2004 Subaru Forester Powertrain & Transmission Problems

CAR WAS SHIFTED FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL FOR OPERATOR TO USE A PARKING LOT GATE MACHINE. THE ENGINE SURGED A LITTLE WHILE IN NEUTRAL BUT SETTLED BACK DOWN. WHEN PARKING GATE OPENED THE OPERATOR SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND LIGHTLY PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SURGED TO FULL THROTTLE AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATED ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE BEING STOPPED BY COLLISION WITH A GRANITE POST. OPERATOR COULD NOT BRAKE HARD ENOUGH TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME. DRIVER INJURED IN CRASH.

DRIVING HOME FROM GYM, I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS NOT ENGAGING THE CLUTCH MAKING SHIFTING DIFFICULT. EVENTUALLY RETURNED HOME SAFELY AND UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED A LARGE FIREWALL CRACK NEAR THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. THE LARGE FIREWALL CRACK COMPROMISED THE CLUTCH PEDAL FUNCTION. ALSO, FEAR OF POSSIBILITY OF BRAKE PEDAL FAILURE AND POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO ENGINE BAY FUMES. I SPOKE TO A SUBARU SERVICE ADVISOR AND SUGGESTED TO "BRING-IN" FOR INSPECTION. ENROUTE TO THE DEALER WAITING FOR THE GREEN LIGHT ON THE MAIN STREET, DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND FELT A SNAP THEN MY CLUTCH PEDAL PLAY IS NONE. LOOKED ON THE FLOOR OF MY CAR TO SEE WHAT FELL/DETACHED, AND IT LOOKED LIKE PART OF THE PEDAL BRACKET THAT ATTACHED TO THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. I EVENTUALLY TOWED MY CAR TO THE DEALER. ARE FIREWALL SUPPOSED TO CRACK?

THE TURBOCHARGER BROKE TWICE IN THE 2D QUARTER 2015. SHORTLY AFTER THE SECOND TIME IT WAS FIXED, THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE OVER THE TURBOCHARGER UNIT (WHILE BEING DRIVEN 9/18/15), UNDER THE HOOD. NEW SUBARUS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS REASON, BUT I THINK THE REPLACEMENT TURBOCHARGER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE SUBARU TURBO FP # WAS 14411AA5329L.

IN VERY COLD WEATHER (LESS THAN 10 F) THE RUBBER GAS LINES LEAK VERY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF GAS ONTO THE ENGINE AND VERYNEAR THE HOT TURBOCHARGER. ANOTHER SUBARU JUST CAUGHT FIRE IN THE O'NEILL TUNNEL. HTTP://BOSTON.CBSLOCAL.COM/2014/01/27/CAR-FIRE-CAUSES-BACKUP-IN-ONEILL-TUNNEL/ *TR

I STARTED THE CAR, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE IT INTO GEAR. IT WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. THE RELEASE WAS BROKEN. EVENTUALLY I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET IT INTO GEAR. IT HAS BEEN TO JACK WILLIAMS TIRE IN CAMP HILL, PA 17011 3-4 TIMES SINCE THEN FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK FROM MY 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XS. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LEAK IN THE MAIN SEAL BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND IT WILL COST ME $1,000 TO FIX BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED. THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ABOUT SIMILAR OIL LEAKS IN THIS MODEL YEAR. SUBARU SHOULD INVESTIGATE. *TR

OUR 2004 MODEL, MANUAL GEAR-BOX SUBARU FORESTER 2.5 X STALLS FAR TOO EASILY IN FIRST GEAR. RECENTLY, MY WIFE NARROWLY ESCAPED A HORRENDOUS ACCIDENT WHEN THE FORESTER'S ENGINE STALLED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM THE SIDE ROAD WHICH SHE HAS TO USE TO ACCESS THE HIGHWAY FROM HER PLACE OF WORK. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER MANUAL GEAR-BOX SUBARU OWNERS, INCLUDING THE SUBARU WRX AND LIBERTY, WHO HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY BE A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN ISSUE AFFECTING MOST RECENTLY BUILT MANUAL GEAR BOX SUBARU PASSENGER VEHICLES, BUILT BY SUBARU AT THEIR MAIN FACTORY IN JAPAN, AND DISTRIBUTED GLOBALLY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE USA. *TR

THE VEHICLE GENERATED EXCESSIVE STATIC SHOCK. *NM THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD GO NO MORE THAN 15- 20 MPH. *JB

THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THE VEHICLE AND RECEIVE A REFUND FOR THE PURCHASE PRICE. *NM THE SUBARU DEALER OFFERED THE CONSUMER $1500.00 TO 2,000 DOLLARS TOWARD TRADING HIS VEHICLE IN FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. OFFER EXPIRES OCT 31,2004 *TC