BY THIS PROBLEM. DEALER RECOGNITION HAS OCCURED REGARDING THIS FLAW. THIS IS THE SECOND SUBARU I HAVE PURCHASED. SIMILAR PROBLEM IN FIRST VEHICLE RESULTED IN DEALER REPLACEING SHORT BLOCK. ALTHOUGH DISAPPOINTED AT FLAW CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FIRST DEALER PROMPTED PURCHASE OF SECOND VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054542January 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE PINGING NOISE RESULTING FROM SHORT SKIRT VALVE DESIGN FAILURE. REQUESTED ADVICE FROM MANUFACTURE WAS TOLD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. DEALER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. ENGINE LIFE IS GREATLY REDUCED BY THIS PROBLEM. DEALER RECOGNITION HAS OCCURED REGARDING THIS FLAW. THIS IS THE SECOND SUBARU I HAVE PURCHASED. SIMILAR PROBLEM IN FIRST VEHICLE RESULTED IN DEALER REPLACEING SHORT BLOCK. ALTHOUGH DISAPPOINTED AT FLAW CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FIRST DEALER PROMPTED PURCHASE OF SECOND VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069669January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN I BOUGHT MY 2001 SUBARU FORESTER S. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL PAINT CHIP ON THE HOOD. I ASKED THE SALESMAN IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN ALL OVER THE CAR. HE TOLD ME TO CHECK WITH THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. WELL NOW I HAVE LOTS OF CHIPPING ON MY CAR.I CALLED SUBARU OF AMARICA,THEY SENT A REP TO LOOK AT IT,HE TOLD ME IT WAS STONE CHIPPING.I POINTED OUT THE FACT THAT I HAD A SPOT WHEN I BOUGHT IT,HE TOLD ME TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE SALES PERSON.I CALLED SUBARU BACK AND EXPRESSED MY DISSATISFACTION, WITH THERE REP AND HOW HE HANDLED THE SITUATION.I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WILL BE CALLING ME AFTER THEY DO SOME INVESTIGATING. I TOOK MY CAR TO SEVERAL AUTOBODY SHOPS AND THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT IT IS A PAINT DEFECT .I'M LOOKING FOR ANYONE ELSE THAT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OR ANY INFO ON THIS SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053081January 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE ENGINE SPUTTERS, SURGES AND SHAKES INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES STALLS WHEN STOPPED. SOMETIMES ACCELERATOR SIGNIFICANTLY HESITATES PROVIDE ENGINE SPEED. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC OR MERGING. MECHANIC REPLACED COIL PACK, SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, PCV VALVE, ADJUSTED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. DEALER REPORTS PROBLEM UNKNOWN AND NOT UNDER WARRANTY AT 43,000 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051432December 31, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER A SNOW STORM I NOTICED MY 2001 SUBARU FORESTER WOULD NOT DRIVE ON SLIPPERY SURFACES. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR, THE WHEELS SPUN AND NOT MUCH ELSE HAPPENED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 12/19/03 AND THEY LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS NUTS TO COMPLAIN THAT A CAR DIDN'T DRIVE PROPERLY ON PACKED SNOW AND ICE. THE ORIGINAL THOUGHT WAS THAT IT MUST BE POOR TIRES (BOUGHT NEW ALL SEASONS ON 10/02) OR THAT I NEEDED TO PURCHASE SNOW TIRES (FOR AN AWD?). AFTER PUSHING THE ISSUE, THE SERVICE MANAGER BROUGHT IT BACK INTO THE GARAGE, PUT IT ON THE LIFT AND HAD SOMEONE GUN THE ENGINE. THE FRONT WHEELS SPUN FAST (AS THEY SHOULD) AND THE BACK WHEELS WENT VERY SLOWLY. THEY SCRATCHED THEIR HEADS AND CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA FOR SOME HELP ON THE ISSUE. TURNS OUT THE VALVE THAT SUPPLIES FLUID TO THE REAR WHEELS MALFUNCTIONED/BURNT OUT/NO LONGER WORKED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID NO SUCH LIGHT TO INDICATE A MALFUNCTION IN THE AWD SYSTEM HAS EVER EXISTED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CROSSED THEIR FINGERS THAT THE ONLY REPAIR I WOULD NEED WAS THE VALVE ($460 PARTS AND LABOR) AND WARNED ME THAT IF THIS HAD BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE I COULD BE IN FOR SOME MORE SERIOUS REPAIRS. I WAS ALLOWED TO TAKE THE CAR HOME BECAUSE I COULD DO NO FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR (WAS TOLD IT SHUT DOWN). BROUGHT IT IN 12/31/03 FOR A REPLACEMENT OF THE VALVE AND THEY DISCOVERED THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND THE CLUTCH WAS COMPLETELY BURNT. THE COST IS NOW ($1500). THIS PROBLEM WOULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER TO FIX IF THERE HAD BEEN A WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. A VALVE FOR THE AWD SYSTEM SHOULD NEVER MALFUNCTION. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN IT HAPPEN BEFORE. THE CAR IS NOT OLD ENOUGH (3 YEARS 60K MILES) TO HAVE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047836December 24, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE RPM'S WERE ACTING ERRATIC. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE COST. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048899November 30, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CENTER SUPPORT BEARING
I OWN A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER L. MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND IT NOW HAS 41000 MILES. IT HAS EXPERIENCED REPEATED FAILURES OF THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, AT (RIGHT REAR) 16000, (LEFT REAR) 25000. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS SYMPTOMS OF A THIRD FAILURE AT 41000 MI. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY A DEALER FOR EACH COMPLAINT. I HAVE ESTIMATED DATE OF FIRST FAILURE AS I DO NOT EXACTLY REMEMBER..*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048901November 30, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
UPON PICKING UP MY SUBARU FORESTER IN 2001, I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY. WAS TOLD CAR WAS FINE. BROKE DOWN 1 DAY LATER. ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH CLUTCH. GOING FROM NEUTRAL TO FIRST CAR SHUDDERS. TOLD CAR IS FUNCTIOING AS DESIGNED. ON 11/4/03 BROUGHT CAR INTO NETWORK MAZDA SUBARU WITH COMPLAINT ABOUT CLUTCH TOLD IT WAS FINE AND FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED.. BROKE DOWN ON 11/9/03, CLUTCH PLATE BROKEN. NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A THING IN THE 30 YEARS I'VE BEEN DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. PURCHASED CAR AT NEIL SUBARU, WENT TO GREGORIS SUBARU, NO SATISFACTION, WENT TO DEALERSHIP STATED ABOVE. SERVICE MANAGER RUDE AND TALKED DOWN TO ME, I FELT BECAUSE I WAS A WOMAN. MANUAL TRANS. NOT WORKING PROPERLY SINCE THE DAY I PICKED IT UP AND NO ONE WILL LISTEN. GREGORIS REPLACED CLUTCH AND SAID SOMETHING WAS BROKEN. NO SATISFACTION FROM SUBARU OR THE 3 DEALERS I HAVE WORKED WITH SO FAR. NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046484November 6, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
A NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING MUST BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039536September 25, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
SEVERE CLUTCH SHUDDER ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD. DEALER WON'T FIX. SAYS IT'S A GAS PROBLEM. IT'S NOT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039246September 21, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED FOR 10+ MINUTES, THE CAR SPEED BEGINS TO DRAG AND SURGE (SUDDENLY SLOWS, THEN RESUMES SET SPEED). THE CAR SEEMS TO BE ACTIVELY PULLING BACK AGAINST THE THROTTLE IF I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE PAST THE CRUISE SETTING, THE DRAGGING BACK AGAINST THE THROTTLE STILL OCCURS. IF THE CRUISE IS LEFT ENGAGED, THE LURCHING WORSENS, AND WHEN I EXIT THE FREEWAY THE (AUTOMATIC) TRANSMISSION DOESN'T WANT TO DOWN SHIFT. IT RESISTS UNTIL THERE'S A LOUD NOISE, THE REAR OF THE CAR BUCKS, AND THEN IT GOES INTO THE NEXT LOWEST GEAR. THIS HAPPENS THROUGH EVERY GEAR, AND THEN AGAIN UPSHIFTING FROM A STOP: THE RPMS WIND UP HIGHER THAN NORMAL, THE CAR RESISTS SHIFTING, AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNTIL I STOP AND TAKE THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE, WHICH APPARENTLY RESETS IT. THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR IN WEATHER UNDER 70 DEGREES. THE DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE PER RECALL #WWF89, AND HAS ALSO REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE IGNITION RELAY, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT'S WINDING UP TO SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR AT 60 MILES AN HOUR, AND IT VIOLENTLY BUCKS INTO GEAR. ALSO, THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND MORE UNPREDICTABLE. MOST RECENTLY, I WAS TESTING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR IN RAINY WEATHER. WHEN IT BEGAN SURGING, I IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGED IT, BUT THE DRAG-BACK ON THE THROTTLE CONTINUED ANYWAY (THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT IN WHICH THE LURCHING CONTINUED AFTER I TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL). I AM CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO OCCUR WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED AT ALL, AND ALSO THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO SEIZE UP WITHOUT WARNING. (NOTE: THE "INCIDENT DATE" ON THIS FORM IS THE DATE THE FIRST REPAIR WAS ATTEMPTED, BUT THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY STARTED HAPPENING IN APRIL, 2003. THE "NUMBER OF FAILURES" IS AN ESTIMATE -- IT HAPPENS AS OFTEN AS I TEST IT.)*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037509September 9, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
AFTER BEING TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR SUBARU CLUTCHES TO HAVE CLUTCH JUDDER, AND NOW OUT OF MY 60,000 WARRANTY, I FIND THAT SUBARU HAS ISSUED A TSB TO FIX THE CLUTCH JUDDER PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE AND I SHOULD GET A WARRANTIED REPAIR OF MY CLUTCH AS SHOULD OTHER SUBARU OWNERS WITH THIS MAUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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