As others have stated here and many more from various Subaru forums, I've been dealing with the shifting into drive issue (it acts as if it's in neutral) with the at. It can take several seconds to several minutes (and sometimes longer or not at all) before it engages. I usually have to rev/pump the accelerator until it corrects itself. Once I'm in drive all is well as long as I stay that way. This is random until it starts to get worse over time. I've read that this is fairly common and it's a worn piston seal or something that prevents enough pressure for the forward gear to engage. This began in 2010 with only 89K miles. The only temp fix has been to drain & replace the at fluid & filter, but that may only last for maybe 500-1000 miles or so. The latest temp fix includes that plus an additive (trans X) that works by swelling seals. This has been more effective with 2500-3500 miles between fluid changes, so I basically have it done every time I change the oil now. I find this appalling there's no recall for this since there's so many I've seen online with the exact same issue. Perhaps they just haven't gone through the right procedures in reporting this, which is why I'm just doing this now myself.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

There are days where the vehicle will not engage into drive. It goes in reverse but still not engage the drive gear. After about a week of the vehicle sitting and not being turned on it will engage and work fine. But will do it again a few weeks to a couple of months later.

- Seattle, WA, USA

199 Subaru Forester. Letter from congressman sarbanes on behalf of constituent with concerns about mechanical problems with Subaru vehicles 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.

- Washington, DC, USA

Consumer complaint concerning 1999 Forester gas mileage. The consumer stated he experienced problems with the transmission, brakes, a knock sensor, a squeak in the cargo panel and the catalytic converter.

- Larchmont, NY, USA

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

- Akron, OH, USA