14 of the 138 complaints about the 1998 Subaru Forester are about the throttle and cruise control — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 102,500 miles.
14
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 1998 SUBARA FORESTER WENT INTO A "SUDDEN ACCELERATION". LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS KILLED, BUT THE CAR SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10201664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND HIT SOME BRUSH. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE HEATER WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS NOT A POLICE REPORT FILED. UPDATED 3/28/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10149914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
THE PLASTIC !! SPEEDOMETER CABLE GEARS (2) FAILED , CAUSING SPEEDOMETER FAILURE , AT OIL TEMP LIGHT TO FLASH , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME , ERRATIC IDLE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, ENGINE STALL . IF THIS IS NOT DANGEROUS I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IS !! COST ME $1300 TO HAVE IT FIXED AND YES THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE !
NHTSA complaint #10134373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CONSUMER PLACED HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE LUNGED INTO GEAR TAKING OFF SOME 40 FEET, STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE DAMAGING BOTH VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10082022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FOOT BRAKE WAS RELEASED, CAR SUDDENLY & WITHOUT ANY ACTION ON MY PART ACCELERATED AT A VERY FAST SPEED INTO THE GARAGE---AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TS
NHTSA complaint #9006755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS VERY FAST, CRASHING INTO TWO VEHICLES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TURNED ON IGNITION THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY FAST IN REVERSE AND CAUSED ACCIDENT, CONSUMER IS ALSO HAVING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS THE BATTERY DRAINING, SECURITY SYSTEM GOES OFF WHILE PARKED, AND THE DOORS LOCK BY THEMSELVES.
NHTSA complaint #8002093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN DRIVER ACCELERATES ENGINE WILL REV. CONSUMER HAS ALSO CHANGED ROTORS, AND IT'S TIME TO CHANGE THEM AGAIN AFTER 3000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #878351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 66 MPH AND IT WOULD REDUCE SPEED TO 50 MPH, AND MOMENTARILY LOSE ACCELERATION. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #869187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE STARTED TO RACE WHILE DRIVING,TRANSMISSION WON'T ENGAGE WITHOUT GRINDING. NEEDS NEW CLUTCH. NOT SURE WHY A CLUTCH SHOULD GO IN 2 YEARS OF HAVING THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #713604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE THEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE.
NHTSA complaint #827921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, DRIVER LOSE CONTROL RESULTING IN DRIVER HITTING A MAN.
NHTSA complaint #542177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SECURITY SYSTEM GOES OFF WHEN HAZARD LIGHTS ARE ENGAGED/ABS BRAKES SQUEAK. IN ADDITION, WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPOT, VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON.
NHTSA complaint #541483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #822752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SURGED WHEN BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND CRASHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT.
NHTSA complaint #530912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.