FaultScore

2007 Subaru Forester fuel system problems

12 of the 89 complaints about the 2007 Subaru Forester are about the fuel system — 13% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 48,000 miles.

C

12

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel System, Gasoline 6 50.0%
Fuel/Propulsion System 6 50.0%

Fuel & Propulsion across every Subaru Forester year

2001 10 2.2%
2002 11 2.4%
2003 57 12.5%
2004 125 27.4%
2005 23 5.0%
2006 13 2.8%
2007 12 2.6%
2009 10 2.2%
2010 13 2.8%
2014 21 4.6%
2015 56 12.3%
2016 24 5.3%
2017 11 2.4%
2018 21 4.6%
2019 22 4.8%
2020 12 2.6%
2025 16 3.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Brewster, MA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

There is a fuel line inside the car that had a pressure leak. An entire tank of gas emptied, mostly to the inside of the car where the fuel lines run inside the rear drivers side of car floor. My 18 year old daughter was driving and this can not be safely repaired or remove the harmful gas fumes in carpet and seats Unsafe still to drive, unsafe to have these lines run inside the car

NHTSA complaint #11503889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 137,300 miles Tbilisi, Republic OF Georgia, GA Crash

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

DEAR SIR, I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS SUBARU FORESTER CAR ([XXX]) IN GEORGIA, BUT HAD NOTICED THAT BEFORE ALLOWING IT TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION, THE MANCHESTER CENTER, VT/MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENT VERMONT DIDN'T ENSURED THIS VEHICLE HAD PASSED ALL THE RECALLS REQUESTED BY YOUR SUBARU COMPANY FOR THIS MODEL OF FORESTER (I SEE AT LEAST ONE OPEN RECALL NO.WVU31 REPROGRAM ECM NOW WHICH WAS NOT PASSED). BESIDE, ACCORDING TO CARFAX AND AUTOCHECK REPORTS, IT SEEMS THE CAR DIN NOT WENT THROUGH 2010 RECALL (WVN24: ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) REPROGRAMMING & FUEL TANK ONE-WAY FUEL VALVE). I PRESUME BECAUSE OF THIS, THE ERROR CODE P1400 APPEARS CURRENTLY ON THE CAR DISPLAY. THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE ASKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING WHICH ENTITY IS BEARING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE 2 PROBLEMS? I ASKED ALSO SUBARU INC. TO ALLOW SERVICING MY CAR FREE OF CHARGE FOR INSPECTION AND REMOVAL OF ERRORS TO THE CLOSEST SUBARU DEALER, BUT NOT REPLY YET. HOW IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CAR WAS ALLOWED BY VERMONT MOTORS DEPARTMENT TO BE SOLD OUTSIDE OF USA, EVEN IF RECALLS WERE ACTIVE? AS A CITIZEN OF EU MEMBER STATE, I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO START A CASE FOR ALLOWING SELLING OUTSIDE OF USA A CAR BEING UNDER SUBARU RECALLS. I MEAN SUBARU RECALLS NO. WVN24 AND WVU31, THE LAST EVEN HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED NEITHER TO CARFAX, NOR TO AUTOCHECK, WHICH REPORTS I PURCHASED BEFORE. HOPE YOU'LL OFFER ME ENTIRE ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10783189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,893 miles Bellevue, WA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE FAULT INDICATORS CAME ON AND THE ERROR CODE P2441 WAS PRESENT BOTH AT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AND AT THE SECOND OCCURRENCE AT 105,000 MILES. AT THE SECOND OCCURRENCE THE PRICE FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM WAS SET AT $2123. AT THIS PRICE AND GUESSING AT THE PRICE OF OTHER PARTS THE CAR'S REPLACEMENT VALUE SHOULD COME TO AROUND $200,000. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM PERVASIVE TO ALL SUBARUS, NOT JUST FORESTERS, FEATURING A TURBO CHARGED ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10704014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 101,000 miles Westminster, CO

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW ROUGHLY 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, A STRONG FUEL ODOR FILLS THE CABIN. FLATIRONS SUBARU IN BOULDER, CO, COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT AN INDEPENDENT SUBARU MECHANIC IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM INSTANTLY. HE SAID THE FUEL LINE HAS A SMALL RUBBER MID-SECTION WHICH CONTRACTS WITH COLD WEATHER AND PRODUCES A LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #10558574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,503 miles Houston, TX

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, BUT THE CAR RUNS FINE. I HAD IT CHECKED AND MECHANIC SAID GAS CAP PROBLEM AND RESET. AFTER THAT TIME I WAS VERY CAREFUL TO TURN THE GAS CAP UNTIL I HEARD 2 PLUS CLICKS (RECOMMENDED BY SUBARU). I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM 4 TIMES SINCE THEN AND FINALLY WAS TOLD THE LAST TIME I HAD IT RESET WHILE AWAY FROM HOME THAT IT COULD BE A CRACKED FUEL CUT VALVE. THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED 8 MONTHS AGO AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO GET IT FIXED OR RESET THE CHECK ENGINE. BECAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE, TEXAS INSPECTION FAILED AND NOW DEALER WANTS OVER $900.00 TO REPLACE THE CRACKED VALVES. I THINK THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY SUBARU SINCE THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM AND OCCURS BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART OR BAD DESIGN.

NHTSA complaint #10555995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Perry Hall, MD

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

EVAP CODE TESTED BY DEALERSHIP AND SHOWED CRACKED FUEL CUT VALVE. THIS IS EMISSION RELATED AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY 8 YEAR 80K MILE WARRANTY. THEY SAY ITS NOT AND WANT $600 TO REPLACE THE VALVE.

NHTSA complaint #10493034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,653 miles Honolulu, HI

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TOOK CAR IN FOR ROUTINE RECALL ITEMS (CAMPAIGN WVU-31 AND CAMPAIGN WVL-22). DURING ONE WAY FUEL VALVE REMOVAL, STRONG SMELL OF GAS WAS NOTED COMING FROM GAS TANK AREA. EVAPORATIVE LEAK WAS NOTED DUE TO CRACKED FUEL CUT VALVES. COST OF REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT CRACKED FUEL VALVES WAS $693.59.THE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS VERY NICE AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING IN ADVANCE OF THE REPAIR (I AM VERY SATISFIED WITH HIS APPROACH TO THIS PROBLEM). THIS MATTER SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY SUBARU AS A RECALL (CAMPAIGN) MATTER AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY SUBARU.

NHTSA complaint #10478232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,300 miles Georgetown, TX

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. FUEL CUT VALVES (MADE OF PLASTIC), ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK, WERE BOTH CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL. HAD BOTH VALVES REPLACED. COST OVER $900 BECAUSE REAR END MUST BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO DROP FUEL TANK. SUBARU HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10436462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,115 miles Austin, TX

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

SUBARU FORESTER 2007 FUEL CUT VALVES (MADE OF PLASTIC), ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK, WERE BOTH CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL. HAD BOTH VALVES REPLACED. COST OVER $700 BECAUSE REAR END MUST BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO DROP FUEL TANK. SUBARU HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND DOES NOT HAVE RECORD OF THIS HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM THE DEALER. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD AND I BELIEVE IT MAY BECOME MORE COMMON AS THESE MODELS AGE FURTHER. THERE WAS ONE OTHER INSTANCE OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON YOUR WEB SITE.

NHTSA complaint #10423182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Tucson, AZ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL SMELL LIKE RAW GASOLINE. HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DEALERSHIP FOR OVER 6 MONTHS TO TRY TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. CURRENTLY, STILL REPLACING VALVES.

NHTSA complaint #10325791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,819 miles Phoenix, AZ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN JULY 2007 AND IN AUGUST OF 2009 SHE SMELLED FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL CUT ROLL VALVE SINCE IT WAS CRACKED, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAILED PART WITH THE SAME DEFECTED PART; THEREFORE SHE COULD EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE AGAIN. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED HER $2,500 AS A DOWN PAYMENT TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE. SHE DECLINED THE OFFER AND WANTS THE DEALER TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 1300 MILES ON IT SHE HAD THE FRONT AXLES REPLACED. SHE NO LONGER FEELS SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 3/12/10 *CN UPDATED 09/28/10

NHTSA complaint #10301942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. SHE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW VEHICLE IN JULY 2007 . SHE SMELLED GASOLINE FUMES WITHIN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL COVER VALVE AT 13,000 AND 15,000 MILES; HOWEVER, SOME OF THE PARTS USED DURING THE REPAIR WERE THE FAULTY PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ISSUE A RECALL; ALTHOUGH, BOTH FUEL COVER VALVES WERE CRACKED. THE AXLE WAS ALSO REPLACED SIX MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WILL RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD PAY HER $2,500 TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE; HOWEVER, SHE WANTS THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 09/28/10

NHTSA complaint #10301935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2007 Subaru Forester problems

← Full 2007 Subaru Forester report