This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I was trapped inside my vehicle when the battery died. While sitting in my car using the accessories to charge my phone, the car battery died and I was unable to unlock the doors to get out. The key fob did not work either. There is no inside handle on the rear hatch. The dashboard lights flickered a couple times and after about three minutes the door did unlock. What if the battery was completely dead" what if I did not have access to a cell phone and it was cold temperatures" I do not think I would be strong enough to kick out the windows. I am concerned and hope you will investigate. Thank you.
Dashboard warning lights lit up "like a christmas tree"! safety features are disabled. No eye sight, traction control, lane deviation. I have been to the dealer multiple times with no success. This has been going on for several months. Lights come on and go off, seemingly at random. Mostly stay on now.
Occasionally stalls when accelerating (usually to get on freeway or speed up drastically while on freeway). Doesnt completely lose power, only occurs for about 1-4 seconds but during that time car does not speed up even when pressing gas (actually acts as if foot was taken off gas), and makes a clicking noise. Has happened ever since purchasing car new, and mentioned at every service but they can never recreate the issue and therefore cant fix it. Saw a similar stalling issue on a recall for same type of car but not my VIN. Dealership wont check unless I pay fee.
The electrical keeps having problems. This problem is all over the internet for several years of the Forester. I don't know why there hasn't already been a recall. There will be a be a beep, usually when driving - sometimes when trying to start the car or move out of park, and about any "safety" feature that this car has exhibits a light and/or warning. While this happens over days, sometimes the gears stick in park. I have to take a tool and press beside the gear stick to get out of park. The lights will stay like this for days or weeks and then it just stops. I have had it checked, but it is just reset until the next time it happens. Just the other night, my husband was driving behind me and told me that my brake lights were not working consistently. This is dangerous!!! who knows what else is not working when this electrical issue occurs.
- Cary, NC, USA
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Sudden unintended acceleration: I was traveling at approx 10 mph through a campground. I applied the brakes to slow down to turn right into my parking spot. My right foot was on the brake pedal when the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward. I stepped on the brake pedal more firmly but the vehicle continued to gain speed. I traveled about 100 feet up a steep hill on the side of the campsite and knocked down a small tree and struck several bushes before hitting a large tree that finally stopped the vehicle. The vehicle sustained major front end damage in addition to deep scrape marks to its sides and rear from the trees/bushes. The front airbags did not deploy. I purchased this car new and had driven it for more than 42,000 miles with no problems until this incident.
I bought the car a month ago around March 10,2018 from glanzmann Subaru. After 2 weeks of driving, the car was shaking and had trouble accelerating intermittently when at stop signs or at low speeds. After words I noticed when the car is around 80 mph, sometimes the rpms go up but there is no torque. I was told to drop the car off at the service station which I did and after 4 days got the car back but they said they "could not replicate" the issue that I was having. I also get 18mpg while the advertised mpg is around 25. I should atleast get 22mpg. I have a very good feeling I was sold a car with a clutch that was on its way out. The dealer is not acknowledging the issue but I was able to replicate the issue on my way from the service center. I was told I would be able to drive the car with a tech but on the day of the pickup, the tech was unavailable. It has become a safety issue because sometimes when merging into a highway or turning into streets from a center lane the car does not have good pick uplike it is suppose. I know my car is an issue because the loaner that I got from glanzsmann was also a Forester and I could tell the difference right away. Thank you.
Our Subaru Forester shuts down as we drive on the expressway. It has happened 4 times now on 10/24/2016, 3/28/2017, 5/31/2017, and 12/31/2018. It happens only on the expressway during long road trips. The gas tank is usually below a quarter tank, but the check gauge light is not on and the meter says there's 50-70 miles left. We have been lucky to be on 2-lane expressways and to be able to coast the vehicle to the shoulder every time so far. Shortly after the engine stops accelerating, every single warning light on the dashboard lights up and 50% of the time we cannot get the car to restart. Our infant has been traveling with us in the backseat of the vehicle when this has happened and on the last occasion we had to be rescued by state troopers and taken to a safe and warm location because it was single digit temperatures. We have taken the car in for diagnosis and repair every time and they cannot replicate the issue. One time they said it was a bad batter cell and replaced the battery; another time they thought it was the fuel sensors and replaced both of those, yet we are still experiencing the problem. We believe there is a defect with our vehicle and it is putting us in a life-threatening situation. The car has now been in the shop since 1/9 without resolution.
After I slow down to turn a corner this car occasionally pauses, or will not resume moving for a few seconds when I step on the gas. This has caused cars behind me to almost rear end me numerous times. It sometimes happens twice in one day then won't happen again for several weeks. I have taken it to the dealer but it has never done it on any of their test drives. This has occurred ever since I bought this car new. I was told other owners have complained of the same problem but they have to experience it when they test drive it.
Twice the Forester surge forward --once it stopped before hitting a tree and the second time it hit a building. Both times pulling in to a parking space from a road and from a parking area.
When needed for the ventilation to clear the fog, which forms on the windshield occasionally when the weather is humid or very hot or too cold, have to keep it on. Then when the car is off vapor forms on the windshield.
Problem is with the Subaru "eyesight" system on this vehicle. The system has been sutting itself off more and more over the past few weeks until now, it shuts down the system and cruise control multiple times daily even at night.daytime or whenever it wants to. The local dealer checked it and found no problem that he could see for it.
When stopped on a hill, with engine running, shift placed securely in park, with road ice on one side of vehicle, the car started to slide down the hill, but both rear wheels and driver side front wheel were turning while car was sliding down hill. In testing this, it was repeated two times, once on the same hill, again on a different hill. This is dangerous! it is as though "park" is only locking the right front wheel, but if it is on ice, the car will begin to slide because the remaining wheels are not also locked.
My 2015 Subaru Forester xt was taken to an authorized Subaru dealership numerous visits to the for an issue in which the cars engine lights and warnings would display, violently shake, shudder and lose power while at highway speed. Am authorized Subaru mechanic was able to replicate the issue, they did an ECM computer update...unfortunately, the problems did not go away after the update. I re-visited the dealership explaining that the problems persisted, at which point they decided to try to replicate the problem. After a week, the Subaru dealer sent me home in the car, saying they could not replicate the problem. Less then 4 days layer, while on my morning commute to work, the same problems which had plagued the car started to occur, however this time, I heard a loud pop/bang and smoke filled the cabin of the car. Very shortly after smoke entered the cabin, I witnessed flames coming out from under the hood and above the windsdhied. I exited the freeway lanes as quickly as possible, and within 10 seconds the car was engulfed in flames. I have paperwork from the dealership with my expressed concerns, and the suabaru mechanic's acknowledgement of the issue.
While driving the car on a parking lot I slowed down to park and I had the foot on the gas pedal. The car accelerated on its own and went over the sidewalk. I could have injured someone walking or hit the glass window in front of me. The Subaru dealer inspected the car and did not found any issue and could not reproduce the problem. I have read that this has happened to other owners and it represents a safety risk to the driver and everyone else.
There is an odd hesitation as if it does not want to go forward at idle after braking. If I press the gas, there is a delayed reaction and a lurch. This is scary! at times, when I am heavily braking to a stop I can feel my car lurching slightly when it unlocks before it comes to a stop. This lurching is most noticeable in stop and go traffic. When I take my foot off the gas to coast, it seems to slow the vehicle down very abruptly as if I was in the wrong gear. Even under light braking, these unexpected occasional forward lurches occurs. This is a real safety hazard, as I am not expecting the vehicle to speed up momentarily as I am braking. I notice that these lurches correspond to RPM blips and the mileage mpg goes to 11, 12, or 13. On the freeway while driving at a decent speed, say 50 - 70 mph, if I hit the gas to overtake someone, sometimes there is a hesitation before I get a change in the engine RPM (and speed). Finally, when I push the pedal to accelerate it often hesitates before revving up. The problem is that these issues does not occur all the time but enough to make me feel that this car is dangerous to have on the road.
Vehicle was purchased new on October 31, 2014 at a Maryland dealer. The following are dates, miles and the issues that have arised since taking ownership. All issues related to vehicle have occurred while driving. No specific roads, vehicle maneuvering or weather condition, changed or caused the the following issues. 12/09/14 6680 miles, issue with steering & alignment 12/20/14 8524 miles, issue with steering & alignment April 2015 replaced battery 06/20/15 41,700 miles, issue with electrical system 07/23/15 47672 miles, issue with driveability 08/26/15 53037 miles, issue with body electrical system 08/2015 all rotors and brake pads replaced 09/23/15 57923 miles, issues with check engine light & stop light lamp switch 10/08/15 60428 miles, issue with power windows 12/03/15 68762 miles, automatic transmission replaced, electrical system June 2016 issues with starting vehicle begins, undetermined cause July 2016 issues began with HVAC blower fan intermittent failure 09/25/16 110839 miles, unknown A/T possible failure Subaru of America still has an open ticket for electrical issues that still plague the vehicle; including power windows, hill start assistant, low oil pressure, audio speaker, vehicle stability control, ABS, brake system failure lights. Dealer has stated that failure can only be duplicated when an on-board diagnostic system code is present. Thus the reason for outstanding issues. Furthermore, not all repeated issues or communications with dealer are listed due to lack of records.
Car shuts off while driving on the expressway, approx 70mph. All of the lights on the dash turn on as car dies. These incidents have happened multiple times, and the dealer cannot locate the issue to resolve the matter. The defect is unknown at this time. The date indicated is the most recent occurrence.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Finksburg, MD, USA