10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 3
Average Mileage:
0 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #10

Oct 292001

Forester 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While traveling 55 mph, owner saw a dead cow left in the roadway. While attempting to manuever driver struck the cow and vehicle became air-born. Vehicle hit the ground with nose/front. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. One person was injured in accident.

- King Hill, ID, USA

problem #9

Oct 152001

Forester

  • miles
Vehicle was on a side street and was traveling about 20mph, another vehicle jumped in front of consumer's vehicle, consumer applied brakes and pedal went all the way down to the floor. Upon impact, airbags didn't go off. Dealership was aware of problem. Mechanic looked at the vehicle three times already.

- Van Nuys, CA, USA

problem #8

May 262001

Forester

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer's vehicle collided with another vehicle head-on and front air bags didn't deploy. Consumer was going 35mph. Consumer had no idea if Subaru dealer will inspect vehicle. Consumer listed there were 3 injuries and 3 fatalities, however did not specifically mention in the statement of any deaths.

- Santa Monica, CA, USA

problem #7

Mar 072001

Forester 4WD

  • miles
I was making a left turn and was hit head on damaging the right front of my vehicle. The damage totaled over $8000. Damage included the front hood, right front fender, front bumper cover and reinforcement, radiator support and the radiator. Also, the ac condensor, the whole front was bent to the left resulting in damage to the chassis. The engine was tilted, the windshield cracked, and the sub rail, where the airbag sensor is, cracked in two. There was additional damagealso. With all this damage, the airbags, failed to deploy, shocking the police, the insurance company and the repair shop. I contacted Subaru to inform them that there may be a problem with the air bag system and was told not to touch the car. They said they would send engineers to inspect the car within 72 hours. A week later, I contacted them again and they requested copies of the police report and insurance information. I complied and for the next three weeks, I waited for an answer. Finally, an employee of Subaru contacted me and told me to bring the car to a dealer to check if the air bags are working. I told them obviously, they didn't work when I needed them too, especially since the impact was right over the sensor. He then said why was I worrying, that the damage was paid. I explained that I no longer felt safe in the vehicle and that maybe other people might experience the same problem with serious circumstances. To date, I am driving a rental car and incurring expenses for the rental and also storage fees of my damaged vehicle. On a tv program, featuring brian O'neill, from the insurance institute for highwaytest safety, air bags should deploy at an impact of 12-25 mph, resulting in damage cost of $585. My question to Subaru was, why didn't the airbags deploy in a impact the resulted in $8000 in damage?

- North Bergen, NJ, USA

problem #6

Mar 292001

Forester 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Parking with foot on brakes and vehicle suddenly accelerated over cement block. Had hit a few bushes and then a building. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. Had vehicle towed to a mechanic based on referral from dealership.

- Schaumburg, IL, USA

problem #5

Feb 062001

Forester

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving 35 mph was hit on front quarter, neither airbag deployed. Vehicle has side airbags. Likely to be totalled.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #4

Jan 242001

(reported on)

Forester 4WD

  • miles
Brakes lightly applied due to slush on roadway, brakes did not work vehicle crashed, driver suffered concusion as head hit windshield and air bags did not depoly. Seat belt did not hold driver firmly. Subaru home office notified, chris, customer service rep appears not very concerned and almost callous in response to our concerns. Ins co has elected to further investigation the vehicle.

- My. Vision, NY, USA

problem #3

Jan 242001

(reported on)

Forester 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While traveling 40 mph on snow while trying to slow down consumer ran off road.air bags did not deploy with front end damage. The seat belt not adquately restrain the driver.

- Mt Vision, NY, USA

problem #2

Jan 062001

Forester 4WD

  • miles
Aotomobile skidded of road D/T snow/slush stopping in culvert. Damage to front end considered substantial. Air bags did not deploy and seat belt apparently did not hold occupant since her head hit the windshield. She was transported to local er. The fact that the airbags did not depoly impressed the police and emts at the accident site.

- Mt Vision, NY, USA

problem #1

Jul 202000

Forester 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While traveling at 30 mph and as a result of an accident consumer ran head-on into a pole, and air bags did not deploy.

- Lake Wood, NJ, USA