2001 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG NOISE AND LOOKED BEHIND ME AND SAW BLACK SMOKE AND HAD LOST ALL POWER, NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES AND NO LIGHTS I HAD TO TRY TO CROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET MY CAR TO THE SHOULDER WHILE IT WAS DECELERATING. I GOT THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND WAS WORRIED OF A POSSIBLE FIRE. I GOT OUT AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED. THE RESULT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THAT HAD BLOWN THE ROD THROUGH THE BACK PILLAR AND SPRAYED OIL OVER EVERYTHING CAUSING THE BATTERY TO SHORT OUT WHICH LED TO THE POWER LOSS. THE WHOLE ENGINE ON THE CAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. BOUGHT CAR WITH A REBUILT ENGINE FROM SAME PROBLEM AT 141,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509215

Incident

Feb 25, 2013

Mileage

189,000 mi

DRIVING N ON I5 HIGHWAY WHEN CAR MADE NOISES, PULLED OVER & WOULD NOT START AGAIN. TOWED IN. WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE WAS DEAD. CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED BY DEALER. HAD TO BUY NEW ENGINE. SUBARU WOULD NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. CAR HAD VERY LOW MILEAGE & WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. WHEN DOING RESEARCH, FOUND THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL VEHICLES WITH 2.5L ENGINE AND DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10468878

Incident

Jul 14, 2011

Mileage

65,715 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING HER VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE KNOCK SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE OF HER VEHICLE BECAME VERY WARM WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99000.

NHTSA ID

10286535

Incident

Sep 22, 2009

Mileage

99,000 mi

AS SOON AS THE CAR AGED TO 75,000 MILES I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. THE CLOSEST SUBARU DEALER IS 51 MILES AWAY FROM MY CURRENT LOCATION. NOT EASY TO GET TO. MY IN TOWN MECHANIC HAS ONLY BEEN TRYING TO TREAT THE SYMPTOMS. I'VE HAD THERMOSTAT, HEATER CORE, VALVE COVERS, SPARK PLUG WIRES REPLACED, HOSES REPLACED, AND STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. I TOOK IT TO A SUBARU DEALER THIS MORNING, STILL OVERHEATING, AND HE SAYS I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE VALVE COVERS, WIRES, OBVIOUSLY THE HEAD GASKET AND POSSIBLY A FEW OTHER PARTS. LABOR ALONE IS A 1000 DOLLARS. SUBARU SHOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AS I AM NOTICING THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTS AND SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH OWNERS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. I REALLY HAVE ENJOYED OWNING A SUBARU UP UNTIL NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10200005

Incident

Aug 18, 2007

Mileage

78,151 mi

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, CRACKED SHORT BLOCK, AND O2 SENSORS ALL REPLACED AT AROUND 100,000 MILES. O2 SENSORS REPLACED TWICE. UNKNOWN WHEN PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED AND WHICH WAS CAUSE AND WHICH EFFECT. HEAD GASKETS SHOULD BE COVERED BY PROGRAM WWP-99, BUT SUBARU WILL NOT CONSIDER NOR DISCUSS ANY ACCOMMODATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10172101

Incident

Oct 4, 2005

Mileage

100,000 mi

BLOWN HEAD GASKET @ 75,000 MILES (OIL LEAKS). NOT COVERED BY SERVICE PROGRAM WWP-99. *NM

NHTSA ID

10140722

Incident

Oct 25, 2001

Mileage

75,000 mi

HEAD GASKET BLOWN AFTER SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP

NHTSA ID

10121016

Incident

May 9, 2005

Mileage

95,000 mi

RECALL WW-99 WAS ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT WAS NOT FOUND AT THIS TIME. THERE WAS EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAK INTO THE HEAD GASKET, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER WAS ONLY FLUSHING THE SYSTEM, AND WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ALSO, YOKOHAMA TIRES THAT WERE UNDER THE PROPER INFLATION FOR THE VEHICLE CAUSED IT TO SLIP AND SLIDE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ALL WHEEL DRIVE.*AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10115797

Incident

Feb 9, 2004

Mileage

43,000 mi

MY 2001 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. IT APPEARS, AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND OTHER SOURCES, THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS ALL PHASE 2 2.5 L ENGINES MADE BY SUBARU BETWEEN 1999 & 2002. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INTERNET WEB PAGES WITH COMPLAINTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. WHY HASN'T SUBARU BEEN ORDERED TO RECALL THESE ENGINES, THEY'RE ADANGER TO THE DRIVING PUBLIC! *AK

NHTSA ID

10104780

Incident

Dec 28, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

ENGINE PINGING NOISE RESULTING FROM SHORT SKIRT VALVE DESIGN FAILURE. REQUESTED ADVICE FROM MANUFACTURE WAS TOLD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. DEALER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. ENGINE LIFE IS GREATLY REDUCED BY THIS PROBLEM. DEALER RECOGNITION HAS OCCURED REGARDING THIS FLAW. THIS IS THE SECOND SUBARU I HAVE PURCHASED. SIMILAR PROBLEM IN FIRST VEHICLE RESULTED IN DEALER REPLACEING SHORT BLOCK. ALTHOUGH DISAPPOINTED AT FLAW CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FIRST DEALER PROMPTED PURCHASE OF SECOND VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10054542

Incident

Dec 18, 2003

Mileage

26,000 mi

ENGINE PINGING NOISE RESULTING FROM SHORT SKIRT VALVE DESIGN FAILURE. REQUESTED ADVICE FROM MANUFACTURE WAS TOLD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. DEALER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. ENGINE LIFE IS GREATLY REDUCED BY THIS PROBLEM. DEALER RECOGNITION HAS OCCURED REGARDING THIS FLAW. THIS IS THE SECOND SUBARU I HAVE PURCHASED. SIMILAR PROBLEM IN FIRST VEHICLE RESULTED IN DEALER REPLACEING SHORT BLOCK. ALTHOUGH DISAPPOINTED AT FLAW CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FIRST DEALER PROMPTED PURCHASE OF SECOND VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10054540

Incident

Dec 18, 2003

Mileage

26,000 mi

VEHICLE ENGINE SPUTTERS, SURGES AND SHAKES INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES STALLS WHEN STOPPED. SOMETIMES ACCELERATOR SIGNIFICANTLY HESITATES PROVIDE ENGINE SPEED. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC OR MERGING. MECHANIC REPLACED COIL PACK, SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, PCV VALVE, ADJUSTED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. DEALER REPORTS PROBLEM UNKNOWN AND NOT UNDER WARRANTY AT 43,000 MILES

NHTSA ID

10053081

Incident

Jan 2, 2004

Mileage

35,000 mi

AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES MY 2001 FORESTER STALLED 3 TIMES IN MY DRIVEWAY AND SHOOK A BIT. I HAD THE IDIOT-NEW-OWNER-PACKAGE WITH THE DEALER WHERE THEY DID ALL THE MAINTENANCE, ETC. AND WAS SCHEDULED FOR AN OIL CHANGE/WHATEVER MAINTENANCE ANYWAY SO I ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT. THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN TO ME UNTIL SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. NOW AT 38,000 MILES (3000 MILES AFTER WARRANTY AND AFTER THE END OF THE IDIOT-PACKAGE) IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BOTH IN PARKING LOTS AND AT STOP LIGHTS. IT SHOOK AT AN IDLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. A LOCAL SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED COIL PACK. HE ALSO NOTED THAT THE APPARENT CAUSE WAS THAT IT APPEARED NO MAINTENANCE HAD EVER BEEN DONE. THE SPARK PLUG CHANGE AND A 30K MILE TUNE UP THAT WERE ON MY SERVICE TICKETS AS HAVING BEEN PERFORMED WERE PROBABLY NOT ACTUALLY DONE. THERE WAS NO WAY TO PROVE THAT WITHOUT TOWING THE CAR TO SUBARU AT MY EXPENSE AND THEN PROBABLY HAVING THEM STILL CLAIM THE SERVICE HAD BEEN DONE. I DRIVE VERY CONSERVATIVELY, DON'T SPEED, DON'T TAKE OFF QUICKLY AND LIVE IN A MODERATE TEMPERATURE/WEATHER AREA (NORTHERN VA). THERE IS NO REASON THAT WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. SUBARU OF AMERICA SAYS IT IS A DEALER PROBLEM. THE DEALER CLAIMS NO WRONG DOING. I CAN DISPUTE THE POINT AND HAVE IT TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR VERIFICATION OF THE LACK OF PROPER MAINTENANCE, WHICH WE ALL KNOW WILL NOT BE THEIR FINDING OR PAY THE $530 REPAIR STRAIGHTAWAY. I CHOSE THE LATTER. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO NOW TO GET SUBARU TO REFUND THE COST OF REPAIR? *NLM

NHTSA ID

10010599

Incident

Feb 11, 2003

Mileage

38,000 mi

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*DT *JB

NHTSA ID

10009524

Incident

Feb 5, 2001

BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAUSING LEAK OF COOLANT AT 75,000 MILES ON A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER

NHTSA ID

10007715

Incident

Feb 12, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi

EXHAUST FUMES SOME CO POISONING SYMPTOMS 2001 SUBARU FORESTER POSTED BY DAVE ON FEBRUARY 08, 03 AT 06:52:29: I FUELED MY FORESTER WITH 91 OCTANE PREMIUM FUEL AND TOOK OFF ON A 5 HR DRIVE TO DENVER. THERE WERE EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS 40 MPH WINDS AND GROUND BLIZZARDS. SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH AND IT WAS ALL THE CAR COULD DO TO MAINTAIN 70 MPH IN HIGH GEAR AND ON SOME HILLS IT WOULD DOWNSHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR TO SATISFY THE COMPUTER SETTING OF 75. AFTER 2+ HOURS OF DRIVING I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES. I DEVELOPED A HEADACHE. I OPENED THE BRRRRR WINDOWS AND WROTE A NOTE TO THE EFFECT THAT IF I SUCCOMED TO CO FUMES AND DIED FOR MY SURVIVORS TO SUE SUBARU. IN THE STATE CAPITOL, I STOPPED AT THE D.O.T. AND WENT INTO THE TESTING LAB AND BORROWED A CO TESTER THEN WENT BACK ONTO THE INTERSTATE (THE CAR WAS IDLING WHILE IN THE LAB). I WAS WOOZIE AND DISORIENTED CLASSIC CO SYMPTOMS. SCARIE! ANYHOW BACK ONTO THE ROAD FOR A 15 MIN ATTEMPT TO REPRODUCE THE SCENARIO. THE FUMES WERE GONE THE CO DETECTOR STAYED AT ZERO/PPM, I SUPPOSE THE CONVERTOR HAD COOLED OFF. ON THE RETURN TRIP THE WIND HAD DIED AND THE ENGINE DID NOT HAFTO WORK QUITE AS HARD THERE WERE STILL SOME TIMES OF SLIGHT SMELL OF THE FUMES BUT NOT AS INTENSE AS ON THE INITIAL 2 HOUR EXPERIENCE. I ALSO REFUELED AT THE 2 HR MARK WITH 87 OCTANE FUEL. I BELIEVE THAT THE PURCHASE OF A SMALL CO DETECTOR MAY BE A GOOD IDEA FOR SAFETY. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS AS A POSSIBLE SERIOUS HAZARD BUT HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO GO ABOUT INITIATING SUCH A THING. THIS POST IS TO FURTHER THAT CAUSE. CC: SUBARU MFG.COM

NHTSA ID

10005513

Incident

Feb 7, 2003

Mileage

37,200 mi

VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION, HIGHWAY, STREET. *AK

NHTSA ID

766503

Incident

Aug 30, 2002

VEHICLE SPUTTERS AND SHAKES INTERMITTENTLY AFTER FIRST TAKING OFF. ALSO, STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS 3 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8008381

Incident

May 20, 2001