12 of the
238 complaints about the 2003 Subaru Forester are about the
braking system — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
16,523 miles.
2013 SUBARU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ALMOST FROM THE MOMENT, HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, HE AND HIS WIFE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, HIS WIFE EXPERIENCED A SLOW BRAKE RESPONSE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL AND WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. HIS WIFE SUFFERED A BACK INJURY. THE SECOND TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AGAIN, AND THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. CONSEQUENTLY, HIS WIFE HAD ANOTHER ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN EITHER ACCIDENT. UPDATED 04/04/14
NHTSA complaint #10537652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesMarina, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE PERFORMING A ROUTINE INSPECTION AND OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE ROTORS WERE CRACKED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ROTORS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY WEAR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000. UPDATED 11/07/07
NHTSA complaint #10203929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,046 milesRaleigh, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
2003 SUBARU FORESTER PURCHASED MAY 2003 1. BRAKES DID NOT FEEL CORRECT - LOW BRAKE PEDAL 2. MADE APPOINTMENT AT AAA AUTO MARK CAR CARE CENTER FOR BRAKES TO BE CHECKED 3. AAA AUTO MARK CAR CARE CENTER PERSON SAID THAT OUR MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OUR VEHICLE MILEAGE - 18046 - AND EVEN THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (36 MONTHS MAXIMUM), THEY CONTACTED THE LOCAL SUBARU BUT SUBARU SAID SEEING THE CAR WAS OUT OF THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD, SUBARU WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE PART OR REPAIR. 4. WE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED SO AAA AUTO MARK CAR CARE CENTER PURCHASED THE PARTS NEEDED (1- MASTER CYLINDER, 2 WHEEL CYLINDERS) AND REPLACED THEM. WE ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED THE OLD PARTS. 5. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE HAD MANY CARS OVER MANY YEARS AND NEVER HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A MASTER CYLINDER EVEN THOUGH THE MILEAGE DRIVEN ON THE CARS WAS MUCH HIGHER THAN 18046 ON THE SUBARU.
NHTSA complaint #10162089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 59,287 milesMontrose, COCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON A GRAVEL ROAD A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MISS THE DEER; THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HIT A DOUBLE POST HEAD ON, THEN SLID DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND STOOD ON ITS NOSE. IT THEN FLIPPED ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE, ROLLED ONTO ITS TOP AND THEN RESTED ON ITS WHEELS. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE, BUT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT. FRONTAL AND SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONSULTED.
NHTSA complaint #10151477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 11,000 milesRochester, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETELY CORRECTED. THE CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN IN A PARKING LOT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. WHEN BACKING OUT, THE VEHICLE STARTED OUT SLOW BUT WOULD THEN SURGE IN REVERSE. THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE STICKING TO THE SLIDERS. THE PADS WERE REMOVED AND THE CORROSION WAS CLEANED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED LIKE IT WAS IN CRUISE AND WHEN THE CONSUMERS FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE GAS, THE SPEED WOULD REMAIN THE SAME. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10117512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little Rock, AR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ROTOR PREMATURELY WORN. CAR WAS PURCHASED 10/03. ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE TURNED TWICE SINCE PURCHASE DATE.
NHTSA complaint #10100396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,000 milesPittsburgh, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AT 15,000 MILES. CONSUMER STATED THAT 2,000 MILES LATER THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10068644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 milesVancouver, WA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
HAD STARTED TO BRAKE IN ORDER SLOW DOWN VEHICLE AND FELT THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP RIGHT AWAY. HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DEALERSHIP CONCERNING BRAKES. PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #10041821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weston, VT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND BURNED OTHER PART OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED DRUM AND WHEEL CYLINDER.
NHTSA complaint #10022861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weston, VT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND BURNED OTHER PART OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED DRUM AND WHEEL CYLINDER.
NHTSA complaint #10022861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weston, VT
PARKING BRAKE
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND BURNED OTHER PART OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED DRUM AND WHEEL CYLINDER.
NHTSA complaint #10022861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Swamp Scott, MA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES . ALSO STATES THAT WHILE SHE IS DRIVING AND STEPS ON THE BRAKE PAD THE BRAKE PAD FEELS LIKE IF SOMETHING IS ABSORBING THE PAD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IS NORMAL BECAUSE A NEW BRAKE SYSTEM. TS
NHTSA complaint #8023388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.