10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,686 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 #7

Sep 012017

Forester

  • 60,000 miles
This is an older car but still serviceable. The passenger side airbag warning light comes on sometimes accompanied by a seatbelt warming, whenever a passenger is seated and the car is moving. Also a message light indicates the passenger airbag is off. We took the car to a Subaru dealer to see what could be done. The only remedy offered was to replace the entire seat at a cost exceeding $2000. Not cost effective for what amounts to defective weight sensors. We have noted that newer subar's have had the sensors recalled. We request that the recall be extended to all affected Subaru vehicles.

- Meridian, ID, USA

problem #6

Feb 142014

Forester

  • miles
After 1 yr purchasing car new noticed high oil consumption. I was told normal wear by dealer. Now catalytic convertor is gone due to burning oil. Over $1500 to be replaced. I have to replace the rings so I won't have to replace the cat next year. I am going through 2 + qts. Of oil per 1000 miles.

- Barrington, NH, USA

problem #5

Jun 102016

Forester

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V358000 (air bags) and 12V099000 (seat belts). The part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Camarillo, CA, USA

problem #4

May 072012

Forester

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V358000 (air bags) and 12V099000 (seat belts). The part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact was not experiencing a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Parts distribution disconnect.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #3

Dec 292012

Forester

  • 10,300 miles
Pulling out of a parking space at the cvs drug store, pine island rd and del prado blvd in cape coral fl., put the car into drive and the car accelerated on its on across the parking lot, hitting a parked car head on. My air bag deployed and my car hit the parked car so hard it drove it over a concrete barrier out of the lot. The damage to my car alone was $10,000. The other car was destroyed. I have had Subaru cars for 33 years. This Forester was my 8th Subaru. When the car accelerated, I was thrown back, my foot was not on the brake or gas pedal. The car kept running after the accident until I turned it off. State farm insurance sent a safety director over to check the car (after it was fixed), the body shop also had an inspector check the codes on the computer. I got rid of the car even though it had it have 11 months on the lease because I did not trust it.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

problem #2

Dec 262012

Forester 4-cyl

  • 16,500 miles
I had purchased a new Subaru Forester in August of 2011 with an extended warranty for 7 years. It was a big investment for me and I had hoped to drive my new Subaru Forester 2011 for several years down the road. Shortly after purchasing it, I noticed the brakes to be defective and would not stop the vehicle in a timely fashion or quickly enough. My wife, who also happens to drive my car, also complained about its brakes. I had my vehicle regularly serviced as per the companies warranty requirements and at only authorized Subaru service & dealership centers. I brought the defective brakes to their attention but they said that- 'that was the way the Forester's brakes were and that I had to push the pedal hard to the floor(pump the brakes) to stop it quickly enough.' I was greatly disappointed with their response to my concerns and as a precaution I began to keep an even greater distance from all of the cars in front of me. Recently, I was entering a parking lot at about 10-15mph when another vehicle suddenly appeared in front of me. I pushed the brakes but my vehicle just would not stop quickly enough. If I would let go of the brake and then push it again harder and faster to the floor( pump the brake) as the service centre had previously advised me then I would have hit the car in front of me. So I swayed my cars steering wheel and avoided meeting with an accident but my vehicle only stopped when it touched the railing at about 5mph only to discover that my front bumper now had a huge crack in it. I do not feel safe driving a vehicle whose brakes are so bad that it will not stop the vehicle quickly enough and needs to be pumped to stop it sooner(which may not be possible in many circumstances such as the one above), has defective bumpers and also has a rear center child safety seat seatbelt with a recall on it.please investigate the brakes at the very least.

- Welch, WV, USA

problem #1

Jan 052013

Forester 4-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
My vehicle was recalled and the rear seatbelts were replaced on 1/5/2013. However, the new seatbelt latches are too flush to the seat and are difficult to buckle/unbuckle. Additionally, the new middle seatbelt latch and strap interfers and blocks buckling the side seatbelts.

- Portland, OR, USA