10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 5 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 29,669 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Air conditioning condenser does not operate properly due to a problem with wiring in the clutch, as acknowledged by Subaru. Blows cool air only sometimes, because the condenser does not function properly. Every condenser before a certain date is destined to fail, leaving the driver to pay for an expensive repair despite the fact that Subaru has acknowledged this issue is due to bad wiring and has corrected it. Per NHTSA id number 10120975.
- Freehold, NJ, USA
Loss of engine power/acceleration. Traveling home in our 2015 Forester, VIN [xxx], 93K miles, when we encountered a problem. On the interstate, traveling approximately 70mph, our Forester seemed to come out of gear, all the dash lights illuminated & the gas pedal would not work as far as actually accelerating the car (the gas pedal would "rev up" when pressed, but there was no actual acceleration happening with the engine). There was no warning; no engine issues; no warning lights on the dash prior to this event. We were luckily able to pull safely off the interstate. We did shut the car off in hopes of "resetting" something but could not get the car to restart (it would just crank). Therefore, we had to have it towed. This is the third time this has happened in the past year on this vehicle. We have taken it to our trusted local mechanic. No issues were found, and no codes were identified. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Beaverdam, VA, USA
Two times, while driving on the highway at about 65 mph, my car lost the ability to accelerate. It was as though the car slipped into neutral. I pushed the accelerator pedal and the RPM's would increase, but the car wouldn't accelerate. It simply slowed down. Both times the highway was empty enough that I was able to drift into the shoulder. Once I pulled over, I turned off the car and waited a few minutes. When I turned it back on, the car started and acceleration worked as normal. Both times I brought it to a local Subaru dealership, and after running some tests said they couldn't find any issues, and couldn't help me any further. I've found other people who have experienced very similar problems, but it seems like no one has found a solution.
- Providence, RI, USA
Loss of power. It feels like there is simply no throttle response. It has happened after turning into traffic from a stop sign or red light at low speed (< 40 mph) and merging onto a highway at high speed (> 60 mph). Pressing the gas pedal just results in continued vehicle deceleration. The engine is still running but no response to throttle. After several cycles of backing off throttle and pressing, the engine will just suddenly start responding. Sometimes the hill assist and ABS lights on the dash will illuminate, sometimes not. There is never been a check engine light when it happens. It has happened several times. Scary, especially on the highway.
- Endwell, NY, USA
My car losses power while I am driving. I merged into traffic on a two lane highway, and while my vehicle was across the North & South lanes, I lost power. Luckily all traffic slowed or stopped until I was able to move my car. This has happened 3 times now, I have had it to my dealer twice and was given answers like brake problems. Returning to the dealership 12/19/2019 for the third time, before I am killed, or cause a multi-car accident and other people to be injured. I have also reported this to consumer reports and Subaru's main location. Please notify me of anything else I can seek out as to not be killed or seriously injured in this car. Thanks.
- Tomkins Cove, NY, USA
Car stalled while driving, with no lights lit up on the dashboard. Happened twice, once at 5 mph and again at 25 mph. The two times it happened were about three minutes apart this morning. Then I drove three hours on the highway without a repeat of the issue. When it stalled, it felt like the wheels and engine became disconnected from the gas pedal. No engine revving was audible. It did not completely stop, but slowed to a crawl coasting totally on momentum, then started moving again on its own. This is what happened both times.
- Wenham, MA, USA
Recall notification followup --- this vehicle has a brake lamp switch recall. I called the dealer --bob baker Subaru in carlsbad ca -- and they require an appointment to change the switch. Today is July 9, 2019, and they cannot schedule an appointment until November, 2019. To me this is an unreasonable amount of time to wait for a vehicle recall that is a very minor part replacement. I am making this complaint because the recall notice and this website both mention that the repair should be done in a reasonable amount of time.
- Escondido, CA, USA
Periodically in the middle of a turn the car seems to loose power and acts like it is going to stall. It is inconsistent when it happens. Car can be cold or have been driven for over an hour. Subaru mechanics could not replicate and I do not feel I should have to keep paying them when they can't find it. Problem also happened to my husband while driving this car. Problem did not happen in winter but has happened twice in past 4 months
- Angola, NY, USA
My ac has been giving me problems since I bought it. It never really cooled to its full potential. It has gotten worse over the years. Loud noises when ac is turned on, blowing cool then after 30 mins gets cold. Now it stopped cooling. Blowing hot air
- Bayonne, NJ, USA
Today is 6/5/2019. The earliest I can schedule my urgent important safety recall with fox Subaru in grand rapids, mi is November 6th, 2019------five months from now! really"?? so if I die....before then...in an accident as a result of them not being able to do the recall does my family get to sue fox Subaru as well as Subaru of America, Inc for compensation from my life? how ridiculous is this 5 month wait for urgent important safety recalls????"
- Grand Rapids, MI, USA
We have had this vehicle for almost 4 years and have had to get 2 new batteries with less than 2500 miles on this vehicle. We are seniors and have been in please where we had to have the battery charged at least twice not including the times it failed on us. We were told that this was a very safe vehile for seniors. Our warranty will be up in a year. Is this normal for a vehicle with so many electronics, they should have a stronger battery if it is used so much. We have not used it for long trips, as we are unsure of our safety.. is there any fix that Subaru is working on. We now keep all our light switches in the off position.
- Sacramento, CA, USA
When driving after some time the ac goes warm. This happened while highway driving, when stopped in traffic and on city rds. It seems to happen after the system had been on for a bit. It also starts back to cold on its own after a while
- Ayer, MA, USA
The tire low pressure indicator came on the dash board. The air pressure was low, so that was what was supposed to happen. The problem is that I can't reset the tire low pressure indicator unless I pay the dealer $50. So, I haven't had a functioning low pressure indicator for two years.
- Waupun, WI, USA
Eyesight driving assist cameras failed, intermittently at first then complete failure. This failure also takes out the rear backup camera and cruise control and brake assist functions.
- Lino Lakes, MN, USA
Horn does not work when sterring wheel in straight ahead position. Horn works in all other positions.
- Santa Fe, NM, USA
When using light acceleration such as in a parking lot or at a red light or stop sign to start going the vehicle bucks forward it will literally make you jerk back in the seat. Also while pulling onto a street it jerks forward but has hesitation which isnt to safe if you ask me when trying to get out on the road if cars are coming...
- Hallsville, TX, USA
The car was parked on a city street, not running. When I approached to enter the car in the morning, after clicking the unlock button but before touching the car, the rear windshield spontaneously shattered into hundreds of pieces. Nothing hit or fell on the car, no one was touching it nor in it. It simply shattered and broke as it was sitting there stationary and off.
- Baltimore, MD, USA
The eye sight system will turn off while driving down the road which in turn turns off the cruise control. And the automatic brake then doesn't work, which becomes very dangerous in traffic.
- Bakersfield, CA, USA
Oil consumption!! I purchased the vehicle in June 2017 with 67,000 miles with in month I was burning 1-2 quarts of oil. Now there is a class action lawsuit out there but only thru 2014 not on mine apparently. Now here I am 1.5 years later and still burning 1-2 quarts of oil in between the 5,000 mile oil change.
- Barnesville, MN, USA
- Providence, RI, USA