2005 Subaru Forester Complaint Log

CAR HAS RAW FUEL/GAS SMELL ON COLD STARTS WHEN IDLING. FUMES CAN BE NOTICED BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. OCCURS ONLY WHEN THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. FUMES DISAPPEAR ONCE THE ENGINE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. FUEL LINE LEAK(S) ARE OCCURRING UNDER THE MANIFOLD WHERE THE SCREWS TO TIGHTEN CAN NOT BE REACHED. SUBARU DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE COST TO REPAIR FOR PARTS AND LABOR WOULD BE $750 AS THE MANIFOLD NEEDS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NEEDED REPAIR. I HAVE DRIVEN CARS TO 180K AND 155K IN THE SAME GEOGRAPHICAL FOOTPRINT AND HAVE NEVER HAD A FUEL LINE LEAK. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARU AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED LIKE THEY DID ON THE 02-03 WRX!!! THIS IS A MAJOR LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. I'M GOING TO SUBARU NORTH AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY WILL PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS UNSAFE TO OPERATE BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE OF ROAD SALTS THAT WERE NO WASHED OFF THE VEHICLE, THE FRAME BEGAN TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT AN UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WENT ACROSS AN INTERSECTION AND JUMPED A SIDE WALK BEFORE IT FINALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. *TR

SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE - SHOP EVALUATION SHOWS MASTER CYLINDER FAILING - ORIGINAL MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED WITH NEW PART AT 31858 MILES DUE TO FAILURE (BRAKE FLUID BLEEDING BACK INTO RESERVOIR). WILL HAVE TO REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER AGAIN. [NOTE : VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER]

A RED LIGHT RUNNER IMPACTED MY VEHICLE IN AN INTERSECTION. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE RIGHT REAR OF MY VEHICLE. THE RED LIGHT RUNNER WAS IN A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 AND I ESTIMATE THE SPEED BETWEEN 50 TO 60 MPH. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT DROVE MY VEHICLE INTO A CAR TO MY LEFT THAT WAS WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AT THE INTERSECTION. THE STATIONARY VEHICLE WAS A 2004 FORD BRONCO. THE LEFT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO THE LEFT FRONT OF THIS VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVABLE AND TOTALLED. THERE WERE TWO RAPID LATERAL IMPACTS TO MY VEHICLE YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY SEAT RESTRAINTS WERE ON. *TR

WHEN IT IS BELOW 20 DEGREES F AND THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, THERE IS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, INDICATING A LEAK NEAR THE CABIN AIR INTAKE. SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER FORRESTER XT OWNERS ON VARIOUS WEB SITES (SEE WWW.SUBARUFORRESTER.ORG FOR EXAMPLE). *TR

LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED AT WELD DUE TO RUST THROUGH AND CAUSED CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE CONTROL ARMS WERE INSPECTED BY DEALER APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE RECALL FOR THIS COMPONENT. THEY WERE DEEMED TO BE SAFE AFTER A "PUNCH TEST" AND RUSTPROOFING APPLIED. THE RECALL ALSO PROVIDED FOR REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER MY CAR WAS NOT DETERMINED TO NEED REPLACEMENT AS A RESULT OF THE PUNCH TEST. IT APPEARS THAT THE TESTING PROCEDURE FOR THIS RECALL MAY BE TOO SUBJECTIVE AND/OR INEFFECTIVE AND THAT CONTINUED FAILURES WILL BE FORTHCOMING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER SEVERAL FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. A TROUBLE CODE DETECTED A MALFUNCTION WITH THE THROTTLE SENSOR. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 30F. NO SMELL WHEN ENGINE RICHES NORMAL WORKING TEMPERATURE. NO SMELL IN THE WARM WEATHER. POSSIBLE ISSUE RUBBER FUEL LINES. CAR IS NOT TO OLD TO HAVE RUBBER PARTS DEFECTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WAS IN THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL LINES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,260.

TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 20*F AND THE SMELL OF RAW FUEL BECAME STRONG INSIDE THE VEHICLE. SMELL CONTINUED TO HAPPEN ON SUCCESSIVE DAYS BELOW ~25*F, REGARDLESS OF ENGINE TEMPERATURE. FUEL SMELL WAS APPARENT IN ENGINE BAY ON PASSENGER SIDE BUT THE SOURCE WAS UNIDENTIFIABLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION; DEALER "FOUND SIGNS OF FUEL SEEPAGE PAST HOSE CLAMPS ON FUEL HOSES UNDER INTAKE." REPAIR ESTIMATE INCLUDING PARTS CAME TO $663. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME AND WE WILL BE CONTACTING SOA ABOUT POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THEIR GOOD WILL POLICY.

WE PURCHASED A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER FROM A SUBARU DEALER IN AUGUST 2008 AT 60,000 MILES. SINCE AUGUST 2008, WE HAD FOUR EPISODES OF ENGINE STALLING WITH CHECK ENGINE LAMP COMING ON. WE HAD TO HAVE OUR CAR TOWED FOUR TIMES TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. THE FIRST AND THIRD TOWING RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION COIL. THE SECOND TOWING RESULTED IN NO REPAIR SINCE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. BEFORE THE FOURTH TOWING, WE JUST GOT ON A FREEWAY AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHEN ENGINE LOST POWER SO WE QUICKLY GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND MANAGED TO PARK FORESTER IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START SO WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FORESTER NOW NEEDS AN ENGINE REBUILD SINCE LOWER ENGINE MAIN BEARING HAD FAILED, CAUSING RESIDUAL SCORING DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER BLOCK AND BOTH CYLINDER HEADS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ASKED FOR $7000 IN REBUILDING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD 72000 MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER ALL OF A SUDDEN AND IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD WE BEEN DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT INSTEAD OF SLOWLY ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. *TR

I WAS PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION WITH AN ONCOMING CAR AT A SAFE DISTANCE FOR ME TO SAFELY PULL OUT. UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND. IT ONLY IDLED. AND MOVED THE CAR ALONG AT IDLE SPEED. SUDDENLY THE APPROACHING CAR THAT WAS AT A SAFE DISTANCE WHEN I PULLED OUT WERE GETTING VERY CLOSE. FORTUNATELY THE DRIVER WAS ALERT AND SLOWED DOWN SO I COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD - AT ABOUT 3 MPH. I FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE GAS PEDAL THAT WENT WRONG. SIMILAR TO TOYOTA'S PROBLEM, BUT INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING UNCONTROLLABLY, IT WOULD NOT ME OUT OF HARMS WAY FAST ENOUGH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. HE STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A GENERIC CHECK VALVE IN THE FUEL TANK. AFTER THE DEALER REMOVED THE CHECK VALVE, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE COULD BE A POSSIBLE EXPLOSION IN THE FUEL TANK. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND ADVISED THEM OF HIS CONCERNS BUT WAS TOLD THAT IF HE WANTED THE CHECK VALVE TO BE RE-INSTALLED, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,485. UPDATED 05/24/10 *BF UPDATED 06/04/10

2005 SUBARU FORESTER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THE CAR LURCHES UPON STARTING OUT ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING. YOU PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR--CAR DOES NOT MOVE, THEN SUDDENLY LURCHES AS THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR, SO THERE IS LITTLE CONTROL ON THE PART OF THE DRIVER--YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL MOVE AND/OR HOW.. WHEN TAKE FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR CAR LURCHES FORWARD AGAIN--WITH NO DRIVER CONTROL. THE CAR SLAMS INTO GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING NOW REGULARLY FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS. BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER ON JAN 14--THEY SAID THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM, "REPROGRAMMED" IT AND SAID ALL WAS FINE. IT WASN'T--BROUGHT THE CAR BACK YESTERDAY--THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS OK--IT IS NOT. CAR IS STILL OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE BEEN READING SIMILAR STORIES ON EDMUNDS. COM SUBARU FORUM FOR THIS YEAR AND EVEN OLDER MODEL SUBARU FORESTERS. SUBARU DENIES THERE IS AN ISSUE--I CALLED THEM THIS AFTERNOON AND WROTE TO THEM A FEW WEEKS BACK, TOO. THANKS. *TR

A FEW TIMES A YEAR, MY 2005 SUBARU FORESTER WITH STICK SHIFT WILL NOT START AFTER PARKING. HOWEVER, AFTER SHIFTING THE GEARS A FEW TIMES, IT WILL START. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE SENSOR SENSED INCORRECTLY THAT THE CAR WAS IN GEAR OTHER THAN NEUTRAL AND HENCE IT WOULD NOT START DESPITE THE GEAR WAS IN PHYSICALLY IN NEUTRAL AND THE CLUTCH WAS FULLY DEPRESSED. AFTER SHIFTING THE GEARS A FEW TIMES, THE ELECTRONIC MIGHT HAVE CORRECTED ITSELF. I AM CONCERNED IF OTHER ELECTRONICS PROBLEMS MAY HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, AS WHAT HAPPENED TO TOYOTA. TOO BAD THAT THERE MAY NOT ENOUGH DATA WITH STICK SHIFT. *TR

STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER. FUEL SMELL STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE NAUSEA AND DIZZINESS IF WINDOWS REMAINED CLOSED. PARKED VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF GARAGE UNTIL SMELL DISSIPATED FOR FEAR OF ACCIDENTAL IGNITION. NOTICED THAT SMELL USUALLY DIMINISHES OR COMPLETELY DISSIPATES WHEN VEHICLE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. DETECTED OVER SEVERAL YEARS DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS (BELOW 50 DEGREES). WA SUBARU DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2012 DETERMINED THE RUBBER FUEL LINES UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE LEAKING AND REPLACED ALL SEVEN. SO FAR, THIS HAS CORRECTED THE CONDITION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN THE HEAT IS TURNED ON IN HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY AT THE CONTACT EXPENSE. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ON THIS PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,029. UPDATED 02/17/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/18/10

HEADGASKET LEAKED. CYLINDER HEADS CRACKED DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

AFTER TAKING MY SUBARU FORRESTER IN FOR A RECALL FOR A VALVE IN THE GAS TANK. I WAS TOLD THE HEADGASKET LEAKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT! DURING THE REPAIR OF THE HEADGASKET I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP INFORMING ME I ALSO HAD A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THIS IS MY 4TH SUBARU I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. WHEN I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE I NOTICED THAT SUBARU HAD A TON OF HEADGASKET RECALLS STARTING IN 1997. THERE SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL LACK OF QUALITY IN REGARDS TO THIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,500.

AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN AFTER MY CAR CRASHED ANOTHER CAR AND THE INSURANCE DECLARED MY CART TOTAL LOSS. BOTH MYSELF AND THE PERSON IN THE OTHER CAR WERE LUCKILY NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED (JUST NECK WHIPLASH), BUT I HIT THE CARE VERY HARD, I EVEN HURT MY KNEES WITH THE IMPACT AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIRBAG DID NOT WORK. *TR

WHILE DRIVING FROM FLORIDA NOTICED LOAD NOISE. UPON INSPECTION BY MECHANIC WAS ADVISED THAT WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED. MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED THAT HE HAD SEEN OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SUBARU FORESTER. BELIEVE BEARINGS IN SOME MODELS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE BEARING FAILS WHILE AT HIGH SPEED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT AS IF SHE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT UNUSUAL AND WHEN SHE BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP, SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND TO PUT INTO FIRST GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS HANGING OFF FROM THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP WAS POINTED OUTWARDS. FURTHERMORE, THE COIL THAT SHE BELIEVED TO BE THE STRUT WAS HANGING OUT AS WELL. HER MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE STRUT HAD PULLED COMPLETELY OUT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 02/19/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/19/10 THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO THE VEHICLE IN 1ST GEAR. UPDATED EVOQ 09/13/10

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL INDICATORS WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES FOR THE FAILURE AND EACH TIME, THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD RETURN HIS CALL WITHIN 24 HOURS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

OUR COMPANY USES TEN SUBARU FORESTERS AS FLEET VEHICLES FOR UTILITY FIELD WORK. OF THE TEN VEHICLES FIVE ARE 2005 FORESTERS AND OUT OF THE FIVE, THREE DIFFERENT VEHICLES HAD TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AT THE COMPANY'S EXPENSE. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS A 2006 MODEL AND HAD ITS CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHANGED AT NO COST DUE TO WARRANTY. THE FOUR VEHICLE VIN NUMBERS AND MILES AT WHICH THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED ARE: MILEAGE 94,742, MILEAGE AT 82,491, MILEAGE 90,732 AND MILEAGE 64,059(2006 WARRANTY). WE FIND THIS FAILURE RATE TO BE ABNORMALLY HIGH AND QUESTION THE PARTS FAILURE RATE. *TR

MY CAR HESITATES, SPUTTERS AND BUCKS WHEN THE WEATHER IS WET. AT FIRST THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. WHILE THIS PROBLEM IS SPORADIC, IT HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. IT NOW HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM AND THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE DEALER AT FIRST TOLD US MANY TIMES TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WOULD GO AWAY WHEN THE CAR WARMED UP; THEY FAILED TO FIND THE DEFECT AT FIRST. NOW, AFTER FINDING THE CYLINDER MISFIRE PROBLEM THEY NOW CLAIM THE DEFECT ISN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT ONE; THE PROBLEM BEGAN EARLY IN 2005 SOON AFTER THE CAR WAS BOUGHT. *TR

COIL PACKED WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE COIL PACK WAS REPLACED 05.2006 AND THE PLUGS REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME. THIS YEAR THE COIL PACK WAS REPLACED AND THE PLUGS AGAIN. *AK

AFTER BUYING IT NEW AND OWNING IT FOR TWO YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS, IN 2007 WE HAD SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2005 SUBARU FORESTER, RESULTING IN 2 LOW-SPEED CRASHES INTO BUILDINGS AND ONE THAT I MANAGED TO STOP BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING. NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT WE HAD REPAIR COSTS AND INSURANCE PREMIUM INCREASES. THE DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS, EVEN THOUGH WHEN I TESTED IT WITH THEM, WE REPRODUCED A SIMILAR EVENT. MY DETAILED COMMUNICATIONS WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA (INCLUDING INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET ABOUT OTHER EARLIER SIMILAR SUBARU PROBLEMS) RESULTED IN THEIR DENYING ANY PROBLEM. I HAD A CLASS-ACTION ATTORNEY IN JUNEAU, AK WRITE SUBARU OF AMERICA WITH THE SAME RESULTS OF DENIAL BY SUBARU. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED IN ALASKA (OUR MAIN HOME). THE DEALER WAS VERY KIND AND IN 2008 TOOK IT AS A TRADE FOR A HONDA FIT SINCE WE COULD NOT SELL IT WITH THAT HISTORY. I ASSUME THAT OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, WHICH SHOULD BEGIN TO SURFACE NOW. THANK YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON ANY ROAD CONDITION, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE DECELERATION LEVER, WHICH SUBARU LABELS "COAST" WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO THE DESIRED RATE OF TRAVEL AND THE LEVER WAS RELEASED. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN THE SAME SPEED AS WHEN RELEASED, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED APPARENTLY BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SET POINT. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA BY E-MAIL AND THEY STATED THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM AFTER PERFORMING THEIR ELECTRONIC TESTS. I ASKED THEM TO CONTACT SUBARU OF AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY HAD RELEASED ANY BULLETINS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND THE PERSON CONTACTED AT SUBARU (JODY) STATED TO KENT MELCHIOR OF ED REILY SUBARU IN CONCORD, NH THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO HIS REPORT TO ME ON 6/7/2006. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE NHTSA COMPLAINT WEBSITE, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AGAINST SUBARU FOR THIS TYPE OF AN INTERMITTENT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE. THEREFORE, SUBARU OF AMERICA IS EITHER INCOMPETENT OR LYING. *NM

ON MARCH 20, 2006, THE SYMMETRICAL ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM OF MY 2005 SUBARU FORRESTER XT FAILED, THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED AND DRIFTED, RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER, AND SEVERE BODILY INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS SO FLIMSY, IT WAS DISGUSTING. EVERY DOOR AND WINDOW OPENING COLLAPSED, GLASS FLEW EVERYWHERE. THE CEILING COLLAPSED ON THE PASSENGERS' HEADS. THIS IS A DEATH CAR. *NM

DT: THE ABS STUCK ON THE VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HILL SLOWLY AND HAD TO STOP TO WAIT ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT TOOK A WHILE, SHE PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN THE OTHER VEHICLE MOVED THE CONSUMER STARTED THE ENGINE, THEN PUT VEHICLE IN FIRST GEAR, AND RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN STARTING TO GO DOWN HILL AND TRYING TO USE THE BRAKE IT WOULD NOT WORK. IT WAS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST SAFELY TO A PARKING LOT. SHE HAD TURNED THE ENGINE OFF FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN IT WORKED FINE. THE TRANSMISSION IS MANUAL. THE VEHICLE HAS A HILL HOLD. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED, THE CONSUMER HASN'T BEEN IN THE SAME SITUATION SINCE THE DAY OF THE INITIAL INCIDENT. *NM

VEHICLE BROKE DOWN DURING HURRICANE EVACUATION THEREBY ENDANGERING ME AND MY FAMILY FOR 32 HOURS. 2005 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A BUILT-IN DEFECT WHERE THE ALTERNATOR AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS DOWN DURING ENGINE IDLE, SO ONLY THE BATTERY RUNS UNTIL OUT OF POWER, THEREBY LEAVING DRIVER AND PASSENGERS STRANDED ON ROADWAY. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 2006 SUBARU WAS NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY. VEHICLE WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD, IT DID NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT AND IT WENT TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN GOING FAST. IT WAS DOING THIS ALL THE TIME. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER INSISTED VEHICLE DID HAVE ENOUGH CASTER. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT ALL OF THE SUBARU DID THAT AND COULD NOT FIX THE CAR, THE CONSUMER DID NOT WANT THE CAR. HE PAID CASH FOR VEHICLE, AND WAS UPSET. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT CALLED SUBARU, BUT PLANNED DOING SO. THE CONSUMER OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS. THE FIRST 800 MILES THE CAR DID NOT DO THIS. IT WAS A 2006 MODEL. THE CONSUMER INSISTED THAT IT WAS A SUSPENSION FAILURE. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 3 MILES PER HOUR IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF AN INJURY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY 2005 SUBARU FORESTER, HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AT DWYER AND SONS SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN COMMERCE, MICHIGAN. DURING ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, I'VE ALWAYS DISCUSSED WITH THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT I HAVE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD DOWNSHIFT VERY HARD OR SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING WAS "BANGING." OR RUNNING VERY ROUGH. THE RPM WOULD ALSO SEEM TO RUN LOWER THAN NORMAL. EVERY TIME I MADE THEM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP WAS NEVER ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SO, EVERY TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN THEREAFTER, I TOLD THEM TO MAKE NOTE OF THE ISSUE AND THAT IT HASN'T GONE AWAY. AGAIN, THEY WOULD ROAD TEST THE CAR AND ALWAYS STATE THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. NOW, THE VEHICLE IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM WOULD REQUIRE AN ENTIRE ENGINE REBUILD ON A ENGINE THAT IS METICULOUSLY TAKEN CARE OF AND ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT. THIS REPAIR THEY WERE JUST ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IS GOING TO COST $5,900. THEY INDICATED THE DEALERSHIP WOULD ONLY PAY $1,500 TOWARD THE REPAIR. I TOLD THEM I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY'VE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM EXISTED BEFORE AND I MADE THEM AWARE MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS ENGINE PROBLEM HAD PRE-EXISTED RIGHT FROM THE FACTORY, AND THEIR ARE POTENTIALLY OTHER SUBARU FORESTERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I SHOULD NOT BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ENGINE REPAIR AND FEEL SUBARU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALLOWING THIS VEHICLE TO BE SOLD AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR OR, A NEW ENGINE ALL TOGETHER. *TR

DT: CONSUMER GOT INTO CAR ACCIDENT AND THE SIDE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AT 40 MPH/. *TT *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND RADIO WILL NOT OPERATE AFTER TURNING ON THE ENGINE. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THEY WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. PROBLEM DOES NOT RESOLVE ITSELF WHILE DRIVING. HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET WIPERS TO WORK AT ALL FOR AN ENTIRE DAY. PROBLEM DEVELOPED IN THE SPRING TIME IN THE LAKE TAHOE AND SACRAMENTO REGIONS OF CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA. HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM OVER THE DRY SUMMER IN THE MOUNTAINS. SUBARU HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND DOESN'T KNOW IF THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE IT IS DIFFICULT TO CREATE. *JB

I RECENTLY (END OF NOVEMBER, 2004) PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, MAYBE SIX TIMES IN THE FOUR MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE CAR, IT IMMEDIATELY LURCHES INTO FULL SPEED THE SECOND THE ACCELERATOR IS TOUCHED, AND SENDS YOU TWENTY OR MORE FEET FORWARD (ONCE BACKWARDS) BEFORE YOU CAN POSSIBLY BRAKE. I HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENTS. TODAY I HAD A REAL ACCIDENT. WHEN I WENT INTO CARTER SUBARU THIS MORNING, THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN TO ME. TOLD ME THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING EVER HAPPENING TO A SUBARU, THAT SOMETHING THAT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE A MONTH WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK. THE MANAGER BASICALLY CALLED ME A LIAR AND ASKED ME TO LEAVE. IT ISN'T JUST THIS ACCIDENT, THE CAR CAN BE REPAIRED, BUT THIS IS A CAR DEFECT THAT CAN CERTAINLY KILL SOMEONE. ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS, ONCE IN GROCERY LOT AND ONCE LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY, IT WAS ONLY BY CHANCE I DIDN'T HIT A PEDESTRIAN. I FEEL THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND SHOULDN'T BE DRIVEN, BUT EVEN MORE DISTURBING IS SUBARU'S ATTITUDE THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE, AND THAT I AM A LIAR. BRUCE MCALISTER

MY 2005 SUBARU FORESTER SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. I HAD TO PUSH REALLY HARD ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID SURGING AHEAD INTO TRAFFIC.*AK

MY 2005 SUBARU FORESTER SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS I APPROACHED A STOPLIGHT. THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL, THE CLUTCH WAS NOT ENGAGED AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE ACCELERATION SUBSIDED AFTER I PLACED THE CAR IN FIRST GEAR AND SLIGHTLY PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL MOVING THE CAR FORWARD ABOUT A FOOT. THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED OVER A DOZEN TIMES IN THE COURSE OF 24HRS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER WHERE SEVERAL TEST RUNS WERE PERFORMED AS WELL AS A MONITOR TEST. NO CODES SHOWED UP SO I TOOK THE CAR FOR A TEST RUN WITH ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISORS AND THE CAR ACCELERATED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN 10-15MIN. I TOOK THE CAR FOR A SECOND TEST RUN WITH A MECHANIC WHO BELIEVED THE THROTTLE WAS IMPROPERLY OPENING. THE MECHANIC THEN INSPECTED AND CLEANED THE PIN CONNECTORS AT TPS AND MAP SENSORS. HE THEN ROAD TESTED IT SEVERAL TIMES TO DETERMINE IF THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN RESOLVED AND FOUND NO MORE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM MOST LIKELY WAS A STICKY THROTTLE.THE CAR NOW RUNS WELL.

FIRST COLD DAY, PUT ON WIPER DE-ICER. PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD AT DE-ICER LEVEL AND WINDSHIELD CRACKED (1,800 MILES ON CAR). *JB