2004 Subaru Forester Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED A SECOND TIME. THE THIRD TIME THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,530.

1. NOTICED STRONG GAS ODOR AFTER DRIVING CAR. UPON INSPECTION, NOTICED GAS POOLED ON ENGINE TOP, PASSENGER SIDE, UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD. 2. APPEARS THAT FUEL LINE IS LEAKING. UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN EXACTLY WHERE, BECAUSE LEAK IS BEHIND INTAKE MANIFOLD. OCCURS DURING VERY COLD WEATHER. 3. REPAIRS FORTHCOMING. *TR

RAW FUEL SMELL IN CABIN DURING COLD START. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HE SEES FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINE UNDER PASSENGER INTAKE MANIFOLD. TO RESOLVE ISSUE HE WILL HAVE TO PULL THE INTAKE, REPLACE FUEL LINES AND USE BETTER CLAMPS. THE CLAMPS AND HOSE USED BY SUBARU IS FAULTY AS I SEE A TON OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. THEY EVEN DID A RECALL ON THE WRX WHICH HAS THE SAME MOTOR AS THE FORESTER.

WE OWNED A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER FOR 6 YEARS. 2 YEARS AGO I EXPERIENCED AN INCIDENT WHERE STARTING OUT THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AT AN ADVANCED RATE OF SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY GAIN CONTROL AND BRAKE THE VEHICLE AND THOUGHT IT WAS AN ABERRATION. RECENTLY ON STARTING OUT FROM A FERRY BOAT THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN STUCK AT AN ADVANCED RATE OF SPEED. I AVOIDED PEOPLE AND MANY CARS BUT DID COLLIDE WITH A WALL AND 1 CAR, FINALLY STOPPING THE SUBARU BY DRIVING UP A HILL, OVER A CURB AND INTO A FENCE. I HAD MECHANICS CHECK THE ACCELERATOR SYSTEM. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NO DEFECT IN THE SYSTEM BUT THAT OTHER FACTORS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO "STICKING" SUCH AS FAULTY FLOOR MATS OR PLACEMENT OD BRAKE AND/OR ACCELERATOR PEDALS. I AM NOT AN EXPERT BUT MY EXAMINATION INDICATES (1) THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 2 INCH GAP BETWEEN THE FRONT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE FLOOR (2)THAT T HE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE QUITE CLOSE TOGETHER; AND THAT A FOOT COULD BECOME "HUNG UP" OR LODGED BECAUSE OF EITHER OR BOTH OF THESE THINGS. THIS POSSIBILITY COULD BE INCREASED BY LARGER FEET, ALTHOUGH I DO NOT CONSIDER MY SIZE 11 WIDTH EE SHOE SIZE TO BE OVERLY LARGE. MY NON-EXPERT OPINION IS THAT THESE PEDALS SHOULD BE RE-ENGINEERED SO THAT (1) THERE IS NO GAP OF THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR (2)THERE IS A CLEAR SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. *TR

I OWN AND DAILY DRIVE A 2004 FORESTER XT. IT HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. LAST NIGHT, AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, THERE WAS AN OVERWHELMING SMELL OF RAW FUEL IN THE CABIN. THIS SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MORNING WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC, AT A RED LIGHT. THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS SO STRONG, I FELT LIGHT HEADED AND HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS 24 FAHRENHEIT. I FOUND THAT SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA) ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON WRX MODELS WHICH PRODUCED THIS SYMPTOM. UPON INSPECTION OF MY ENGINE, I CAN BOTH SEE AND SMELL RAW FUEL SEEPING FROM ONE OR MORE OF THE FUEL LINES. I CONTINUED MY RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE COVERING MANY YEAR MODELS OF THE FORESTER AND THE LEGACY MODELS. DUE TO THE VOLATILITY OF GASOLINE AND THE INHERENT DANGERS TO HUMANS IN VAPOR FORM, I FEEL THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS AND NOTICED THE APPARENT LARGE POPULATION OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. THIS IS VERY DISCONCERTING. I AM CONTACTING SOA TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM AND TO REQUEST THEY COVER THE FAILURE UNDER GOODWILL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE TEMPERATURE STARTED TO DROP HE NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REALIZED THAT THE HARD FUEL LINE WAS LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.

STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE CABIN DEVELOPED WHEN OPERATING ON COLD MORNINGS; FUEL ODOR TYPICALLY WENT AWAY WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF STARTING THE CAR. INSPECTION OF FUEL LINES, FILTER, ETC. REVEALED NO OBVIOUS LEAKS ABOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. DEALER QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $800 TO REMOVE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND INSPECT. I HAVE HAD TWO INDEPENDENT SHOPS ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS ISSUE OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS; THE MOST RECENT (2011) REMOVED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND REPLACED ALL RUBBER FUEL LINES UNDER THE MANIFOLD, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED THIS FALL AND WINTER AND AT INCREASINGLY WARM TEMPERATURES. NOW, THERE IS A VISIBLE AND OBVIOUS LEAK FROM A FUEL LINE JUST AS IT GOES UNDER THE MANIFOLD--INACCESSIBLE WITHOUT REMOVING THE MANIFOLD. CLEARLY, THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE DESIGN OF THE METAL FUEL RAIL TO RUBBER LINE INTERFACE, SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN FORESTER XTS ACROSS SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. SUBARU OF AMERICA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE WRX, BUT SO FAR HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM FOR THE FORESTER OR FORESTER XT. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE: THE LEAKING FUEL DRIPS DIRECTLY ONTO THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS AND IN SOME CASES (ON PASSENGER-SIDE FUEL LINE LEAKS) IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE TURBOCHARGER--REPRESENTING A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF ENGINE FIRE. THE FUEL FUMES IN THE CABIN ARE ALSO A HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK WHICH SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY SUBARU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 30 DEGREES, THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTICED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING COLD WEATHER HE WOULD SMELL GASOLINE FUMES INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED STATED THAT HE HAD A LEAK IN HIS FUEL LINE FROM THE HOSE ON THE FUEL RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/02/11 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A MANUFACTURERS RECALL PERTAINING TO THE SUN-ROOF REPLACEMENT IN OCTOBER, 2010. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE RECALL COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THE RECALL EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,102.

ON AUGUST 3, 201 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY 2004 SUBARU FORESTER SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I COULD NOT KEEP MY SPEED BELOW 80-90 MILES PER HOUR, EVEN WHEN MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AT ALL TIMES. I TRIED TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, IN CASE THAT WAS THE ISSUE. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE CLOSE TO MY HOME AND USUAL CAR REPAIR SERVICE. I WAS ABLE TO GET THERE BY CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING THE GEAR I WAS IN AND KEEPING THE BRAKE ENGAGED AT ALL TIMES. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO TURN INTO MY GARAGE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND ENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO STOP, MY BRAKES WERE SMOKING. MY ABS UNIT ON THE CAR HAS SINCE FAILED. THE CAR'S ACCELERATOR UNIT WAS FOUND TO BE CAKED BY SOME SORT OF GUNK, AND THIS CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR TO BE STUCK OPEN. REPAIRS COST MORE THAN $1200.00. *TR

THE AIR BAG DASHBOARD LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. IT FIRST CAME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 82000 MILES AND AT FIRST IT WAS INTERMITTENT. AFTER ABOUT SIX WEEKS, IT HAS BECOME PERMANENTLY LIT WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED ON. I HAVE NOTED THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL. THE LIGHT DOES NOT BOTHER ME, BUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DOES CONCERN ME GREATLY. *TR

CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER DESIGN FLAW EXCLUSIVE DEALERSHIPS REPAIRS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH HIS ENGINE DUE TO A BLOWN TURBO. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO SELL THE REPLACEMENT PART TO HIS LOCAL MECHANIC DUE TO THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THE INSTALLATION PROCESS. SUBARU LATER RESPONDED IN WRITING DENYING ALL CLAIMS EVEN WHEN THE CONSUMER SUPPLIED THEM WITH VALID REASONS. THE CONSUMER LEARNED SUBARU WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM DATING BACK TO 2005 AND A TSB WAS ISSUED. THE TSB STATED THAT OIL STARVATION TO THE TURBO WAS THE MAIN CAUSE FOR THE TURBO FAILURE. THE OIL STARVATION HAPPENED WHEN THE OIL FEED FILTER BANGO BECAME CLOGGED. SUBARU REALIZED THE DESIGN FLAW IN THE TURBO SYSTEM AND LATER REDESIGNED THE TURBO TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT ONE OF THE AIR BAG PLUGS THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG WIRING WAS NOT CONTACTING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS POTENTIALLY WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10015705: AIR BAGS) BUT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,500.

ON 03/26/2010, CAR FAILED TO STOP IN SPITE OF HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ABS DID NOT CUT IN, THE CAR VEERED TO THE LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKES, THE FOLLOWING WAS FOUND: DRIVER SIDE, OUTSIDE PAD WORN TO BARE METAL SCORING ROTOR; INNER PAD FROZEN IN POSITION BY ACCUMULATED RUST UNDER THE INSERTS ON THE BRAKE CARRIER. RUST THICKNESS APPROX. 1 MM. MATERIAL REMAINING ON THE PAD APPROX. 4 MM. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BOTH PADS WERE FROZEN IN PLACE W/ APPROX. 5 MM OF MATERIAL REMAINING. RUST WAS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE CARRIERS AND NEW OEM ROTORS AND PADS WERE INSTALLED. *TR

THIS CAR HAS AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN YOUR RECALL NUMBER 04V-473 OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. BECAUSE THIS FORESTER, AN XS MODEL, IS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL 04V-473, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE OIL LEAK. IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS NOTED IN THE RECALL FOR THE XT MODEL FORESTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT HAS 2004 SUBURU FORRESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN JANUARY 2010 SHE WAS BACKING UP THE VEHICLE AT 5MPH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING IN REVERSE UP TO 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE CRASHED THROUGH A BUILDINGS METAL GARAGE DOOR AND PART OF THE SOUTH WALL. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE VEHICLE ZOOMED ACROSS THE EMPTY GARAGE SPACE AND THEN CRASHED THROUGH AND INTERIOR METAL WALL AND INTO A LARGE OPEN WORK SPACE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN A LARGE HEAVY WORK TABLE AND ANOTHER OBJECT. THE WHOLE EPISODE TOOK ONLY A FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE CAUSED A LOT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT FEELS IT WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 69000.THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.

I PURCHASED A 2004 SUBARU FORRESTER XT IN FEBRUARY OF '09 WITH 93,008 MILES ON IT. THE DEALERSHIP HAD ALL SERVICE RECORDS RELATING TO THE VEHICLES HISTORY, AND ALL GUIDELINES WERE FOLLOWED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE IS 102,323 AND I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT THE TURBOCHARGER IS COMING APART AND NEEDS REPLACED OR THE VEHICLE WILL BE NON-OPERATIONAL. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO, WHICH I UNDERSTAND. MY MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT I TALKED TO INFORMED ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED ITS GUIDELINES FOR LATER MODELS OF THE VEHICLE TO A SHORTER RECOMMENDED INTERVAL BETWEEN SERVICES. THESE MODELS HAVE THE SAME ENGINE AND TURBOCHARGER AS MY VEHICLE AND THEY CHANGED THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE FROM 7,500 MILES TO 3,500 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THE POWER TRAIN COVERAGE EXPIRED AT 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES BUT MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THEY HAD CHANGED THEIR SERVICE REQUIREMENT FOR A REASON. THE MECHANIC SHOP THAT I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HAS HAD SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM CONCERNING THE TURBOCHARGERS. IT STATES VEHICLES THAT ARE TURBOCHARGED SHOULD HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,750 MILES TO PREVENT FAILURE/ DAMAGE TO THE TURBO AND THAT I WAS NOT TO DRIVE IT OR THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE UP AND CAUSE A CRASH. *TR

WHILE PARKING MY CAR IN A MUSEUM PARKING AREA ON A SLOPE, I SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF DOWN A CROWDED PARKING LOT DRIVEWAY AT VERY HIGH SPEED. THE CAR WAS AT A STANDSTILL AT THE TIME OF THE GEAR SHIFTING. I COULD NOT SLOW OR STOP THE RAPIDLY ACCELERATING CAR BY BRAKING. I WAS FOCUSED ON NOT HITTING PEOPLE AND OTHER ENTERING CARS AND DIDN'T THINK TO TRY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE OR SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING, DESPITE MY FOOT BEING HEAVILY ON THE BRAKE, AND I AIMED IT INTO A TREE RATHER THAN INTO AN ONCOMING CAR. THE CAR WAS "TOTALED". THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND I WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. I WAS VERY BADLY BRUISED WITH NO CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH OR BROKEN BONES. I WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM AND DISCHARGED AFTER A FEW HOURS. THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WAS SHEARED OFF AND THE DASHBOARD TOTALLY DEFORMED BY THE FORCE OF MY IMPACT INTO THEM. THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS SMASHED IN. I LATER CHECKED THE CAR AT THE IMPOUNDING SITE AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF THE DRIVER SEAT FLOOR MAT BEING OUT OF PLACE OR EVEN TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I AM THE SOLE DRIVER OF THIS CAR AND HAD NO PRIOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS COLD, SUNNY AND DRY. *TR

DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL FILLED THE CABIN OF THE CAR. IT WOULD SOMETIMES GO AWAY AFTER A HALF HOUR OF DRIVING. IT SEEMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE BEING BELOW FREEZING. BROUGHT CAR IN FOR SERVICE. THEY TIGHTENED FUEL CLAMPS AND REPLACED A SMALL FUEL LINE. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SMELL RETURNED EVEN MORE INTENSE. IT WAS SCARY TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY WITH MY TODDLER IN THE CAR! TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN. THEY REPLACED ALL FUEL INJECTORS/ORINGS/SEALS AND INTAKE AND EXHAUST GASKETS. REPAIRS TOTALED OVER $1,000. PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED AT 105,000 MILES. (ONE MONTH EARLIER THE TURBO HAD TO BE REPLACED...A REPAIR TOTAL OF $3,300. FOR OVER A YEAR THERE'S ALSO BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR CONSTANTLY NEEDING OIL, BUT THERE'S NO LEAK.) I'VE READ COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT FOR THE FUEL SMELL PROBLEM ON MANY SUBARU FORUMS. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS SAFETY HAZARD?? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE COULD SMELL GASOLINE IN THE CABIN AS IT WAS BEING LEAKED ON THE MOTOR. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE SEEMED TO HAPPEN IN ABOVE FREEZING WEATHER. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

2004 SUBARU FORESTER FUEL SYSTEM LEAK IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SUBARU FORSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE TURBO CHARGER FAILED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT DUE TO A LACK OF OIL GOING TO THE TURBO CHARGER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER REPAIRS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE OIL INTAKE RESULTING IN THE TURBO CHARGER FAILING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,968 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESETER. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCUR CONSISTENTLY. THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING A STRONG FUEL SMELL FILLS THE INTERIOR. SOMETIMES THE SMELL GOES AWAY WHEN THE ENGINE WARMS UP, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

EXTREMELY STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE INTERIOR OF AN 04 SUBARU FORESTER. *TR

IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 0F) VEHICLE LEAKS FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE STARTING AT 6:30 AM, WITH AN OUTDOOR AIR TEMPERATURE OF APPROXIMATELY -11F AFTER A 6 MILE DRIVE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AT 11:30AM, WITH AN OUTDOOR AIR TEMPERATURE OF APPROXIMATELY 3F, FUEL SMELL WAS NOTICED WITHIN ONE MILE. FUEL LEAK IS FROM HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE, JUST FORWARD AND BELOW THE MANIFOLD. CAR WAS TOWED TO SHOP AND SHOP REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL HOSE AND CLAMPS. PHOTOS OF EXACT LOCATION OF LEAK, COMPONENTS REPLACED, REPAIR BILL AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TEMPERATURE DATA AVAILABLE IN PDF FORMAT. *TR

STRONG GAS ODOR WHEN CAR IS STARTED IN COLD TEMPERATURES. *TR

GAS LINES LEAK ON 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF FUEL LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AREA, AND STRONG FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER AREA. NHTSA HAS ALREADY ISSUED A TSB ON THE SUBARU WXT REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM. CONCERNED ABOUT FIRE HAZARD AND INHALATION OF GASOLINE VAPORS. *TR

OWNER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD BUMPING THE CONCRETE PARKING POST. WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, IT AGAIN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BRUISING A PEDESTRIAN. SIMILAR BEHAVIOR WHILE PARKING OCCURRED IN THE SAME LOT A MONTH EARLIER BUT ONLY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LICENSE PLATE COVER. WE BELIEVE THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MATT SLIPPED AND HAVE REMOVED IT. WE DID TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE THROTTLE COMPUTER BOARD CLEANED AT THE PIN CONNECTOR AND MAP SENSORS, AS HAD BEEN SUGGESTED IN AN EARLIER NHTSA REPORT FOR THIS CAR YEAR AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC SAID THEY WERE NOT DIRTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

OUR 2004 MODEL, MANUAL GEAR-BOX SUBARU FORESTER 2.5 X STALLS FAR TOO EASILY IN FIRST GEAR. RECENTLY, MY WIFE NARROWLY ESCAPED A HORRENDOUS ACCIDENT WHEN THE FORESTER'S ENGINE STALLED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM THE SIDE ROAD WHICH SHE HAS TO USE TO ACCESS THE HIGHWAY FROM HER PLACE OF WORK. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER MANUAL GEAR-BOX SUBARU OWNERS, INCLUDING THE SUBARU WRX AND LIBERTY, WHO HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY BE A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN ISSUE AFFECTING MOST RECENTLY BUILT MANUAL GEAR BOX SUBARU PASSENGER VEHICLES, BUILT BY SUBARU AT THEIR MAIN FACTORY IN JAPAN, AND DISTRIBUTED GLOBALLY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE USA. *TR

SINCE 2009 THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL STAY ON AFTER I HAVE STARTED THE CAR. IT WILL STAY ON FOR DAYS, WHETHER IT IS HOT SUMMER TIME OR COLD WINTER DAYS. IT MAY STAY ON FOR A FEW DAYS OR FOR MONTHS. THE LAST TIME WAS FROM JULY 19, 2014 TO AUGUST 25, 2014. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE REVIEWED THE LIST OF VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINTS. SEEING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINING ON ENCOURAGES ME TO SUBMIT MY HISTORY ALSO. WHEN IT HAS BEEN ON, I THINK I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEN IT GOES OFF BEFORE I CAN TAKE THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER. SEEING ALL THE COMPLAINTS I ALSO THINK SUBARU SHOULD BE RESPONSIVE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVEN. CORRESPONDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 7V043000. *TR

A REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED ON OUR 2004 SUBARU FORRESTER XT. WE HAVE HEARD A SOUND ON AGAIN AND OFF AGAIN A FEW MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR, AS WELL AS IN RECENT MONTHS. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY A SUBARU DEALER AND WE HAVE HAD ALL REQUIRED SERVICES MADE OVER THE YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR. WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SUBARU OF WAKEFILED, MA WHEN WE LIVED IN SALEM, MA. THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS TERRIFIC. WE NOW HAVE IT SERVICED AT PENCE SUBARU IN RICHMOND. THE LAST TIME WE WERE AT THE DEALER WE HAD AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE AND I WAS RETICENT TO RETURN. THE SOUND GOT REALLY BAD ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR BEARINGS HAD FAILED. WE HAVE HEARD A SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR ON AGAIN AND OFF AGAIN FOR YEARS AND HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND WORKED ON NUMEROUS TIMES THINKING THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. RECENT RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE DESIGN OF THE BEARINGS OR THE HUB AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED MULTIPLE FAILURES WHILE OWNING THEIR CARS. IT SEEMS AS IF A RECALL IS IN ORDER HERE AND THE PARTS SHOULD BE REPLACED AT THE MANUFACTURERS EXPENSE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATING THE MATTER AND ANY GUIDANCE THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE. *TR

NOISE FROM LEFT REAR WHEEL GREW LOUDER FOR WEEKS ON A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT TURBO WITH 87,800 MILES. TIRES PLUS IN COOPER CITY, FL, REPLACED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING. IT SEEMED UNUSUALLY SOON FOR NORMAL WEAR, AND I FOUND SIMILAR ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUBARU WHEEL BEARINGS. *TR

SMELLED FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. STOPPED VEHICLE AND STRONG ODOR OF FUEL UNDER HOOD. THE EVENING TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW ZERO AND EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS GARAGED, TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW FREEZING. NO SIGNS OF FUEL ON FLOOR OF GARAGE AND COULD NOT FIND LEAK BY OBSERVATION OF RUNNING ENGINE. I DID RESEARCH AND MANY SUBARU VEHICLES ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL LEAKS AT LOW TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER SAYS IT MAY TAKE REPAIRS IN EXCESS OF $500.00 TO RESOLVE FAULTY CLAMPS AND HOSES. I AM TRYING TO GET SUBARU OF AMERICA TO WORK WITH ME. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN A RECALL? ARE WE WAITING FOR FIRES OR ASPHYXIATION? *TR

VEHICLE COMPARTMENT HAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. I FIRST NOTICED THIS A YEAR AGO (VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS AROUND 40,000) AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 20 DEGREES AND LOWER WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR. THE SMELL OF GAS CONTINUED AGAIN THIS WINTER. I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND CONTACTED THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BUT DID STATE THAT THEY HAVE HAD OTHER CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN OF THIS EXTREMELY STRONG GAS SMELL AS WELL. IT HAS BEEN SO BAD THAT I HAVE HAD TO KEEP A WINDOW OPEN. *TR

MODEL IS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT. UPON STARTUP IN COLD WEATHER, THERE IS AN EXTREME SMELL OF RAW FUEL (GASOLINE) BOTH INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE AS WELL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW ABOUT 15 DEGREES F. THERE WAS A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE CAR WITH HEATER ON. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG GAS SMELL UNDER HOOD. I DROVE CAR THE NEXT DAY AT 35 DEG F AND NO SMELL. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT RANDOMLY GOES ON AND OFF FOR PERIODS OF DAYS AT A TIME. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MANY YEARS. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE SUBARU DEALER BUT THEY CLAIMED IT DID NOT LIGHT UP FOR THEM DURING THEIR INSPECTION. IT THEN LIT UP FOR ME ON THE WAY HOME AND WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER FROM THE ROAD THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT AGAIN UNTIL I MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. UNFORTUNATELY I CANNOT ASSURE THAT IT WILL BE ON FOR THEM WHEN THEY GET THE CAR. I LATER DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A SUBARU TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM #17-07-04. THEY SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST CHECKED TO SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. FURTHER MY MECHANIC SAID THAT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *TR

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT IS MOVED. THE CONNECTOR WIRE UNDER THE SEAT MUST BE CAUSE BUT THE DEALER WILL CHARGE $600.00 FOR REPAIR THAT THEY STATE MAY OR MAY NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ONE OR TWO YEARS OLD. A SEARCH OF YOUR RECORDS SHOWS THE EXACT PROBLEM IN COMPLAINT #10196583, AND IS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF COMPLAINT #'S 10149296 AND 10101059. *TR

THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MALFUNCTION. THE CONNECTOR IS LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND IS CONSTANTLY STRESSED BY SEAT MOVEMENT OR CONTACT BY THE DRIVER'S FEET. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS CHRONICALLY BUT INTERMITTENTLY ON. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE FIRST IDENTIFIED WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR OLD. THE REPAIR OF THE CONNECTOR WAS EVENTUALLY INEFFECTIVE. WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAGS ARE INACTIVE AND WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. *TR

BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AT 51,000 MILES. *TR

VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED WHILE STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CLIPPED A TREE AT HIGH SPEED CUTTING ACROSS TWO HOME LAWNS. DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL OF CAR AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A REST AFTER BRAKE PEDAL HAD BEEN PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WHERE IT MADE CONTACT WITH THE TREE. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS OUTSIDE AT THE TIME (3:00 PM) BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED BY THE OUT OF CONTROL VEHICLE ALSO HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR CLIPPING THE TREE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE LIKELY GONE FORWARD INTO A HOME. *TR

SUBARU REFUSES TO MAKE WINTER BLADES FOR THE REAR WIPER BLADE ON 2004-2008 SUBARU FORESTERS. THIS RESULTS IN REAR WIPER BLADES THAT ICE UP AND CANNOT EFFECTIVELY WIPE THE REAR WINDOW IN ICE OR SNOW. REAR VISION IS BLOCKED. THIS SUMMER BLADE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. STOPPING ALONG SIDE A HIGHWAY TO CLEAN THEM OFF CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS SINCE 2004. ALL THEY SAY IS THAT THEY WILL TALK ABOUT IT. CAN YOU MAKE THEM MANUFACTURE A WINTER BLADE? *TR

DURING GAS FILL-UPS, UNABLE TO FILL TANK WITHOUT CONTINUOUS START/STOPS (~20 TIMES FOR FULL TANK). HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT PUMPS AND DIFFERENT STATIONS (APPROXIMATELY 13 FILL-UPS NOW). *TR

BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 51,000 MILES. *TR

RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT 31000 MILESIN NOVEMBER 2005, AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. AT 67000 MILESIN JUNE 2007, BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR RECEIVED ALL RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGES AND SERVICES. IS ONLY USED FOR HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING.*AK

HOOD LATCH RELEASED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH. OCCURRED TWICE IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES. THIS OCCURRED WHEN COMING OFF A BRIDGE AND THE ROAD BUMP CAUSED THE HOOD TO POP UP ONE INCH. THE SECONDARY LATCH CONTINUED TO OPERATE, BUT THIS COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE HOOD.*AK