2001 Subaru Forester Complaint Log

VEHICLE WAS ON A SIDE STREET AND WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE JUMPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES ALREADY.*AK

WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK INTO DRIVEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. ENGAGING THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP CAR AND IT WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT. IN PREVIOUS YEARS SUBARUS WERE RECALLED FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS.ALSO FOR PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK

UPON EXITING DOORWAY OF DRIVE-THU CARWASH, TOOK CAR OUT OF NEUTRAL AND CAR LUNGED FORWARD ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL INTO TRAFFIC CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE.APPLYING ANTILOCK BRAKES DID NOT SLOW/STOP ACCELERATION,AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF DESPITE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 25 MPH. THEN, BRAKES LOCKED UP. PEDAL FELT SOFT.*AK DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT BULB BURNED AND WAS REPLACED. *SLC

WHILE BACKING INTO DRIVEWAY ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A PAKRED CAR, CONSUMER STATED ACCELERATOR HAS STUCK IN THE PAST BUT ONLY WHILE IN REVERSE.*SLC

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING, THE TIRE SUDDENLY BURST AND COLLAPSED AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE SIDEWALL,BY THE TIME CONSUMER GOT THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND STOPPED THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, THE TIRE IS A YOKOHAMA P215/60R16/94H RADIAL TUBELESS GEOLANDAR H/T. *JB

"CLUTCH SHUDDER" OCCURS SHORTLY UPON STARTUP, FIRST APPLICATION OF 1ST GEAR OK  STOP ONCE AND APPLY 1ST GEAR AGAIN AND THE SHUDDER IS SEVERE, SHAKING AND COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION; THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR NEXT 2-3 MILES  WARMING THE CAR DOES NOT REMOVE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD - THERE IS NO FORWARD ACCELERATION. TEMP IT FREQUENTLY OCCURS 56  62 DEGREES, HOWEVER ONCE IT BEGINS IT CAN RE-OCCUR AT HIGHER TEMPS LATER IN THE DAY. OCCURRENCE IS INTERMITTENT. I REPORTED PROBLEM TO SUBARU IN SAN JOSE, THEY SAID "NO PROBLEM FOUND" AFTER I LEFT THE CAR IN SERVICE FOR 3 DAYS - THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPEAT THE PROBLEM. THE CLUTCH SHUDDER HAPPENS TO ME FREQUENTLY DURING THE TEMPS RECORDED ABOVE - I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA  WE HAVE THOSE TEMPS OFTEN IN THE MORNING SPRING/FALL. THE # OF 600 FAILURES IS AN ESTIMATE - I COULD NOT ENTER "ESTIMATE" IN THIS FORM. I HAVE HAD THE CAR OVER 3 YEARS AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS WORSE. MY SISTERS SUBARU OUTBACK HAS SAME PROBLEM WITH SAME RESPONSE FROM SUBARU SERVICE. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON AND FRONT AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS GOING 35MPH. CONSUMER HAD NO IDEA IF SUBARU DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER LISTED THERE WERE 3 INJURIES AND 3 FATALITIES, HOWEVER DID NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTION IN THE STATEMENT OF ANY DEATHS. *SLC

VEHICLE SPUTTERS AND SHAKES INTERMITTENTLY AFTER FIRST TAKING OFF. ALSO, STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS 3 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARINGSFAILED. *JG

PARKING WITH FOOT ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OVER CEMENT BLOCK. HAD HIT A FEW BUSHES AND THEN A BUILDING. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC BASED ON REFERRAL FROM DEALERSHIP.*AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS, ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, HOWEVER VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, VEHICLE GLAZED AGAINST ANOTHER CAR CAUSING DAMAGE. *SLC

I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND WAS HIT HEAD ON DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. THE DAMAGE TOTALED OVER 8000.00 . DAMAGE INCLUDED THE FRONT HOOD, RIGHT FRONT FENDER, FRONT BUMPER COVER AND REINFORCEMENT , RADIATOR SUPPORT AND THE RADIATOR. ALSO, THE AC CONDENSOR, THE WHOLE FRONT WAS BENT TO THE LEFT RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE CHASSIS. THE ENGINE WAS TILTED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, AND THE SUB RAIL , WHERE THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS, CRACKED IN TWO. THERE WAS ADDITIONAL DAMAGEALSO. WITH ALL THIS DAMAGE, THE AIRBAGS, FAILED TO DEPLOY, SHOCKING THE POLICE , THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE REPAIR SHOP. I CONTACTED SUBARU TO INFORM THEM THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD NOT TO TOUCH THE CAR. THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND ENGINEERS TO INSPECT THE CAR WITHIN 72 HOURS. A WEEK LATER,I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN AND THEY REQUESTED COPIES OF THE POLICE REPORT AND INSURANCE INFORMATION. I COMPLIED AND FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS , I WAITED FOR AN ANSWER. FINALLY, AN EMPLOYEE OF SUBARU CONTACTED ME AND TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR TO A DEALER TO CHECK IF THE AIR BAGS ARE WORKING. I TOLD THEM OBVIOUSLY, THEY DIDN'T WORK WHEN I NEEDED THEM TOO, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE IMPACT WAS RIGHT OVER THE SENSOR. HE THEN SAID WHY WAS I WORRYING , THAT THE DAMAGE WAS PAID. I EXPLAINED THAT I NO LONGER FELT SAFE IN THE VEHICLE AND THAT MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. TO DATE, I AM DRIVING A RENTAL CAR AND INCURRING EXPENSES FOR THE RENTAL AND ALSO STORAGE FEES OF MY DAMAGED VEHICLE. ON A TV PROGRAM, FEATURING BRIAN O'NEILL, FROM THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAYTEST SAFETY, AIR BAGS SHOULD DEPLOY AT AN IMPACT OF 12-25 MPH, RESULTING IN DAMAGE COST OF $585. MY QUESTION TO SUBARU WAS, WHY DIDN'T THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY IN A IMPACT THE RESULTED IN $8000 IN DAMAGE?*AK

ALL WHEELS ARE COLLECTING ICE AND MUD WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION WHEN TRAVELING 60 OR MORE MPH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER'S OBSERVATION, THE VIBRATION WAS DUE DEFECTIVE ALLOY WHEEL, COMMON AT ALL ALLOY WHEELS. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN CITY LIMITS CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE. AS SOME TIME PASSED THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. WITHIN TWO YEARS THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED TWICE. SEVERAL MILES LATER, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED TWICE. CURRENTLY, NOISE RECURRED AGAIN WITH OWNER NOT SURE WHICH REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WAS HIT ON FRONT QUARTER, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE HAS SIDE AIRBAGS. LIKELY TO BE TOTALLED. *AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*DT *JB

I ALREADY HAD TO CHANGE BROKEN BEARINGS IN BOTH REAR WHEELS OF MY 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. I AM TRAINED TO MONITOR NOISE AND VIBRATION AND WAS ABLE TO CATCH THE PROBLEM IN-TIME. THE REPLACEMENT WAS MADE BY A SUBARU DEALER WITH NO COST TO ME. I THINK THAT MOST DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CATCH THE PROBLEM AND THE SITUATION MAY BE LIFE THREATENING IF THE BEARING FINALY COMPLETELY BREAKS AT HIGH SPEED AND FREEZE THE WHEEL. I SENT ACOMPLAIN TO SUBARU COMPANY. THE COMPANY RESPONSE (CASE # 332444): "THE PARTS THAT YOU HAD REPLACED ARE MECHANICAL. AS YOU KNOW, MECHANICAL PARTS CAN FAIL." I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS NORMAL IF WHEEL BEARINGS FAIL IN A NEW CAR IN THE FIRST YEAR.*AK

AOTOMOBILE SKIDDED OF ROAD D/T SNOW/SLUSH STOPPING IN CULVERT. DAMAGE TO FRONT END CONSIDERED SUBSTANTIAL. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT APPARENTLY DID NOT HOLD OCCUPANT SINCE HER HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO LOCAL ER. THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPOLY IMPRESSED THE POLICE AND EMTS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.*AK

THERE MAY HAVE OTHER FACTORS TO THE CAR SKIDDING (SNOWY). *AK

THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE TO SHOW THE ENTIRE DOT NUMBER WHICH IS DOT EL YT CHB 1000. THIS TIRE FAILED AT 55 DEGREES TEMPERATURE, AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THE ODOMETER HAD ONLY 1563 MILES ON IT. I HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND THAT ALARMED ME, SO I GOT INTO THE SLOW LANE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CLUNKING SOUND STOPPED. A MINUTE OR SO LATER, THE TIRE FAILED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF NAILS OR OTHER ROAD HAZARD, BUT THE TIRE DID HAVE A LOT OF TIRE DUST INSIDE IT. I DID NOT GO IN TO WORK THAT DAY, SO I COULD REPLACE ALL MY TIRES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I REPLACED 4 TIRES WITH MICHELINS AT A COST OF $408.29, AND I INTEND TO REPLACE THE 5TH TIRE AS SOON AS COSTCO GETS A NEW SHIPMENT IN. I HAVE RETAINED ALL THE TIRES I REPLACED. I HESITATED TO TAKE THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE FOR EVALUATION, BECAUSE I DID NOT THINK THEY WOULD BE IMPARTIAL.( DOT NUMBER: ELYTCHB100 TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER RAN HEAD-ON INTO A POLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY BECAUSE OF FAULTY HEADLIGHTS.*AK NO LEFT OR RIGHT ADJUSTMENT FOR HEAD LIGHTS AND NOT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. ALSO HEAD LIGHTS ARE TO HIGH ON BRIGHT TO LOW ON DIM. *YH

SEATBELT IS FASTENED UNDER THE HIP, AND IT'S LIKE T SHAPE DESIGN. SEAT BELT PINCHES CONSUMER IN THE SIDE, TO THE POINT THAT IS REALLY HARD TO GET BUCKLE UNLOOSENED. IN AN ACCIDENT IT MAY BE HARD TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER 2001 FORESTER ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. *TS *JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WINDSHIELD SCRATCHES TOO EASILY. THIS IS A GREAT DISTRACTION TO DRIVER, ESPECIALLY FROM THE REFLECTION OF SUN. *AK THE PLASTIC PART OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSES THE SCRATCHES. *YH

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED FOOT TOUCHING BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME, DEALERSHIP ADJUSTED THE BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT AS STATED IN SERVICE BULLETIN 6-29-00 OPERATION #A543-008, HOWEVER CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS INADEQUATE AND THEY SHOULD BE SEPARATED APART. *MJS

BRAKES LIGHTLY APPLIED DUE TO SLUSH ON ROADWAY,BRAKES DID NOT WORK VEHICLE CRASHED, DRIVER SUFFERED CONCUSION AS HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPOLY. SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER FIRMLY. SUBARU HOME OFFICE NOTIFIED, CHRIS, CUSTOMER SERVICE REP APPEARS NOT VERY CONCERNED AND ALMOST CALLOUS IN RESPONSE TO OUR CONCERNS. INS CO HAS ELECTED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH ON SNOW WHILE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN CONSUMER RAN OFF ROAD .AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH FRONT END DAMAGE. *AK THE SEAT BELT NOT ADQUATELY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. *YH

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ENGINE WILL REV UP AND SURGE FORWARD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, BUT HAS YET TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

THERE IS A LEAK/SEVERE CONDENSATION PROBLEM FOLLOWING RAINSTORMS/HIGH HUMIDITY. WATER LEAKS FROM EITHER MOON ROOF OR TOP OF WINSHIELD AND DRIPS IN FROM ROOF WETTING CLOTH OVER MIDDLE OF DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD VISOR. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM BUT IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR IN WEATHER CONDITIONS CITED. TEN TO TWELVE DROPS OF WATER ACCUMULATE ON EITHER DRIVER, DASH OR STEERING WHEEL WHEN THIS OCCURS USUALLY WHEN STARTING CAR AND PROCEEDING TO DRIVE IN THE MORNING. THIS IS STARTLING WHEN IT OCCURS, APPROXIMATELY ON SIX OCCASIONS TO DATE, AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

UNUSUAL HEAT IN THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL WHEN THE RHEOSTAT CONTROLLED LIGHTS WERE ON HIGH, IMPOSSIBLE TO USE TAPE DECK BECAUSE OF THE HEAT GENERATED, OVERHEATING RHEOSTAT CONTROL FOR THE DASHBOARD LIGHT, EITHER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE IN THE RHEOSTAT OR THE INCORRECT WATTAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DEGREES.

WHILE PLACING VEHICLE IN PARK VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ACCELERATED FORWARD, RESULTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER /DROPS TO 5 MILES. THEN GOES BACK TO 60 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED 6 TIMES, AND COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED, THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION WHICH ALMOST CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A LOT OF SNOW WAS PACKED IN THE WHEELS.*JB

THE BRAKE/GAS PEDALS ARE LOCATED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THIS RESULTS IN ACCIDENTAL ACCELERATION WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED ON 06/01/03. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER TO REPLACE IT WITH A BRAND NEW COMPRESSOR. REPLACEMENT COMPRESSOR FAILED ON 07/01/03. DEALER REPLACED COMPRESSOR AND "RECEPTACLE". ON 07/26/03 WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER TURNED ON AIR CONDITIONING AND VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING CHECKED BY DEALER. 2001, SUZUKI XL7 UNLIMITED.*AK

A NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

INQUIRY AS TO WHY THE 2001 SUBARU LEGACY CRUISE CONTROL RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO THE FORRESTER. *PH CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SIMILAR PROBLEM STATED ON RECALL ON SUBARU LEGACY. *LA