The first thing to go was the front seat passenger air bag. The alarm went off frequently with no one sitting there. Then the clock resets to 1:00 every time the car is started. Then the interior dome light stopped working. Then the remote lock stopped working. The auxiliary lights outside the car do not come on when the car is running, unless you put the headlights on. You cannot put the headlights on unless the car is running.
The dealership told me that someone in a wet bathing suit sitting in my front passenger seat probably triggered the problem. I never had anyone in a wet bathing suit sit there. Then they suggested it might be from setting my cell phone on the seat. If setting a cell phone on the passenger seat could cause these problems, they might want to tell people up front, because everyone does it.
They told me it would cost $600 to fix the sensor in the seat and another $2800 to replace the motherboard of the car's computer. So that is $3400 on a three year old car that I had not even finished paying for yet. I called Subaru Corporate to complain, and the response was "There are certain financial responsibilities that come with owning a car". They said they could "work with me" on the cost of the repairs. They also said the dealership did not have enough time with my car to properly diagnose it. They had it for more than 24 hours and I needed it back. I am sure they could have come up with more expenses if they kept it longer.
I will finish paying for this car in 4 months from now. I have received all of the typical sales calls and emails from the dealership asking me to trade it in and buy a new car. Each time I complain about the issues and lack of response on their part, and they just say that is another reason to get a NEW car. I have asked them to stop calling. I have told them I will not buy another car from them, and maybe never another Subaru. I loved my 2012 Forester and had no issues We did the trade in deal for the 2016 only because it was a good offer. I wish I could have my 2012 back because this car has been a nightmare, and the dealership has been terrible to work with. I am also disappointed with the Subaru brand as a result, and I really want to be a Subaru owner.
I do not have the VIN number of the car at the time of this writing, because it is currently abandoned on the highway as a result of... something electrical (likely according to the state trooper). I will update the info once I am able to obtain it.
The first thing to go was the front seat passenger air bag. The alarm went off frequently with no one sitting there. Then the clock resets to 1:00 every time the car is started. Then the interior dome light stopped working. Then the remote lock stopped working. The auxiliary lights outside the car do not come on when the car is running, unless you put the headlights on. You cannot put the headlights on unless the car is running.
The dealership told me that someone in a wet bathing suit sitting in my front passenger seat probably triggered the problem. I never had anyone in a wet bathing suit sit there. Then they suggested it might be from setting my cell phone on the seat. If setting a cell phone on the passenger seat could cause these problems, they might want to tell people up front, because everyone does it.
They told me it would cost $600 to fix the sensor in the seat and another $2800 to replace the motherboard of the car's computer. So that is $3400 on a three year old car that I had not even finished paying for yet. I called Subaru Corporate to complain, and the response was "There are certain financial responsibilities that come with owning a car". They said they could "work with me" on the cost of the repairs. They also said the dealership did not have enough time with my car to properly diagnose it. They had it for more than 24 hours and I needed it back. I am sure they could have come up with more expenses if they kept it longer.
I will finish paying for this car in 4 months from now. I have received all of the typical sales calls and emails from the dealership asking me to trade it in and buy a new car. Each time I complain about the issues and lack of response on their part, and they just say that is another reason to get a NEW car. I have asked them to stop calling. I have told them I will not buy another car from them, and maybe never another Subaru. I loved my 2012 Forester and had no issues We did the trade in deal for the 2016 only because it was a good offer. I wish I could have my 2012 back because this car has been a nightmare, and the dealership has been terrible to work with. I am also disappointed with the Subaru brand as a result, and I really want to be a Subaru owner.
I do not have the VIN number of the car at the time of this writing, because it is currently abandoned on the highway as a result of... something electrical (likely according to the state trooper). I will update the info once I am able to obtain it.
- Molly B., Lowell, MA, US