2003 SUBARU FORESTER Complaints

WHILE PARKING AT THE OFFICE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BY BRAKING HARD. THERE WAS NO RUG OBSTRUCTING THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKES. I WARE A SIZE 7 SHOE, THEREFORE THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF PRESSING BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. IT WAS SCARY. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR IN THE SHOP, STILL REMAINS ON. *TR

2003 SUBARU FORESTER. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. DEALER STATED THAT AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE HARNESS WIRES WERE CORRODED AND REQUIRED HARNESS REPAIR. SUBARU PARENT COMPANY SAID THERE IS ONLY A 30000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE AIRBAG WIRES.... THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE. SHOULD BE COVERED U DER 100,000 WARRANTY. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000. UPDATED 7/9/12 *CN THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME ASSEMBLY WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. UPDATED 07/10/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER.THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM) WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE SUB-FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE FRAME ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ

WE TOOK OUR 2003 SUBARU FORESTER IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS IN "SERIOUS" CONDITION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A PHOTO WAS TAKEN AND SENT TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER FOR HIS REVIEW. WE REPLACED THE CONTROL ARMS ON OUR OWN IN DECEMBER 2011. TOOK THE CAR IN TO OUR DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY 2012 FOR RECALL OF CONTROL ARMS AND NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT THE FRAME AT THAT TIME. MECHANIC STATED YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER INTO THE HOLE IN THE FRAME OF THE CAR. FORESTER WAS NEVER DRIVEN OFF-ROAD AND WAS DRIVEN SOLELY IN THE CITY. THE FRAME SHOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED OUT THROUGH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. WINTER THIS YEAR WAS VERY MILD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AS FRAMES ON CARS SHOULD NOT DEVELOP HOLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE EXHIBITED A LOUD, UNUSUAL NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED OR WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE MANUFACTURE WAS A FACTORY DEFECT AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BUT THE HEAD GASKET THEN BEGAN LEAKING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,279 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,300. UPDATED 04/05/12*LJ UPDATED 06/13/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER . THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V464000. (SUSPENSION: FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 03/28/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER CONTACTING SUBARU OF AMERICA, THEY AGREED TO COVER ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPAIR, INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SUBFRAME. UPDATED 03/30/12*JB

I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER AND HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON. SOMETIMES IT COMES ON AND GOES OFF BY ITSELF. MOST RECENTLY, IT WENT OFF AFTER I CHANGED THE PASSENGER SEAT POSITION. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT IT IS DUE TO THE AIRBAG SENSORS UNDER THE FRONT SEATS BEING JOSTLED OR DETACHED EITHER BY CHANGING SEAT POSITIONS OR SLIDING SOMETHING DOWN ALONGSIDE THE SEAT (LIKE A MAGAZINE OR NEWSPAPER.) I'VE HAD THE SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FIXED AT CONSIDERABLE COST TO ME. IT'S ANNOYING AND CLEARLY A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY THE DEALER AT NO CHARGE. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT A MONTH. IT WENT OUT ONCE FOR A BIT BUT HAS BEEN ON SINCE. I HAD ONE SERVICE DEPT. SAY THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR. THS SUBARU DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE AIR BAG SENSORS UNDER FRONT SEATS.- CAUSED BY CHANGING THE POSITION OF THE SEATS FREQENTLY AND MADE THE WIRES BREAK. I HAVE 88.000 MILES ON MY CAR. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER SO I DO NOT CHANGE MY SEAT POSITION OFTEN. THERE WAS NOTHING NOTED AT TIME OF PURCHASE ABOUT LIMITING CHANGE OF SEAT POSITION. THIS IS ACTUALLY REDICULOS. THEY STATED IT WOULD COST $370 TO FIX AND THEY HAD PACKET PARS AVAILABLE AND COULD EASILY REPLACE THEM. THEY STATED THIS IS AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM - IF SO UNCOMMON PROBLEM WHY DID THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH THESE REPLACEMENT PACKETS? I READ THEY REENGINEERED THIS PART FOR THE NEXT YEAR MODEL. I DID SOME CHECKING AND FOUND SERVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF 2003 FORESTERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT ENOUGHT COMPLAINTS TO FORCE A RECALL. . IT IS A DEFINITE "COMMON" PROBLEM. IN THE END THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $150 AND REPLACED ONLY ONE SENSOR WHICH RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. I'VE READ THAT SUCH "SAFETY PARTS" SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST? IS THIS TRUE? THEN I THINK I AM OWED A REFUND I AM PRINTING OUT A FEW OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS AND ALSO THE STATEMENT THAT THIS REPAIR SHOULD COST NOTHING AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. COULD YOU PLEASE ADVISE. *TR