Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Mar 28, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 147 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 8 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.
Owner reports naming powertrain
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 28, 2022
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.
NHTSA ID
11458730
Incident
Mar 14, 2022
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 30, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A. CRIVELLI SUBARU (768 ALLEGHENY BLVD, FRANKLIN, PA 16323) AND AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE RESULT CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SHORT BLOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO PARTIALLY COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ID
11405611
Incident
Aug 17, 2020
Mileage
120,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 8, 2020
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
NHTSA ID
11323891
Incident
May 5, 2020
Mileage
150,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 13, 2019
THE IGNITION KEY STARTS THE CAR, BUT STICKS IN THE IGNITION AFTER DRIVING TO DESTINATION AND PUTTING IT IN PARK. THE PROBLEM IS PERSISTENT BUT INTERMITTENT. IT TYPICALLY REPEATS IN THE MORNING AFTER THE FIRST DRIVE OF THE DAY. CAN'T ALWAYS GET THE KEY OUT AND HAVE TO RETURN HOME. AFTER DRIVING AND MUCH JIGGLING THE KEY WILL EVENTUALLY COME OUT. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED A PART IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT HE CALL THE "SHIFTER PLATE," TO THE TUNE OF $550, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
NHTSA ID
11255286
Incident
Sep 13, 2019
Mileage
77,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 22, 2019
SHIFT LINKAGE CORRODES CAUSING LOSS OF SHIFTING ABILITY, INCLUDING PUTTING INTO PARK AND DRIVE. THEY ALREADY HAD A RECALL ON THE SAME PROBLEM CAUSING CORROSION TO THE BRAKE LINES. THIS SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING TO THE SHIFT CABLE LINKAGE
NHTSA ID
11171378
Incident
Nov 1, 2018
Mileage
59,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 21, 2018
CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 60,000 MILES WAS DUE TO VALVE SPRING FAILURE. THE VALVE SPRING FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. FATIGUE INITIATED AT A HIGH STRESS LOCATION NEAR A SUBSURFACE NON-METALLIC SLAG PARTICLE. SURFACE CRACKING WAS NOTED ON THE VALVE SPRING AT LOCATIONS NEAR THE FRACTURE ORIGIN.
NHTSA ID
11080619
Incident
Sep 8, 2017
Mileage
60,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 9, 2017
MY WIFE AND I CURRENTLY OWN A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER WE PURCHASED NEW FROM HATFIELD SUBARU IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD IT SERVICED AT BYERS DUBLIN SUBARU IN COLUMBUS OHIO. AT THE 25,000 MILE MARK BOTH HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING SO THE MECHANICS AT BYERS PULLED THE MOTOR AND REPLACED THEM. JUST RECENTLY AT THE 33,000 MILE MARK I BROUGHT IN MY VEHICLE TO BYERS FOR MY 30,000 MAINTENANCE CHECK ALSO COMPLAINING OF A STRANGE NOISE. THEY INFORMED ME THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AGAIN AND THE NOISE WE HEARD WAS THE TRANSMISSION RUNNING LOW ON FLUID. THEY AGAIN PULLED THE MOTOR AND MADE REPAIRS, HOWEVER, WHEN PLACING THE MOTOR BACK IN THE CAR A STRANGE NOISE DEVELOPED IN THE ENGINE, THEY AGAIN PULLED THE MOTOR ADJUSTING THE TENSIONING ON THE TIMING CHAIN YET THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. THEY THEN CONTACTED SUBARU TECHNICAL SUPPORT ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE. THEY ARE CURRENTLY PULLING THE MOTOR FOR THE FOURTH TIME WITH THE INTENTION ON REPLACING THE CYLINDER HEADS AND CAM SHAFT. UP UNTIL NOW I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH BOTH DEALERSHIPS EXPRESSING MY CONCERNS. I HAVE ALSO SPOKEN WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE, A SUPERVISOR, AND A MANAGER AT SUBARU OF AMERICA. THE MANAGER AT SUBARU HEADQUARTERS SAID THEY COULD ONLY OFFER ME 2500.00 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE THE MANAGER AT HATFIELD WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM PASSED ME OFF TO A SALES ASSOCIATE WHO ONLY WANTED TO SELL ME A NEW SUBARU AT FULL PRICE TO MEET HIS END OF THE MONTH FEBRUARY SALES QUOTA. THE MANAGER AT BYERS WHERE MY CAR IS BEING SERVICED HAS BEEN LESS THEN FORTH COMING AS TO THE TRUE STATUS OF MY VEHICLE AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM AS TO THE STATUS OF MY VEHICLE AS PROMISED IN THE LAST FOUR BUSINESS DAYS. WHAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST IS MY WIFE AND I NOW OWN A SUBARU WITH A LONG LIST OF ENGINE PROBLEMS SO EARLY IN ITS LIFE AND A TRANSMISSION WHICH HAS BEEN EX
NHTSA ID
10959866
Incident
Feb 8, 2017
Mileage
33,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 15, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported
ON 5/24/11, WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, MY FORESTER WAS HIT BROADSIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT RAN A RED LIGHT. THE IMPACT OF THE SPEEDING VEHICLE CAUSED THE FORESTER TO SPIN 360 DEGREES AND FLIP-OVER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I WAS LEFT TRAPPED INSIDE THE FORESTER AND WITNESSES POINTED OUT THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE FORESTER FLIPPED OVER. APPARENTLY THERE IS NO ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION KILL SWITCH. FURTHERMORE, THERE IS NO INTERIOR RELEASE OF THE REAR HATCH. AS A RESULT I REMAINED TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND CONCERNED ABOUT A GASOLINE LEAK AND POSSIBLE EXPLOSION. I WAS EVENTUALLY REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE BY EMTS AND BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF SIMILAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN A REMOTE AREA OR IF THE DRIVER WAS MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED, MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE RESULTED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10430338
Incident
May 24, 2011
Mileage
2,837 mi
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own