2000 Subaru Forester Complaint Log

The contact owns a 2000 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle began to shake and suddenly veered into the left lane into oncoming traffic. The contact stated that the vehicle had stopped in the middle of the road. The contact was unaware of any warning light being illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had to be pushed off the roadway. The contact stated that the passenger’s side front tire was at a 90-degree angle to the wheel well. The contact stated that he could see that the control arm had snapped. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the control arms, the inner power steering rack, and front stabilizer bar needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU FORRESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED OVER HEATING. HE PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICE COOLANT COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICES THE VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND LEAKING RADIATOR COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000...MW

ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2010, OUR 2000 SUBARU FORRESTER WENT INTO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE CAUSING THE CAR TO BE TOTALED, DAMAGE TO A FORD F350 TRUCK AND INJURY TO THE OWNER OF THE TRUCK. SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED IN 2008 WHEN GOING FORWARD AND COMING TO A STOP BEFORE ENTERING A HIGHWAY. CAR ACCELERATED AND HAD TO PRESS BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE UNTIL THE BRAKE MET THE FLOOR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC, WHO EXAMINED IT AND COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HE ADVISED TAKING IT TO A SUBARU DEALER WHICH WE DID. THEY HAD THE CAR FROM FEBRUARY 11 TO MARCH 10, 2008 BUT FAILED TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 12, 2010 INCIDENT, THE CAR WOULD SOMETIMES HESITATE AFTER A STOP AND THEN LURCH FORWARD, BUT WOULD NOT GO OUT OF CONTROL AS IT DID TWO WEEKS AGO. THE CAR WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND INSPECTED DURING THE 10 YEARS WE HAD IT. *TR

HAD 2000 SUBARU FORESTER (83,000 MI) AT DEALER FOR INSPECTION. DEALER NOTIFIED US THAT CAR FAILED DUE TO EXTERNAL HEAD GASKET LEAK. DEALER SAYS THERE IS OIL DRIPPING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IT IS A FIRE HAZARD SO UNLESS WE REPLACE HEAD GASKET THE CAR FAILS. SUBARU PREVIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED A DEFECT WITH THIS 2.5L ENGINE AND HAD A CAMPAIGN WHERE THE "FIX" WAS ADDING A CONDITIONER TO THE COOLANT. OBVIOUSLY THE "FIX" DIDN'T DO THE JOB AND OTHERS OUT THERE ARE A RISK OF A CATASTROPHIC FIRE. *TR

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. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 55 TO 65 MPH THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVER HEAT. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET CRACKED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

IN EARLY 2008 MY SUBARU BEGAN POPPING OUT OF FIFTH GEAR. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT AND UNSAFE AS IT CAUSES AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF SPEED. ON A FREEWAY GRADE FOR EXAMPLE I HAVE ALMOST BEEN RAMMED FROM BEHIND BY VEHICLES FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY EVEN THOUGH I WAS TRAVELING AT THE SPEED LIMIT IN THE RIGHT LANE. UPON INVESTIGATION I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THIS MODEL OF SUBARU AND IS COVERED BY TECHNICAL BULLETIN 17 01/01/2002. MY MECHANIC REMOVED THE REAR OF THE TRANSMISSION AND TIGHTENED THE LOOSE MAINSHAFT NUT AT A COST OF $417. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE BUT A YEAR AND A HALF LATER THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. THE CAR ROUTINELY POPS OUT OF FIFTH GEAR TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN THAT GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY. I EMAILED SUBARU ABOUT THIS BUT THEY SAY IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING FLAW WHICH IS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AND IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD WHICH SHOULD BE MADE RIGHT BY SUBARU. *TR

I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 SUBARU FORESTER. OFF AND ON, SINCE 2007, THE CAR WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN I WOULD SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. WHILE IN DRIVE, WITH MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. AT FIRST THE DELAY WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF SECONDS. AND IT WOULD OCCUR ONLY AFTER I HAD DRIVEN A FEW FEET IN REVERSE AND THEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. NOW, HOWEVER, THE DELAY IS MUCH LONGER AND IT CAN HAPPEN EVEN WHEN I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IN REVERSE. THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. THE ONLY GEAR IN WHICH THE CAR WILL MOVE IS IN REVERSE. SO FAR, THE CAR EVENTUALLY DOES MOVE, BUT I NEVER KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE. EARLY ON, I COULDN'T DETECT A PATTERN IN WHICH THIS WOULD OCCUR. LATELY, THOUGH, IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR AT LEAST TWICE DURING THE DAY, TURNED IT OFF EACH TIME AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR AFTER IT HAS SAT AWHILE. WHEN I START THE CAR AGAIN, THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND AS IT SHOULD. TODAY, FOR EXAMPLE, ON MY THIRD ERRAND OF THE DAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. SO, I TURNED IT OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES, PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR (AND THE BRAKE) EACH TIME I TURNED IT ON, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE. IT FINALLY DID AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN 2007, I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. (I DIDN'T NOTICE A PATTERN THEN). THE NEXT TIME I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LOW AND THE FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, AS THIS HAS OCCURRED EVEN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS NOT LOW, I DON'T SEE HOW THIS COULD BE THE PROBLEM. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET INDICATES THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH SUBARU FORESTERS (PRIMARILY 1999 AND 2000) HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS SEVERAL YEARS OLD, I HAVE FEWER THAN 45,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NOT YET HAD ANY DIRE CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS LITERALLY AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. PLEASE HELP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-55 MPH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE VEHICLE OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 1/14/10 *CN UPDATED 01/15/10.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EVAPORATION LEAK IN THE FUEL FILLER PIPE. THE PIPE AND THE VALVE WERE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $315. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,792.

GAS LEAK ON FUEL LINE OF THE ENGINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. *TR

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. *TR

FUEL FILLER PIPE AND ASSOCIATED MOUNTING AND EMISSIONS HARDWARE ARE RUSTED OUT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND CODE RETRIEVED IS 0440. DANGER OF LEAKING FUEL DURING FILL UP. *TR

IF I PLACE MY 2000 SUBARU FORRESTER INTO DRIVE IT WILL NOT MOVE, IT WILL SIT THERE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES UNTIL SUDDENLY IT JERKS FORWARD INTO GEAR. PLACE INTO REVERSE IT WORKS WELL, MOVES IN REVERSE. VISIT SEVERAL REPUTABLE CAR REPAIR FORUMS ONLINE YOU WILL LITERALLY SEE HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS WITH THESE SAME PROBLEMS POSTING FROM 2004-PRESENT. *TR

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM CAR WAS OVERHEATING AT 117000 MILES. THERMOSTAT REPLACED BY DEALER, BUT FOUR WEEKS LATER, SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. PROBLEM IS BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, WHICH ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. LOOKED ON INTERNET, AND FOUND ALL SORTS OF COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS, SAYING THEY'D HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR SUBARU'S ALSO. "CONDITIONER' WAS APPARENTLY PUT INTO THE ENGINE IN 2004, BY DEALER, BECAUSE OF KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS ON SUBARU. IT SEEMS THIS CONDITIONER JUST HELD THE PROBLEM OFF LONG ENOUGH THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND NOW I HAVE A MULTIPLE THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR ON MY HANDS. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE GASKET DESIGN IS THE PROBLEM. THEY NOW USE A MUCH STRONGER GASKET. THAT DOESN'T REALLY HELP ME, SINCE I HAVE TO PAY ALL THAT MONEY TO HAVE THE FAULTY GASKET REPLACED. INSTEAD OF USING THE 'CONDITIONER' CHEAP FIX IN 2004, THE POORLY DESIGNED GASKET SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS A RECALL. *JB

10/19/04 RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED ON MY 2000 SUBARU FORESTER AT 56,886 MILES (PREVIOUS MAINT PERFORMED ON 3/2/04) AT A COST OF $324.40. RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AGAIN ON 4/2/07 AT 88,569 MILES AT A COST OF $331.86 (PREVIOUS MAINT PERFORMED ON 6/20/06). REPLACING THE REAR WHEEL BEARING 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 100,000 MILES? *TR

2000 SUBARU FORESTER WITH A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. WHEN IN DRIVE, I DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND GO NOWHERE. JUST HEAR A SHRIEKING. ITS BEEN COMING ON FOR A MONTH NOW AND NOW HAS GOTTEN SO BAD I DARE NOT DRIVE IT. IT IS IN THE SHOP NOW AND WILL BE BETWEEN 1500-2500 TO FIX. THEIR ESTIMATE IS THAT THERE IS A LOSS OF PRESSURE SOMEWHERE. THEY ALSO HAVE ANOTHER 2000 FORESTER IN THE SHOP WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM, SIMILAR MILES ETC. UNACCEPTABLE ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 80K MILES. AND VERY SCARY WHEN YOU ARE ON A SLOPE AND GO TO GO AND FIND YOURSELF ROLLING BACKWARDS. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM? THERE SEEMS TO BE REPORTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM!! *NM

STEERING LOCKED UP TWICE WHILE DRIVING, BOTH TIMES SHORTLY AFTER MAKING SHARP RIGHT TURN OUT OF HOME DRIVEWAY. THE FIRST TIME, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL AFTER MAKING THE HARD RIGHT TURN OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THEN THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER WIGGLING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SECOND TIME, THE DRIVER MADE A HARD RIGHT TURN OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THEN STRAIGHTENED OUT AND PROCEED ABOUT TWENTY YARDS TO AN INTERSECTION AT WHICH POINT THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL FOR A RIGHT TURN WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL SIMPLY WOULD NOT TURN. THEN AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. *NM

IF I PLACE MY 2000 SUBARU FORRESTER INTO DRIVE IT WILL NOT MOVE, IT WILL SIT THERE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES UNTIL SUDDENLY IT JERKS FORWARD INTO GEAR. PLACE INTO REVERSE IT WORKS WELL, MOVES IN REVERSE. PLACE INTO DRIVE, LIGHTLY PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT WILL JUMP FORWARD INTO GEAR! PLACE INTO DRIVE WAIT FOR IT TO MOVE: IF I AM ON AN INCLINE IT WILL ROLL BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS DEPENDING ON THE SLOPE, OTHERWISE I CAN SIT THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL JERK FORWARD. SUBARU STATES THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE; LATER THEY STATE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS. HOWEVER, VISIT SEVERAL REPUTABLE CAR REPAIR FORUMS ONLINE YOU WILL LITERALLY SEE HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS WITH THESE SAME PROBLEMS POSTING FROM 2004-PRESENT. ALL CUSTOMERS HAVE SUBARU FORRESTER'S OR OUTBACK'S. ALL CLAIM THIS HAZARD! SOME CUSTOMERS STATE A TEMPORARY FIX: REPLACE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FOR A FEW WEEKS/MONTHS THESE PROBLEMS WILL DISAPPEAR. ALL MEMBERS OF THE FORUMS STATE THAT THEY WITHIN WEEKS/MONTHS HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, MANY JUST GAVE UP ON THEIR CARS BY TRADING THEM IN. I FIND THIS HIGHLY UNACCEPTABLE! WHO ELSE WILL THEN PURCHASE THESE SAFETY HAZARDS? GOOGLE ON: SUBARU, TRANSMISSION OR SUBARU JERKING FORWARD INTO GEAR MY AUTOMOBILE HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF! THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED AND MY AUTO HAS LESS THAN 65,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN VERY DILIGENT IN DOING ALL THE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICES ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS MANUAL AS WELL. I SEE THAT 5 OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEMS ON YOUR SITE. PLEASE, PLEASE INVESTIGATE INTO THESE ISSUES. IT'S A HAZARD TO HAVE A CAR BE PLACED INTO DRIVE AND THEN NOT MOVE FORWARD UNTIL YOU PRESS THE ACCELERATOR OR IT MOVES FORWARD AFTER 2 - 30 MINUTES OF WAIT TIME! PLEASE REVIEW THE POSTS ON SEVERAL FORUMS TO SEE THAT MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SUBARU CARS. IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE. OTHERWISE THESE CARS ARE WONDERFUL! *JB

LETTER RECEIVED FROM SUBARU MARCH 2004 STATING THAT A COOLING SYSTEM CONDITIONER NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE COOLING SYSTEM TO PREVENT AN EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAK AT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS. WENT TO SUBARU AS REQUIRED BY LETTER MARCH 9, 2004, THEY ADD COOLING SYSTEM CONDITIONER AND I AM TOLD THIS WILL PREVENT LEAKS AT THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS AND THIS IS STATED IN THE LETTER TOO. NOTE THAT THE FIRST TIME, I RECEIVE THIS NOTICE IS 4 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE. THE MOST RECENT SERVICE, I HAD DONE BY ANNAPOLIS SUBARU WAS THE COOLANT SYSTEM SERVICE IN NOVEMBER 2005. IT IS FEBRUARY 2006 AND MY CAR NEEDS A CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. ACCORDING TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT HERB GORDON SUBARU, THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT REPLACING THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET IS ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE FAILURE IS A SAFETY RISK. AT NO POINT ARE YOU WARNED THAT YOUR ENGINE MAY STOP OPERATING WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR. I AM TOLD THAT SUBARU WILL PAY FOR THIS REPAIR IF YOUR CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. MY CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS 132,297 MILES ON IT. THE SERVICE PERSON THEN TELLS ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS REDESIGNED BY SUBARU TO PREVENT THIS ISSUE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. SUBARU IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING A FAULTY HEAD GASKET ON BRAND NEW AUTOMOBILES, WHERE IS THE MANDATORY RECALL? *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED MECHANICAL VIBRATION NOISE AT FREQUENCY OF WHEEL ROTATION, PERSISTING AFTER COMPLETE WHEEL CHANGE WHEN CHANGING FROM ALL-WEATHER TO WINTER TIRES. REPAIR SHOP CONTINUED DIAGNOSIS. PROBLEM SOLVED UPON REPLACEMENT OF WHEEL BEARINGS IN LEFT-REAR WHEEL. *AK

THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING GOODYEAR ASSURANCE COMFORT TIRES. I PURCHASED THESE TIRES FOR MY 2000 FORESTER ON MAY 5, 2005. SINCE THAT TIME ONE TIRE HAS DEVELOPED A LUMP ON THE SIDEWALL. THIS TIRE WAS REPLACED, AND THE REPLACEMENT TIRE BLEW OUT 500 MILES LATER WHILE TRAVELING ON I-25 AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. *NM

THE 2000 SUBARU FORESTER, WHEN SHIFTED TO "D", "3", "2, OR "1" WILL NOT GO FORWARD. IT WILL ALWAYS GO WHEN IN REVERSE! WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL DEALERS THAT THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED (AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD 70K MILES AND WAS 5+ YEARS OLD - JUST OUT OF WARRANTY). THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WELL KNOWN TO SUBARU DEALERS. TO MITIGATE THIS PROBLEM, I MUST TAP THE ACCELERATOR, AND WAIT AND WAIT 1 SECOND TO 30 SECONDS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE. A YEAR AGO, THE TRANSMISSION WAS DRAINED, FLUSHED AND THE FILTER REPLACED, THAT HELPED A LITTLE. THE SERVICE WRITER SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT OF WARRANTY A SHOULD BE REPLACED, HE ALSO SAID THE WARRANTY SPECIFIED THAT BEFORE 40K MILES THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE DRAINED, FLUSHED, AND THE FILTER REPLACED. AFTER READING THE 2000 WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE BOOKLET (MSA5M0001W, ISSUED JUNE 1999), PAGE 42 (2000 MY FEDERAL SPECIFICATION VEHICLES) AND PAGE 43 (NOTES) I FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS IN ERROR. ITEM 10 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID IS AN "INSPECTION (I)" ITEM ONLY AT 30K, 60K, 90K, AND 120K MILES. PAGE 43 "NOTES 4 AND 9" ARE SPECIFIC, REPEAT SPECIFIC, TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID (ITEM 10). NOTE 4 DESCRIBES "SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS", BUT ONLY TWO OF THEM "APPEAR (NOT SPECIFIC TO ITEM 10)" TO PERTAIN TO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID, "C. DRIVING IN DUSTY CONDITIONS" AND "G. TOWING A TRAILER" - I AND MOST OTHER OWNERS DO NEITHER. AND AS FOR NOTE 9, THE NOTES STOP AT 8, - 9 IS MISSING -, THE CALIFORNIA SCHEDULE OF INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND NOTES (PAGES 44 AND 45) ALSO HAVE NOTE 9 MISSING! INTERNET CITATIONS ATTRIBUTE THIS HESITATION PROBLEM TO A SOFTWARE PROBLEM (THIS YEAR WAS AMONG THE FIRST YEARS TO HAVE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL - THEY MENTION) A PERVASIVE AND CONTINUING PROBLEM THAT SUBARU IS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID. THE APRIL 2005 CONSUMER REPORTS (PAGE 92 RELIABILITY SCORES) ALSO DOCUMENTS THE HIGHER INCIDENCE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 1999 AND 2000 FORESTER.

THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY STARTED AS A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE. THIS WAS ABOUT A 1 SECOND DELAY, AFTER WHICH THE CAR WOULD ENGAGE INTO DRIVE, AND THEN RUN AND SHIFT FINE. BUT THEN, THE DELAY GOT WORSE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WAS 2 SECONDS, THEN THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER GO INTO DRIVE AT ALL. AFTER EVALUATION, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE 5 OF THE 7 SOLENOIDS REPLACED IN THE SUBARU. THIS WAS ON A TRANSMISSION THAT WAS 5 YEARS OLD, WITH ONLY 80000 MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT THE INCIDENT, AND THEY SAID THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THAT ME THINKING THAT 80K ON A TRANSMISSION BEFORE REPLACEMENT WAS ODD, IT WAS JUST MY OPINION. I INFORMED THE LADY ON THE PHONE THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE COMPLAINTS, THEY WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE ONLINE. SAME THING, OVER AND OVER, ONE PERSON HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AROUND 70K! I GOT NO RESPONSE FROM SUBARU ABOUT THE ISSUE, I WAS TREATED RUDELY, AND THEY BASICALLY HUNG UP ON ME. I DID INFORM THE ATTENDANT THAT FOR MY RECORDS I WAS RECORDING THE PHONE CALL, AND SHE THREATENED ME, SAYING THAT TO DO SO WAS ILLEGAL. I LOOKED UP THE LAW IN NEW JERSEY ABOUT RECORDING PHONE CALLS, AND AS LONG AS ONE PARTY CONSENTS TO THE CALL (ME BEING THE PARTY), THE PHONE CALL COULD BE RECORDED. HERE'S THE STATUTE: "IN ADDITION, AN INTERCEPTION IS LEGAL IF THE INTERCEPTOR IS A PARTY TO THE COMMUNICATION, OR ONE OF THE PARTIES HAS GIVEN PRIOR CONSENT, SO LONG AS NO CRIMINAL OR TORTIOUS INTENT IS PRESENT." I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL SOLENOIDS FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I ALSO HAVE A WRITTEN REPORT ON THE FINDINGS BY THE MECHANIC ON WHAT THEY FOUND. THE REPAIR COST AROUND $2200. HOPEFULLY, SOMEONE OTHER THAN SUBARU WILL LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM.

VEHICLE POPS OUT OF FIFTH GEAR, INTO NEUTRAL, ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 12 TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS.*AK

REPEAT PREMATURE FAILURE OF REAR AXLE BEARING. REAR AXLE BEARING ON BOTH SIDES BECAME NOISY WHEN CAR WAS 35K MI (12-09-02) DEALER REPLACED BOTH UNDER WARRANTY WITH SAME OEM SUBARU 28016FC001. REAR AXLE ON LEFT BECAME VERY NOISY AGAIN AROUND 57K MI, ESPECIALLY ON FREEWAY AND HIGH SPEED. TOOK IT TO DEALER AGAIN (06-22-04). THIS TIME, DEALER (SCHUMAN CARRIAGE MOTORS INC., DBA SUBARU OF HAWAII, ALSO DBA AS WAIALAE SUBARU) DISMISSED NOISE AS FROM TIRES, REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY, AND CHARGED US AN UNDISCLOSED $96 "DIAGNOSTIC FEE". UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE AT DEALERSHIP CAUSED GREAT EMOTIONAL TRAUMA TO MY WIFE. SHE SUBSEQUENTLY WAS DIAGNOSED BY MEDICAL DOCTOR OF SHINGLE LIKELY INDUCED BY STRESS AND LEAVING HER UNABLE TO WEAR EYE CONTACT LENSES EVEN TO THIS DAY. OTHER CAR GARAGES LATER CONFIRMED THE LEFT REAR AXLE BEARING IS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. FOUND A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED IT WITH A SUBARU 28015AA0050 ROLLER BEARING (03-26-05) MECHANIC TOOK IT THE DEFECTIVE BEARING APART. SIGNS OF IRREGULAR WEAR ON THE BEARING CASING IS VISIBLE.

WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE IT MOVED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

REAR LEFT WHEEL BEARING FAILURES. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 60,000 MILES. NUMEROUS CONTACTS WITH SUBARU HAVE FAILED TO RESOLVE OR FIX THIS ONGOING PROBLEM.*AK

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. *NM

I BOUGHT MY SUBARU FORESTER 2000 NEW. UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY WHEEL BEARINGS THREE TIMES. A FORTH TIME AFTER WARRENTY AND NOW FOR A FIFTH TIME.. FOUR OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN ON THE SAME WHEEL; THE BACK RIGHT. YOUAR COMPONENT SELECTION DOES NOT HAVE SUSPENSION REAR; WHEEL BEARINGS SO I PUT IN SUSPENSION FRONT; WHEEL BEARINGS. SUGGEST YOU ADD THIS COMPONENT.*AK

RUMBLING UNDER CAR WAS INDICATION THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED. 1ST INCIDENT THANKSGIVING WEEKEND 2003. FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARINGS FALIED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET CAR IN IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE I WAS TRAVELING AND NOBODY WAS OPEN. I FINALLY GOT CAR TO HUNTER IN NC FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. PARTS PERSON TOLD ME THEY NEVER REPLACE FORESTER BEARINGS WITH ORIGINAL PARTS. THEY USE OUTBACK OR SOME OTHER MODEL INSTEAD. THEY DID NOT REPLACE AXLE BUT I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO NORMAL FIX. SOME COMPONENTS HAD FROZE AND THEY HAD TO GO IN BACKWARDS TO FIX. I THINK THE BEARINGS ARE VERY HEAVY DUTY AND WILL DRIVE FOR A LONG TIME DAMAGED AND SO CRASH IS UNLIKELY. I DROVE 800 MILES WITH RUMBLING. 2ND INCIDENT JUN 21 2004 - BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AND REAR RIGHT AXLE WAS FROZE AND ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS TIME I BROUGHT CAR IN TO SUBARU OF BEECHMONT VERY NEAR TO START OF RUMBLING. SUBARU OF AMERICA IS TRYING TO SAY THAT MY VEHICLE SHOWS SIGNS OF HEAVY TRAILERING AS EXCUSE TO NOT REIMBURSE ME. I USE MY HITCH SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR AND MY REAR BRAKES ARE BEING REPLACED AT 82,000 MILES WHICH WOULD NOT BE TRUE IF I TRAILERED AS THEY CLAIM. THEY SAID THAT MY HITCH BALL SHOWED HEAVY WEAR AND IT HAS PROBABLY ONLY BEEN USED LESS THAN 2 DOZEN TIMES IN IT'S ENTIRE LIFE. IT LOOKS NEW. THEY ARE TRYING TO DIVERT ATTENTION AND I AM WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE THEY ARE DOING THIS WITH. WHEN I TALK PRIVATELY WITH DEALERSHIP PERSONELL THEY AGREE THAT FORESTERS AROUND 2000 HAVE REAL ISSUES WITH WHEEL BEARINGS. PERSONELL AGREE THAT BEARINGS AND AXLES SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR 3 BEARINGS TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. I THINK IT IS AN UNDER-REPORTED DESIGN FLAW. ACCIDENTS DON'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY ARE SO HEAVY DUTY THAT THEY GRIND DOWN LONG ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE USUALLY GET THEM IN FOR REPAIR BEFORE THE WHEEL FALLS OFF. THERE IS POTENTIAL HERE FOR DISASTER. *AK

LEFT WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT MAY 2004. PAID APPROX. $1300 TO REPAIR IT AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP. RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT SEPT 2005. PAID APPROX $450 TO REPLACE IT AT A SUBARU CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP. NOW MAY 2006, LEFT WHEEL BEARING HAS GONE OUT AGAIN, LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER IT WAS REPLACED. THE SUBARU DEALER NOW WANTS $500-800 TO REPLACE IT AGAIN AS THEY SAY REPAIRS ARE ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 12 MOS. I HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO $2,000 ON REPAIRS FOR SOMETHING THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND OBVIOUSLY CANNOT BE FIXED. IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO SPEND ANOTHER $800 TO REPAIR IT AGAIN WHEN IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN. MY VEHICLE HAS 94K ON IT. I DRIVE LESS THAN 10K PER YEAR. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. SUBARU WON'T HELP ME. DEALER WON'T HELP ME. *NM

1.) MY 2000 SUBARU FORESTER STARTED TO VIBRATE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY MOTHER TOOK THE CAR TO SUBARU DEALER (DULLES MOTORCARS IN LEESBURG, VIRGINIA) THREE TIMES AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL. 2.)ON MAY 21, 2004, WHILE MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING IT, THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS NOT ON HIGHWAY; OTHERWISE, IT COULD BE FATAL. 3.)MY MOTHER CALLED POLICE AND DULLES MOTORCARS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DULLES MOTORCARS AND MY MOTHER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY SUBARU MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. DULLES MOTORCARS INC LEESBURG, VA 71326 SALES/SERVICE/REPAIR 05/21/04 SALES/SERVICE/REPAIR ROC NUMBER 0000000019

IN LATE MARCH OF 2004 I PURCHASED 4 BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/L TIRES FOR MY 2000 SUBARU FORESTER. DURING THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE DEVELOPED A LARGE BULDGE IN THE SIDE OF THE TIRE AND PULLED AWAY FROM THE RIM OF THE TIRE, LOSING ALL AIR IMEDIATELY. A FEW WEEKS LATER, ON MAY 1, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BEGAN TO BUDGE. *AK

ON A COLD START, GENERALLY THE VEHICLE WILL GO FORWARD WHEN SHIFTING IT INTO DRIVE, BUT AFTER IT IS WARMED UP IF YOU STOP THE ENGINE AND THEN TRY TO GO AGAIN, IT WON'T ENGAGE IN DRIVE BUT IT WILL GO IN REVERSE. I SEE ON SUBARU'S SERVICE BULLETINS, ON THE WEB, SHOW THERE ARE PAGES UPON PAGES OF THE SAME HAPPENINGS. IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE INTERIOR SEALS OF THE TRANSMISSION ARE ALLOWING FLUID TO LEAK BY DECREASING FLUID PRESSURE IN THE TRANSMISSION PREVENTING IT FROM OPERATING PROPERLY, SOMETIMES LEAVING US STRANDED. THE VEHICLE IS A SUBARU FORESTER 2000, OTHER VEHICLES WERE SAME MODELS AND WERE ALSO INCLUDED 1999 MODELS. MY QUESTION IS SHOULD THIS BE HAPPENING IN CARS JUST FOUR YEARS OLD?*AK

MY 2000 SUBARU FORESTER HAS PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE AT 70,000 MILES. *AK

DEALER HAD TO REPLACE FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS THREE TIMES. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AT THIS TIME. *AK

2000 SUBARU FORESTER S REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AT 19K UNDER WARRANTY THEN, AT 67K, 70K, 80K AND IT NEEDS REPLACEMENT NOW AGAIN!*JB

CLUTCH SHUTTER, THROUGH ALL FOUR GEARS ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICILE IS COLD. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I BROUGHT IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STANDARD TRANSMISIONS FOR 40 YEARS AND NEVER HAVE I EXPEREINCED THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE SUBRAU HAS A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH AND FOR SOME REASON REFUSES TO CORRECT THE SITUATION .*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED, THE DRIVERS SEAT FRAME WORE OUT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE CUSHION ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE BUT THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE CONSUMER REACHED FOR SOMETHING UNDER THE SEAT THAT HE NOTICED THE SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY WHICH WAS MOUNTED TO STILL HAD DETACHED FROM THE FRAME AND MOVED 5 TO 6 TIMES MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WOULD COST UP TO ONE HUNDRED FOR REPAIRS. *JB *SCC

RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDS REPLACING AT 51,000. THESE SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER AS THEY DO IN MY OTHER VEHICLES.*AK

COMPLAINED TO SERVICING DEALER ABOUT EXCESSIVE NOISE. REPORT WAS AT 49,622 MILES, BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED. THIS COMPONENT IS NOT NORMALLY INSPECTED OR REPLACED IN THE ORDINARY SCHEDULE OF MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED CARE. MY WEB RESEARCH SHOWS QUITE A FEW REPORTS OF THIS SAME FAILURE, INDICATING INADEQUATE DESIGN OR FAULTY COMPONENTS. AVERAGE MILES TO FAILURE SEEM TO BE AROUND 50,000. INCREASINGLY, THESE CASES WILL BE SHOWING UP GIVEN THE AGE AND TYPICAL MILEAGE OF THESE CARS. ANYONE WHO IGNORES THE SOUND LEVEL INCREASE IS LIABLE TO EXPERIENCE A COMPLETE FAILURE ON THE ROAD WITH DEFINITE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE COMPILING STATISTICS ON THIS DEFECT, EXCEPT PERHAPS SUBARU. THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT SUBARU AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM'S FREQUENCY (A TSB ON IMPROVED REPLACEMENT METHOD), BUT THEY HAVE NOT REGULARLY AGREED TO COVER REPAIR COSTS OR ALERTED OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM'S EXISTENCE. IN MY CASE, REPAIR IS SCHEDULED SIX DAYS FROM NOW. MY COMPLAINT CALL TO SUBARU AMERICA RESULTED IN A PROMISE TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND CALL ME BACK WITH A RESPONSE ON WHAT ACTION THE COMPANY WOULD TAKE. IT IS NOW 2+ DAYS AWAITING RESPONSE. FORESTER (AND PERHAPS IMPRESA) OWNERS SHOULD BE ALERTED TO WHAT IS A VERY STEALTHY FLAW. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE SUPPLYING GOOD INFORMATION AND ADVICE, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING THEIR PRODUCT. *JB

THE VEHICLE'S POWER TRAIN ASSEMBLY FAILED AND CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO MAKE A CHATTERING NOISE. *NLM

HAD TO HAVE WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR REPLACED AT ONLY 44,000 MILES ON MY 2000 SUBARU FORESTER. UPON RESEARCH HAVE FOUND WHEEL BEARINGS TO BE A DEFECTIVE COMPLAINT AMONG SUBARU FORESTER AND IMPREZA OWNERS. SOME OWNERS CLAIMING THAT WHEEL BEARINGS MUST BE REPLACED EVERY 30,000 MILES.*JB

WHILE TRAVELING, CONSUMER NOTICED A GRINDING SOUND EMITTING FROM THE REAR WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY DEALER TECHNICIAN WHO NOTICE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THEY CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HUB ASSEMBLY. TS *JG

BOTH REAR TIRES ARE WEARING ONLY ON OUTER EDGE. DEALER HAS DONE ALIGNMENT, BUT IT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED. *JG

THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BURNED DUE TO THE WRONG LUBRICANT FOR THE SEAL. THE NOISE IN THE REAR ALERTED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. NLM *TT

FROM 14,000 MILES TO PRESENT 34,000 MILES FRONT WHEEL BEARING IS BEING REPLACED FOR FOURTH TIME BY DEALER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BEGAN NOTICING AND COMPLAINING OF CLUTCH CHATTER AT 20,000 MILES. MENTIONED AT EVERY SERVICE VISIT AND TOLD BY DEALER THAT IT WAS NORMAL OR THAT THEY ADJUSTED THE CLUTCH. CAR WOULD BE FINE FOR A MONTH AND THEN CHATTER WOULD RETURN. PARTICULARLY OCCURS WHEN COLD AND TRYING TO ENGAGE IN FIRST GEAR. TOLD AT 44,000 MILES THAT THE CLUTCH WAS WORN AND NEEDED REPLACING. WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CHATTER THEY NEVER RESOLVED, THEY KEPT SAYING THAT WAS NORMAL AND THE EARLY WEAR MUST BE DUE TO MY DRIVING. REPLACED THE CLUTCH AND ONCE AGAIN, A FEW MONTHS LATER CHATTER RETURNED. ANOTHER DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE FLYWHEEL AS WELL SINCE 99% OF CLUTCH CHATTER IS CAUSED BY THE FLYWHEEL SURFACE. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHO AGAIN SAID THE CHATTER WAS NORMAL AND WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE CAR STILL JERKS WHEN I SHIFT INTO FIRST WHEN IT IS COLD, MAKING IT VERY UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER TO DRIVE. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****764329