Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Subaru Forester submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 67 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 67, in the owner's own words
Concerned over oil being burnt up at a significant rate, have to add a quart per tank of gas. Theres distinct burnt oil smell after driving. Concerned my car needs to be included in the oil consumption recall.
I have a single-owner 2011 automatic-transmission Subaru Forester [145k miles]. In a parking lot, I started the car as usual and shifted into reverse. I immediately noticed another car was approaching behind me and reflexively pushed on the brake to give the oncoming vehicle the right of way. As I pushed on the brake, the car suddenly and without warning surged backwards as the engine revved and "stuck" at a high rpm level. Surprised by the sudden loss of control and to stop the lunge backwards, I immediately released the brake pedal and shifted into neutral. I believe this reflexive action was solely attributable to my long history driving manual transmissions which "teaches" your brain that as an alternative to using the brake you can clutch [or if necessary "pop"] to neutral to disengage the engine from the wheels to control the vehicle. People without manual transmission experience would probably keep pressing the brake as their only option to regain control. The car stopped but the engine continued to rev at high rpms for a few moments then returned to normal rpms. No damages. This has never happened before and I was unable to duplicate the sequence of events which I tried to do immediately after the incident. I thought the gas pedal might be mechanically compromised ... for example by the floor mat ... but found no evidence of that. The incident remains a mystery mechanically, so all I can surmise is some electrical issue.
The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment, and the vehicle began to fill with smoke, prompting her to immediately stop and exit the vehicle. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact observed that the vehicle had become engulfed in flames, and local emergency services were called. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the flames. No warning lights were illuminated. A fire report was filed, but a police report was not filed. The contact was treated at an area hospital for a stress-related gastrointestinal issue. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was 102,000.
My car randomly turns off when reducing speed. It caused an accident a few days ago. I have had multiple mechanics try to figure out the problem but the only thing that comes up on the diagnostic tool is it needed 1 coil replaced. They have all been replaced and still won't go away. The Che k engine light is on. And the car uses about a quart or more of oil everytime I fill up but has no leaks. When I reduce speed the car in traffic, around corners or to stop it constantly turns itself off. Starting it it sometimes turns itself off if I don't give it some gas at the same time. It smells like burning oil constantly.
We have come to learn that our 2011 Forester with 95,229 miles is now burning (internally) oil at an alarming rate. The car was making a funny noise so we had it towed to the dealership and they found it was low by 4.8 quarts of oil. The last oil change was at 91,749 and this issue was discovered at 95,229 or 3480 miles driven and 4.8 quarts of oil is "missing". The dealer advised there is no signs of leaks from under the car and where we have it parked, there are no oil spots on the pavement. I have come to learn that in August 2014 then again in April 2016 there was a service bulletin on this engine due to oil consumption. The notice indicated that they (Subaru) was extending the powertrain warranty to 8 years / 100,000 miles. Sadly, we are past the 8 years but not the 100,000 miles.
I bought my vehicle new from Oakland Subaru. From the beginning I had to add about a quart of oil every month and a half to two months. I thought this was normal. When my vehicle had approximately 73,800miles, I went to Fremont Subaru for a regular motor oil change. I was asked about the oil consumption. After I reported how much oil I had been replacing on a regular basis, they asked me to return after 1,200 miles to see how much oil my car had consumed. They found out that my vehicle had oil leaks and the engine had to be replaced at 75,000 miles. Subaru paid for the service to be done. Today I took my vehicle to Fremont Subaru for a regular motor oil change which I usually do. My vehicle currently has 134,605 miles. The service representative, Devon Devlugt, informed me that my vehicle is unsafe to operate due to several oil leaks from the engine. The engine has less than 60,000 miles since it was replaced. This is the second time my vehicle becomes inoperable due to engine oil leaks. Fremont Subaru dealership will repair the engine for $4,687. Kelly Blue Book estimates my vehicle to be worth $4,700. Subaru must be held accountable for the vehicles they sell to consumers. My vehicle has had this problem since I bought it. There have been enough vehicles presenting this problem that Subaru paid for my vehicle’s engine to be replaced. Please hold Subaru responsible for engine failures/malfunctions.
The contact's daughter owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, there was a rattling noise coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Findlay Subaru St. George (1453 Sunland Dr, St. George, UT 84790) where it was diagnosed that the short block assembly needed to be replaced; however, no repair was completed, and the engine oil was refilled. The contact was made aware of Technical Service Bulletin: 02-157-14R (Surface Treatment Change to Oil Control Piston Rings); however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The vehicle was then taken to Subaru Sherman Oaks (5747 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401), where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to an oil leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,600.
The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormally loud sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer performed an oil consumption test and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 02-157-14R (Surface Treatment Change to Oil Control Piston Rings) however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
Thousands of Subarus are developing leaking cam carriers which can cause the vehicles to stall due to oil loss. There are online threads with many, many owners reporting their vehicles developed this problem - many with low mileage. My vehicle developed the problem with about 40,000 miles on the odometer. This vehicle should be recalled. Dealerships are making a fortune fixing these vehicles, often charging close to $3,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that she noticed an abnormal odor coming from the exhaust. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the seals needed to be replaced. Additionally, the spark plug gaskets and gasket rocker needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer removed the engine and replaced both cam carrier covers. The contact stated that she drove the vehicle for the next three years and experienced a recurrence of the odor from the exhaust. Additionally, the "check engine oil" warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the dealer who diagnosed the failure as a failed oil consumption test and recommended that all the seals be replaced yet again. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The vehicle was driven back to her residence. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,400.
LEAKY CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS MADE OIL LEAK INTO COOLING SYSTEM. CAR BEGAN RATTLING AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. SUBARU KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUES WITH THIS AND MAY OTHER YEARS CARS YET REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. LOOKING AT A COSTLY $3K FIX. NOT DRIVABLE OTHERWISE. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T FAIL ON US WHILE DRIVING.
2011 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES RECEIVED FOR VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIRS. *JS
WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY THE INTAKE VALVE SPRING BROKE AND DROPPED THE VALVE INTO THE CYLINDER CAUSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR
THIS MODEL HAS BURNED A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL. I HAVE TO REFILL WITH 1-2 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN CHANGES AND EVEN MORE IF WE DRIVE CAR FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. I HAD TAKEN VEHICLE AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES BECAUSE OF THE SMELL OF BURNT OIL WOULD COME FROM THE BLOCK, BUT THERE WASN'T A SIGN OF LEAKAGE ANYWHERE. THE DEALERSHIP HELD THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE MAIN OIL SEALS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. $3200 LATER AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT WAS TOO COSTLY TO KEEP BRINGING VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND A BOLD FORUM WHERE HUNDREDS OF OWNERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND SUBARU OF AMERICA WAS NOT WILLING TO LISTEN AND DO A MANDATORY RECALL FOR THIS OBVIOUS PROBLEM. WHEN I CALLED CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY TOLD ME I WAS OVER THE ALLOWED MILEAGE FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. MY PROBLEM WITH THIS WAS THAT THEY NEVER SENT OUT A NOTICE OR MESSAGE RELATED THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM MANY COULD BE ENCOUNTERING. THEY STATED THAT THE ONLY FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BLOCK WHICH WOULD COST ME OVER $5000. THIS PROBLEM IS A MAJOR ONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BURNS ALMOST 2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 1500 MILES OR SO. IF NOT REGULARLY CHECKED AND REFILLED, THE ENGINE CAN BURN DUE TO THE LACK OF OIL. IT IS BECOMING EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE SINCE A QUART OF OIL IS ABOUT $10. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO BE PRESENT AND SUBARU HAS NOT YET TAKEN CARE OF ITS LOYAL CUSTOMERS. AT THIS POINT, AS SOON AS I CAN AFFORD IT, I WILL BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SUBARU WILL NOT BE ON MY TO BUY LIST IN THE FUTURE AGAIN. I WILL ALSO NOT RECOMMEND ANY OF MY ACQUAINTANCES TO PURCHASE A SUBARU IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. *TR
WHEN MY HEAD LIGHTS GOT TURNED ON NONE OF MY TAILLIGHTS OR MY DASH LIGHTS CAME IN 1200 DOLLAR REPAIR. ALSO MY HEAD GASKET WENT WITH 1500 DOLLAR REPAIR WHICH SUBARU IN KNOWN FOR IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH. *TR
DEALER SAYS MY 2011 SUBARU FORESTER (~60,000 MI) HAS A CAM CARRIER OIL LEAK THAT WILL REQUIRE A $2,500 REPAIR TO FIX, AS IT INVOLVES REMOVING THE ENGINE. I'M CONCERNED THAT A LEAKING CAMSHAFT SEAL CAN COMPROMISE THE TIMING BELT, LEADING TO A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND DAMAGE.
TWO MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR USED FROM A DEALER, I NOTICED THAT IT SMELLED 'OILY', LIKE AN OLD CAR THAT HAD BEEN SITTING WITHOUT BEING STARTED. I CHECKED THE OIL AND THE CAR WAS ALMOST DRY AFTER ABOUT 1900 MILES FROM PICKING IT UP FROM THE DEALER. IT HAS USED OIL EXCESSIVELY EVER SINCE. I NEED ABOUT 1 QT, SOMETIMES MORE, EVERY 500 MILES. AFTER DRIVING, IT ALWAYS HAS THAT HOT OLD OIL SMELL TO THE ENGINE, LIKE A VERY OLD CAR. I'VE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT GARAGES BUT THEY CANNOT FIND A LEAK, SO IT MUST BE THAT THE OIL IS SOMEHOW BURNING. WHEN I ASK WHERE THE OIL IS GOING, THEY EITHER TELL ME "IT'S A SUBARU" WITH A SHRUG, AS THOUGH THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED, OR THEY SAY THAT PERHAPS I'M NOT NOTICING HOW FAR I'VE DRIVEN. ON ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE TICKS AND RATTLES LIKE IT IS OUT OF OIL. AT HIGH SPEEDS (60+MPH), THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS STRAINING. THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT LIGHTS UP DURING INITIAL STARTING, BUT NEVER COMES ON WHILE IDLING OR DRIVING, NO MATTER HOW LOW THE OIL GETS. THIS PUTS ME AT RISK TO BLOW THE ENGINE WITH NO WARNING.
UNKNOWN ORIGIN. VEHICLE EMITS STRONG FOUL BURNING OIL/RUBBER SMELL. SUBARU HAS CHECKED USING AN OIL LEAK TEST SHOWS IT IS NOT BURNING OIL. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER SMELL COMPLAINTS, BUT SUBARU SAYS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE IS. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS COMPLAINT, BUT SAYS IT IS RELATED TO AN OIL LEAK. PEOPLE NEARBY MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THE FOUL SMELLING SUBARU.
I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED WITH A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA AS A LEMON LAW BUYBACK. AFTER ONLY 87,000 MILES, MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES UNDER GOOD CONDITIONS AND METICULOUS MAINTENANCE, A ROD BEARING FAILED, DESTROYING THE ENGINE.
BURNING MORE THAN 1 QT PER 1,000 MILES
OUR FORESTER HAS BEEN BURNING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THOUGHT IT WAS LEAKS AT FIRST AND HAVE SPENT ABOUT 2500 FIXING THOSE. KEEPS LOSING OIL SO MUST BE BURNING IT. TOOK AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AT DEALER WHICH LASTS 1200 MILES. FAILED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MAKE IT 650 MILES BEFORE IT RAN OUT OF OIL. SUBARU DID NOTHING TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. SOON AFTER IT IS NOW STARTING TO THROW CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. TWICE NOW THE ENGINE HAS ALSO DIED WHILE I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. ONCE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE OTHER WAS LUCKILY BEFORE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT
73000 MILES AND WE HAD TO DO A FULL ENGINE RESEAL INCLUDING HEAD GASKETS, CAM CARRIERS, VALVE COVER GASKETS. ALL WERE LEAKING. COMPLAINT IS THAT THE GASKETS SHOULD NOT FAIL THIS SOON, 73K MILES. WE WERE LOSING ENGINE OIL. CAR WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO SUBARU.
VEHICLE IS BURNING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL. NO OIL LIGHT INDICATOR COMES ON TO WARN OF LOW ENGINE OIL. BURNS APPROXIMATELY 2 QUARTS PER 1000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2016 AND HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY CAR AND NOW THE ENGINE IS BLOWN IT'S MAKING A TICKING NOISE ALL THE OIL WAS GONE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE RD AND IT STARTING MAKING A TICKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD
SENSOR LIGHT ISSUE. CHECK ENGINE, SKID CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS REPEATEDLY COME ON. I HAVE REPAIRED IT 3 TIMES TO NO AVAIL. ON LINE THERE ARE 7 YEARS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. MY CRUISE CONTROL, SKID CONTROL ARE NON FUNCTIONING.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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