2001 Subaru Forester

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A CURBSIDE PARKING PLACE ON A CITY STREET THE ENGINE STARTED RACING AND I COULD NOT CONTROL IT BY STOMPING ON THE BRAKES OR APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AS I WAS WRESTLING TO KEEP THE SURGING CAR UNDER CONTROL ANOTHER CAR CAME DRIVING BY AND WAS SIDESWIPED. ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS I HAD TAKEN THIS CAR TO CHECK OUT THE SURGING WHICH TAKES PLACE WHEN THE CAR IS STARTING UP. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT I CONSULTED BOTH ASSURED ME THAT THEY HAD ADJUSTED THE IDLE AND THE CAR WAS NOW SAFE TO DRIVE. BUT IS IT?

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS COLD AND I TURN ON THE DEFROST TO WARM UP THE CAR WHILE PARKED I CAN SMELL GAS IN THE VEHICLE. IT GOES AWAY ONCE I START DRIVING. THIS IS A PROBLEM MANY SUBARU OWNERS HAVE BECAUSE A HOSE LOOSENS AND ALLOWS GAS TO LEAK OUT. ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP THE HOSE TIGHTENS AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. THIS CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE MY CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE.

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. THEN IT GETS CLOSED IN THE DOOR BECAUSE IT HANGS LOOSE. IN THE BACK SEAT, THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT HAS THE WRONG PART SO IT CANNOT BE LATCHED. BECAUSE OF THIS, I CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE WITH MORE THAN 2 PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT.

WHEN TURNING THE TURN SIGNALS ON, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY, SUDDENLY PLUNGING YOU INTO DARKNESS. THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE MADE OF INFERIOR PLASTIC THAT CLOUDS OVER WITH AGE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED BECAUSE IT LOOKED AS IF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON WHEN THEY WERE.

IN DECEMBER, LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR USED, WHILE DRIVING I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A FLAT TIRE. I WAS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM A SERVICE STATION SO DROVE TO IT, BUT DRIVING THAT SHORT DISTANCE RUINED THE TIRE. I HAD JUST PUT AIR IN THE TIRES, BUT DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH ALUMINUM RIMS. OFTEN, AFTER PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRES, THEY WOULD BE FLAT BY THE TIME I GOT HOME (JUST A FEW MILES). THIS HAPPENED IN 2003. I HAVE HAD TO HAD THE RIMS TAKEN OFF, GROUND/SMOOTHED OFF, THEN RESEALED EVERY YEAR OR TWO. ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES/WHEELS IS THAT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SNOW, THE SNOW PACKS ITSELF AROUND THE TIRES COMPLETELY FILLING THE SPACE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BETWEEN THE TIRES AND THE WHEEL WELLS. IF I DON'T MANUALLY REMOVE THE IMPACTED SNOW, IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE THE WHEELS CANNOT BE TURNED. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE RIMS CORRODING BREAKING THE SEAL AND THE SNOW FILLING THE WHEEL WELLS, ARE SAFETY HAZARDS.

WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN AND AROUND THE CAR. WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, I WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE HOSE CLAMPS ON THE FUEL LINES WERE LOOSE. THEY WERE THEN TIGHTENED BUT EVERY TIME THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS, IT HAPPENS AGAIN. IT HAPPENS WHETHER PARKED OUTSIDE OR IN A GARAGE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED AND ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED, WHICH PREVENTED THE BRAKES FROM STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN, WHICH CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FAILED TO INDICATE IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,503.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

SUBARU FORESTER SMELLS OF GAS INSIDE CAB WHEN WEATHER IS COLD. GAS LEAK VISIBLE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED IN 2013. I TIGHTENED A CLAMP AND LEAK STOPPED. THIS WINTER I CANNOT SEE THE LEAK, BUT THE FUEL SMELL OVERTAKES MY CAR ABOUT 5 MINUTES INTO WARMING UP. EVENTUALLY IT DISSIPATES BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE EPIDEMIC IN SUBARUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR CROSS MEMBER BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

BRAKES JUST DO NOT WORK ON SNOW, ICE (ABS DOES NOT KICK IN), AND THE WHEELS DO NOT TURN. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, RAN INTO AN INTERSECTION ON RED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN; NOTICED OTHER COMPLAINTS OF ACCIDENTS. *TR

IN COLD WEATHER WE GET A STRONG FUEL SMELL. THE SMELL ENTERS THE CAR AND GIVES EVERYONE A HEADACHE. OTHER SUBARU OWNERS WE KNOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SUBARU KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT MAKE A RECALL. ESTIMATES FOR A FIX RUN ABOUT $300. *TR

WHEN IT IS BELOW 25 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, FUEL LINES AND RELATED COMPONENTS (INCLUDING RETAINING CLIPS AND FITTINGS) LEAK GASOLINE, CAUSING GAS FUMES TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS PROBLEM IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS A FUEL LINE SEEP. FUMES THEN ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT VIA THE HEATING VENTILATION SYSTEM OR THROUGH GENERAL AMBIENT ENTRY. EVEN WHEN THE HEAT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS OFF, FUMES ENTER THE COMPARTMENT. THIS EXPOSES PASSENGERS TO HARMFUL CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROCARBONS AS WELL AS POSING A FIRE RISK. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS FROM STAND-STILL TO 75 MPH. IN MODERATE COLD (25-15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT), THE LEAKING STOPS AFTER THE ENGINE HAS WARMED. IN COLDER TEMPERATURES, THE LEAKING CONTINUES NO MATTER HOW LONG I DRIVE THE CAR. THE PROBLEM CAN BE TEMPORARILY SOLVED BY TIGHTENING THE HOSE CLAMPS ON THE FUEL LINES, BUT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AGAIN, THE HOSE CLAMPS MUST AGAIN BE TIGHTENED. SOME OF THE CLAMPS ARE UNDERNEATH ENGINE COMPONENTS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE, SO THE PROCESS IS VERY TIME INTENSIVE AND DOES NOT ALWAYS STOP THE FUMES. THIS IS A COMMONLY DISCUSSED TOPIC IN AUTOMOTIVE DISCUSSION BOARDS ONLINE. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE IT IS WIDESPREAD. HERE ARE SEVERAL EXAMPLES: HTTP://WWW.SUBARUFORESTER.ORG/VBULLETIN/F88/GASOLINE-ODOR-INSIDE-CABIN-45495/ HTTP://WWW.SUBARUFORESTER.ORG/VBULLETIN/F87/SMELL-GAS-COLD-STARTS-41319/ HTTP://COMMUNITY.CARTALK.COM/DISCUSSION/1986611/COLD-WEATHER-GAS-SMELL-2003-SUBARU-FORESTER. *TR

WHEN IT IS BELOW 25 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, FUEL LINES AND RELATED COMPONENTS (INCLUDING RETAINING CLIPS AND FITTINGS) LEAK GASOLINE, CAUSING GAS FUMES TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS PROBLEM IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS A FUEL LINE SEEP. FUMES THEN ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT VIA THE HEATING VENTILATION SYSTEM OR THROUGH GENERAL AMBIENT ENTRY. EVEN WHEN THE HEAT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS OFF, FUMES ENTER THE COMPARTMENT. THIS EXPOSES PASSENGERS TO HARMFUL CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROCARBONS AS WELL AS POSING A FIRE RISK. BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED HEADACHES AND NAUSEA FROM THE FUMES SINCE WINTER 2012 WHEN OUR FORESTER FIRST STARTED LEAKING. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS FROM STAND-STILL TO 75 MPH. IN MODERATE COLD (25-15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT), THE LEAKING STOPS AFTER THE ENGINE HAS WARMED. IN COLDER TEMPERATURES, THE LEAKING CONTINUES NO MATTER HOW LONG I DRIVE THE CAR. THE PROBLEM CAN BE TEMPORARILY SOLVED BY TIGHTENING THE HOSE CLAMPS ON THE FUEL LINES, BUT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AGAIN, THE HOSE CLAMPS MUST AGAIN BE TIGHTENED. SOME OF THE CLAMPS ARE UNDERNEATH ENGINE COMPONENTS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE, SO THE PROCESS IS VERY TIME INTENSIVE AND DOES NOT ALWAYS STOP THE FUMES. THIS IS A COMMONLY DISCUSSED TOPIC IN AUTOMOTIVE DISCUSSION BOARDS ONLINE. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE IT IS WIDESPREAD. HERE ARE SEVERAL EXAMPLES: HTTP://WWW.SUBARUFORESTER.ORG/VBULLETIN/F88/GASOLINE-ODOR-INSIDE-CABIN-45495/ HTTP://WWW.SUBARUFORESTER.ORG/VBULLETIN/F87/SMELL-GAS-COLD-STARTS-41319/ HTTP://COMMUNITY.CARTALK.COM/DISCUSSION/1986611/COLD-WEATHER-GAS-SMELL-2003-SUBARU-FORESTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING, IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR BEING DEPRESSED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE FIFTEEN FEET AWAY AND ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND STATED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 178,000. UPDATED 1/7/14*CN

ON MONDAY AT 4:50 PM I WAS DRIVING N A SCHOOL ZONE AND REALIZED THAT I WAS HAVING TO RIDE MY BRAKES I ALSO THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME FUNNY NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I ROLLED DOWN MY WINDOW AND COULDN'T HEAR ANY THING. AS I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND I PRESSED MY BRAKES ALL THE WAY DOWN. THE RPMS WENT ALL THE WAY INTO THE RED AND MY CAR CONTINUED ABOUT 4 TO 6 FEET WITH BRAKES ALL THE WAY DOWN. WHEN CAR FINELY CAME TO A STOP I PLACED IT IN PARK BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS MY STOP MY CAR FROM GOING INTO GEAR AGAIN AND THE RPMS CONTINUED TO RISE MORE INTO THE RED. I WAS AFRAID AND PLACED IT IN DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE TO GET IT INTO THE PARKING LOT I TOOK A RIGHT. WHEN I HAD TO STOP IN THE LOT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND THE RPMS WENT UP ALL THE WAY AS MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE IT WENT ABOUT 3 EXTRA FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. I PLACED IT IN PARK AND QUICKLY TURNED THE CAR OFF. I TURNED THE CAR ON TO SEE IF IT WOULD RESET BUT THE RPM WENT ALL THE WAY UP AGAIN. A MAN CLAIMING TO BE A MECHANIC LOOKED AT MY THROTTLES TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE NOT STUCK AND TOOK ONE FINGER AND TAPPED ON THE THROTTLE SENSOR. I STARTED THE CARE AGAIN AND THE RPMS WERE BACK TO A NORMAL AMOUNT. THE DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE AND HAVE FOUND NO FAULT IN THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG NOISE AND LOOKED BEHIND ME AND SAW BLACK SMOKE AND HAD LOST ALL POWER, NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES AND NO LIGHTS I HAD TO TRY TO CROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET MY CAR TO THE SHOULDER WHILE IT WAS DECELERATING. I GOT THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND WAS WORRIED OF A POSSIBLE FIRE. I GOT OUT AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED. THE RESULT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THAT HAD BLOWN THE ROD THROUGH THE BACK PILLAR AND SPRAYED OIL OVER EVERYTHING CAUSING THE BATTERY TO SHORT OUT WHICH LED TO THE POWER LOSS. THE WHOLE ENGINE ON THE CAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. BOUGHT CAR WITH A REBUILT ENGINE FROM SAME PROBLEM AT 141,000 MILES. *TR

DRIVING N ON I5 HIGHWAY WHEN CAR MADE NOISES, PULLED OVER & WOULD NOT START AGAIN. TOWED IN. WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE WAS DEAD. CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED BY DEALER. HAD TO BUY NEW ENGINE. SUBARU WOULD NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. CAR HAD VERY LOW MILEAGE & WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. WHEN DOING RESEARCH, FOUND THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL VEHICLES WITH 2.5L ENGINE AND DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *TR

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET. TRIED TO CANCEL CRUISE CONTROL WITH STALK, IT DID NOT DISENGAGE. TRIED REPEATEDLY, IT DID NOT DISENGAGE. HIT THE BRAKES TO CANCEL CRUISE CONTROL, IT DID NOT DISENGAGE (BRAKES ONLY SLOWED CAR DOWN). STEPPED ON THE CLUTCH TO CANCEL CRUISE CONTROL, IT DID NOT DISENGAGE. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE CLUTCH AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE REVVED ALL THE WAY TO REDLINE AND REMAINED THERE (MEANING THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STILL ENGAGED). COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH CLUTCH IN, ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AT REDLINE... CONTINUED HITTING CANCEL ON THE STALK, EVENTUALLY REVS SETTLED DOWN TO IDLE. MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS NON-OPERATIONAL AFTER THIS INCIDENT.

THE ISSUE IS IN REGARD TO MY 2001 SUBARU FORESTER, WHEN THE WEATHER COOLS OFF TO BELLOW 0, A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE DEVELOPS INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN. I HAVE SMALL KIDS AND ASIDE FROM A POSSIBILITY OF AND ENGINE FIRE AM ALSO WORRIED ABOUT IMPACT OF BREATHING THE STRONG GASOLINE FUMES IN THE CABIN. FROM OTHER SUBARU OWNERS FEEDBACK (SEE BELLOW FROM SUBARU BLOG), THIS APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD ON THE FORESTER MODELS UP TO 2003 AND EVEN IN OTHER SUBARU MODELS, THE SUBARU DEALER AND OTHER MECHANICS HAVE INDICATED THE POSSIBILITY OF FUEL HOSE SHRINKAGE DURING COLD WEATHER AS THE CAUSE FOR SOME FUEL LEAKS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND REPLACEMENT CAN BE EXPENSIVE WITHOUT GUARANTEEING IT WILL CORRECT THE CONDITION. WHATEVER THE REASON MAY BE, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE WHICH I THINK WARRANTS A FULL INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE DEFECT AND FIND A CORRECTION TO BE PAID BY SUBARU. I COUNT ON YOU FOR SOME HELP ON THIS. THANK YOU. *TR