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.
The issue is sudden battery drain. The risk is being stranded. Unfortunately the drain happens randomly. The battery has been been replaced twice since 2017. Last battery replaced 11/19. I noticed this is an issue with this car and there are many complaints.
I've had to replace the battery three (3) times in a four (4) year old vehicle. I've had several calls to AAA for a jump start (to then get to Dealer to replace battery) and I had to purchase a rapid charger which I must carry in my car all the time in case the battery dies again. The problem with the battery began within the first year of purchase and has continued two times afterwards replacing the battery now 3 times Below I put the last time this happened. I've been stranded numerous times and I shouldn't have to keep jump starting my car. I've brought this concern to the Dealer (Sunset Subaru, Sarasota) and it is not taken seriously. In my opinion, this has been and continues to be a technical problem going back to the purchase of the vehicle in question.
My new battery completely drained over a weekend in my garage. I had AAA jump the battery and drove to their service center to check the battery to see if it was damaged. They said it was in great condition, no problems they could detect. A few days after the battery drain I found the passenger side window will not operate from the driver side console. I have an appointment with the Subaru dealership to investigate the problem. This is the second time I have had a complete battery drain on this vehicle. I am now on 2nd battery and there is only 18,867 miles on the vehicle. We could not find any reason for the drains.
The battery in my 2017 Subaru Forester was completely drained of power in 4 days of non-operation of the vehicle. The battery in question was installed on 10/4/2020 by my Subaru dealer to replace a battery that also had drained of power and would not take a charge. I presume the current battery was fully charged by my trip home to Arlington, VA from Philadelphia, PA on July 5, 2021. I tried to start this vehicle around noon on July 10, 2021 only to find that the battery was completely dead. The electronic key did not work. All internal screens are black. No response to key in ignition; not even a rattling noise. This is two dead batteries in less than two years of ownership. The current battery is only 9 1/2 months old.
- Arlington, VA, USA
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With engine running and shift lever in Park (CVT transmission) driver is unable to turn the engine off or remove the ignition key from the steering wheel. This occurs sporadically/unpredictably such that driver has no forewarning and cannot take proactive steps to avoid the problem, resulting in instances where driver is forced to leave the car running in situations that present safety concerns. (Examples: in a garage or enclosed area; when temporarily exiting vehicle necessitating leaving the doors unlocked; etc.). The problem is widespread in Subaru vehicles and consistent with problems exhibited/described in Subaru Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) #16-112-18R for which no recall has to date been issued for corrective action by Subaru. Driver was told by Subaru of America that a diagnostics test is needed by a Subaru dealer to verify existence of the problem (which as stated occurs unpredictably) at driver's expense (locally approximately $140), with repair coverage of defective/poorly-designed shift or electrical components not being covered by Subaru beyond the standard warranty period for the affected vehicle. estimated cost of repair for defects as listed in the TSB (per on-line sources)...$400-$650 depending on dealer and geographical location.
The vehicle does not recognize when it is park (a problem with a sensor down by the shifter) so it is nearly impossible to take the key out of the ignition. Although Subaru has created a TSB 16-112-18R that nhtsa is aware of, I want to report this happening to my vehicle. I believe it is a very dangerous situation to experience especially with children as passengers in the vehicle. I-??ve had to bypass the sensor on my own due to the cost ($500+) of the repair...
The battery on my 2017 Forester has been replaced under warranty three times after being found dead. All three times Subaru has said it was a bad battery. The battery couldn't be jumped and my mechanic said it was an electrical issue if it happened more than once. Luckily it was at my house all three times so only a simple tow. If this happened 300 miles off road, it would be a massive issue.
In Nov 2019 we left the car parked for a week at the cruise terminal while stationed overseas in italy. We we came back, the car wouldn't start and had jumped. Over the next several days the car had difficulty starting and we ended up taking the car to the Subaru dealership in frosinone, italy. The service technician said the battery needed to be replaced and that we were not the first forrester owners to have the battery replaced.
Driving on the highway and the driver side window which is rolled up completely shattered. There are no cracks no indentation that the glass would have broken at time of the incident. The only issue leading up to this the window would not roll up all the way at times. Which is why I personally never rolled the window down once I knew that was an issue
2017 Subaru Forester battery drains power and leaves car totally dead on several occasions since purchase (1/2017). Battery died in 2018 twice: Once during summer and once in November. (one time Subaru service roadside assist was used, 11/18, and one time a friend charged battery). Third time battery died was 3/19. Brought care to dealer on 4/29/19 with complaint of battery drain. Subaru tested battery and said it was all good and would not replace battery. In 1/20 battery again died and on 1/29/20 took car again to Subaru dealer with complaint of battery drain. Subaru checked the charging system and updates. Battery failed testing and was replaced under warranty. On 4/22/21 battery again died. I called Subaru service manager and asked to have the my car tested to see if there was something in the car that was draining the battery. The manager repeatedly told me that there was probably something left on by me while the care was turned off.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the key occasionally seized in the ignition. The contact believed that the issue was related to the shifter sensor or the key sensor. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
I've been having more problems with taking my key out of the ignition. It start of happening once in awhile and now everytime I turn off my car and take the key out. I search on the problem and read alot of people having this problem. I called my bryan Subaru and they said this has been happening.
These models have amplifier sound issues that routinely cause the amplifier to fail and cut the sound. This could definitely cause a crash by distracting the driver. The amps are extremely prone to failing and cause ear deafening tones, no sound, crackling etc. The problem is extreme and dealers have no apparent way of rectifying the issue. The internet is loaded with customers reporting this including myself. This is a manufacturing and design flaw that should fixed. Normal device failure is fine but this is over the top. My car went to the dealer roughly 4 times due to this. My vehicle produced a ear piercing sound in mid winter with the windows up and luckily I was able to pull over to gas station while attempting to protect my ears and shut off the car. I know this sounds silly but the sound system is roughly 500W and that mixed with the high pitched tones is ear damaging. I'm lucky I did not crash. The only way to operate the vehicle safely was physically unplugging the amplifier. Please help.
This is a 2017 forrester. The battery keeps repeatedly dying. For example: Had to jump in last night, drove it for 45 minutes to ensure it should be charged back up. It was in our garage last night - and today, it won't start and we can't jump it either. Awaiting a tow truck. This battery has required a jump at least 5 times in the last six months. And there is nothing wrong with the battery. Talking to multiple Subaru owners reveals this is a common issue - one Subaru 'solves' by putting in a new battery (at my cost) and then it will die too.
Periodically unable to remove key from the ignition. Has been happening more frequently over the past 2 months. Key is "locked" in ignition, unable to completely "turn off" key switch and therefore unable to remove the key. Only resolution has been to turn the vehicle back on and shift the gears and reattempt to turn car off and remove key. This is also, likely, affecting being able to use the remote start for my vehicle.
Intermittently, the key in the ignition would not go to the "off" position so that I could remove it after the car was in "park." I would have to move it (the key) back to the "on" position, then back again to the "off" position (beyond the "acc" setting).
Intermittently, I cannot remove the key after putting the vehicle into park. Restarting the car, taking it out of park, and putting it back into park (sometimes requires multiple iterations) eventually allows the key to release.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Romeoville, IL, USA