2009 Subaru Forester Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, SNOW FELL FROM THE TOP OF A HEAVY TRUCK AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. SMALL LINES SOON MOVED TO ALL SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000.

DRIVING EAST ON ARDSLEY RD. IN SCARSDALE NY, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. AT THE TIME I WAS STARTING TO GO DOWNHILL, CURVING RIGHT WITH A "JERSEY BARRIER" IN THE CENTER OF THE ROADWAY. I TRIED TO GO AROUND THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME BUT MY RIGHT REAR SIDESWIPED HIS LEFT REAR. IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AROUND A RIGHT CURVE (DOWNHILL). I COULD NOT STOP. I STRUCK AN S.U.V. JUST STARTING TO MOVE WITH TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE I SIDESWIPED SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE. BOTH THE VEHICLE I STRUCK AND MY VEHICLE WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED (MY AUTO IS $4500). BOTH VEHICLES TOWED FROM THE SCENE. GREENBURGH (NY) POLICE RESPONDED. NO INJURIES AS OF THIS TIME. I REPORTED THIS TO THE 800 NUMBER OF SUBARU. THEY TOOK ALL THE INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM. I TOLD THEM I WAS REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FRIGHT. THE TIME WAS 4:50PM. *TR

THE TIRE WELLS OF MY 2009 SUBARU FORRESTER FILL WITH SNOW AND ICE TO THE POINT THAT THE STEERING IS AFFECTED- IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE SAME AREA FOR MANY YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS WITH A VEHICLE (PREVIOUSLY I HAVE DRIVEN AN ALTIMA, JETTA, CIVIC AND CELICA) AND THE PREVIOUS VEHICLES HAVE NOT BEEN ADVERTISED AS 'SNOW CONDITION' VEHICLES. I DRIVE IN PLOWED LANES (NOT IN THE MESS) AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS LACK OF CONTROL WHEN THE WEATHER GETS A LITTLE NASTY. *TR

THE 2009 SUBARU FORESTER HAS THE LIGHT AT THE TOP OF CARGO INSIDE AND IF IT IS DARK YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING BUT THE REFLECTION OF WHAT IS IN THE CARGO AREA DUE TO THE BRAKE LIGHT BEING INSIDE RATHER THAN ON THE OUTSIDE LIKE OTHER MODELS I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, YOU MIGHT RUN OVER ANYTHING OR ANYBODY WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE OUT YOUR BACK WINDOW IN THE DARK. FORTUNATELY I JUST TOOK A MAILBOX DOWN, NOT A PERSON. NOW I HAVE DAMAGE TO MY NEW FORESTER AND DON'T WANT TO KEEP IT. *TR

CAR ENGINE RACES SOMETIMES WHEN SLOWING DOWN . *TR

I AM WRITING TO YOU TODAY WITH GREAT REGRET. AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCHING AND THOUGHT, I PURCHASED THE SUBARU FORESTER ON AUGUST 2008 FROM DUNNING SUBARU ANN ARBOR MI 48103. WHAT DREW ME TOWARDS THE FORESTER WAS THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SO I WAS VERY HAPPY TO PURCHASE THIS CAR. I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH IT UP TILL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHEN I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. FIRST, AFTER RETURNING FROM AN OIL CHANGE ON MAY 2009, I CAME HOME AND PACKED MY CAR. LATER WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE GARAGE, THE FLOOR WAS FILLED WITH OIL BECAUSE IT WAS DRIPPING FROM THE ENGINE; I WAS TERRIBLY UPSET AND CONTACTED SUBARU RIGHT AWAY. THEY ASKED ME TO COME BACK AND TOOK CARE OF IT. AGAIN, ON NOVEMBER 29TH I WAS ON MY WAY BACK FROM DROPPING MY DAUGHTER AT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY WHEN ENGINE SUDDENLY JUST STOPPED. IT STARTED MAKING SOME ODD SOUNDS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND JUST WITHIN 5 SECONDS, THE ENGINE WAS DEAD. I WAS ON HIGHWAY HEADING TOWARDS ANN ARBOR, WHICH IS A EXTREMELY BUSY HIGHWAY. BUT TO MY LUCK, AT THAT MOMENT IT WAS NOT CROWDED, AND I WAS ABLE TO SWITCH LANES AND PULL OVER TO THE CURB RIGHT AWAY. BECAUSE THE ENGINE STOPPED SO SUDDENLY AND QUICKLY, IT DID NOT GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME TO PULL OVER ALL THE WAY TO THE CURB, CAUSING MY CAR TO BE HALF IN THE LANE, AND HALF ON THE CURB, TRY TO CONSIDER HOW DANGEROUS THAT SITUATION IS, ESPECIALLY ON A RAINY NIGHT AT 11PM. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE CURB, WE WAITED 20 MINUTES(IN THE RAINY WEATHER) TO LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN AND TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR BECAUSE WE DIDN'T EXPECT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM SUBARU. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DID NOT WORK, AND NOTHING WORK. THE ONLY OPTION WE WERE LEFT WITH WAS TO CALL AAA AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED. WHILE MAKING THE CALLS TO AAA, A COP PULLED UP BEHIND US TO TELL US THAT OUR CAR WAS IN DANGER BECAUSE WE WERE HALF IN THE LANE AND HALF IN THE CURB, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, BECAUSE OF SUBARU'S' ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN ON US SO QUICKLY AND SUDDENLY, IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO PULL OVER COMPLETELY TO THE CURB. *TR

WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT THE TAKATA AIRBAG IN OUR 2009 SUBARU FORESTER HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED YET. ESPECIALLY FRUSTRATING IS THE FACT THAT, EVERY SIX MONTHS OR SO, WE GET A NOTICE FROM TK HOLDINGS WARNING US ABOUT THE POTENTIALLY DEADLY AIRBAG (AS IF WE DIDN'T KNOW) AND URGING US TO CONTACT OUR DEALER FOR A FREE REPLACEMENT. EACH TIME WE GET THAT NOTICE, WE AGAIN CALL OUR DEALER, FOX MOTORS IN MARQUETTE, MICH., AND ARE TOLD THAT OUR REPLACEMENT AIRBAG WILL BE ORDERED. MONTHS PASS WITH NO WORD. THEN WE GET ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE. THEN WE CALL FOX MOTORS AGAIN. MONTHS PASS. REPEAT. REPEAT. WE APPRECIATE THE NEED TO REPLACE TAKATA AIRBAGS IN HOT, HUMID PLACES FIRST. IF WE LIVED IN THE SOUTH, WE WOULD CERTAINLY WANT PRIORITY IN THIS DANGEROUS MATTER. BUT IT'S BEEN NINE YEARS SINCE THE FIRST TAKATA AIRBAG DEATH, AND FIVE YEARS SINCE TAKATA ADMITTED THE DANGER. PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NORTH DO TRAVEL IN THE SOUTH WITH TAKATA AIRBAGS LURKING IN THEIR DASHBOARDS. IT'S TIME TO GET THIS DONE FOR ALL OF US! AND, ON THE SUBJECT OF RECALLS IN GENERAL: WE ARE SCANDALIZED BY THE FACT THAT TAKATA (OR ITS BANKRUPTCY MANAGER) IS HANDLING THIS DEADLY ISSUE IN SUCH A LEISURELY MANNER, WHILE VOLKSWAGEN WAS REQUIRED TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PROMPTLY REPLACING PERFECTLY FUNCTIONAL, NON-LETHAL CARS BECAUSE THE COMPANY FUDGED ITS POLLUTION NUMBERS. THESE TWO RECALLS ARE GROSSLY OUT OF PROPORTION TO THE RESPECTIVE OFFENSES. WE HAVE NO CONNECTION TO VOLKSWAGEN; HAVE NEVER EVEN OWNED ONE. BUT WE KNOW UNFAIRNESS WHEN WE SEE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS CRITICAL MATTER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FIRE ERUPTED WITHOUT WARNING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE PANEL BELOW THE TRUNK COVER ON 2009 SUBARU FORESTER WITH LESS THAN 3,500 MILES. THE WIRE HARNESS BURNT. THIS HAPPENED ALMOST 2 MONTHS AGO AND SUBARU IS IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE INSURANCE AS IT SEEMS TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

2009 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS REMOTE STARTED AN WITHIN SECONDS, THE WIRE HARNESS BURNT, MELTING SOME PLASTIC PARTS *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS GOING TO THE SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS AND OTHER COMPONENTS HAD BURNED OUT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *JB

MY WIFE WAS IN COLLISION ON AUGUST 26, 2009, THAT DAMAGED THE ENTIRE FRONT CAP OF HER 2009 SUBARU FORESTER, WHICH WAS BOUGHT NEW AND WITH APPROXIMATELY 11, 000 MILES ON IT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE WRECK WAS AT APPROXIMATE 35MPH. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH SUBARU THE NEXT DAY. THE COMPLAINT NUMBER IS 1-365436785. MY SUBARU REPRESENTATIVE, LINDA PAYNE TOLD ME AT THAT POINT THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE SENDING ANYONE TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND WOULD GO BUY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTERS REPORT. THE SUBARU REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THE BODY SHOP COULD NOT BEGIN WORK ON THE VEHICLE. ION SEPTEMBER 11, 2009, I SENT SUBARU THE ESTIMATE ALONG WITH PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE. THE ESTIMATE AMOUNT IS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN $10,000. TODAY, SEPTEMBER 23 I RECEIVE A LETTER AND A PHONE CALL FROM THE SUBARU REPRESENTATIVE STATING THAT THEY NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND THAT NO WORK CAN BE DONE ON THE VEHICLE IF THEY ARE GOING TO INSPECT IT. THEY ARE ASKING FOR MEDICAL BILLS, POLICE REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT AND SIMILAR INFORMATION. NONE OF THIS SHOULD MATTER. WHAT MATTERS IS MY WIFE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 35 MPH THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. THE ENGINE WENT TO IDEL. THE CONTACT WAITED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS AND THE CONTACT REFUSES TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, BUT COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE WITH THE ENGINE OR ANY OTHER COMPONENT. SHE STATED THAT SHE WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,100. UPDATED 7/14/09 *CN UPDATED 07/17/09.*JB

VEHICLE: 2009 SUBARU FORESTER LIMITED, ON 6/20/09 I EXPERIENCED AN INCIDENT OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. BEFORE OUR EXIT I CANCELED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT LEFT IT "ON". ON THE RAMP, I LET THE CAR SLOW. AT ABOUT 40 MPH I MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER INTO 'SPORT' MODE, DOWNSHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR, THEN 2ND, THEN BRAKED TO A STOP. THE CAR WAS STOPPED, IN GEAR, IDLING. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE RACED AND THE CAR JOLTED FORWARD ABOUT A FOOT; IT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED BUT I INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED THE CAR. THE ENGINE, WITH THE CAR STOPPED AND IN GEAR, RAN UP OVER 2000 RPM. I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO REGULAR DRIVE MODE AND THEN INTO NEUTRAL. ONCE IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE BRIEFLY RACED HIGHER BUT THEN DROPPED TO IDLE AT ABOUT 700 RPM. I SWITCHED THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. PLEASE NOTE: TO STOP THE CAR I DID NOT MOVE MY FOOT; IT WAS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE, AND I MERELY PRESSED HARDER. THIS IS NOT A CASE OF PEDAL CONFUSION. THE FLOOR MATS ARE IN PLACE. THIS IS NOT A CASE OF A FLOOR MAT INTERFERING WITH THE ACCELERATOR. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, WE WERE NOT MOVING. I WAS NOT ON THE PHONE. I WAS NOT LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER. I WAS NOT OTHERWISE DISTRACTED. I WAS SITTING STILL, WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE, WITH MY FOCUS ON THE TRAFFIC STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. IN MY VIEW, THIS REPRESENTS A DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE, AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE ADVISE REGARDING YOUR PROPOSED RESOLUTION. I HAVE ADVISED SUBARU VIA THEIR WEBSITE TODAY BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. I AM HAPPY TO BE CONTACTED FOR FURTHER DETAILS IF NEEDED. *TR

2009 FORESTER BOUGHT IN JULY '08. LESS THAN A YEAR AND 20,000 MILES, THE ENGINE FAILED. I WAS DRIVING LONG DISTANCE, AND HAD STOPPED AT A SIGN WHEN I NOTICED A LOAD BANGING NOISE FROM HOOD. AS I PLACED PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR DIDN'T REACT APPROPRIATELY - IT WAS SLOW. THE CAR WAS TOWED, AND A REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS BEING INSTALLED. I HAVE CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA FOR POSSIBLE BUY-BACK, BUT NO RETURN CALL. I'VE READ OF OTHER SIMILIAR CASES OCCURRING WITH THE 2009 TURBO MODELS. *TR

UNEXPLAINED ENGINE ACCELERATION. STARTED VEHICLE IN A PARKED POSITION, WAS PREPARING TO PULL OUT, ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO TOP RPM AND WAS SURGING. STILL IN NEUTRAL, WHEELS TURNED SLIGHTLY TO LEFT. COULD FIND NOTHING THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS, PLACED FOOT ON BRAKE UPON HEARING THE ENGINE ACCELERATION, FLOOR MATS WERE IN PROPER POSITION, ETC. SHUT ENGINE OFF, RESTARTED AND THINGS RETURNED TO NORMAL. STILL CONSIDER IT A DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BY SUBARU. *TR

THE HEADRESTS FOR THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATS ARE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, PUSHING THE PERSON'S HEAD FORWARD AND CAUSING BACK ACHE. I COULD NOT DRIVE LONG DISTANCES WITH MY HEAD PUSHED FORWARD. THE REMEDY I USED WAS TO TAKE OUT THE HEADREST AND TURN IT BACKWARDS, BUT THIS MAY NOT BE SAFE IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS DEFECT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *TR

ENGINE FAILURE AT 4,000 MILES ON FORESTER TURBO. LOUD ENGINE BANGING ON ROAD TRIP LEAD TO THE NEED FOR A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. DEALER SAID THAT CONTAMINATED METAL FORGING LEAD TO WEAK ENGINE COMPONENTS. *TR

2009 SUBARU FORESTER BAD EXPERIENCE ENGINE STALL*CW WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE GARAGE FLOOR WAS FILLED WITH OIL, WHICH WAS DRIPPING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. HOWEVER, ON NOVEMBER 29TH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. IT STARTED MAKING ODD SOUNDS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND JUST WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENGINE WAS DEAD. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. UPON DIAGNOSES, THE DEALER STATED A PART NEAR THE ENGINE WAS NOT WORKING, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STOP. *JB UPDATED 01/07/15*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD REST IN THE VEHICLE WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNSAFE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD REST WAS SO FAR FORWARD, THAT IT HELD HIS/HER DOWN. THE CONSUMER HAD TO LOOK OUT OF THE TOP OF HIS/HER EYES TO SEE AHEAD. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY WAY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WAS TO REMOVE THE HEAD REST. UPDATED 04/24/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE STUCK UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND LOOSE BOLTS WERE DISCOVERED, WHICH NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER, BUT HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500.

BOUGHT THE 2009 FORESTER IN DECEMBER 08. DROVE FINE FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS. THEN IT STARTED TO LAG IN ITS SHIFTING. IF I WAS ABOUT TO STOP AT A LIGHT AND THE LIGHT CHANGED, I PUT MY FOOT BACK ON THE GAS AND CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SO I GIVE IT MORE GAS AND THEN IT KICKS IN HARD ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. SO I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME. UNTIL I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 16 MILES FROM HOME GOT OFF THE EXIT AND IT DID IT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES THIS YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME TECH RESET THE COMPUTER AND IT DROVE FINE FOR 3 DAYS THEN STARTED AGAIN. IT HAPPENS IN ALL TYPES OF SITUATIONS WHEN IT WANTS TO. MY OTHER MECHANIC FELT THE SAME THING HAD ME TAKE IT BACK TO DEALER. I AM FRUSTRATED WITH DRIVING IT. I AM ALSO NOW HAVING THE VEHICLE MAKING LOUD NOISES AND ROUGH IDLING, MYSTERIOUS ACCELERATION THAT WILL ADJUST AFTER CAR IN TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN AND A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE AFTER BEING DRIVEN. I DRIVE LOCALLY A COUPLE OF DAYS A WEEK. SUBARU DEALER WANTS TO TAKE MY VEHICLE HOME TO EVALUATE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE IT IS A LEARNING TRANSMISSION, SO WHY HASN'T IT LEARNED HOW I DRIVE AND I'M THE ONLY ONE DRIVING CAR. *TR

MY 2009 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A WARPED DRIVERS SIDE OUTSIDE MIRROR. AS THE WEATHER GETS COLDER, THE PROBLEM WORSENS. I LIVE IN WISCONSIN AND IN SUB FREEZING TEMPS IT LOOKS LIKE A FUN HOUSE MIRROR BENDING STRAIGHT LINES AND DISTORTING DISTANCES. BACKING UP AT NIGHT AND CHANGING LANES ARE MADE LESS SAFE NOT TO MENTION THE PERCEIVED MOTION THE CONVEX SHAPE CAUSES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT ONCE BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS. THEY OFFERED TO EXCHANGE IT WITH ONE FROM ANOTHER NEW FORESTER BUT THEY WERE ALL THAT WAY. WHILE READING FORUMS ON SUBARUFORESTER.ORG MOST POSTS FROM PEOPLE IN COLDER CLIMATES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. OTHER COLD RELATED PROBLEMS ARE A DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW THAT WON'T CLOSE (AT 10 DEGREES OR COLDER) AND A TAILGATE THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS LATCH SECURELY. THE MIRROR IS THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSES THE MOST UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS SUDDEN, AGGRESSIVE, AND FORCEFUL ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE DRIVER PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO PARK, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 650.

IGNITION DOESN'T RECOGNIZE VALET KEY, "SECURITY" LIGHT ON DASH COMES ON, KEY WON'T TURN AND CAR WON'T START. *TR

1. GREASY FILM ON WINDSHIELD, COULD NOT SEE WELL TO DRIVE, FILM CANNOT BE WIPED OFF. CANNOT BE CLEANED OFF WITH NORMAL HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS ONLY INDUSTRIAL CLEANERS. FILM EXPANDS TO GET ON ALL THE GLASS & MATERIALS IN THE CAR, INCLUDING THE REAR HATCH. FILM IS MORE VISIBLE AT NIGHT & WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. CHEMICAL POISONING. BREATHING THE SUBSTANCE(S) HAS CAUSED ME TO BE SICK SINCE THE END OF DECEMBER. BREATHING ISSUES, COUGH, LUNGS, NOSE PROBLEMS. 2. BEING POISONED BY CHEMICALS IN THE CAR THAT MAY BE LEAKING OUT OF SOME AREA AS YET UNKNOWN. UNABLE TO SEE WELL TO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENS WHENEVER THE DEFROST IS RUN. ALSO, HEATER. NOT SURE ABOUT A/C. HAVE BEEN SICK NOW WITH JUST RUNNING THE AIR. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ENOUGH BUILDUP OF THIS SUBSTANCE THAT IT IS ON ALL SURFACES OF THE CAR INTERIOR AND/OR IN THE DUCTS OF THE VEHICLE. 2A. SYMPTOMS: COUGHING, SOMETIMES UNCONTROLLABLY WITH LONG RIDES IN THE CAR. SHORTNESS OF BREATH, UNABLE TO BREATH, CONGESTED, LUNG TIGHTNESS, NOSE CONGESTION, ETC. HAVE BEEN TO NATIONAL JEWISH HOSPITAL. THEY RECOMMEND GETTING RID OF CAR. 3. FOR THE FIRST 4 TIMES I BROUGHT IT IN, THEY ONLY WASHED THE WINDSHIELD, OR ALL THE GLASS ON THE CAR DEPENDING UPON HOW MUCH HAD BUILT UP ON IT. THEY SAID IT WAS OFF GASSING OF THE VINYL. THE NEXT TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THEY WAXED THE WINDOWS IN THE CAR, THIS SO YOU COULD BREATH IT, BUT NOT 'SEE' IT SUPPOSEDLY. IT BUILT BACK UP AGAIN ANYWAY. THEN THEY REPLACED THE HEATER BOX. GOT SICK AGAIN RUNNING ONLY AIR. THEN PER MY DIRECTION, THEY FOUND 2 A/C VALVES LEAKING. NOW, STILL GETTING SICK IF IN CAR WITHOUT WINDOWS OPEN AND/OR IF I RUN THE DEFROST/HEAT. 4. I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN SICK FROM ANY OTHER CAR MY ENTIRE LIFE. I WAS PERFECTLY HEALTHY, WITHOUT EVEN HAVING HAD A NORMAL COLD IN THE PAST 6 YEARS. THERE WERE NO TYPICAL COLD SYMPTOMS WITH THIS ISSUE. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, I HAD NO ALLERGIES RELATED TO BREATHING, LUNGS, ETC; NOR ANY DIAGNOSES SUCH AS ASTHMA. *TR

AT 9610 MILES MY 2009 SUBARU FORESTERS ENGINE FAILED. THE FAILURE CAME; AS BEST I COULD TELL; IN ABOUT 20MILES OF OPERATION. ENGINE STARTED TO SOUND LOUDER FROM CABIN. IF I WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE DOOR OPEN THE NOISE WAS VERY LOAD MULTI TONE METAL BANGING EMANATING FROM ENGINE BAY. BURNING SMELL ALSO OCCURRED. AS I DROVE THE LAST 20 MILES ENGINE WOULD BARELY STAY RUNNING AT LOW RPMS; ENGINE BANGING BECAME WORSE; ENGINE POWER APPEARED TO DECREASE AND A LOUD METALLIC GRINDING NOISE INCREASED UNTIL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. APPROX 10-15 SECONDS LATTER. ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED AND NEVER TURNED OVER AGAIN. DEALER TOLD ME TODAY THAT CAR NEEDS NEW ENGINE. *TR

THE SUBARU MOONROOF SYSTEM ROOF CAVITY IS COMPLETELY OPEN TO THE ELEMENTS, THERE IS NO CONTAINMENT OF RAIN WATER, LEAVES, OR ANY OTHER DEBRIS- LIKE INSECTS AND SMALL ANIMALS THAT CAN ALL END UP DOWN BETWEEN THE HEADLINER AND INTERIOR WALLS AND THE OUTSIDE BODY. THIS CAN RESULT IN ALL KINDS OF MOLDS AND FUNGI, STAINING, AND ALLERGY REACTIONS. ALSO WILL RESULT IN DECAY OF CAR INTERIOR AND BODY FROM THE INSIDE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED QUITE BY ACCIDENT WHEN COFFEE SPILLED ON THE MOONROOF WENT THROUGH TO SEATBELT ANCHOR IN THE VERY BACK, AND THE REARMOST WINDOW SHROUDS. THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE BODY IS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS EVEN WHEN THE MOONROOF IS CLOSED. IT IS NOT DESIGNED WATER-TIGHT, AND HAS CHANNELS TO LEAD OFF MOST WATER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN ENGAGING THE CLUTCH, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION REVVED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 4000 RPM'S AND SEEMED AS IF IT WOULD SURGE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED 85% OF THE TIME. THE DEALER ALSO DUPLICATED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD WRITE A COMPUTER PROGRAM TO REMEDY THE ISSUE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER HAS NOT FOLLOWED UP WITH THE CONTACT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2200 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/30/08.*JB