10.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,500
Average Mileage:
72,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace or rebuild transmission (1 reports)
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problem #1

Oct 102014

Forester LS

  • Manual transmission
  • 72,000 miles

I purchased this car a little over a year ago. Soon after I was hearing a sound in the stick shift and trans but assumed that was just how it sounded, I bought it used with 65,000 miles thinking it was still a new car. The Subaru dealer of course had an "as is" sticker on the car. The sales person told me and my wife he had just got the car on a trade in and it was still in the back lot. He urged us to buy it as it would last long with the low miles. I don't believe the car was ever road tested or properly inspected, it had a lot of debris like pine needles and the wheel wells where packed with mud and tar or something similar.

The gas tank filler was packed with tree debris as the car looked like it had been parked under a tree outside for a long time, the interior was also a mess. I figured I could deal with that stuff to get a car with low miles. I am a pastor of a small church and the church was purchasing the car so I could have reliable transportation.

We paid cash for the car and not long after buying it I noticed a sound which I thought was just the way the car ran. After some time the sound got louder until I took it to a transmission shop where they informed me the bearings in the mid section of the trans were about to go which could destroy the whole trans axel. To replace and rebuild would run $2,500. He also informed me that these transmissions are very reliable and it was odd that it would be going out at such low miles. Maybe a problem at the factory when the car was assembled. I am not in a position to spend the money to have it repaired and am stuck with a vehicle with low miles that I cannot drive.

I know Subaru is a good and reliable company and makes a good product; but, somehow mine has this problem and I am seeking Subaru's help to get the problem resolved. I would continue to keep the car after the repairs are made. The problem is obviously abnormal as these transmissions should last 200,000 miles at least. I am seeking help to get my problem resolved. Thank you

- Thom C., Sheridan, OR, US