2002 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

I HAD STOPPED MY FORESTER IN THE LEFT HAND TURN LANE ABOUT 3 TO 5 FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE WAITING FOR THE SIGNAL TO CHANGE FROM RED TO THE GREEN ARROW. I PUT MY VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. I TURNED TO CHECK THE POCKET OF MY JACKET IN THE REAR SEAT. I TURNED BACK IN THE DRIVING DIRECTION, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND MOVED THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE POSITION. MY CAR SURGED FORWARD WITH THE ENGINE RACING AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE SPEED WITH THE BRAKES, SO I SHIFTED BACK INTO PARK. THIS STOPPED MY CAR. THERE IS DAMAGE TO MY FRONT GRILL AND HOOD. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAD THIS HAPPEN. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, I CALLED SUBARU HEADQUARTERS AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUES TO A SUBARU REPRESENTATIVE. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A NEW ISSUE AND NO RECALL WAS BEING CONSIDERED. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE SUBARU DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE SAME THING OCCURRED AT LEAST TWO MORE TIMES PRIOR TO AUGUST 10, 2015. I NEVER HAD ANY DAMAGE TO MY SUBARU OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS NOT NEAR ANY OTHER VEHICLE WHEN THIS SURGING OCCURRED AND I COULD GET CONTROL OF MY SUBARU BY PUTTING THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK. I PURCHASED MY SUBARU FORESTER NEW AND CURRENTLY HAVE 160,845 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10758501

Incident

Aug 10, 2015

Mileage

160,823 mi

IN VERY COLD CONDITIONS. WHEN THE CAR IS IN IDOL OR RUNNING IT HAS A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL AROUND THE ENGINE AND IN THE CABIN AREA. I HAVE HEARD THE WRX AND OUTBACK MODELS HAVE ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM.I WAS TOLD IT IS THE FUEL LINE HOSE THE CONNECTS TO THE CLAMP AND CONTRACTS IN SEVERE COLD AND EXTRACTS WHEN IT GETS WARM THEN SEALS ITS SELF TO THE CLAMP. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH SUBARU AND IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND POSSIBLE RECALL ON THE OLDER MODELS IF IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED WITH NEWER MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561174

Incident

Jan 14, 2014

Mileage

108,000 mi

INTERMITTENT ENGINE SURGING AND/LOSS OF POWER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314018

Incident

Jan 15, 2010

Mileage

109,000 mi

DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279463

Incident

Apr 21, 2009

Mileage

90,730 mi

IN THE LAST WEEK, MY HEATER STARTED WORKING SPORADICALLY, PUTTING OUT COOL AIR AND HOT AIR INTERMITTENTLY. THEN MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED CLIMBING QUICKLY TO THE HOT END. I TURNED MY HEATER ON FULL-BLAST TO COOL DOWN THE ENGINE AND THIS WORKED FOR ABOUT A MILE, THEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP IN THE RED. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, LET THE ENGINE COOL, AND ADDED COOLANT (IT WAS SLIGHTLY LOW, BUT NOT THAT LOW). THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE WHEN THE HEATER WAS ON ALL THE WAY, SO WE LOOKED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SAW THERE WAS A LEAK. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS AN "EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKET" JUST LIKE IN THE COURTESY RECALL OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR. HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED SUBARU, IT WAS FOR "PHASE 1" ENGINES ONLY, AND MINE WAS A "PHASE 2" ENGINE, THEREFORE MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SAME RECALL. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED EVERY 3,000 TO 5,000 MILES. THE PREVIOUS OWNER KEPT A LOG OF ALL THE WORK ON THE CAR IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, AND HE TOO, HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS TOO MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE FOR IT NOT TO BE A FAULTY PART, LIKE IN THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT WITH THE PHASE 1 ENGINE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER 2002 SUBARU FORRESTERS, WITH A PHASE 2 ENGINE, HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND IF SO, WHAT SUBARU IS GOING TO DO TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM? MY CAR IS FIVE YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 85,000 MILES ON IT, AND IT HAS BEEN SERVICED AT THE RECOMMENDED TIMES. IT SHOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM THIS MAJOR ($2,500 TO FIX!) GIVEN THESE FACTS UNLESS IT WAS A FAULTY SYSTEM TO BEGIN WITH! *JB

NHTSA ID

10205790

Incident

Oct 12, 2007

Mileage

84,000 mi

EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAK DUE TO FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS IN ENGINE ON A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 50,000 MILES. RESULTS IN COOLANT DRIPPING ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM AND OTHER COMPONENTS RESULTING IN STRONG ODOR. ALSO CREATES POSSIBILITY OF LOW COOLANT CAUSING OVERHEATING, ENGINE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO SUBARU HOWEVER, THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION OFFERED IS TO ADD A SEALER TO THE RADIATOR COOLANT. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL MECHANICS I HAVE CONSULTED, THIS WILL RESULT IN CLOGGING OF THE RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE PASSAGES FURTHER CAUSING OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. THE ONLY FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM IS REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKETS SOMETHING SUBARU REFUSES TO DO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10203091

Incident

Aug 30, 2007

Mileage

49,900 mi

SOA IS NOT BEING FORTHCOMING ABOUT A MAJOR DEFECT AFFECTING MANY OF ITS VEHICLES. ON WEDNESDAY JULY 11, 2007 I SPOKE TO SOA AND EXPLAINED MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE CHRONIC LEAKING HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS ON MANY OF YOUR VEHICLES. I OWN A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A LEAKING HEAD GASKET IN DECEMBER 2006 AND 68000 MILES BY A TEAPE SUBARU TECHNICIAN IN ARLINGTON TX. THIS REPAIR WOULD COST $1900.00. AS I HAD TO SAVE UP THE MONEY I DID NOT GET THE WORK DONE UNTIL 07/10/07 AT 75,000 MILES. I CONSIDERED THIS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. HAD SOA BROUGHT ME IN FOR A REPAIR I MIGHT HAVE AVOIDED THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR. MY CAR COULD EASILY HAVE OVERHEATED, RESULTING IN AN INJURY TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS WAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES THAT FREQUENTLY OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER BEING REPAIRED/REPLACED. SOA'S REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT NOT ONLY WAS MY VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR IT. HE DID, HOWEVER, GIVE ME A CASE #1017178. SUBARU NEEDED TO STEP UP AND HANDLE THIS PROBLEM. I AM ENCOURAGING YOU TO MAKE THEM DO THAT. THE FINAL COST FOR MY GASKET REPLACEMENT WORK WAS 1725.42. I AM MAILING SOA AN ITEMIZED LIST OF PARTS AND LABOR ALONG WITH MY PAID RECEIPT, AND I WANT A FULL REFUND FOR THIS WORK WHICH INCLUDED THE LABOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10196233

Incident

Jul 10, 2007

Mileage

68,000 mi

2002 SUBARU FORESTER HESITATES AND LURCHES DANGEROUSLY AS IF FUEL IS NOT GETTING TO THE ENGINE. WHEN PULLING ON TO A STREET OR HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WON'T PICK UP SPEED AND CREATES A SAFELY HAZARD AND POTENTIAL REAR END ACCIDENTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173913

Incident

Aug 24, 2006

Mileage

72,607 mi

ON THREE OCCASIONS WHEN PLACING MY 2002 SUBARU FORESTER IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE HAS BEGUN TO RACE UNCONTROLLABLY. IN EACH INSTANCE, BECAUSE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND AVOID A CRASH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142617

Incident

Nov 11, 2005

Mileage

26,378 mi

ON MARCH 4, 2004, WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 SUBARU FORRESTER, I SMELLED AN AWFUL SMELL AND THE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. CAR WAS TOWED TO PALM SUBARU, GAINESVILLE FLORIDA, @ 4:30 PM. PALM HAS PERFOMED ALL PRIOR SERVICES ON THIS CAR INCLUDING OIL CHANGES. PALM COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THAT DAY AND DIRECTED ME TO GATRO LEASING, WITHIN THEIR BUILDING, FOR A RENTAL. I DID NOT PROVIDE A CREDIT CARD FOR THE RENTAL WHICH I HAD FOR ABOUT 16 HOURS AND DROVE ABOUT 20 MILES. ON MARCH 5, I WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL FILTER WAS FAULTY I HAD NOT TIGHTENED THE GAS CAP AND THAT IS WHY THE EMISSION LIGHT WAS ON. NOW I AM BEING ASKED TO PAY THE $22.00 FOR THE RENTAL. I DON'T THINK THIS IS FAR SINCE PALM INSTALLED THE FAULTY OIL FILTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10067567

Incident

Mar 5, 2004

WHEN THE CONSUMER DEPRESSES THE FUEL PEDAL THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND SOMETIMES STALL, THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIME BUT NO REMEDY HAS BEEN FOUND. NLM

NHTSA ID

568249

CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STARTED HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP, HESITATION OCCURS ONE SECOND TO A FEW SECONDS AFTER ACCELERATION AND CAN LAT APPROXIMATELY THREE SECONDS. SINCE THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE HESITATION, THE TRANSMISSION NOW SHIFTS WITH A SLIGHT THUMP TO A LOUD BANG, DURING ACCELERATION THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MISSES A SHIFT AND GOES INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO INSTANTLY OVER SPEED TO 2,000 RPM'S THE TRANSMISSION SEARCHES FOR DIFFERENT GEARS WHILE GENTLY ACCELERATING, ON 2 OCCASIONS THE DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER MODIFICATIONS WHICH HAS MADE THE PROBLEMS LESS INTENSE, BUT STILL EXISTS. *JB *SCC

NHTSA ID

567961

CONSUMER EXPERIENCES VEHICLE STALLING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

NHTSA ID

8019670

Incident

Mar 11, 2002

INTERMITENT BACKFIRE AFTER SHIFTING ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION FORESTERS. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, CONFIRMED THAT ENGINE BACKFIRES BUT SAID BACKFIRING WAS NOT A PROBLEM, HENCE NO FIX WAS NECCESSARY AND NON WOULD BE PROVIDED. HOW MANY OF YOU OUT THERE CONSIDER BA. *AK

NHTSA ID

763137

Incident

Nov 7, 2001

VEHICLE DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY START UP. DEALER HAS REPLACED ECM BOX, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED AND SEIZED UP.*MJ

NHTSA ID

8008831

Incident

Apr 2, 2002