RoadVitals

2012 Subaru Forester Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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 Sep 24, 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.
8%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 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 fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 24, 2022

The vehicle will just stall. It has happened three times; usually at a stop sign or slowing down to turn. I have had it towed and in the shop, and they can't find anything wrong with it. No error messages. One shop cleaned the throttle body and thought that might be the problem. The vehicle has always consumed oil; at least a quart is added every 700-1000 miles. We have changed the oil regularly and don't understand why the oil consumption problem. Now the cruise light flashes off and on. The traction light and check engine light stays on all the time.

NHTSA ID
11486216
Incident
Sep 14, 2022
Fuel system
Filed May 6, 2021

KEEPS SMELLING LIKE GAS, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CRUISE LIGHT BLINKS, AND TRACKTION CONTROL LIGHTIS BLINKING. SAYS CODE PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

NHTSA ID
11415382
Incident
May 5, 2021
Fuel system
Filed Apr 1, 2019

ENGINE SEIZED DURING STRAIGHT ROAD, UPHILL ASCENT. OIL LIGHT BLINKED TWICE QUICKLY THEN WENT SOLID AND THEN IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER AT 60MPH ON FREEWAY. NO PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH ENGINE. I WAS IN FAR LEFT LANE WITH NO EMERGENCY PARKING SO I NAVIGATED TO THE FAR RIGHT EMERGENCY SHOULDER AND STOPPED. CAR REQUIRED TOW TRUCK TO SHOP.

NHTSA ID
11192998
Incident
Aug 25, 2018
Mileage
107,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Dec 29, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND BATTERY FAILED. THERE WAS ALSO TOO MUCH FUEL IN THE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,235.

NHTSA ID
10938488
Incident
Dec 23, 2016
Mileage
65,235 mi
BrakesElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE MADE AN INTERMITTENT CLUNKING SOUND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A LOT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND A WHINING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING FUEL ISSUES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FUELED, THE FUEL GAUGE READING WAS INACCURATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,330.

NHTSA ID
10824963
Incident
Jan 8, 2012
Mileage
3,330 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Sep 8, 2014

2012 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION. THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER, AT WHICH TIME, THEY DIAGNOSED THE IGNITION ISSUE AS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND STATED THAT IT WAS FIXED WITH AN UPDATE TO THE FIRMWARE. HOWEVER, HE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME IGNITION PROBLEM, BUT ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE BATTERY. DESPITE THE NEW BATTERY REPLACEMENT, HE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT THE SAME FREQUENCY. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FUEL PUMP, BUT WERE UNABLE TO CONFIRM THE DIAGNOSIS 100% UNTIL THEIR FUEL PUMP MECHANIC MADE FURTHER INQUIRES WITH THE SUBARU FACTORY. THE CONSUMER MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT, AS IT WAS FINALLY CONFIRMED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10630794
Incident
Oct 1, 2013
Fuel system
Filed Dec 1, 2012

DURING COLD WEATHER STARTS, THE VEHICLE CABIN SMELLS STRONGLY OF RAW FUEL, AS IF THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE SMELL PERSISTS UNTIL THE ENGINE HAS REACHED ITS NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. LOOSE FUEL LINES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR FORESTERS, AND RARE INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING IN CURRENT GENERATION FORESTERS (09-13). *TR

NHTSA ID
10486638
Incident
Nov 25, 2012
Mileage
1,900 mi
Body & structureFuel systemVisibility
Filed Feb 21, 2012

FUEL MILEAGE WAY OUT OF WHACK. ON HIGHWAY AT 100-110 KMH AVERAGES 11 L/100KM SUNROOF LEAKS WHEN GOING THROUGH CAR WASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10448837
Incident
Jan 20, 2011
Mileage
3,000 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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .