12 of the
270 complaints about the 2004 Subaru Forester are about the
transmission — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
93,500 miles.
D
12
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Power Train
975.0%
Automatic Transmission
18.3%
Manual Transmission
18.3%
Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
18.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain across every Subaru Forester year
CAR WAS SHIFTED FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL FOR OPERATOR TO USE A PARKING LOT GATE MACHINE. THE ENGINE SURGED A LITTLE WHILE IN NEUTRAL BUT SETTLED BACK DOWN. WHEN PARKING GATE OPENED THE OPERATOR SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND LIGHTLY PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SURGED TO FULL THROTTLE AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATED ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE BEING STOPPED BY COLLISION WITH A GRANITE POST. OPERATOR COULD NOT BRAKE HARD ENOUGH TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME. DRIVER INJURED IN CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #11319673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesFranklin Park, IL
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING HOME FROM GYM, I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS NOT ENGAGING THE CLUTCH MAKING SHIFTING DIFFICULT. EVENTUALLY RETURNED HOME SAFELY AND UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED A LARGE FIREWALL CRACK NEAR THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. THE LARGE FIREWALL CRACK COMPROMISED THE CLUTCH PEDAL FUNCTION. ALSO, FEAR OF POSSIBILITY OF BRAKE PEDAL FAILURE AND POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO ENGINE BAY FUMES. I SPOKE TO A SUBARU SERVICE ADVISOR AND SUGGESTED TO "BRING-IN" FOR INSPECTION. ENROUTE TO THE DEALER WAITING FOR THE GREEN LIGHT ON THE MAIN STREET, DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND FELT A SNAP THEN MY CLUTCH PEDAL PLAY IS NONE. LOOKED ON THE FLOOR OF MY CAR TO SEE WHAT FELL/DETACHED, AND IT LOOKED LIKE PART OF THE PEDAL BRACKET THAT ATTACHED TO THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. I EVENTUALLY TOWED MY CAR TO THE DEALER. ARE FIREWALL SUPPOSED TO CRACK?
NHTSA complaint #10990817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesBlock Island, RIFire
POWER TRAIN
THE TURBOCHARGER BROKE TWICE IN THE 2D QUARTER 2015. SHORTLY AFTER THE SECOND TIME IT WAS FIXED, THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE OVER THE TURBOCHARGER UNIT (WHILE BEING DRIVEN 9/18/15), UNDER THE HOOD. NEW SUBARUS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS REASON, BUT I THINK THE REPLACEMENT TURBOCHARGER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE SUBARU TURBO FP # WAS 14411AA5329L.
NHTSA complaint #10926386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Enola, PA
POWER TRAIN
I STARTED THE CAR, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE IT INTO GEAR. IT WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. THE RELEASE WAS BROKEN. EVENTUALLY I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET IT INTO GEAR. IT HAS BEEN TO JACK WILLIAMS TIRE IN CAMP HILL, PA 17011 3-4 TIMES SINCE THEN FOR THE SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10621407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 milesGrafton, MA
POWER TRAIN
IN VERY COLD WEATHER (LESS THAN 10 F) THE RUBBER GAS LINES LEAK VERY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF GAS ONTO THE ENGINE AND VERYNEAR THE HOT TURBOCHARGER. ANOTHER SUBARU JUST CAUGHT FIRE IN THE O'NEILL TUNNEL. HTTP://BOSTON.CBSLOCAL.COM/2014/01/27/CAR-FIRE-CAUSES-BACKUP-IN-ONEILL-TUNNEL/
NHTSA complaint #10562177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 119,000 milesHamilton, NJ
POWER TRAIN
THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK FROM MY 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XS. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LEAK IN THE MAIN SEAL BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND IT WILL COST ME $1,000 TO FIX BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED. THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ABOUT SIMILAR OIL LEAKS IN THIS MODEL YEAR. SUBARU SHOULD INVESTIGATE.
NHTSA complaint #10495001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
South Haven, MI
POWER TRAIN
BACKING OUT OF DRIVE WAY, LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED, TEARING THE CV JOINT OUT. UPON INSPECTION THE CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED THROUGH AT IT'S JOINT.
NHTSA complaint #10433133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesTrinity Beach, 00
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
OUR 2004 MODEL, MANUAL GEAR-BOX SUBARU FORESTER 2.5 X STALLS FAR TOO EASILY IN FIRST GEAR. RECENTLY, MY WIFE NARROWLY ESCAPED A HORRENDOUS ACCIDENT WHEN THE FORESTER'S ENGINE STALLED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM THE SIDE ROAD WHICH SHE HAS TO USE TO ACCESS THE HIGHWAY FROM HER PLACE OF WORK. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER MANUAL GEAR-BOX SUBARU OWNERS, INCLUDING THE SUBARU WRX AND LIBERTY, WHO HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY BE A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN ISSUE AFFECTING MOST RECENTLY BUILT MANUAL GEAR BOX SUBARU PASSENGER VEHICLES, BUILT BY SUBARU AT THEIR MAIN FACTORY IN JAPAN, AND DISTRIBUTED GLOBALLY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE USA.
NHTSA complaint #10284971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Encino, CA
POWER TRAIN
2004 FORESTER XT STALLED, HAD LOSS OF POWER DURING ACCELERATION AND JERKED VIOLENTLY. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10171175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saylorsburg, PA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE GENERATED EXCESSIVE STATIC SHOCK. *NM THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD GO NO MORE THAN 15- 20 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10111555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mill Valley, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THE VEHICLE AND RECEIVE A REFUND FOR THE PURCHASE PRICE. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE IS MAKING A HIGH PITCH WHINING NOISE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE IS FROM THE REDUCTION GEAR TEETH TRANSMISSION AND WAS NORMAL. THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH HER 1998 SUBARU FORRESTER THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING AND ENGINE DAMAGE. A FAULTY THERMOSTAT CAUSED THE OVERHEATING. AN INITIAL TEST SHOW CARBON MONOXIDE INDICATING PROBABLE DAMAGE TO THE SLEEVES BETWEEN THE PISTONS AND CYLINDERS, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE SHORT BLOCK. OVERHEATED CAMS ARE WARPED DUE TO THE HEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10095404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mill Valley, CA
POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THE VEHICLE AND RECEIVE A REFUND FOR THE PURCHASE PRICE. *NM THE SUBARU DEALER OFFERED THE CONSUMER $1500.00 TO 2,000 DOLLARS TOWARD TRADING HIS VEHICLE IN FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. OFFER EXPIRES OCT 31,2004
NHTSA complaint #10095402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.