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.
On a long trips (200 miles of interstate driving) the car loses it's ability to maintain highway speed. The accelerator peddle does not work and vehicle slows down to idle. You have to pull off the road and stop. Put the car in park and then back in to drive. It works after that. During the failure you lose all ability to maintain speed. It has happened about 3 times in the past year. The dealer checked out the car and not codes are shown. Thanks, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
On three separate occasions thus far, while driving approximately 70 mph on interstate 93 in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, my 2017 Subaru Forester touring (with 21K miles) lost power and completely shutdown. All three times, I was luckily able to steer the vehicle to safety while avoiding other motor vehicles and neither myself, my passengers nor anyone else around us was hurt. When the vehicle decides to shutdown, it feels like the car drops itself into neutral, the rpms shoot up to about 4500-5000 and all of the lights on the dashboard light up. There is about a five second window to steer the vehicle to safety from when you first detect that the issue is occurring. After waiting for about 45 minutes after the incident, I am able to start the car back up and drive it. This is a serious safety concern of mine (and it is terrifying when it happens) and I have already contacted Subaru of America asking for a solution. I am now currently only using the car on short trips and if I have to get on the highway, I stick to the right lane and do not go over 60 mph.
While on driving 65mph on the highway during the evening rush hour and suddenly my accelerator was unresponsive in that the rpms just revved (as if the transmission was shifted to neutral). I have two small, children 2 year old and 6 months, and had to quickly coast over to the shoulder and was able to exit the highway. The vehicle shut off while exiting the ramp and I had to call 911 and request an emergency vehicle to park behind me for my safety as I was unable to pull completely over before the vehicle stopped. I attempted to restart the vehicle but was unsuccessful. I had the vehicle towed and am still researching how to repair. I had a 3 year 36K mile warranty that has recently expired since I'm currently at 46K miles. This is a serious concern as I'm finding that my model has not been included in any transmission recalls. For a car manufacturer that prides itself in the highest of safety, this has to be the unsafest I've ever felt driving a vehicle. I'm basically at a loss on what to do at this point because I am confident that the dealership is going to rack up a bill for repair and diagnostics to repair my issue and I'm going to responsible for the outrageous cost of their guessing game of repairs.
Our defective, now discontinued model, new 2017 Subaru Forester xt touring has broken down while accelerating on the highway twice due to a faulty piston thus leading to our engine being replaced. The first time the car was moving East on I-70 in Colorado and luckily my husband was able to veer in the median of an exit ramp. The second time we were traveling East on I-70 again and luckily were able to pull off on the side of the freeway. This all began at 22,352 miles and to-date the "market value" of repairs has accumulated to $16,100. This same engine issue has happened two years in a row, yet a Subaru representative [verbally, not written] mentioned to us that it is cheaper for Subaru to fix vehicle by vehicle that comes in instead of issuing a nation-wide recall on our model. We were told our Forester xt [MINISUV] has the same engine that is in an impreza [four door sedan] which is not safe and is not right to the consumer.
After full stop engine or drive train lost power on sharp left turn.resumed power in 2-3 seconds.engine did not stall and did not require restarting.has occured 5-7 times.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Driving in the freeway around 20-30mph, some traffic. On the way to dropping daughters off to school. On the freeway switched lanes then car lost power and decelerated on its own quickly from 20mph to about 1mph, pressing the didn't do anything. Almost got hit by the rear driver behind me. Managed to move to right lane. Pressing the gas pedal did nothing, several lights on the dashboard appeared which included check engine light, traction control, oil light. Turned off the car to find the number for towing about 15 minutes later turned on the car and this time pressing the gas pedal made the car go, dashboard lights still on. Took the car directly to the dealership. Dealer claimed it was a bad cell on the battery that caused the problem, and also reprogrammed the computer. Bad cell on battery will not cause this to happen. Dealer also failed to write the details of the incident. Initial paperwork stated check engine light. Advice dealer to properly document incident.
The power failed in traffic on city streets without warning while driving and almost caused an accident. It first happened when my wife was driving in traffic and it happened to me also in traffic who was about to make a turn.the car is very dangerous to drive. Took it to a dealership and they are trying to find the problem.
I have owned many Subaru`S and have not had any issues with the transmissions. My new 2017 Forester has an issue shifting gears. Although it has only happened once, the time it happened was pretty scary. As I was slowing down at a red light the light changed to green before I made a complete stop. At this point I then accelerated the car but the transmission would not switch gear. I then thought I had the car in manual mode but it wasn't. I had to slow all the way down to get the transmission to shift again. This all happened while turning. The driver behind us had to swerve around our car to avoid hitting us because I was going to slow when the light was green. This issue put my family and myself in danger when driving on the road. I spoke with Subaru but they said given that the car was no longer experiencing it, they couldn't do anything. I was wondering if Subaru will be issuing a recall on their cvt transmissions. I don`T want this to happen to me again and next time it does turn into a crash. Please let me know what can be done. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'-
Vehicles battery has slow cranking power, since new currant miles are 47,800 today vehicles slow to start, once started all engine warning lights illuminate and stay on and vehicle will not drive in forward or reverse, replaced battery with new and vehicle started normal and strong, put into drive and vehicle drove normal, put into reverse and again vehicle will not drive forward or reverses, vehicle in in dealership repair facilities at this time, problem unknown,
Vehicle often shudders violently at low speeds coming to a stop - stalling itself once. When merging onto freeway or overtaking on the highway the vehicle occasionally makes loud clicking noise and automatic transmission acts as if it is disengaged (like a fully depressed clutch pedal in a manual, and engine still revs). Took to Subaru dealer multiple times and received the "we can't replicate it so there is no problem" feedback - dealer also claims there are no error codes. Contacted Subaru of America (soa) directly and was instructed by soa to trust dealer's diagnosis. Online forums and independent mechanics believe my issue is a bad torque converter or some issue with the automatic cvt transmission - a similar issue consumer groups have accused Subaru for on previous generations of my vehicle. (see forbes article describing similar issue: Https://www.forbes.com/sites/jensen/2017/09/07/consumer-groups-Subaru-should-recall-transmissions-not-just-extend-warranty/#352E23E0ab27)
Car stalls, mostly in intersections when we turn either left or right, mid-turn. Also, the steering wheel, plastic, is dangerously-slippery, expecially during those stalls in heavy traffic when panic sets in.
Forester - 500 miles - consistent and continuing problems: Car lurches forward on its own in first gear. - in motion engine not only has excessive (can last 5 seconds or more) "rev-hangs" shifting up from any gear but actually increases by 700-900 rpms. This has caused difficulty in slowing down (reducing speed with downshift). When using brake to reduce speed when this occurs, the engine will begin to race, increasing up to 1500 or more rpms, difficult to control vehicle. - in motion 4th gear - stick shift vibrates excessively - so much so it is visible to the eye and seems like it will have to wear out from the friction, - in motion (intermittent) when vehicle dynamics control engages on upward incline a very loud (multiple) banging occurs at the rea car lurches. - turning, in motion. Engine noise is extremely loud compared to other 2017 Foresters I have driven.can sound like it is ready to throw a rod in the near future - in motion and stationary Subaru states all is normal. Service manage at dealer states loud engine is definitely not normal for the 2017 model and he experience the excessive rev-hang but doesn't know what to do these things because Subaru says this is normal are normal.
On vehicles equipped with 6-speed manual transmission: When shifting gears, engine speed increases to 4000-4500 RPM while clutch is depressed, despite having foot entirely off the accelerator pedal. RPM remains elevated for 5 to 10 seconds before slowly returning to normal idle. On other occasions, engine speed will increase to approximately 2500 RPM while sitting with the clutch depressed and foot off accelerator (for example, while waiting for a traffic light). Does not seem to be a "runaway" condition: The engine speed never approaches redline, but increases smoothly to the "target" RPM, stays constant for awhile, then smoothly returns to idle. Note: Other 2017 Forester owners have reported similar behavior. Subaru is investigating, but at present is saying, "it's not a bug, it's a feature." After 50 years of driving scores of vehicles with manual transmissions, I disagree.
11/23/16 - as I was slowly rolling into a front parking spot the car accelerated on it's own - I turned the wheel to the left so I wouldn't crash full on into the building - trying to control the car - I went over a curb that was jetting out - defining the parking spaces - my right front and back tires went over the curb - just missing a tree - finally coming to a stop - if there was anyone there - I would have hit them - that day I took the car to the Subaru dealer and told them what happened - and on my paperwork it stated "customer states Subaru seems to accelerate on its own - tech found no codes. Tech drove vehicle and could not duplicate"
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Knoxville, TN, USA