28 of the
8,703 complaints filed about the Subaru Forester
are about the equipment —
0% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
I HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PROPOSED RECALL REMEDY FOR NHTSA ID: 21E002000 . THE NOTICE SAYS, "NINGBO WILL NOTIFY DISTRIBUTORS, AND OWNERS, AND WILL REPLACE THE BULB WITH HALOGEN BULBS, FREE OF CHARGE." THIS OFFERED REPLACEMENT OF THEIR DEFECTIVE LED BULB WITH A HALOGEN BULB IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE RECALL REMEDY BECAUSE LED BULBS ARE FAR SUPERIOR TO HALOGEN BULBS. ESPECIALLY LED BULBS LAST MUCH LONGER AND DRAIN MUCH LESS POWER FROM THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAN HALOGEN BULBS. I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THEIR LED BULBS BECAUSE OF THESE ADVANTAGES AND REPLACING THEM WITH INFERIOR HALOGEN BULBS DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING BOUGHT LED BULBS TO BEGIN WITH.
NHTSA complaint #11394379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE GPS SYSTEM IS UNSAFE. IT SAYS "EXIT RIGHT AHEAD", WHICH WOULD IMPLY THAT YOU SHOULD EXIT AT THE NEXT EXIT. BUT IT SAYS THIS WHEN THE EXIT PROGRAMMED IS THE 2ND OR 3RD EXIT. MY WIFE TRIED TO EXIT AT THE NEXT EXIT, AND THEN AT THE LAST MINUTE, SHE REALIZED THAT IT WAS WRONG AND SHE SWERVED BACL ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. SUBURU HAS TO REPROGRAM THE GPS SYSTEM SO THAT IT DOESN'T SAY "EXIT RIGHT AHEAD" WHEN IT ISN'T THE CORRECT EXIT. THEY SHOULD THEN ISSUE A RECALL AND REPROGRAM SUBURU OWNERS GPS SYSTEM FOR FREE.
NHTSA complaint #11330839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR CONDITIONING WORKS ONCE TURN ON CAR THEN AFTER DRIVING FOR 1ST FIVE TO TEN MINUTES, AIR CONDITIONING STOP WORKING, THIS ISSUE STARTED HAPPENING IN 2018.
NHTSA complaint #11325267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ?LOOKUP? FOR THE VIN NO. ON YOUR WEBSITES IS DYSFUNCTIONAL. MY VIN IS [XXX] (SUBARU FORESTER) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11297929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED DUE TO A CHAIN REACTION TOTALING SEVEN OTHER VEHICLES. WHEN THE CONTACT PUSHED THE SOS BUTTON INSIDE HER VEHICLE, SHE SPOKE WITH STARLINK AND WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE CONNECTED TO 911. INSTEAD, THE "YOUR CALL CANNOT BE COMPLETED AS DIALED, PLEASE TRY YOUR CALL AGAIN LATER" MESSAGE WAS HEARD. ALSO, THE STARLINK APP INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AT 100%; HOWEVER, THE BLIND SIDE DETECTION HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE CRASH. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT CALLED SUBARU STARLINK AND WAS INFORMED THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD BACK AND THEN CALLED SUBARU AMERICA. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD OPEN AN IT TICKET. THE CONTACT FOLLOWED-UP WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND FOUND THAT NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE AND A TICKET WAS NOT OPENED. THE CONTACT INJURED HER BACK AND SUSTAINED A SPRAINED ANKLE AND WHIPLASH. IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO NORTH READING SUBARU (978-386-6090, LOCATED AT 260 MAIN ST, NORTH READING, MA 01864) AND THEN TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP. THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,419.
NHTSA complaint #11281132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CSPC: THE WELD THAT CONNECTS THE MAIN PART OF THE RACK TO THE PORTION THAT ENTERS THE HITCH CRACKED, RESULTING IN THE BIKES DRAGGING IN THE ROAD UNTIL WE COULD PULL OVER. THE RACK THEN SNAPPED OFF COMPLETELY. AT THE TIME, WE HAD THREE BIKES WORTH ABOUT $2,500 EACH ON THE RACK, AND MORE SERIOUSLY, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT HAD THE RACK SNAPPED OFF WITH ANOTHER CAR DIRECTLY BEHIND US. *DT *JS *B F *CN *JS
NHTSA complaint #11074775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN I81 AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH A SMALL PEBBLE TAPPED THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSANGER SIDE AND IT CRACKED. WITHIN 24 HRS IT HAS GROWN HALF WAY ACROSS THE WINDOW. PLANNING ON HAVING IT REPLACED WITHIN FIVE DAYS. GOING DOWN HIGHWAY 31 AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THREE DAYS AFTER THE FIRST CRACK ANOTHER ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. ( WINDSHIELD HAD NOT YET BEEN REPLACED) AS WELL AS ONE MONTH OF PURCHASING THE CAR A SMALL ROCK HIT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AREA AND ONLY MADE A SMALL DING IN IT. I BELIEVE THESE WINDSHIELDS ARE VERY DANGEROUS. IF YOU HEAR ANYTHING HIT YOUR WINDSHIELD AND YOU SEE NOTHING INITIALLY, PLEASE STOP ASAP AND INSPECT IT AS THESE LINE CRACKS EXPAND VERY FAST. NOT KNOWING IF THESE WINDSHIELDS CONTAIN THE ABILITY TO STAY TOGETHER IF IT SHADERS. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD, THIS COULD BECOME DEVASTATING VERY FAST. PLEASE STAY AWARE OF THE SMALLEST HITS TO THESE WINDSHIELDS. CONCERNED FOR ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10748642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BLUETOOTH DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MOST OF THE TIME IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. WHEN IT DOES IT KEEPS ON REPEATING ITSELF AND FREEZES THE SCREEN. THE ONLY WAY I CAN UN FREEZE THE SCREEN IS PULL THE CAR OVER AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN AND " I'LL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT ".
NHTSA complaint #10689717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE EYESIGHT, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEMS DO NOT RECOGNIZE STOPPED VEHICLES - HARD BRAKING IS REQUIRED TO STOP VEHICLE IN TIME. WHEN SYSTEMS DO FUNCTION THEY DO NOT GRADUALLY SLOW VEHICLE AND COME TO A STOP, BUT DO SO SUDDENLY AND DANGEROUSLY, CAUSING ME TO BRAKE HARD TO COME TO A STOP AT A SAFE DISTANCE BEHIND STOPPED VEHICLE. SAME SYSTEMS ARE ALSO DANGEROUSLY AFFECTED BY BRIGHT SUNLIGHT AND FAIL TO FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER SAID THEY CHECKED SYSTEMS OUT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. GAVE ME PRINT-OUT FROM OPERATING MANUAL STATING IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DRIVER TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY AT ALL TIMES AND THAT THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM IS NEVER A SUBSTITUTE FOR ACTIVE DRIVER INVOLVEMENT AND MAY NOT OPERATE OPTIMALLY UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS!!!!!!! SUBARU CORPORATE CUSTOMER RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE WAS NO SOFTWARE UPGRADE/FIX AVAILABLE FOR THE FORESTER MODEL. CERTAIN SUBARU 2015 MODELS ARE ADVERTISED TO HAVE AN UPGRADED EYESIGHT SYSTEM THAT RECOGNIZES LIGHTED TAILLIGHTS, AMONG OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. I WAS TOLD THE 2015 SYSTEM WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE 2014 FORESTER. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. A RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
NHTSA complaint #10659181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN SOMEONE DEPARTS ROAD ON AN EXIT AND THEY ARE DECELERATING EVEN IF THEY ARE CLEAR AND OUT OF THE LANE THE CAR WILL PRACTICALLY STOP ON THE HIGHWAY, SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES HARD. EVEN UNDER NORMAL USE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM DOES NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES SLOWLY IN A PROGRESSIVE PATTERN IT HITS THEM ABRUPTLY. I AM IN A CONGESTED AREA AND HAVE OFTEN HAD TO OVERRIDE THE SYSTEM BY HITTING THE BRAKES MANUALLY TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM OR FLOOR THE GAS TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM REAR ENDING ME ON THE HIGHWAY. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION THEY SAY IT IS OPERATING AS IT SHOULD AND HAVE BROUGHT IT TO SUBARU CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE ATTENTION ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS ASKING FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE. I BELIEVE THE SYSTEM IS GOOD BUT NEEDS REFINEMENT OF ITS SOFTWARE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10633778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUBMISSION FROM CONSTITUENT RE DEFECTIVE CROSSBAR. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO REPLACE, THE LUGGAGE RACK, BECAUSE THE CROSSBAR WAS BENT AND BOWED. THE FIRST TIME, HE USED THE CROSSBAR WAS MAY 24, 2014. THE PLASTIC CLAMP THAT HELD THE LUGGAGE RACK TO THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAUSED THE LOAD HE WAS CARRYING TO FALL OFF ON THE INTERSTATE. FORTUNATELY, THE WIND BLEW EVERYTHING TOWARD THE EMERGENCY SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE, LUGGAGE RACK CROSSBARS AND OTHER PERSONAL BELONGINGS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED.
NHTSA complaint #10598199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE HAS NOT RECOGNIZED STOPPED VEHICLES, AND DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN THUS POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTING TO A CRASH AND INJURY. THE CAR HAS BEEN EVALUATED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THIS BY THE DEALER AND HAS NOT FOUND A PROBLEM. THE DYSFUNCTION CONTINUES; THERE WERE 4 INCIDENTS TODAY WHERE THERE WAS FAILURE OF THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM TO INITIATE ANY SAFETY MANEUVERS TO AVOID A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10559973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DEFECTIVE FLOOR MATS ON A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER, THE RUBBER SPIKES ON THE BOTTOM BROKE OFF UNDER GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS AND THEN DOWN THE CENTER OF THE MAT. THE MAT CAME OFF THE SAFETY HOOK AND ENTANGLE THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. THE PEDAL DID FUNCTION, I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY FIX THE MAT WHILE DRIVING. I ALSO OWN A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER; IT WAS STORED AND USED BY SAME OWNER IN SIMILAR WAYS AND NO PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10303383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"FLOATING AROUND" FLOOR MAT PROBLEM ON MY 2008 SUBARU FORESTER. I BOUGHT MY FORESTER IN DECEMBER OF 2007. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE MATS STARTED TO SLIDE AROUND THE FLOOR AND HAVE BUNCHED-UP UNDER THE PEDAL CLUSTER. I AM CAREFUL TO REPOSITION THEM. WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THE HUNDREDS OF RUBBER TABS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE 4 MATS STARTED TO FALL OFF. THIS IS ON ALL FOUR MATS. SUBARU TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I READ ABOUT A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA AND I UNDERSTAND THAT TOYOTA HAS AN OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN SUBARU. PERHAPS THEY USE THE SAME VENDOR TO SUPPLY FLOOR MATES IN THE USA. I KNOW THIS IS DANGEROUS. MY CAR IS STILL UNDER THE NEW CAR WARRANTY, SO I AM NOT LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FOR NOTHING. MY BET IS OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM TOO. LIKE I SAID IT AFFECTS ALL FOUR MATS, AND MY BACK SEATS ARE RARELY USED, SO IT MUST BE THE MATS. MY CAR HAS 22,000 MILES. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10288826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT PULLS ON RETENTION HOOK WHICH IS ONLY ANCHORED TO THE CARPET FLOOR, NOT THE UNDERLYING METAL FLOOR. THE FORWARD TENSION OF THE FLOOR MAT ON THE HOOK LIFTS THE CARPET UP FROM THE METAL FLOOR & THE HOOK DISENGAGES FROM THE FLOOR MAT WHICH SLIDES FORWARD UP UNDER BRAKE & GAS PEDAL. THIS IS A CONSTANT DAILY OCCURRENCE. I HAVE CHECKED WITH SUBARU DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10286840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:LINES AND FITTINGS
200 SUBARU FORESTER BLOWS HEAD GASKET FOR THIRD TIME. FIXED TWICE UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THIRD TIME, SUBARU REPORTS THEY WILL ASSIST WITH HALF OF PAYMENT BECAUSE RECALL WAS DISCONTINUED IN 2008. "REPAIR" COMPLETED UNDER RECALL, BUT WASN'T REALLY REPAIRED. THIS CONSUMER FEELS THAT I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THIS. REPAIR NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED AND STAY REPAIR AT MANUFACTURER'S COST.
NHTSA complaint #10281331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE REAR WHEEL BEARING ON MY 2000 SUBARU FORESTER 3 TIMES RIGHT AND LEFT REAR OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. I SEE THROUGH ONLINE READING THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THE SUBARU AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. PRESSURE NEEDS TO BE PUT ON THEM TO REMEDY THE SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10218420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS SOON AS THE CAR AGED TO 75,000 MILES I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. THE CLOSEST SUBARU DEALER IS 51 MILES AWAY FROM MY CURRENT LOCATION. NOT EASY TO GET TO. MY IN TOWN MECHANIC HAS ONLY BEEN TRYING TO TREAT THE SYMPTOMS. I'VE HAD THERMOSTAT, HEATER CORE, VALVE COVERS, SPARK PLUG WIRES REPLACED, HOSES REPLACED, AND STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. I TOOK IT TO A SUBARU DEALER THIS MORNING, STILL OVERHEATING, AND HE SAYS I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE VALVE COVERS, WIRES, OBVIOUSLY THE HEAD GASKET AND POSSIBLY A FEW OTHER PARTS. LABOR ALONE IS A 1000 DOLLARS. SUBARU SHOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AS I AM NOTICING THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTS AND SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH OWNERS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. I REALLY HAVE ENJOYED OWNING A SUBARU UP UNTIL NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10200005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PROBLEMS WITH FUSES ON THE 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. *MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED A BLOWN FUSE AND THAT THE CONTROL OF HER REAR VIEW MIRRORS WERE NOT WORKING. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING FUSE #4, THE LABEL AND MANUAL STATED "2003 FORESTER MANUAL" A8070BE/MSA5M0304A-PAGE 12-6) DIFFERED IN AMPERAGE FOR NOT ONLY THE #4 BUT ALSO #8 (ABS SOLENOID). THE CONSUMER PROMPTLY CHANGED THE FUSES TO 20 AMPS EACH. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUAL WAS WRONG AND THAT THE LABEL WAS RIGHT. THE CONSUMER PROMPTLY CHANGED BACK TO THE 15 AND 30 AMP FUSES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED CLARIFICATION IN WRITING FROM SUBARU ABOUT THE PROPER AMPERAGE AND OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME MANUAL.
NHTSA complaint #10121565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILURE OF OXYGEN SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED DUE TO RECALL CAUSED GASOLINE TO BE DUMPED INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. OUR MECHANIC SAID THAT THE CONVERTER BECAME RED HOT AND IT WAS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. PARTS WERE REPLACED AND ARE NOT NOW AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10106423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.