Subaru Forester Complaints (2005)

93 consumer complaints on file.

#10449249February 24, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER. FUEL SMELL STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE NAUSEA AND DIZZINESS IF WINDOWS REMAINED CLOSED. PARKED VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF GARAGE UNTIL SMELL DISSIPATED FOR FEAR OF ACCIDENTAL IGNITION. NOTICED THAT SMELL USUALLY DIMINISHES OR COMPLETELY DISSIPATES WHEN VEHICLE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. DETECTED OVER SEVERAL YEARS DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS (BELOW 50 DEGREES). WA SUBARU DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2012 DETERMINED THE RUBBER FUEL LINES UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE LEAKING AND REPLACED ALL SEVEN. SO FAR, THIS HAS CORRECTED THE CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438999December 8, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL INDICATORS WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES FOR THE FAILURE AND EACH TIME, THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD RETURN HIS CALL WITHIN 24 HOURS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377293January 11, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 20*F AND THE SMELL OF RAW FUEL BECAME STRONG INSIDE THE VEHICLE. SMELL CONTINUED TO HAPPEN ON SUCCESSIVE DAYS BELOW ~25*F, REGARDLESS OF ENGINE TEMPERATURE. FUEL SMELL WAS APPARENT IN ENGINE BAY ON PASSENGER SIDE BUT THE SOURCE WAS UNIDENTIFIABLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION; DEALER "FOUND SIGNS OF FUEL SEEPAGE PAST HOSE CLAMPS ON FUEL HOSES UNDER INTAKE." REPAIR ESTIMATE INCLUDING PARTS CAME TO $663. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME AND WE WILL BE CONTACTING SOA ABOUT POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THEIR GOOD WILL POLICY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355241September 13, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WE PURCHASED A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER FROM A SUBARU DEALER IN AUGUST 2008 AT 60,000 MILES. SINCE AUGUST 2008, WE HAD FOUR EPISODES OF ENGINE STALLING WITH CHECK ENGINE LAMP COMING ON. WE HAD TO HAVE OUR CAR TOWED FOUR TIMES TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. THE FIRST AND THIRD TOWING RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION COIL. THE SECOND TOWING RESULTED IN NO REPAIR SINCE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. BEFORE THE FOURTH TOWING, WE JUST GOT ON A FREEWAY AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHEN ENGINE LOST POWER SO WE QUICKLY GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND MANAGED TO PARK FORESTER IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START SO WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FORESTER NOW NEEDS AN ENGINE REBUILD SINCE LOWER ENGINE MAIN BEARING HAD FAILED, CAUSING RESIDUAL SCORING DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER BLOCK AND BOTH CYLINDER HEADS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ASKED FOR $7000 IN REBUILDING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD 72000 MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER ALL OF A SUDDEN AND IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD WE BEEN DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT INSTEAD OF SLOWLY ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325173April 12, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION WITH AN ONCOMING CAR AT A SAFE DISTANCE FOR ME TO SAFELY PULL OUT. UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND. IT ONLY IDLED. AND MOVED THE CAR ALONG AT IDLE SPEED. SUDDENLY THE APPROACHING CAR THAT WAS AT A SAFE DISTANCE WHEN I PULLED OUT WERE GETTING VERY CLOSE. FORTUNATELY THE DRIVER WAS ALERT AND SLOWED DOWN SO I COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD - AT ABOUT 3 MPH. I FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE GAS PEDAL THAT WENT WRONG. SIMILAR TO TOYOTA'S PROBLEM, BUT INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING UNCONTROLLABLY, IT WOULD NOT ME OUT OF HARMS WAY FAST ENOUGH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322698March 29, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. HE STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A GENERIC CHECK VALVE IN THE FUEL TANK. AFTER THE DEALER REMOVED THE CHECK VALVE, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE COULD BE A POSSIBLE EXPLOSION IN THE FUEL TANK. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND ADVISED THEM OF HIS CONCERNS BUT WAS TOLD THAT IF HE WANTED THE CHECK VALVE TO BE RE-INSTALLED, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,485. UPDATED 05/24/10 *BF UPDATED 06/04/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320537March 17, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 3 MILES PER HOUR IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF AN INJURY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312916February 22, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AFTER TAKING MY SUBARU FORRESTER IN FOR A RECALL FOR A VALVE IN THE GAS TANK. I WAS TOLD THE HEADGASKET LEAKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT! DURING THE REPAIR OF THE HEADGASKET I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP INFORMING ME I ALSO HAD A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THIS IS MY 4TH SUBARU I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. WHEN I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE I NOTICED THAT SUBARU HAD A TON OF HEADGASKET RECALLS STARTING IN 1997. THERE SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL LACK OF QUALITY IN REGARDS TO THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311253February 17, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER BUYING IT NEW AND OWNING IT FOR TWO YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS, IN 2007 WE HAD SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2005 SUBARU FORESTER, RESULTING IN 2 LOW-SPEED CRASHES INTO BUILDINGS AND ONE THAT I MANAGED TO STOP BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING. NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT WE HAD REPAIR COSTS AND INSURANCE PREMIUM INCREASES. THE DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS, EVEN THOUGH WHEN I TESTED IT WITH THEM, WE REPRODUCED A SIMILAR EVENT. MY DETAILED COMMUNICATIONS WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA (INCLUDING INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET ABOUT OTHER EARLIER SIMILAR SUBARU PROBLEMS) RESULTED IN THEIR DENYING ANY PROBLEM. I HAD A CLASS-ACTION ATTORNEY IN JUNEAU, AK WRITE SUBARU OF AMERICA WITH THE SAME RESULTS OF DENIAL BY SUBARU. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED IN ALASKA (OUR MAIN HOME). THE DEALER WAS VERY KIND AND IN 2008 TOOK IT AS A TRADE FOR A HONDA FIT SINCE WE COULD NOT SELL IT WITH THAT HISTORY. I ASSUME THAT OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, WHICH SHOULD BEGIN TO SURFACE NOW. THANK YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305321February 4, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
A FEW TIMES A YEAR, MY 2005 SUBARU FORESTER WITH STICK SHIFT WILL NOT START AFTER PARKING. HOWEVER, AFTER SHIFTING THE GEARS A FEW TIMES, IT WILL START. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE SENSOR SENSED INCORRECTLY THAT THE CAR WAS IN GEAR OTHER THAN NEUTRAL AND HENCE IT WOULD NOT START DESPITE THE GEAR WAS IN PHYSICALLY IN NEUTRAL AND THE CLUTCH WAS FULLY DEPRESSED. AFTER SHIFTING THE GEARS A FEW TIMES, THE ELECTRONIC MIGHT HAVE CORRECTED ITSELF. I AM CONCERNED IF OTHER ELECTRONICS PROBLEMS MAY HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, AS WHAT HAPPENED TO TOYOTA. TOO BAD THAT THERE MAY NOT ENOUGH DATA WITH STICK SHIFT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304800February 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2005 SUBARU FORESTER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THE CAR LURCHES UPON STARTING OUT ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING. YOU PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR--CAR DOES NOT MOVE, THEN SUDDENLY LURCHES AS THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR, SO THERE IS LITTLE CONTROL ON THE PART OF THE DRIVER--YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL MOVE AND/OR HOW.. WHEN TAKE FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR CAR LURCHES FORWARD AGAIN--WITH NO DRIVER CONTROL. THE CAR SLAMS INTO GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING NOW REGULARLY FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS. BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER ON JAN 14--THEY SAID THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM, "REPROGRAMMED" IT AND SAID ALL WAS FINE. IT WASN'T--BROUGHT THE CAR BACK YESTERDAY--THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS OK--IT IS NOT. CAR IS STILL OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE BEEN READING SIMILAR STORIES ON EDMUNDS. COM SUBARU FORUM FOR THIS YEAR AND EVEN OLDER MODEL SUBARU FORESTERS. SUBARU DENIES THERE IS AN ISSUE--I CALLED THEM THIS AFTERNOON AND WROTE TO THEM A FEW WEEKS BACK, TOO. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302263January 25, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
HEADGASKET LEAKED. CYLINDER HEADS CRACKED DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296832December 23, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN THE HEAT IS TURNED ON IN HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY AT THE CONTACT EXPENSE. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ON THIS PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,029. UPDATED 02/17/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/18/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273484June 10, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272431May 31, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN AFTER MY CAR CRASHED ANOTHER CAR AND THE INSURANCE DECLARED MY CART TOTAL LOSS. BOTH MYSELF AND THE PERSON IN THE OTHER CAR WERE LUCKILY NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED (JUST NECK WHIPLASH), BUT I HIT THE CARE VERY HARD, I EVEN HURT MY KNEES WITH THE IMPACT AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIRBAG DID NOT WORK. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10267744May 5, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
OUR COMPANY USES TEN SUBARU FORESTERS AS FLEET VEHICLES FOR UTILITY FIELD WORK. OF THE TEN VEHICLES FIVE ARE 2005 FORESTERS AND OUT OF THE FIVE, THREE DIFFERENT VEHICLES HAD TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AT THE COMPANY'S EXPENSE. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS A 2006 MODEL AND HAD ITS CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHANGED AT NO COST DUE TO WARRANTY. THE FOUR VEHICLE VIN NUMBERS AND MILES AT WHICH THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED ARE: MILEAGE 94,742, MILEAGE AT 82,491, MILEAGE 90,732 AND MILEAGE 64,059(2006 WARRANTY). WE FIND THIS FAILURE RATE TO BE ABNORMALLY HIGH AND QUESTION THE PARTS FAILURE RATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262103March 17, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT AS IF SHE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT UNUSUAL AND WHEN SHE BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP, SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND TO PUT INTO FIRST GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS HANGING OFF FROM THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP WAS POINTED OUTWARDS. FURTHERMORE, THE COIL THAT SHE BELIEVED TO BE THE STRUT WAS HANGING OUT AS WELL. HER MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE STRUT HAD PULLED COMPLETELY OUT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 02/19/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/19/10 THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO THE VEHICLE IN 1ST GEAR. UPDATED EVOQ 09/13/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260237February 27, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2005 SUBARU FORESTER, HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AT DWYER AND SONS SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN COMMERCE, MICHIGAN. DURING ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, I'VE ALWAYS DISCUSSED WITH THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT I HAVE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD DOWNSHIFT VERY HARD OR SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING WAS "BANGING." OR RUNNING VERY ROUGH. THE RPM WOULD ALSO SEEM TO RUN LOWER THAN NORMAL. EVERY TIME I MADE THEM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP WAS NEVER ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SO, EVERY TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN THEREAFTER, I TOLD THEM TO MAKE NOTE OF THE ISSUE AND THAT IT HASN'T GONE AWAY. AGAIN, THEY WOULD ROAD TEST THE CAR AND ALWAYS STATE THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. NOW, THE VEHICLE IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM WOULD REQUIRE AN ENTIRE ENGINE REBUILD ON A ENGINE THAT IS METICULOUSLY TAKEN CARE OF AND ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT. THIS REPAIR THEY WERE JUST ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IS GOING TO COST $5,900. THEY INDICATED THE DEALERSHIP WOULD ONLY PAY $1,500 TOWARD THE REPAIR. I TOLD THEM I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY'VE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM EXISTED BEFORE AND I MADE THEM AWARE MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS ENGINE PROBLEM HAD PRE-EXISTED RIGHT FROM THE FACTORY, AND THEIR ARE POTENTIALLY OTHER SUBARU FORESTERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I SHOULD NOT BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ENGINE REPAIR AND FEEL SUBARU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALLOWING THIS VEHICLE TO BE SOLD AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR OR, A NEW ENGINE ALL TOGETHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257347February 3, 2009
WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING FROM FLORIDA NOTICED LOAD NOISE. UPON INSPECTION BY MECHANIC WAS ADVISED THAT WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED. MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED THAT HE HAD SEEN OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SUBARU FORESTER. BELIEVE BEARINGS IN SOME MODELS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE BEARING FAILS WHILE AT HIGH SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223814April 9, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY CAR HESITATES, SPUTTERS AND BUCKS WHEN THE WEATHER IS WET. AT FIRST THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. WHILE THIS PROBLEM IS SPORADIC, IT HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. IT NOW HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM AND THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE DEALER AT FIRST TOLD US MANY TIMES TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WOULD GO AWAY WHEN THE CAR WARMED UP; THEY FAILED TO FIND THE DEFECT AT FIRST. NOW, AFTER FINDING THE CYLINDER MISFIRE PROBLEM THEY NOW CLAIM THE DEFECT ISN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT ONE; THE PROBLEM BEGAN EARLY IN 2005 SOON AFTER THE CAR WAS BOUGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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