1999 Subaru Forester

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/26/2000· POWER TRAIN

  06/27/00 AT 39787 MILES, NOISE GRADUALLY GETTING LOUDER IN REAR, VIBRATION. RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING AND AXLE REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP. 09/14/00 AT 46801 MILES, SAME WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AGAIN. 09/25/00 AT 47660 MILES, BEARING FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH IN RAIN ON I-66, GRINDING AND SCREECHING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY AND EXIT FREEWAY. DEALER AGAIN REPLACED BEARING. 10/25/00 AT 49750, DEALER AGAIN REPLACES BEARING AND HOUSING ALSO THIS TIME. CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF VIBRATION ON TIRES, I ALSO ASK FOR AN ALIGNMENT. 12/19/00, PROBLEM RETURNS. CAR IS SCHEDULED FOR SERVICE 12/27/00. I TRAVEL ROUGHLY 500 MILES PER WEEK, MOSTLY ON VERY RURAL ROADS. I CHOSE SUBARU VERY CAREFULLY AND NEED TO KNOW I CAN RELY ON MY VEHICLE TO AVOID BEING STRANDED ALONE ON THE MOST DESERTED OF ROADS. THIS IS THE 2ND SUBARU I HAVE OWNED (NO PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRST ONE), PURCHASED BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE AWD SYSTEM; HOWEVER, I AM LOSING CONFIDENCE IN THIS PARTICULAR CAR. I LOVE THE FORESTER, AND WOULD BUY ANOTHER ONE! I AM SO DISAPPOINTED.

• 12/19/2008· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE A SUBURA 1999 FORESTER IT IS TELLING ME ON INTERNET THEIR IS A RECALL PART NEEDED FOR BRAKES SYSTEM. BUT MY DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOT. .ONLY FOR A DIFFERENT FORESTER. I THINK MY FORESTER SHOULD BE COVERED. IT IS A FORRESTER. I AM HAVING A BRAKE PROBLEM. THE INTERNET SAYS YES THE DEALER SAYS NO. *TR

• 12/19/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE THERE HAS BEEN ANTIFREEZE SMELL. HE WOULD PERIODICALLY CHECK THE RESERVOIR, AND ONCE HE NOTICED IT WAS LEAKING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THERE WAS MANUFACTURER RECALL WWP-99, FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD THE CONTACT HE PROBABLY FILLED THE RESERVOIR TOO HIGH, CAUSING THE LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND SUGGESTED HE KEEP AN EYE ON THE PROBLEM. IF IT PERSISTS, THEY WILL FIX THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

• 12/18/2012· TIRES

  IN ONE MONTHS TIME WE HAVE HAD 4 SEPARATE COOPER WEATHERMASTER S/T2 205/70R15 TIRES HAVE SIDEWALL FAILURE. THESE ARE SNOW TIRES USED ONLY DURING WINTER MONTHS. 3 OF THE 4 TIRES WERE PURCHASED FOR THE 2010/11 WINTER, AND HAD LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON THEM, THE 4TH WAS NEW WITH ABOUT 100 MILES ON IT WHEN IT FAILED. 1ST BLOWOUT) DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT IN DRIVEWAY JUST AFTER WE RETURNED HOME FROM ERRANDS. REPLACED WITH NEW TIRE BY DEALER. 2ND FAILURE) NOTICED BUBBLE ON DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE WHILE SHOPPING 45 MINUTES FROM HOME. CALLED ROADSIDE SERVICE TO PUT ON SPARE AND WHEN HOME, WENT TO DEALER WHO REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE. 3RD FAILURE) 2 HOURS FROM HOME, STOPPED FOR GAS AND NOTICED DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE WITH BUBBLE IN SIDEWALL. THIS WAS THE NEW REPLACEMENT FOR THE 2ND FAILURE. PUT ON SPARE AND DROVE HOME. THAT NIGHT WE HAD OUR 4TH FAILURE - BLOWOUT) THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT DURING THE NIGHT. 3 OF THE TIRES WERE 2 SEASONS OLD, THE 4TH WAS A BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT TIRE FOR ONE OF THE EARLIER FAILURES. IN ALL CASES WE WERE GIVEN BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT TIRES OF THE SAME BRAND AND MODEL. WE WERE FORTUNATE AND NOT DRIVING WHEN THE BLOWOUTS HAPPENED. THIS ALL HAPPENED BETWEEN MID NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 16TH 2012. ALL BLOWN AND DEFECTIVE TIRES HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER AND WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE DOT NUMBER. *TR

• 12/17/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ABOUT 3 YEARS INTO OWNING THIS '99 FORESTER, THE ILLUMINATION FOR MY GEAR SHIFTING COLUMN BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS WENT OUT. COST TO REPAIR WAS PROHIBITIVE, SO I LEARNED TO DEAL WITH IT. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, THE LED CLOCK ABOVE THE MIRROR WENT OUT. COST TO REPAIR $180, SO I DECIDED TO LIVE WITHOUT A CLOCK. LAST FRIDAY, THE LED THAT ILLUMINATES THE GAS GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER WENT OUT. NOW I HAVE TO PERIODICALLY TURN ON THE CABIN LIGHT TO SEE HOW FAST I'M DRIVING, HOW MUCH GASOLINE I HAVE AND HOW MANY MILES I'VE DRIVEN. WHAT'S NEXT? THIS IS RIDICULOUS! *TR

• 12/08/2014· ENGINE

  NOTE: BELOW IS AN EXTRACT FROM A MESSAGE I SENT TO AN ATTORNEY IN WISCONSIN IN 2011 REGARDING THE PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. NOTE ALSO: I SEE WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT ENTRY FOR PENDING DEALER REPAIRS ON A HONDA CIVIC (I THINK) PERTAINING TO "COOLANT LOSS". AT LEAST HONDA COMPANY WILL LIVE UP TO AND CORRECT ITS MANUFACTURING MISTAKES. I AND OTHERS HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THEIR SUBARU VEHICLES CIRCA 1997-2004. THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM LOSING COOLANT AT AN UNACCEPTABLE RATE. THIS IS THE RESULT OF FUNCTIONAL DESIGN FLAWS OF USING DIFFERENT METALS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS ALLOWS LARGER THAN NORMAL GAPS TO OPEN UP IN THE CYLINDER WALLS AS THE TWO METALS EXPAND DIFFERENTLY WHEN THE ENGINE HEATS UP. COUPLED WITH CHEAP GASKETS, THIS FORMULA HAS LED TO MANY ENGINE SEIZURES IN THESE CARS ACROSS THE COUNTRY DUE TO OVERHEATING. (I'VE CAUGHT MINE BARELY IN TIME AS THE THERMOSTAT HIT RED-LINE TWICE NOW WITHOUT WARNING.) MEANWHILE, SUBARU KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FROM THE ONSET, SINCE DEALERS TREATED THE COOLANT SYSTEM WITH SO-CALLED COOLANT "CONDITIONER" BEFORE SELLING THESE CARS. AND THEY DIDN'T ADVISE THE PURCHASER THAT THEY WERE DOING THIS AND WHY. PROBLEMS IS...THE CONDITIONER WILL NOT WORK INDEFINITELY AND MAY EVEN ACCELERATE THE BREAKDOWN OF THE CHEAP GASKET. I'VE GOT 81,400 MILES NOW ON MY CAR AND I'M ON MY SECOND CAN OF CONDITIONER. BUT THE COOLANT LEVEL KEEPS DROPPING AND IT'S BURNING AWAY IN THE HOT ENGINE. I CAN SMELL IT WHEN I LEAVE THE CAR IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. (IT SMELLS SWEET BUT I'M NOT TOO PLEASED WITH IT.). SUBARU HAS SINCE HAD THE FORETHOUGHT TO CHANGE ITS GASKETS TO MUCH STURDIER ONES. BUT, OF COURSE, THAT MEANS I'D HAVE TO SHELL OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE MINE. *TR

• 12/05/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES WENT MUSHY AND GRADUALLY WENT TO FLOOR BOARD. WORKED OK WHEN PUMPED

• 12/02/2003· SUSPENSION

  WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONSUMER HEARD A RUBBING NOISE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE REAR STRUT SPRING PLATE CORRODED AND WAS PUSHED DOWN ONTO THE TIRES. *AK THE REAR STRUTS WERE REPLACED. *TT *JB

• 12/02/1999· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  WOULD HEAR GRINDING NOISES COMING FROM REAR. THE FASTER THE VEHICLE WAS GOING, THE LOUDER THE NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AT LEAST 4 TIMES: 6/23/ 7/2/ 11/8; & 11/15. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AT ONE POINT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE SEAL HAD BROKEN. EACH TIME WAS REPAIRED. *AK

• 11/20/2001· SUSPENSION

  PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT WHEEL BEARING. DEALER OR MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

• 11/18/1999· SUSPENSION

  DEALER REPORTED VEHICLE WAS NOT ALIGNED AT TIME OF MANUFACTURING, CAUSED PREMATURELY WEAR TIRES WHICH SUBARU OF AMERICA IS ONLY WILLING TO PAY A SMALL SHARE OF COST( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P20570R15 )

• 11/16/2002· WHEELS

  I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THREE (3) WHEEL BEARINGS ON THIS AUTOMOBILE. WHEEL BEARING FAILURE COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF A WHEEL AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. A SEARCH OF THE WEB INDICATES THIS MODEL HAS A HISTORY OF THESE PROBLEMS. DT

• 11/15/2002· STRUCTURE

  PAINT PEELING OFF RIGHT REAR SIDE AND REAR BUMPER. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED 12/12/02 AFTER CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**769762

• 11/12/2004· TIRES,WHEELS

  WHILE DRIVING AT 55 ON THE HIGHWAY LEFT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE, AND THE WHEEL WAS BENT. CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WANTED THE WHEEL AND TIRE MAILED.*AK

• 11/08/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  UPON ENTERING THE HIGHWAY RAMP, BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JG

• 11/05/2003· POWER TRAIN

  CLUTCH PREMATURELY BURNED OUT. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CLUTCH WOULD CHATTER OR DISENGAGE IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED, BUT FAILED AGAIN. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT. THERE WAS NO SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM.*AK THE REPLACEMENT CLUTCH HADN'T FAILED COMPLETELY . IT STARTED EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE FIRST ONE BUT AT AN ACCELERATED PACE. CONSUMER NOTED MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS IN THE BAY AREA EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AND ARE NOT RIDING THE CLUTCH. *PH *NLM

• 11/05/2003· EQUIPMENT

  UNSAFE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT JACK PROVIDED WITH 1999 SUBARU FORESTER L AND IN ALL LIKELHOOD WITH SUBSEQUENT MODELS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A FLAT ON A LEVEL STREET, THE JACK BENT AND COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO RETURN TO THE PAVEMENT. FORTUNATELY, NO HARM WAS DONE, BUT THIS JACK MIGHT CAUSE BODILY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE IN THE FUTURE, IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY DONE SO IN THE PAST. *AK

• 11/05/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  AT SLOW SPEEDS OR WHEN COMING TO A STOP BRAKE PEDAL FEELS MUSHY, THEN, IT GOES TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.

• 10/30/1999· POWER TRAIN

  THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS DOWN TO 3RD GEAR AT ANY SPEED IF THE DRIVER TOUCHES THE BRAKE PEDAL. AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH THIS SHARPLY REDUCES THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CONTROL VEHICLE SPEED. THE TRANSMISSION SUBSEQUENTLY DOES NOT SHIFT UP TO 4TH GEAR AGAIN. IT MUST BE SHIFTED UP MANUALLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IN MODERATE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC ON HILLY HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS. I HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE PROBLEMS TO A DEALER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. A SUBARU REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME IN A TELEPHONE CALL THAT SUBARU HAS CORRECTED THE HIGH SPEED DOWNSHIFT PROBLEM IN LEGACY AND OUTBACK MODELS BUT WILL NOT REPAIR THE SAME PROBLEM IN FORESTER MODELS.

• 10/27/2004· SUSPENSION

  REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE WAS MAKING TOO MUCH NOISE BEFORE THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *NM

• 10/16/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  BLOWER SWITCH WAS ON HIGH, NUMBER 4 WHEN ELECTRICAL SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL. BLOWER WOULD NOT RUN ON NUMBER 4, (HIGH). THE SWITCH HAD BURNED CONTACTS AT THE WIRE CONNECTOR. REPLACEMENT SWITCH COST $60.07 PLUS TAX. MR

• 10/13/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN DRIVER SLAMMED THE BRAKE. YH

• 10/12/2001· SUSPENSION,TIRES

  CONSUMER HEARD A ROARING NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE, BEGINNING AT 4000 MILES. DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. AFTER THIRD VISIT DEALER SUGGESTED IT WAS A TIRE PROBLEM. CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES, BUT NOISE KEPT GETTING LOUDER. ON FOURTH VISIT DEALER REPLACED ALL WHEEL BEARINGS, WHICH TOOK CARE OF NOISE, SEPTEMBER 25, 2001. *AK

• 10/09/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AFTER CHECKING/CHANGING GAS CAP AND HAVING LIGHT RESET, IT CAME ON AGAIN. I THEN CHECKED INTERNET SITES FOR POSSIBLE PROBLEMS AND THEN NOTICED CORROSION WHEN I REMOVED THE GAS CAP. ONE AREA HAD A SMALL HOLE STARTING IN THE METAL. WE HAD THE FUEL FILLER NECK REPLACED AT A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY GAVE ME THE OLD ONE BACK. IT WAS ALL CORRODED AND HE SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE GAS MAY HAVE COME THROUGH. VEHICLE IS KEPT IN GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS PIPE TO CORRODE UNLESS THE MATERIAL IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

• 10/08/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE DETECTED THAT WITHIN THE SPEED RANGE OF 5 MILES PER HOUR UP TO 70 MILES PER HOUR, THE BRAKE ROTORS (FRONT AND BACK) CAUSE A PREMATURE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING WITH REASONABLE FORCE ON BRAKE PEDAL FROM THESE SPEEDS. THIS VIBRATION IS SUSPECTED TO BE CAUSING IRREGULAR WEAR ON ALL FOUR TIRES, AND WILL WEAR VITAL SUSPENTION AND BRAKING COMPONENTS PREMATURELY, CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD.

• 10/04/2006· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE

  CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING 1999 FORESTER GAS MILEAGE. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BRAKES, A KNOCK SENSOR, A SQUEAK IN THE CARGO PANEL AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *JB

• 10/03/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, IT BURNS WELL OVER A QUART OF OIL WHEN IT TRAVELED 1000 MILES. HENCE HAVING TO REPLACE 3 TO 4 QTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THIS IS ?NORMAL.? I THOUGHT THAT THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PUT THIS ON THE STICKER INFORMATION OF ALL NEW CARS WHILE OTHERS ARE DOCUMENTING THE SAME INFORMATION. *LA

• 10/02/2001· SUSPENSION

  THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED ONCE. NLM

• 10/02/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  OIL PUMP SEAL OIL LEAK, FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. STILL LOOSING OIL FOUND HEAD GASKET LEAK, WILL FIX UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER SAID ENGINE STILL USING OIL, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT AS THEY SAY 1 QUART EVERY 1000 MILES IS NORMAL. BUT DEALER WANT TO CHECK THE VEHICLE EVERY 2000 MILES. *YH

• 10/02/2000· WHEELS

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

• 09/29/1999· POWER TRAIN

  EVERY DAY I ACCELERATE FROM MY DRIVEWAY IMMEDIATELY AFTER START UP THE CAR HESITATES AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I PUSHED ON THE GAS BUT THERE WAS A 1-2 SECOND HESITATION BEFORE THE CAR TOOK OFF. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND I LIVE IN OHIO AND IT WAS SPRING AND SUMMER LIKE WEATHER AND IT DID IT FROM DAY ONE

• 09/16/2004· EQUIPMENT

  MY 1999 SUBARU FORESTER'S AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING RIGHT AFTER 5 YEARS. I LEFT THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP OVER NIGHT AND THEY SUSPECTED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THEY WERE NOT 100% SURE AT THAT TIME. THEY DID MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENT AT THAT TIME AND THE AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN TO WORK. HOWEVER, IT ONLY LASTED A WEEK. I HAD ALREADY SPENT ALMOST $200 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND I NEED TO SPEND $750 MORE TO REPLACE THE AIR COMPRESSOR. I CHECKED SOME REFERENCES AND LEARNED THAT THE AIR CONDITION SYSTEM SHOULD LAST 80K-100K MILES, WHILE MY CAR'S MILEAGE IS NOT EVEN 50K! SO I SENT AN E-MAIL TO SUBARU AMERICA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, THEIR REPLY WAS ONLY ACCORDING TO THE 3 YEAR/36K MILES WARRANTY. I AM REALLY UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS AND I AM WONDERING IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER SUBARU OWNERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS! *JB

• 09/10/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING DURING WARM WEATHER APPLIED BRAKES, AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THEY HAD TO BE PUMPED TO GET A RESPONSE. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR UNTIL THE THIRD PUMP. THERE IS A RECALL FOR ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE IN COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 09/08/1999· POWER TRAIN

  WHEN THE TRUCK IS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH THE ENGINE OFF IT WILL JERK ONE OR TWO INCHES FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE TRUCK IS PARKED IN REVERSE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER CONCERNS. *AK

• 09/04/2001· POWER TRAIN

  AUGUST 2000. RIGHT REAR BEARINGS BROKE APART WHILE DRIVING OFF ROAD. SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND I WAS ON VACATION, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST PRIVATE GARAGE. I SUBMITTED THE BILL FOR THE REPAIRS AND RENTAL CAR TO SUBARU WHICH THEY PAID. AUGUST 13, 2001: RIGHT REAR BEARINGS WENT OUT AGAIN ON CITY STREETS NEAR HOME. MY SON TOOK THE CAR TO STEVENS CREEK SUBARU. THEY TOLD ME WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR ON 8/15 THAT FORESTERS OF ALL YEARS HAVE THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. FURTHER, ONCE A CAR HAS THE PROBLEM, IT WILL CONTINUE TO RECUR. THE WARRANTY COVERED ALL COSTS. LESS THAN ONE WEEK LATER, 8/20, THE BEARINGS WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME WE WERE ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD GOING AROUND A LEFT BEND WHEN THEY BROKE. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AS IT STARTED TO SLIDE TOWARDS THE CLIFF, BUT MANAGED TO GET IT TO A SMALL TURNOUT SAFELY. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT 49ER SUBARU IN ANGELS CAMP, CA, TOLD ME THAT THE AXLE "EXPLODED" AS A RESULT OF THE BEARINGS GOING OUT, WHICH IS WHY THE CAR HAD STARTED TO SLIDE. THEY USED ALL FORESTER PARTS TO REPLACE THE BROKEN ONES, WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT THEY USED LEGACY BEARINGS INSTEAD OF FORESTER BEARINGS. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A FACTORY APPROVED CHANGE, BUT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A TSB OR ANYTHING IN WRITING STATING THAT THIS WAS AN APPROVED SUBSTITUTION. SUBARU PAID FOR ALL REPAIRS AND THE HOTEL, AND THEY EXTENDED MY WARRANTY TO 6 YEARS 100,000 MILES. DENE WITT, SUBARU CENTRAL REGION OFFICE, 15000 E. 39TH AVE, AURORA, CO 80011 WAS VERY HELPFUL AND KIND THROUGHOUT THIS ORDEAL AND WENT OUT OF HER WAY TO MAKE SURE WE GOT BACK ON THE ROAD QUICKLY (SHE HAD TO HAVE AN AXLE OVERNIGHTED FROM OUT OF STATE). CAN THIS COMPLAINT BE KEPT ANONYMOUS SINCE I STILL OWN THE FORESTER AND MAY HAVE TO DEAL WITH SUBARU IN THE FUTURE? THANKS, SHARON "EILEEN" CERVANTES. *AK

• 09/03/2000· TIRES

  WITHIN THE FIRST 9 MONTHS, I EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH 4 OUT OF THE ORIGINAL 5 OF THESE TIRES, INCLUDING A BLOWOUT OF THE INSIDE SIDEWALL ON ONE OF THEM. I CONTACTED BOTH FIRESTONE AND THE SUBARU DEALER, BUT WAS TOLD I HAD SIMPLY BEEN "UNLUCKY" TO HAVE A( DOT NUMBER: ELYTCHB238 TIRE SIZE: P20570R15 )

• 09/01/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT CONSUMER PRESSED ON BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS BEING PRESSED DOWN ALL THE WAY. CONSUMER HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKES. VEHICLE DID MOVE FORWARD AT A SLOW PACE FOR THE FACT THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AND BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME. CONSUMER HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISION. PLACED VEHICLE IN PARK IN ORDER FOR VEHICLE TO STOP. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, AND HAS ADVISED CONSUMER TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT REPAIRS. *AK THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TWICE BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. *YH

• 08/26/2001· SEATS

  FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF THE LETTER TO SUBARU SENT AUGUST 26, 2001: DEAR SUBARU CUSTOMER RESPONSE STAFFMEMBER:NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

• 08/25/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET/ENGINE FAILED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. CAR STALLED, UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. *TR

• 08/20/2010· POWER TRAIN

  199 SUBARU FORESTER. LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN SARBANES ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT WITH CONCERNS ABOUT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH SUBARU VEHICLES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PUT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE. A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE FAILURE WAS WITH THE CLUTCH. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH ONLY A 119,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *JB

• 08/19/2004· SUSPENSION

  THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE NOISE BY THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INDICATED THE NOISE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF A RIGHT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED, BUT THEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE LEFT SIDE. *JB

• 08/17/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  DURING A 35 MPH REAR COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 08/16/2000· TIRES

  REAR TIRES WERE WEARING OUT EXCESSIVELY ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE. HAD THE TIRES REPLACED AT 25,000. FRONT TIRES ARE THE ORIGINAL & STILL GOOD. *AK

• 08/15/2003· SUSPENSION

  THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD WITH 24100 MILES. AT 16000 MILES, RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 22000 MILES, RIGHT REAR BEARING NOISE RETURNED AND THE DEALER 'ADJUSTED' THE BEARING FOR 'FREE', EVEN THOUGH THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY HAD PASSED. AT 24100 MILES, THE BEARING FAILED WITH GRINDING AND SMOKING WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE EVENT UNDER WARRANTY.A TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT OTHER FORESTERS WERE HAVING SIMILAR BEARING PROBLEMS,AND THAT THEY WE RETOLD TO STOP USING THE OEM BALL BEARINGS, AND GO TO A ROLLER BEARING.*AK

• 08/13/2002· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE WAS ON EXPRESSWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60MPH. VEHICLE MALFUCTIONED, AND WOULDN'T DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. VEHICLE WAS GOING AROUND A SLIGHT CURB, AND AND WAS STOPPED DUE TO CRASING INTO A MEDIAN. SUBARU WAS NOTIFIED FOR SECOND TIME, AND FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK

• 08/13/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION SWITCH ,AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STARTVEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

• 08/10/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WE HAVE A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER WITH A 2.5 L ENGINE. WE GOT A RECALL NOTICE 2-2004 REGARDING EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAKS AT THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS. THIS RECALL COVERED VEHICLE YEARS 1999-2002 OR 4 YEARS OF VEHICLES. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND HAD THE SPECIFIC (SPECIAL CONDITIONER) INSTALLED AS REQUIRED BY SUBARU. UNFORTUNATELY FOR US IT TOOK SUBARU 5 YEARS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AS WE ARE ON THE FRONT END OF THE MODEL YEARS IN QUESTION. LAST WEEK THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED AND WITH IT A LARGE REPAIR BILL. SUBARU WILL NOT HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AS WE ARE OUTSIDE IT BY LESS THAN 10% IN MILEAGE BUT WITHIN THE SPECIFIED 8 YEARS IN AGE. WE LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND IT IS OUR OPINION THE MILEAGE AMOUNTS ALLOWED DO NOT REPRESENT THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY AND ARE NOT REAL WORLD. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH 2 EXTREMELY EXPERIENCED MECHANICS INCLUDING A NISSAN MECHANIC (NOTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY) WHO INDICATED THE CONDITIONER WAS MERELY A BAND-AID, A WAY FOR SUBARU TO MAKE A TEMPORARY FIX, AND NOT MAKE A PROPER REPAIR BY REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS IN QUESTION. *JB

• 08/07/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH APPLIED BRAKE, BRAKING DISTANCE WAS NORMAL. BRAKE PEDAL STAYED ON FLOOR, HAD TO BE PULLED UP. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM.*AK

• 08/07/2001· SUSPENSION

  LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN ONE YEAR. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE.*AK

• 08/07/2001· SUSPENSION

  FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK