2007 Subaru Forester Complaint Log

THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND "BUCKS" AT LOW SPEEDS, TURNING CORNERS, ACCELERATING/DECELERATING, CHANGING LANES, GOING UP A GRADE OR HILL AND DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. SHIFTING GEARS SEEMS TO TAKE LONGER THAN EXPECTED AND THE TACH REGISTERS HIGH AND THEN ERRATICALLY JUMPS DOWN (OR UP) TO A MUCH LOWER LEVEL ON THE TACH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY OR TO SEEMINGLY GET STUCK IN A GEAR. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY TRY TO SHIFT WHILE NOT ACCELERATING, SOMETIMES WHEN TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED. THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WHERE I HAVE HAD IT EXCLUSIVELY SERVICED CANNOT SEEM TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. THEY HAVE CHANGED WIRES AND REPLACED AN AIR FUEL SENSOR, ONLY TO SAY THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF THIS SITUATION BEFORE MY 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT EVEN BACK THEN, THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY SINCE THE DATE I INITIALLY NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND HAVE REPEATEDLY INFORMED THEM OF THIS ISSUE, BUT THE CONDITION HAS CONTINUED TO GET MORE SEVERE OVER TIME. I TRULY FEEL UNSAFE IN THE VEHICLE AND THAT AT ANY POINT IN TIME, WHILE ON A HIGHWAY OR REGULAR ROAD, THAT THE VEHICLE COULD FAIL AND THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR RESULT IN A CRASH OF SOME KIND. I HAVE NOW DRIVEN THREE SUBARU LOANERS FROM THE DEALER AND I FIND THAT EACH VEHICLE EXHIBITS SIGNS OF THE SAME SITUATION I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH MY VEHICLE. I WONDER IF SUBARU MAY NOT BE TELLING ITS CUSTOMERS OF THIS POTENTIAL DEFECT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE OR IF SUBARU JUST DOES NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND/OR SKILL IN ITS MANUFACTURING PROCEDURES (ESPECIALLY RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION) TO PROPERLY ASSEMBLE ITS VEHICLES FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL DRIVERS. *TR

2007 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES TO EXPRESS A RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA INC. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE WAS A PART OF THE EMISSION CONTROL VALVE RECALL WHICH COULD LEAD TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER BEING TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE, SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, ANOTHER EMISSION CONTROL VALVE INSIDE THE GAS TANK FAILED. SUBARU DENIED THE CONSUMER'S REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM STATING THE TWO INCIDENTS WERE UNRELATED. *JB

DEFECTIVE FLOOR MATS ON A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER, THE RUBBER SPIKES ON THE BOTTOM BROKE OFF UNDER GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS AND THEN DOWN THE CENTER OF THE MAT. THE MAT CAME OFF THE SAFETY HOOK AND ENTANGLE THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. THE PEDAL DID FUNCTION, I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY FIX THE MAT WHILE DRIVING. I ALSO OWN A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER; IT WAS STORED AND USED BY SAME OWNER IN SIMILAR WAYS AND NO PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT PULLS ON RETENTION HOOK WHICH IS ONLY ANCHORED TO THE CARPET FLOOR, NOT THE UNDERLYING METAL FLOOR. THE FORWARD TENSION OF THE FLOOR MAT ON THE HOOK LIFTS THE CARPET UP FROM THE METAL FLOOR & THE HOOK DISENGAGES FROM THE FLOOR MAT WHICH SLIDES FORWARD UP UNDER BRAKE & GAS PEDAL. THIS IS A CONSTANT DAILY OCCURRENCE. I HAVE CHECKED WITH SUBARU DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED PROBLEM. *TR

FUEL SMELL LIKE RAW GASOLINE. HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DEALERSHIP FOR OVER 6 MONTHS TO TRY TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. CURRENTLY, STILL REPLACING VALVES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. SHE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW VEHICLE IN JULY 2007 . SHE SMELLED GASOLINE FUMES WITHIN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL COVER VALVE AT 13,000 AND 15,000 MILES; HOWEVER, SOME OF THE PARTS USED DURING THE REPAIR WERE THE FAULTY PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ISSUE A RECALL; ALTHOUGH, BOTH FUEL COVER VALVES WERE CRACKED. THE AXLE WAS ALSO REPLACED SIX MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WILL RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD PAY HER $2,500 TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE; HOWEVER, SHE WANTS THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 09/28/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN JULY 2007 AND IN AUGUST OF 2009 SHE SMELLED FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL CUT ROLL VALVE SINCE IT WAS CRACKED, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAILED PART WITH THE SAME DEFECTED PART; THEREFORE SHE COULD EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE AGAIN. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED HER $2,500 AS A DOWN PAYMENT TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE. SHE DECLINED THE OFFER AND WANTS THE DEALER TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 1300 MILES ON IT SHE HAD THE FRONT AXLES REPLACED. SHE NO LONGER FEELS SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 3/12/10 *CN UPDATED 09/28/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT AND WAS REPLACED WITH A YOKOHAMA DONUT SPARE TIRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE BEGAN TO LOSE TRACTION WITH THE ROAD SURFACE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID SIDEWAYS. HE SLID INTO A SNOWBANK AND COLLIDED WITH A SNOWMOBILE TRAILER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A TIRE. THE SNOWMOBILE TRAILER WAS SLIGHTLY DAMAGED. HE BELIEVES THAT THE DONUT SPARE TIRE SHOULD NOT BE USED IN VEHICLES AND ARE SAFETY HAZARDS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN TWICE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, AND IN LOCAL TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,330. UPDATED 3/19/09 *CN UPDATED 03/26/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED TO DISENGAGE THE SET SPEED FROM THE PREVIOUS DAY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CRUISE CONTROL AUTOMATICALLY DEACTIVATED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS TO THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THIS WAS A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REDUCE SPEED UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISENGAGED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT SEPARATED FROM THE BASE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE WELD CONNECTING THE SEAT FRAME TO ITS BASE HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. WITHIN TWO YEARS, THE SEAT BEGAN TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PRE WELDED SEAT BRACKET TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT'S CASE WAS ESCALATED TO CORPORATE WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND BELIEVED A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTED WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. AFTER FREEZING RAIN ON FEBRUARY 12, 2008, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED APPROXIMATELY 20 INCHES HORIZONTALLY. THE CRACKED OCCURRED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT PRESSURE BEING APPLIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,980. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A CRACK FROM A STONE AND CRACK GOT WORSE AFTER ELECTRIC WINDSHIELD WIPER HEATER APPLIED. UPDATED 04/02/08 *TR

CONSTANT VIBRATION FROM TIRES AT 65MPH OR FASTER, GETS WORSE AS THE SPEED INCREASES. *TR

THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED TIRES THAT WEAR AT AN EXCESSIVELY RAPID PACE, RESULTING IN A CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSING TRACTION WHILE DRIVING OVER SAND/GRIT USED FOR TREATING THE ROAD DURING SNOW. ADDITIONALLY, THE FLATIRONS IMPORTS, AN AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP, NEVER ADVISED US ON THE DEGREE OF TREAD LOSS. ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 2 AT NOON, MY HUSBAND WAS COMING DOWN LEFT HAND CANYON TRAVELING AT 35MPH WHEN HE LOST TRACTION WHILE DRIVING INTO A RIGHT-TURN BEND. THE CAR LEFT THE ROAD AND LANDED NOSE-FIRST ABOUT 30 FT INTO AN IRRIGATION DITCH. THE BOULDER COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT CAME TO THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND DETERMINED THAT HE WAS NOT AT FAULT (REGRETTABLY NEITHER THEY NOR THE STATE POLICE HAVE FILED A REPORT). THE ROAD SURFACE WAS FREE FROM SNOW AND/OR ICE BUT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SAND/GRIT UPON WHICH THE CAR LOST TRACTION. IN SPITE OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE REGAINED TRACTION HAD NOT THE CONDITION OF THE TIRES BEEN DEFECTIVE, THE PRINCIPLE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, WE BELIEVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLATIRONS SUBARU ON AUGUST 21 AT 9,142 MILES. THE MECHANICAL REPORT INDICATED THAT THE TREAD ON THE TIRES WAS AT 8/32; ON OCTOBER 19 AT 13, 182 MILES THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR A REGULAR SERVICE AS WELL AS TO CHECK A RADIATOR LEAK, AND THE MECHANICAL REPORT INDICATED THE TIRE TREAD AT 5.2/32, 5.9/32 (3/32 TREAD LOSS IN 2 MONTHS). AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE TREAD WAS AT 1.2/32 AT 15,763 MILES (REPRESENTING A 4/32 TREAD LOSS IN 6 WEEKS AND APPROX 2,500 MILES!). WE FEEL THIS REPRESENTS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2007 SUBURU IN MARCH 2007 AS A NEW CAR FROM A SUBURU DEALER IN CALIFORNIA. MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN GETTING CAR SICK AND HAS HAD CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES SINCE 9/11/2007. WE NOTICE THE AIR INSIDE THE CAR IS RANCID. PLEASE TEST THE INSIDE AIR QUALITY OF THIS VEHICLE FOR FUMES, PARTICULARLY UNSAFE LEVELS OF BENZENE. I BELIEVE THIS CAR IS MAKING MY FAMILY SICK AND DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IT (BUT HAVE TO) OR SELL IT AND EXPOSE OTHER POTENTIAL VICTIMS TO THE TOXINS. I AM NOT SURE WHAT COMPONENT THIS IS, BUT CAN DESCRIBE IT AS THE INSIDE AIR QUALITY OF WHICH OCCUPANTS ARE BREATHING.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE CHANGING GEARS BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 10 AND 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO COAST, CHANGE GEARS, OR ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,365. UPDATED 09/26/07 *TR

IN 2007 I BOUGHT A NEW SUBARU FORESTER. THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS & SNAPS WHILE CHANGING GEARS. SOMETIMES THE WHOLE CAR IS JOLTED BY THE TRANSMISSION SNAPPING INTO GEAR. THIS PROBLEM JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, BUT ALSO HAPPENS WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING & CHANGING SPEEDS. IT OFTEN TAKES TOO LONG FOR MY VEHICLE TO CHANGE GEARS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE DEPT. AT TWO DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERSHIPS. THEY CLAIM THEY CHECKED MY TRANSMISSION & FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT. I FEAR MY TRANSMISSION MAY FAIL AT A CRUCIAL TIME. *TR

PROBLEM 1: DATE IN: 5/22/07DATE OUT: 5/23/07 PROBLEM: BRAKES OR TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP; I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM 2: DATE IN: 6/22/07DATE OUT: 6/22/07 PROBLEM:BRAKES OR TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP. THE WAY THAT THE DEALERSHIP HANDLED THIS ISSUE IS BY DISENGAGING THE HILL HOLDER FUNCTION. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A FRONT-END COLLISION; YET THE IMPACT OF THE COLLISION WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO CAUSE $9,200 WORTH OF DAMAGES. FURTHERMORE, ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DETECTION LIGHT WAS NOT INDICATING INITIATION WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER, USING THE SEATBELT, IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE HAD PLANNED ON TAKING THE CAR IN TO HAVE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM ASSESSED. I SENT A REQUEST TO THE FLATIRON IMPORTS ON 12/5/07, REQUESTING THAT THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM BE ASSESSED FOR PROPER FUNCTIONING WHILE IT IS BEING SERVICED FOR THE MECHANICAL DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT; HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION OF THIS REQUEST AS OF 12/12/07. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE CONTACT'S WIFE, WHO IS OF NORMAL HEIGHT AND WEIGHT, SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DIMS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT SHOULD BE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES AND HIS WIFE MUST JUMP AROUND IN THE SEAT FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN BACK ON. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME HE AND HIS WIFE ARE IN THE VEHICLE. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAS ONLY DEPLOYED ONCE WHILE HE WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 01/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/12/07

I PURCHASED A USED 2003 SUBARU FORESTER IN 2006. IN MARCH OF 2007 A SMALL PARKING LIGHT WENT OUT. I WENT OUT AND PURCHASED A NEW BULB FOR ABOUT $1.25 AND TRIED TO REPLACE IT. I QUICKLY FOUND OUT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE A VERY SKILLED MECHANIC TO CHANGE ANY BULB ON THIS VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO CHANGE ANY BULB YOU FIRST HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE FRONT GRILL WHICH IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON WITHOUT DAMAGING THE PARTS THAT HOLD IT INTO PLACE. THEN YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE LIGHT FICTURE TO CHANGE ANY BULB THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REALIGNED. SUBARU CHARGES 1 HOUR LABOR TO CHANGE 1 BULB @ $50.00 WHAT IF YOUR IN AN AREA WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE A SUBARU DEALER. MOST MECHANICS WON'T ATTEMPT TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB ON THIS VEHICLE. SO I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH MY HEADLIGHT OUT UNTILL I FOUND A DEALER. SUBARU SHOULD CHANGE THE LIGHTS AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER SINCE IT'S CERTAINLY A DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE GONE ON SUBARU OWNER CHAT ROOMS AND IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR ALL FORESTER OWNERS. EVERYONE AGREES THAT IT TAKES A NUMBER OF DAMAGING TRIES BEFORE CHANGING 1 BULB. IT SEEMS THAT SUBARU KNOWS THAT BECAUSE THEY CARRY A READY SUPPLY OF THE PARTS YOU'LL NEED TO REPLACE WHEN YOU BREAK THEM IF YOU CAN GET THE GRILL OFF IN THE FIRST PLACE. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME ..

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. THE VEHICLE HAS YOKOHAMA GEOLANDAR, SIZE P215 55R17 TIRES. WHEN ACCELERATING SLIGHTLY FROM A STOP, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE ABS ACTIVATED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP FOR 100 FEET. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE FAILURE IS WITH THE TIRES. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,400. UPDATED 12/31/07 *BF THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES AT HIS EXPENSE ON DEC 9, 2007. THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP IN LIGHT SNOW. UPDATED *JB

2007 SUBARU FORRESTER WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE ENGINE SURGES WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL (NOT UNDER LOAD) AND YOU ARE GIVING JUST ENOUGH THROTTLE TO KEEP UP SPEED. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE A JERKING BACK AND FORTH MOTION. SINCE PEOPLE PURCHASE THE CARS TO DRIVE IN SNOW I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND SUBARU STATES THAT IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT THE DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE IS TO BLAME. *JB