2001 Subaru Forester Problems

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A CURBSIDE PARKING PLACE ON A CITY STREET THE ENGINE STARTED RACING AND I COULD NOT CONTROL IT BY STOMPING ON THE BRAKES OR APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AS I WAS WRESTLING TO KEEP THE SURGING CAR UNDER CONTROL ANOTHER CAR CAME DRIVING BY AND WAS SIDESWIPED. ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS I HAD TAKEN THIS CAR TO CHECK OUT THE SURGING WHICH TAKES PLACE WHEN THE CAR IS STARTING UP. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT I CONSULTED BOTH ASSURED ME THAT THEY HAD ADJUSTED THE IDLE AND THE CAR WAS NOW SAFE TO DRIVE. BUT IS IT?

BRAKES JUST DO NOT WORK ON SNOW, ICE (ABS DOES NOT KICK IN), AND THE WHEELS DO NOT TURN. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, RAN INTO AN INTERSECTION ON RED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN; NOTICED OTHER COMPLAINTS OF ACCIDENTS. *TR

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

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

BOUGHT MY 2001 FORESTER USED WITH APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER OWNING IT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOTICED HESITANCY WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT. SLOWLY STARTED GETTING WORSE. CAR WOULD SIT FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 SECONDS AFTER BEING PUT INTO DRIVE BEFORE ENGAGING AND IF FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKE, HAS A HARSH ENGAGEMENT (WHIPLASH TYPE THING WHERE IT THROWS YOU FORWARD). SO, AFTER MUCH RESEARCH AND FINDING OUT THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY 1000S OF OTHER FORESTER OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA WHO OF COURSE TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND IF THEY FOUND ANYTHING WRONG, SUBARU MIGHT GIVE ME SOME GOODWILL ASSISTANCE. WELL AS THEY FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION FILTER WAS NOT A SUBARU BRAND AND NOR WAS THE FLUID, THEY WANTED TO CHANGE IT AND THEN RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, SAYING THAT MAYBE THAT OTHER FILTER CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I TRIED EXPLAINING THAT THE REASON WE CHANGED IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, NOT WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. WE CHANGED IT TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP AND OF COURSE IT DIDN'T. THEN, OF COURSE, SUBARU WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING AS I DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO CHANGE THE FILTER AND FLUID ONLY TO CHARGE ME FOR THAT AND THEN TELL ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I POINTED OUT ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS, BUT THEY INSIST IT IS NOT A DEFECT, WHEN APPARENTLY THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

PURCHASED USED "AS IS" 02/01/2007 FROM DEALER THAT LISTED 2001 FORESTER AT $9800.00, THEN WHEN I WENT TO BUY THEY REDUCED COST TO $5200.00 JUST TO MOVE THEIR USED VEHICLES OFF LOT. THEY DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY PROBLEMS AND SAID FORESTER WENT THOROUGH VEHICLE INSPECTION AND VEHICLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION MECHANICALLY. (1) FAILURE OF EMISSION SYSTEM IE,OXYGEN SENSORS (2) FRONT AND REAR LOCATIONS. SECOND DAY AFTER PURCHASE. (2) FAILURE OF LEFT FRONT CV JOINTS (2) AND AXLE. THIRD DAY AFTER PURCHASE. (3) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD ONLY GO INTO REVERSE AND NOT ANY DRIVE OR FORWARD GEARS WHILE COMING HOME FROM WORK ON "5TH" DAY OF OWNERSHIP AND THIS BEING THE "THIRD" TIME TO HAVE FORESTER TOWED TO SERVICE CENTER. I CONTACTED THE MULTI-FRANCHISED (INCLUDING SUBARU) FOR HELP AND INFORMATION. THEY RESPONDED THE FORESTER WAS SOLD AS IS AND DIDN'T CARE EVEN IF THE VEHICLE FELL IN HALF ONCE IT LEAVES THEIR LOT. MY NEXT STEP IS I CONTACTED SUBARU AMERICA OF MY VEHICLE AND DEALER PROBLEMS BY EMAIL. I RECEIVED RETURNS FROM THEM WITH VAUGE AT BEST REASONS BUT NO RECALL OR TSB INFORMATION. THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND WAITING FOR A PERSONAL REPLY VIA POSTAL MAIL OR TELEPHONE CALL. IN TOTAL I HAVE BEEN TOWED 3 TIMES, TWO DIFFERENT SERVICE CENTERS AND CERTIFIED. MECHANICS. PAID $300. FOR FRONT AXLE, $429.00 FOR EMMISISON REPAIRS, $150 FOR A TRANSMISSION FLUSH,FILTERS (2 ONE INTERNAL ONE EXTERNAL SPIN-ON) AND SUBARU TRANSMISSION. CONDITONER. FINALLY AFTER ALL THAT I STILL HAVE THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND RARELY USE IT BECAUSE I AM AFFRAID TO DRIVE IT WITH MY TWO BABIES I HAVE, I USE MY FATHERS CAR. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED AND ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED, WHICH PREVENTED THE BRAKES FROM STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN, WHICH CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FAILED TO INDICATE IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,503.

BRAKES JUST DO NOT WORK ON SNOW, ICE (ABS DOES NOT KICK IN), AND THE WHEELS DO NOT TURN. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, RAN INTO AN INTERSECTION ON RED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN; NOTICED OTHER COMPLAINTS OF ACCIDENTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR CROSS MEMBER BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

2001 SUBARU FORESTER 87500 MILES ON IT. 12/2007 HAD REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AT INDEPENDENT SHOP. NOW IT IS 12/2008 WITH ONLY 92K MILES ON IT, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL BEARING IS HOWLING LIKE A BANSHEE. PASSENGER REAR WHEEL BEARING GETTING LOUDER BUT NOT AS BAD. MIGHT HAVE DEALER REPLACE THEM THIS TIME AND CHECK HUB ASSEMBLY FOR DAMAGE ETC. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. THEN IT GETS CLOSED IN THE DOOR BECAUSE IT HANGS LOOSE. IN THE BACK SEAT, THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT HAS THE WRONG PART SO IT CANNOT BE LATCHED. BECAUSE OF THIS, I CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE WITH MORE THAN 2 PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT.

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS COLD AND I TURN ON THE DEFROST TO WARM UP THE CAR WHILE PARKED I CAN SMELL GAS IN THE VEHICLE. IT GOES AWAY ONCE I START DRIVING. THIS IS A PROBLEM MANY SUBARU OWNERS HAVE BECAUSE A HOSE LOOSENS AND ALLOWS GAS TO LEAK OUT. ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP THE HOSE TIGHTENS AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. THIS CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE MY CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE.

WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN AND AROUND THE CAR. WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, I WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE HOSE CLAMPS ON THE FUEL LINES WERE LOOSE. THEY WERE THEN TIGHTENED BUT EVERY TIME THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS, IT HAPPENS AGAIN. IT HAPPENS WHETHER PARKED OUTSIDE OR IN A GARAGE.

IN DECEMBER, LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR USED, WHILE DRIVING I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A FLAT TIRE. I WAS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM A SERVICE STATION SO DROVE TO IT, BUT DRIVING THAT SHORT DISTANCE RUINED THE TIRE. I HAD JUST PUT AIR IN THE TIRES, BUT DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH ALUMINUM RIMS. OFTEN, AFTER PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRES, THEY WOULD BE FLAT BY THE TIME I GOT HOME (JUST A FEW MILES). THIS HAPPENED IN 2003. I HAVE HAD TO HAD THE RIMS TAKEN OFF, GROUND/SMOOTHED OFF, THEN RESEALED EVERY YEAR OR TWO. ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES/WHEELS IS THAT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SNOW, THE SNOW PACKS ITSELF AROUND THE TIRES COMPLETELY FILLING THE SPACE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BETWEEN THE TIRES AND THE WHEEL WELLS. IF I DON'T MANUALLY REMOVE THE IMPACTED SNOW, IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE THE WHEELS CANNOT BE TURNED. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE RIMS CORRODING BREAKING THE SEAL AND THE SNOW FILLING THE WHEEL WELLS, ARE SAFETY HAZARDS.

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

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET. TRIED TO CANCEL CRUISE CONTROL WITH STALK, IT DID NOT DISENGAGE. TRIED REPEATEDLY, IT DID NOT DISENGAGE. HIT THE BRAKES TO CANCEL CRUISE CONTROL, IT DID NOT DISENGAGE (BRAKES ONLY SLOWED CAR DOWN). STEPPED ON THE CLUTCH TO CANCEL CRUISE CONTROL, IT DID NOT DISENGAGE. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE CLUTCH AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE REVVED ALL THE WAY TO REDLINE AND REMAINED THERE (MEANING THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STILL ENGAGED). COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH CLUTCH IN, ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AT REDLINE... CONTINUED HITTING CANCEL ON THE STALK, EVENTUALLY REVS SETTLED DOWN TO IDLE. MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS NON-OPERATIONAL AFTER THIS INCIDENT.

MY 2001 STANDARD TRANSMISSION SUBARU FORRESTER FAILED TO RELEASE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN BRAKE WAS USED. I HAD DIFFICULTY, BUT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL ON THE SHOULDER. AFTERWARD, BRAKES SEEMED TO WORK FINE. *TR

WHEN TURNING THE TURN SIGNALS ON, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY, SUDDENLY PLUNGING YOU INTO DARKNESS. THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE MADE OF INFERIOR PLASTIC THAT CLOUDS OVER WITH AGE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED BECAUSE IT LOOKED AS IF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON WHEN THEY WERE.

HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE TOO CLOUDED OVER TO USE SAFELY. REGULAR EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE (WASHING, WAXING WHERE INDICATED) HAS NEVER MADE A DIFFERENCE MATERIALS USED WERE SUB-STANDARD & DID NOT EVEN OUTLIVE OUTLIVE THE ORIGINAL MFR. WARRANTY. *TR

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

WHEN DRIVING IN COLD TEMPERATURES TIRES LOOSE AIR. TIRES NEEDED AIR EVERY 10 MILES. THIS COULD BE CAUSED BY THE ALUMINUM RIMS BEING USED. THEY CORRODED AND LOST THEIR SEAL.*AK

WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. SHE GOT TOO CLOSE TO EDGE OF PAVED SURFACE ON NARROW SECONDARY ROAD AND TIRES DROPPED OFF EDGE. INSTEAD OF THERE BEING THE REQUIRED FLAT SHOULDER OR BERM, THERE IS A 4+ INCH DROP AT THAT POINT. THE DROP AND CORRECTING TO THE ROADWAY CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE ENDED UP ROLLING TWO OR THREE (WITNESS ACCOUNTS VARIED) TIMES AND ENDING UPRIGHT IN A FIELD. DURING THE VERY FIRST ROLLOVER MY WIFE WAS AWARE OF THE SEAT BELT COMING UNLATCHED. OBVIOUSLY, SHE THEN BECAME AN OBJECT BEING TOSSED ABOUT IN THE VEHICLE DURING THE REST OF THE CRASH SEQUENCE. THERE IS NO EVIDENT, PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE BELT OR BUCKLE MECHANISM. THE INERTIA LOCK STILL FUNCTIONS; THE BELT WILL CLICK INTO THE BUCKLE AND REMAIN THERE WITH A TUGGING MOTION IS APPLIED. OBVIOUSLY I CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE TYPE OF FORCES THAT WERE APPLIED DURING THE CRASH. I CONTACTED SUBARA OF AMERICA AT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT WITH THIS INFORMATION AND THEY WOULD ONLY LOOK INTO THIS IN THE EVENT THE INSURANCE COMPANY SEEKS TO SUBROGATE THE CLAIM TO THEM. THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AS THE SEATBELT DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT (FOR COLLISION LOSS PART OF CLAIM) AND PENNSYLVANIA LAW DOES NOT ALLOW SUBROGATION FOR MEDICAL CLAIMS. I WAS NOT SEEKING A LITIGATION SETTLEMENT IN CONTACTING SUBARU... I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD WANT TO INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE WAS KILLED. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH ON SNOW WHILE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN CONSUMER RAN OFF ROAD .AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH FRONT END DAMAGE. *AK THE SEAT BELT NOT ADQUATELY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. *YH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

DEALER INSTALLED ON THE HOOD AN ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD DEFLECTOR, SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH THE WINDSHIELD REFLECTOR COLLAPSED AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER GUARANTEE IS OVER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR

I HAVE A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER WITH A DEFECTIVE MAGNA DONNELLY AUTO DIMMING REARVIEW MIRROR. THIS MIRROR IS IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MAKES OF CARS, AND HAS BROADLY FAILED, IN SOME INSTANCES LEAKING (EVEN BURSTING) CAUSTIC CONTENTS THAT HAVE DISSOLVED PLASTIC COMPONENTS IN CARS. SOME CERTIFIED AUTO MANUFACTURERS MECHANICS HAVE STATED TO OWNERS OF FAILED MIRRORS THAT ONE CONSTITUENT OF THE PATENTED "A72 ELECTROLYTE" IN THE MIRROR IS A FORM OF MERCURY. THE MSDS THAT I REQUESTED FROM MAGNA DONNELLY LISTS 7 OF 8 CONSTITUENTS AS TRADE SECRETS, AND HENCE NO DETAIL. THE FACT REMAINS THAT THIS MIRROR FAILS WELL BEFORE THE AUTO HAS AGED. IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO SPEW CAUSTIC CONTENTS. IT IS A SAFETY DEVICE THAT FAILS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. A SIMPLE LOOK AT TWO ONLINE FORUMS DEALING WITH THIS DEVICE CAN BE FOUND AT: WWW.ACURAMDX.ORG/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?THREADID=25607 AND HTTP://WWW.ACURAMDX.ORG/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=19282&HIGHLIGHT=MIRROR+BLOB. MAGNA DONNELLY DID REPLACE THESE MIRRORS AT NO COST UP UNTIL LAST YEAR. THEY NO LONGER DO. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY. *TR

HEAT STRIP ON WINDSHIELD CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

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

UNUSUAL HEAT IN THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL WHEN THE RHEOSTAT CONTROLLED LIGHTS WERE ON HIGH, IMPOSSIBLE TO USE TAPE DECK BECAUSE OF THE HEAT GENERATED, OVERHEATING RHEOSTAT CONTROL FOR THE DASHBOARD LIGHT, EITHER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE IN THE RHEOSTAT OR THE INCORRECT WATTAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DEGREES.

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

ALARM SYSTEM REENGAGES BY ITSELF AFTER BEING DISENGAGED BY DEALER, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALLOW CONSUMER TO GAIN ENTRANCE WHEN THIS OCCURS. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT HER BABY WAS LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO BE RESCUED OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, CONSUMER STATED SHE PAID SUBARU TO HAVE THEM REMOVE THE ALARM SYSTEM AT THE TIME OF LEASING THE VEHICLE, SUBARU STATED THAT THE PANIC BUTTON WAS SOMEHOW DEPRESSED AND CAUSED DOORS TO LOCK AND LIGHTS TO FLASH, CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO WAY THE PANIC BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED BECAUSE THE KEYS WERE LYING ON THE FRONT SEAT WHEN SHE HAD EXITED THE VEHICLE. *SLC

SEVERAL TIMES, DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINES ALL THE WAY BACK UNEXPECTEDLY. WITH A CAR SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVER, THE CAR SEAT RECLINES DIRECTLY INTO THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *NM