2003 Subaru Forester Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Forester. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer where an inspection was performed but nothing was replaced. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speed, the lower control arm cracked. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the lower control arm was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

The 2003 Subaru Forester Sub Frame is rusted. I live in Illinois.

TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE MAKING AN ABNORMAL METALLIC GRINDING SOUND. HIS DAUGHTER PULLED OVER AND CALLED HIM FOR ASSISTANCE UPON ARRIVAL, HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS NOT FACING FORWARD. THE CONTACT THEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DETACHED FROM THE CONTROL ARM. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE CV SHAFT WAS ALSO DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH RESULTED IN OIL LEAKING ONTO THE CROSS MEMBER. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT SLOWLY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WAS ALREADY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO A LOCAL DEALER AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.*DT*JB*DT THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS AND DOCUMENTS. *TR*DT

The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the front of the vehicle and the contact became aware that the power steering was not functioning properly. After a visual inspection of the exterior of the vehicle, the contact observed that the passenger’s side wheel appeared to have detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed failures with the frame rail, stabilizer, and lower control arm. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the lower control arm had fractured from the frame. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The VIN was included, and the vehicle was repaired in 2018. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHICH EMITTED FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE, GOING FROM THE RIGHT LANE TO THE EXTREME LEFT LANE, DOWN AN EMBANKMENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE CONTACT STATED ON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE FRACTURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE WHEEL WELL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. MILLER SUBARU (1592 NJ-38, LUMBERTON, NJ 08048, (609) 267-4000) WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT WAS NOT GIVEN PROOF THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT NOTICED EXTENSIVE RUST, CORROSION, AND HOLES AROUND THE FRONT FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT FRAME, AND THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARMS. IN ADDITION, THE REAR FRAME AND DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARMS WERE ALSO INSPECTED WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THOSE PARTS HAD ALSO DETERIORATED AND MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED OR EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11011 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED AT THE WELD SEAM WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE SWUNG REARWARD AND OUTWARD BECAUSE THE FRONT PORTION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE CONTROL ARM. THIS PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD BUT LUCKILY SHE WAS TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED ON A SIDE ROAD ON HER WAY TO GET ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED BEFORE CRASHING. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT ANY NORMAL ROAD SPEED SHE WOULD LIKELY HAVE DIED FROM A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2011 ON THESE CARS FOR THIS VERY CONDITION. MY CAR SHOWS "COMPLETE" IN THEIR SYSTEM FOR THIS RECALL BUT IT WAS EITHER NOT ACTUALLY COMPLETED OR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE EQUALLY AS DANGEROUS AND NEED TO BE RECALLED AGAIN. I NOTIFIED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND TOOK THE CAR TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO REVIEW BUT SUBARU OF AMERICA WAS NOT CONCERNED SAYING IT SHOWED COMPLETE SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME I HAVE FOUND OTHERS ONLINE WHO HAD SUBARU DEALERS COMPLETE THE RECALL WITHOUT CHANGING SEVERELY CORRODED LOWER CONTROL ARMS JUST LIKE MINE. I AM AFRAID THAT OTHER PEOPLE OR THEIR CHILDREN ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR LIVES DUE TO SUBARU'S NEGLIGENCE. MANUFACTURER: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. MFR'S REPORT DATE: SEP 06, 2011 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V464000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11011 COMPONENT: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 295,123 THIS IS SUBARU'S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER WVX-34.

VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY RECALLED IN 2011/2012 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V464000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11011. AT TIME, DEALER CONDUCTED PUNCH TEST AND DETERMINED LOWER CONTROL ARM TO "PASS" AND USED SOME TYPE OF ANTI-CORROSION SPRAY. FAST FORWARD TO 2017 AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE "FAILED" PUNCH TEST WITH SIGNIFICANT CORROSION. I ONLY DETECTED THIS FAILED, AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING CONDITION OF VEHICLE, BY PERSONALLY INSPECTING UNDER CARRIAGE PRIOR TO GIVING VEHICLE TO 16 YEAR-OLD SON AS FIRST CAR. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY OF THESE SUBARU FORESTERS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY, AND QUITE CONVENIENTLY DETERMINED TO PASS BY PUNCH TEST, ARE OUT THERE ON THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS WITH POTENTIAL SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES TO THE UNKNOWING OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THAT SUBARU SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPTION TO "PUNCH" TEST THESE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO REPLACE THESE CRITICAL PARTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SUBARU ADDRESS THE ISSUE. TO DATE, I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND HAVE BEEN DENIED ANY REMEDY, NOR ALLOWED TO TALK TO A SUPERVISOR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FOUND NO DAMAGE. UPON RE-ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND SWAY BAR LINK WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000. ..UPDATED 05/09/17 *BF UPDATED 05/17/2017*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAD SEVERE CORROSION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TODAY I WAS AT MY MECHANICS TO REPLACE A MUFFLER. AFTER RAISING THE CAR UP ON THE RACK HE NOTICED DESTRUCTIVE RUST THAT WAS COVERING AND INUNDATING THE K FRAME AND FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS (TRANSVERSE LINKS). IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012 I WAS AT GARY LANG SUBARU (ILLINOIS) FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE. THE SAFETY RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE , WVX-34, REQUIRED AN INSPECTION AND REPAIRS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACEMENT OR CORROSION TREATMENT OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS (TRANSVERSE LINK). ACCORDING TO SUBARU OF AMERICA, THAT RECALL WAS "COMPLETED". THE SUBARU OPERATOR (KAYLA) COULD NOT ELABORATE ON THE TERM "COMPLETE". NO MENTION OF ANY SPECIFIC ACTION WAS REPORTED. TODAY, DURING THE INSPECTION OF SAID AREA, MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT NO PROOF EXISTED OF EITHER CORRECTIVE ACTION, EITHER UNDERCOATING OR MECHANICAL REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, AND AT SOME POINT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT LOSS OF CONTROL WILL FOLLOW IF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BREAKS. I WILL PURSUE THE SUBARU DEALER FOR REPAIRS BUT HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE REVERSING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

UPON CHANGING THE OIL IN MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER I NOTICED THAT MY SUB FRAME IS TOTALLY ROTTED OUT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MY CAR HAS EVEN STAYED TOGETHER ITS SO BAD. I LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP ONLINE AND I FOUND THAT IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH SUBARU CARS. I CALLED SUBARU TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY SAID ITS A COSMETIC ISSUE AND THEY WILL NOT HELP ME. BUT THEY DID SAY THEY WILL OFFER ME $500 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SUBARU. I ASKED IF THEY WILL APPLY THE $500 TO FIXING MY CURRENT SUBARU AND HE TOLD ME NO. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER THAT DEPENDS ON MY CAR 100% AND I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT SUBARU WILL GIVE ME $500 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS WHEN THEY NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V464000 (SUSPENSION), HOWEVER THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER . THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V464000. (SUSPENSION: FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 03/28/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER CONTACTING SUBARU OF AMERICA, THEY AGREED TO COVER ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPAIR, INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SUBFRAME. UPDATED 03/30/12*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER COATED THE CONTROL ARMS, BUT THE CONTROL ARMS WERE RUSTED THROUGH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER.THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM) WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE SUB-FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE FRAME ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000. UPDATED 7/9/12 *CN THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME ASSEMBLY WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. UPDATED 07/10/12

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A VERY LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER IS REPLACING THE BEARINGS. *AK