12 of the
195 complaints about the 2011 Subaru Forester are about the
other systems — 6% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
62,500 miles.
F
12
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Unknown OR Other
12100.0%
Other & Unspecified across every Subaru Forester year
Thousands of Subarus are developing leaking cam carriers which can cause the vehicles to stall due to oil loss. There are online threads with many, many owners reporting their vehicles developed this problem - many with low mileage. My vehicle developed the problem with about 40,000 miles on the odometer. This vehicle should be recalled. Dealerships are making a fortune fixing these vehicles, often charging close to $3,000.
NHTSA complaint #11458730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lake Katrine, NYFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
As I drove into my driveway smoke started coming out of engine compartment. Behind and under vehicle was a massive leak of either oil or transmission fluid. No warning lights were observed and vehicle was running fine while we were out. The entire vehicle was quickly engulfed in flames and burned to the ground before firefighters arrived.
NHTSA complaint #11417991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2 milesHolbrook, NYFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF APPARENTLY NORMAL DRIVING. THE FIRE EVENTUALLY DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE(S) OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED
NHTSA complaint #11366797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,000 milesST. Joseph, MI
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN I PLAY A CD IN MY SUBARU'S CD PLAYER FOR AN HOUR, THE IGNITION KEY IS HOT TO THE TOUCH WHEN I STOP CAR AND REMOVE IT.
NHTSA complaint #11298314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesRaleigh, NCCrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS PULLING SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SPACE (BRAKING) AT A SHOPPING CENTER WHEN MY SUBARU SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, TAKING MY CAR OVER THE CURB THROUGH A HEDGEROW AND INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE, AT WHICH TIME IT STOPPED. WITNESS CONFIRMED THE SUDDEN RAPID BOLTING OF THE CAR FORWARD FROM AN ALMOST STOPPED POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #11218101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesConifer, CO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
OUR FORESTER HAS BEEN BURNING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THOUGHT IT WAS LEAKS AT FIRST AND HAVE SPENT ABOUT 2500 FIXING THOSE. KEEPS LOSING OIL SO MUST BE BURNING IT. TOOK AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AT DEALER WHICH LASTS 1200 MILES. FAILED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MAKE IT 650 MILES BEFORE IT RAN OUT OF OIL. SUBARU DID NOTHING TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. SOON AFTER IT IS NOW STARTING TO THROW CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. TWICE NOW THE ENGINE HAS ALSO DIED WHILE I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. ONCE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE OTHER WAS LUCKILY BEFORE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT
NHTSA complaint #11190469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,000 milesVancouver, WA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SENSOR LIGHT ISSUE. CHECK ENGINE, SKID CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS REPEATEDLY COME ON. I HAVE REPAIRED IT 3 TIMES TO NO AVAIL. ON LINE THERE ARE 7 YEARS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. MY CRUISE CONTROL, SKID CONTROL ARE NON FUNCTIONING.
NHTSA complaint #11172431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,000 milesMunhall, PA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC AND AT A STOPS, PROBLEM BEGAN IN DECEMBER 2017 AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. IN JANUARY 2018 IT WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE 60000 MILE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED, IT CONTINUED TO STALL AND WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE REPLACED AND IT STALLED IN TRAFFIC WHEN IT WAS PICKED UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS RETURNED. THE WIRING HARNESS IS NOW BEING REPLACED. SUBARU FIELD TECHNICIANS AND DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS HAVE TRIED TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11078852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 51,000 milesPeabody, MA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAM CARRIER OIL SEEPAGE LEAKING ONTO MANIFOLD AND CAUSING OIL SMELL. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE CARS STARTING WITH LITTLE MILEAGE. OIL SEEPS OUT ONTO THE MANIFOLD, AND BURN CAUSING AN OIL SMELL EVERY TIME WE COME TO A STOP, PARTICULARLY DOWNHILL. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD
NHTSA complaint #11057950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pleasantville, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE SUN VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FELL ON ITS OWN, OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW. WHEN I PUSHED IT BACK UP IT PROMPTLY FELL BACK DOWN - IT WOULD NOT STAY IN ANY OTHER POSITION BUT HANGING STRAIGHT DOWN. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET A SCREW DRIVER TO REMOVE THE VISOR TO KEEP IT FROM OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW. NOW MY DRIVER SIDE VISOR IS STARTING TO NOT STAY COMPLETELY UP AGAINST THE CEILING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN TWO WAYS, ONE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT STAY UP AND OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW, AND TWO IT CAN NOT BE USED AS A SUN VISOR (AS INTENDED) TO KEEP THE SUN FROM BLINDING ME. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY FOUR-YEARS OLD; I DID CONTACT THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL, AND IT IS NOT COVERED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE BOTH OF MY VISORS APPEAR TO BE BAD, I BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A LOT OF VEHICLES WILL START HAVING THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10764278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mattapoisett, MACrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVEWAY ACROSS FROM TWO WAY STREETS, CHURCH AND MAIN STS. CARS PARKED ON EITHER SIDE OF DRIVEWAY, MAKING EXITING DIFFICULT AND PRECAUSIONS MUST BE TAKEN. UPDATED 5/1/15
NHTSA complaint #10661683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 33,548 milesEast Stroudsburg, PACrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY HUSBAND PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU FORESTER IN MAY OF 2011 FOR ME WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS. IT WAS A BIG INVESTMENT FOR US AND I HAD HOPED TO DRIVE MY NEW SUBARU FORESTER 2011 FOR SEVERAL YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT, I NOTICED THE BRAKES TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY FASHION OR QUICKLY ENOUGH. I TOLD MY HUSBAND ALL THE TIME, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO DRIVE MY CAR, ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT ITS BRAKES. I HAD MY VEHICLE REGULARLY SERVICED AS PER THE COMPANIES WARRANTY REQUIREMENTS AND AT ONLY AUTHORIZED SUBARU SERVICE & DEALERSHIP CENTERS. I RECENTLY TOLD THE SERVICE DEPT AT MY 30,000 MILE SERVICING ABOUT THE BRAKES ISSUES I HAD AGAIN, TO THEIR ATTENTION BUT THEY SAID THAT- 'THAT WAS THE WAY THE FORESTER'S BRAKES WERE AND THAT I HAD TO PUSH THE PEDAL HARD TO THE FLOOR(PUMP THE BRAKES) TO STOP IT QUICKLY ENOUGH" AND MY BRAKES WERE FINE ACCORDING 30,000 MILE SERVICING, AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR RESPONSE I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD 25 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY APPEARED IN FRONT OF ME TO STOP TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. I PUSHED THE BRAKES BUT MY VEHICLE JUST WOULD NOT STOP QUICKLY ENOUGH. I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. TO DISCOVER THAT MY FRONT BUMPER NOW HAD A HUGE CRACK IN IT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A VEHICLE WHOSE BRAKES ARE SO BAD THAT IT WILL NOT STOP THE VEHICLE QUICKLY ENOUGH AND NEEDS TO BE PUMPED TO STOP IT SOONER(WHICH MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THE ONE ABOVE) , .AFTER THE CAR CAME OUT FROM THE BODY SHOP I HAD A RECENT OCCURENCE BUT THIS TIME IT WAS A RAINY DAY I STARTED TO SLOW DOWN PRESSING THE BRAKE TO TURN TO MY ROAD WHICH I HAD THE SAME ISSUE, INSTEAD OF STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN THE BRAKES ARE ACCELERATING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE BRAKES AT THE VERY LEAST TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS. I AM DETERMINED TO TRADE IN MY VEHICLE FOR SAFE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10567203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.