2.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,800 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Subaru Forester engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Subaru Forester:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2008 Subaru Forester Owner Comments

problem #2

Nov 162012

Forester 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I had a check engine light come on. Pulled the code and ran it by a friend who is a Subaru mechanic. After realizing this is a smog issue contacted dealer who said its not covered under emissions warranty. I know this is false as parts are to be covered by law up to 100K miles. Now it's going to cost $1600+ to repair this issue in order to pass smog. On a 5 year old car. Below is a posting from mechanic notifying forums, facebook, and anyone else who will listen of the issue (there are good mechanics out there). One of the issues we have been hearing a lot about, getting calls on, and personally seeing for ourselves is these air injection solenoids having issues on the 06+ model vehicles. Remember the air pump is suppose to only run for a short moment under start up (it injects oxygen into the exhaust to burn off the excess fueling at the catalytic converters so they will lite off). Here you can see both of these bad solenoids and how gummed up they're getting from exhaust gases and moisture. The check valve gets damaged forcing it to be stuck open, which causes constant hot exhaust gases to run through these parts, you can see the seal on the plunger is literally destroyed from the heat. I really hope soa realizes this is not an issue that's going to go away. In the last week we have taken 5 phone calls in regards to this and today we are fixing a customers...which in time will have the same fate as his last ones unfortunately. Hopefully soa steps up and has a revision and/or compensation (warranty) in place for this issue in near future. Subaru current warranty rebuttal is they claim these parts are not an "emissions" related component but it clearly is and they need to admit to it and fix this issue. Subaru owners need help and should get refunds for the costs of repairs thus far!

- Petaluma, CA, USA

problem #1

Feb 292012

Forester

  • 47,600 miles
I bought the car in may of 2008. On Feb. 29, the check engine light and the traction control light came on, as well as the cruise control light started flashing. I thought, why? I've only had it for almost 4 years and less than 50K miles. I checked my owner's manual, and the covered warranty is 5 yrs/ 50K miles, whichever comes first. I brought it to the dealership where I had bought the car from and an employee said that it is more than likely covered by warranty. On March 7th, 2012, I left my car at the dealership for diagnosis. They called me back, and informed me that it is not covered under warranty, because ca emission warranty is 3 yrs/50K miles whichever comes first. I told them that the owner's manual suggests that the warranty is 5 yrs/50K miles. The diagnosis codes were P2441 and that not only I spent $138 on diagnosis, the total cost to repair it is $1305. I declined the repair, because I, for one cannot afford it at this time, because I am on disability. I thought that they should honor Subaru's warranty. I checked various Subaru message boards, and I am not the only one with the same problem. A known Subaru specialist in our area also posted on a message board that they've gotten numerous calls about the same problem. They took pictures and sent it to Subaru. As of right now, we haven't heard anything from Subaru about any recalls. I think it should be recalled. Thank you for your time.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

Not what you are looking for?