Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Driver assistance 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.
20
Latest Jul 6, 2021
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.
19%
of 105 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.
11
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5
What this page shows
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Subaru Forester submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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 driver-assistance
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jul 6, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at a low rate of speed through a parking garage, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The vehicle initially crashed into a parked vehicle which caused a chain reaction with two other parked vehicles. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The police arrived at the scene and a police report was filed. The contact sought medical attention for a laceration to the head and a stiff neck. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.
NHTSA ID
11423566
Incident
Jul 2, 2021
Mileage
83,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 30, 2019
Crash reported
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OCCURRENCE OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WAS EASING INTO A PARKING SPACE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ENGINE REVVED, AND THE VEHICLE SURGED AND BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD ON ITS OWN ACCORD. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT USING THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER 2 PARKING CURBS AND SHRUBBERY AND WAS HEADED INTO TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH SO I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT AND AVOIDED TRAFFIC BY TURNING RIGHT, STAYING ON PARKING LOT GRASS & ROCK BARRIER. CAR WENT INTO GULLY AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. CONTACTED CORPORATE OFFICE WHO HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AUTO ENGINEERING FIRM AND NO PROBLEM DETECTED. SINCE SOME RECURRENT ISSUES REPORTED ON SAFETY BOARDS, DECISION MADE TO TRADE IN VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND NOW HAS CAR UP FOR SALE; WE HAVE MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE BEING SOLD TO UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER.
NHTSA ID
11204672
Incident
Feb 7, 2019
Mileage
93,400 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 22, 2019
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 1 MPH ENTERING A DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE OF A HOUSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUBARU OF GRAND BLANC (6061 S SAGINAW ST, GRAND BLANC, MI 48439, (810) 202-0831), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
NHTSA ID
11190869
Incident
Mar 6, 2019
Mileage
66,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 24, 2018
Crash reported
WHILE BACKING UP IN REVERSE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. OPERATOR HAD FOOT ON BRAKE BUT VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING TO STOP THE CAR AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL CONTACT WITH A PARKED VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED DAMAGE. POLICE OBSERVED SKID MARKS FROM ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE. EVENT OCCURRED ON JULY 24, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 P.M. IN A SMALL PARKING LOT AT A CONVENIENCE STORE IN FREMONT, NH.
NHTSA ID
11113411
Incident
Jul 24, 2018
Mileage
95,300 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 28, 2016
WHICH DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT RUSH HOUR AT 65 MPH... WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING OR WARNING LIGHT MY CAR STALLED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE STEERING WENT OUT ALONG WITH THE BRAKES AND ALL POWER. I SAT IN THE FAST LANE OF TRAFFIC UNABLE TO SAFELY EXIT MY CAR FOR ALMOST AND HOUR UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NEIL HUFFMAN IN LOUISVILLE KY WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW 4 YEARS AGO. I WAS TOLD THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR HAD FAILED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY HAD NO IDEA WHY THIS HAPPENED AT 65 MPH WITH NO WARNING. I PAID THE 403.00 REPAIR AND CONTACT SUBARU USA DUE TO MY CONCERNS. ALTHOUGH I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS ON HOLD EACH TIME FOR UP TO 10 MIN AND ALSO EMAILED.. STILL NOT RESPONSE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR.. AND PLAN TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR SOON.. BUT AM CONCERNED SOMEONE ELSE WILL BE MY CAR AND BE IN DANGER. *TR
NHTSA ID
10919796
Incident
Oct 27, 2016
Mileage
800,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 20, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported
2012 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION ACCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB
NHTSA ID
10918173
Incident
Jun 16, 2016
Mileage
28,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 3, 2016
Crash reported2 injuries reported
AFTER HITTING A CURB PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED AT A LIGHTENING SPEED AND RACED AT INCREASING SPEED FORWARD KNOCKING OVER A BUSH AND CRASHING INTO A BRICK WALL OF A CHURCH BUILDING. THE SEVERE IMPACT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO OPEN AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS SO DAMAGED THAT IT IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THIS ALL OCCURRED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS MYSELF, THE DRIVER, AND A PASSENGER WERE SENT TO EMERGENCY ROOM WITH MULTIPLE ABRASIONS AND CONTUSIONS.
NHTSA ID
10892782
Incident
Jul 30, 2016
Mileage
49,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 26, 2016
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
10888686
Incident
Apr 24, 2015
Mileage
30,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jun 28, 2016
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE REVERSING INTO A CAR PORT IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SURGED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR PORT IN THE DRIVEWAY, AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO TWO CAR PORTS AND THE OTHER VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT DID NOT RESPOND. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V830000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
10881254
Incident
Jun 25, 2016
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jan 14, 2015
I WANT TO ALSO SUBMIT A STATEMENT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY BRAKES,I ALSO NOTICED OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS,AS SOON AS I GOT THE CAR I NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE VERY SOFT.I TOOK THE CAR IN,I WAS TOLD THEY WERE FINE.A COUPLE WEEKS LATER I WAS IN LINE AT STARBUCKS AND THE BRAKES WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR,I PULLED THE EMERGENCY UP NARROWLY MISSING THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME.I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN,BEFORE I GOT THE CAR BACK IN AGAIN AT DUNKIN DONUTS IT DID THE SAME THING.IT HAD ALSO STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE SMELL AND HAD NO POWER.AND A FEW OTHER MINOR THINGS.I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID THE BRAKES WERE FINE,I ARGUED THEY WERE NOT.THE SMELL WAS SUPPOSEDLY SOME KIND OF FLUID LEAKING ON THE MUFFLER.TOOK IT HOME BRAKES STILL KEPT DOING THE SAME THING,CALLED BACK WENT BACK IN THE CAR WAS LOW ON OIL AND THE BRAKES WERE STILL DOING THE NON EXISTENT THING,PLUS IT STILL SMELLED BAD AND I HAD A LIST FOR THEM,THEY GAVE IT AN OIL CHANGE,AND SAID THIS TIME THE BRAKES WERE FINE BUT MAY NEED PADS IN 6,000 MILES OR SO NOW THE SMELL IS NORMAL THOU,PLUS I TOLD THEM IT WAS NOT GETTING GOOD GAS MILEAGE AND HITCHING,THEY SAID UNLESS THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEY CANT DO ANYTHING.WELL NOW LASTLY THE REAR SEAT BELT WORKS ONLY OCCASIONALLY,MY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME AND THEY ONLY STOP ABOUT HALF THE TIME MY TIRES ARE ALL WORN OUT,AT LESS THAN 10,000 MILES WHICH THEY SAY IS NORMAL (OK) AND IT STALLS DOESN'T LIKE TO START,AND IS UNDER RECALL IT STILL SMELLS BAD,THE CRUISE CONTROL ONLY WORKS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT,IT USES OIL,EATS GAS,AND STALLS DOESN'T LIKE TO START,AND THE BRAKES ACT LIKE THE ANTI LOCK FEATURE IS CONSTANT EVEN WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BE?NOW AFTER AN ACCIDENT AND MY AIR BAGS DON'T DEPLOY I THINK IT SEEMS LIKE A REAL TREND HERE AND I REPORTED MY ACCIDENT TO SUBARU OF AMERICA THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10672594
Incident
Apr 8, 2014
Mileage
29,600 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 18, 2014
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO AN ATM MACHINE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,700. UPDATED 04/30/14 MA UPDATED 04/19/16*LJ *TR
NHTSA ID
10573102
Incident
Feb 28, 2014
Mileage
8,700 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 30, 2013
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, HE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT IT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN INTO A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,500. UPDATED 11/14/13*CN
NHTSA ID
10546145
Incident
Sep 22, 2013
Mileage
34,500 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 19, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD INDEPENDENTLY DISABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING ACCORDING TO STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,650 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,626. UPDATED 10/17/13*LJ
NHTSA ID
10536127
Incident
Jul 30, 2013
Mileage
8,650 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 4, 2013
SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION: STEPPED ON BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN. INSTEAD ENGINE REVS INCREASED AND CAR SPED UP. WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED, ONLY BY TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REPLACING IT SEVERAL TIMES. SAME PROBLEM AS OCCURRED WITH THIS VEHICLE ON 10/12/2012. SEE ODI # 10484833. *TR
NHTSA ID
10533535
Incident
Aug 3, 2013
Mileage
3,690 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 15, 2012
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE PASSING A PARKED DUMPSTER, THE DRIVER STEPPED LIGHTLY ON THE GAS. INSTEAD OF THE EXPECTED MILD ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE REVVED GREATLY AND AN UNEXPECTED HIGH ACCELERATION OCCURRED. IT RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10484833
Incident
Oct 12, 2012
Mileage
3,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 17, 2012
AFTER SHARP ACCELERATION THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. NO OTHER ISSUES NOTED. TWO MONTHS LATER WITH 7500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THE SAME THING OCCURRED BUT THIS TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE STABILIZATION LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL. CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK AND I ASSUME THE STABILIZATION DIDN'T EITHER.
NHTSA ID
10472165
Incident
May 22, 2012
Mileage
5,325 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 21, 2012
WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO ACCELERATE AT A HIGH RPM, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND START FLASHING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ALSO FLASHED. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISABLED AND THE OTHER LIGHTS CONTINUED TO BE ON AND FLASH AND I HAD TO TAKE IT THE DEALERSHIP TO BE "RESET". DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS A "COMPUTER" PROBLEM AND SUBARU HAS NOT FIXED IT. YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WAS ABLE TO LET OFF ACCLERATION QUICK ENOUGH TO KEEP IT FROM LOCKING OUT MY CRUISE AND CAUSING ALL THE LIGHTS TO FLASH CONTINUALLY. *TT
NHTSA ID
10459088
Incident
May 20, 2012
Mileage
6,000 mi
Driver assistanceSeat belts
Filed Apr 23, 2012
MY FORESTER HAS HAD THE ISSUE OF MISFIRING ON THREE OCCASIONS. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE FIRST TWO, NOW THEY TELL ME I NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THEY CREATE A COMPUTER UPDATE, THAT MY CAR HAS A "GLITCH IN THE COMPUTER". MY CRUISE CONTROL BECOMES DISABLED, WHILE DRIVING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES, ALONG WITH VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL WARING LIGHT ALSO BLINKS. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THE CAR WILL RUN PROPERLY, NOT TO WORRY. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE ABS IS POROBLABLY MALFUNCTIONING. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THEY DEALERSHIP SAID I MAY HAVE HAD WATERY GAS. IT HAS NOW HAPPENED UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS: GOING UP GRADE AND NEEDING TO ACCELERATE. IN A FOUR MONTH PERIOD, I HAVE HAD THIS SAME UNRESOLVED ISSUE, THREE TIMES. ALSO THE SEAT BELTS ARE ON RECALL. WHEN I CALLED TOHAVE THE SEAT BELT REPLACED, I WAS TOLD THEY WERE ON BACK ORDER AND WOULD CONTACT ME. *TR
NHTSA ID
10456177
Incident
Dec 14, 2011
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 13, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED THE SAME SPEED ONCE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE BUT ADVISED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT IT. THE DEALER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED, AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,800. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS APPARENT, THAT WHEN HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED ITS SPEED FOR TWO OR THREE SECONDS. THE DEALER VERIFIED THE ISSUE AS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS INFORMED IT WAS NORMAL AND IT WOULD NOT BE CORRECTED. UPDATED EVOQ 01/26/12
NHTSA ID
10443664
Incident
Dec 22, 2011
Mileage
25 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 27, 2011
WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN ROUTE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KICKED ON AND PROCEEDED TO FLASH WHILE THE STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON DISABLING THE TRACTION CONTROL. THIS LASTED APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS, ALL LIGHTS KICKED OFF AND SEEMED OKAY. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY NOW THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON AND FLASHING, CHECK ENGINE WAS SOLID AND STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON. AT THAT TIME ALL THE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL THE CODES ARE CLEARED, UNTIL THAT IS DONE, STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK. *TR
NHTSA ID
10441281
Incident
Dec 3, 2011
Mileage
1,600 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