1999 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

Your engine has overheated and seized while driving on multiple occasions without any warning lights appearing on your dashboard. This problem happened before after a previous repair, but it came back again. At 170,000 miles, your engine may need a coolant system inspection, thermostat replacement, or head gasket repair to prevent future overheating.

Your engine's head gasket failed while you were driving on the highway, causing the car to stall and become unable to drive. This is a complete engine failure that requires professional repair or replacement.

Your Forester's head gasket has failed for the second time, requiring replacement. You've had to replace it once before at your own expense, and the replacement gasket failed again after about 40,000 miles. You believe Subaru knew about this recurring problem with their 4-cylinder engines, especially since your car came with a coolant conditioner additive from the dealership, suggesting the company was aware of cooling system issues related to head gasket failure. Fixing this will require removing the cylinder head and installing a new head gasket.

Your cooling system is losing coolant at a higher-than-normal rate, causing your temperature gauge to approach the red line without warning. The owner believes this is due to design issues with different metals in the engine expanding at different rates, combined with weak gaskets that allow coolant to leak and burn away. Dealers treated the cooling system with a conditioner before sale, but this is a temporary fix that eventually fails. Fixing this problem would likely require replacing the gaskets and possibly other cooling system components.

While coasting, your Forester unexpectedly accelerated on its own. The vehicle was towed to the dealer at 48,700 miles, where technicians checked the engine, transmission mounts, and speed control system but found no apparent problem. The issue may require further diagnostic testing to identify the cause of the unwanted acceleration.

Your 1999 Subaru Forester had a recall in 2004 for coolant leaks at the engine cylinder head gaskets. Subaru installed a special coolant conditioner as part of the recall, but your head gaskets failed last week anyway, resulting in a large repair bill. Subaru won't cover the repair under their extended warranty because your mileage is just slightly over their limit, even though your car is within the 8-year age window. The mechanics you consulted believe the conditioner was only a temporary fix rather than a proper repair.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE THERE HAS BEEN ANTIFREEZE SMELL. HE WOULD PERIODICALLY CHECK THE RESERVOIR, AND ONCE HE NOTICED IT WAS LEAKING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THERE WAS MANUFACTURER RECALL WWP-99, FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD THE CONTACT HE PROBABLY FILLED THE RESERVOIR TOO HIGH, CAUSING THE LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND SUGGESTED HE KEEP AN EYE ON THE PROBLEM. IF IT PERSISTS, THEY WILL FIX THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS A CRACKED CYLINDER OR PISTON. TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO REPIAR - HOPING THAT SUBARU WOULD COVER PART OF THE COST (NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTEE.) HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIP AFTER A REP. FROM SUBARU LOOKED AT THE CAR - THAT THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I ASKED WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PISTONS IN THIS CAR DO NOT HAVE A SKIRTING. THERFORE WHEN THEY GO UP AND DOWN IN THE CYLINDER THEY HAVE MORE ROOM THAN NORMAL AND CAN MOVE AROUND MORE. (SOUNDS LIKE AN ENGINEERING FLAW TO ME.) SUBARU SAYS THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO COVER 40% OF THE COST TO REPAIR. I FEEL THAT I BOUGHT A CAR THAT WASN'T DESIGNED VERY WELL - AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES. I HAVE CALLED SUBARU'S COSTUMER SERVICE HOTLINE AND AM WAITING FOR THEM TO REPLY. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE I WAS THE 2ND OWNER OF THE CAR - I WAS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET ANY MORE HELP. REALLY MAKES YOU WANT TO BUY A USED SUBARU!

SUBARU FORRESTER 1999 W/113,000 MILES HAS BLOWN HEAD GASKET I AM INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TO RECOVER DAMAGES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, SUDDENLY THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND THEN IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP STATED, THERE WAS INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE WATER SEEPED INTO THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY GASKET. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ONCE, BUT THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB THE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED ONCE AND THE #02 SENSOR WAS REPAIRED FORCED. TWO DEALERS SUGGESTED THAT THIS MODEL VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT OR BELOW 100K MILES. *SC *JB

PROBLEMS WITH TENSIONER, FRONT BELT COVER AND HEAD GASKET. *MR THE FRONT BELT COVER AND TENSIONER FAILED TWO MONTHS AFTER THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC DID NOT TORQUE DOWN THE TENSIONER BOLT AND CAUSED IT TO COME LOOSE. THE VALVES WERE BENT EVEN THOUGH THE MOTOR IS CONSIDERED NONINTERFERENCE. TWO RECALLS WERE APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE CONSUMER'S KNOWLEDGE (RECALL WWG90 & WWP99). THE SEAL ON TOP OF THE TENSIONER FAILED. THE MECHANICS HAD GIVEN TWO RESULTS; 3 CYLINDERS WITH NO COMPRESSION. THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING OIL BEFORE THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IN DECEMBER 2003. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED CHANGES IN THE OIL LEVEL BETWEEN CHANGES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A NEW ENGINE. *SC *JB

AT 53,500 MILES ENGINE OIL BEGAN LEAKING. ALL SEALS HAD TO BE REPLACED INCLUDING WATRE PUMP SEALS WICH HAD ALSO FAILED.*AK

1999 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A LEAK IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD GASKET. (NAR). *MR *CB

I BOUGHT A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER S LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO. IN DECEMBER 2003, AT APPROX. 71,200 MILES, THE CAR BEGAN LOOSING ANTIFREEZE. I DISCOVERED THAT I NEEDED A HEAD GASKET JOB. NOW I FIND THEY HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I DISCOVERED THE MYSTERIOUS "VANISHING OIL" PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. AT 75,775, I CHECKED THE OIL AND FOUND IT MOSTLY GONE! I RETURNED TO MY MECHANIC, WHO FOUND NO EXTERNAL LEAK AND NO SIGN OF OIL BURNING ON THE SPARK PLUGS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH (SEE NHTSA COMPLAINTS), THIS APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. I CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND ADD OIL AS NECESSARY. I SEEM TO NEED 1 QUART PER 1500 MILES, APPROXIMATELY. NOW, THE FINAL PROBLEM. ON 3/24/04, AT 77,848, I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH, HEARD A STRANGE NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND COASTED TO A SAFE TURN OUT. AFTER TOWING THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE TOP OF THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAD POPPED OFF, RELEASING THE HYDRAULIC AND OF COURSE THE TIMING BELT. HE HAS NEVER SEEN A TENSIONER FAIL, AND OUT OF THE HUNDREDS OF NEW TIMING BELTS HE HAS DONE, HE ONLY HAD TO REPLACE ABOUT A DOZEN THAT WERE OUT OF SPECS. WE DEBATED A COURSE OF ACTION AND, SINCE IT IS A NON-INTERFERENCE MOTOR, I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TENSIONER AND NOT THE ENTIRE MOTOR. HE ALSO DID A HAND CRANK TO CHECK FOR RESISTANCE OR OTHER HEAD DAMAGE. AFTER WAITING NEARLY 2 WEEKS FOR PARTS (DUE TO SUBARU'S PART ORDERING METHOD), HE REPLACED THE TENSIONER. WHEN TESTING THE ENGINE, IT DID NOT SOUND RIGHT. HE DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND FOUND NO COMPRESSION ON 3 CYLINDERS! SO NOW I HAD THE SHOCKING PROSPECT OF NEEDING A NEW ENGINE!I DECIDED I BETTER GET HELP FROM THE DEALER, AS THIS ALL APPEARS TO BE A QUALITY ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO THIS ENGINE AT THIS MILEAGE. THE CAR IS NOW AT STOHLMAN SUBARU IN VIENNA, VA. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH TEMPERATURE GAUGE SUDDENLY WENT INTO THE HOT ZONE. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. CHECKED THE FLUIDS LEVEL, ADDED WATER, AND GOT BACK ON THE ROAD, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK INTO THE HOT ZONE. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT AND MIXING WITH THE OIL. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET DEALER WAS OFFERING A LIQUID CONDITIONER, AND HOLDING THE CONSUMER RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE. *AK

ENGINE SEIZED AND BLEW AT 30,000 - I PROVIDED SUBARU WITH ALL RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES THAT COMPLIED WITH WARRANTY. SUBARUA DENIED WARRANTY WRITING THAT OHIO HAS SUCH SEVERE WEATHER THAT THE WARRANTY PROVISIONS DID NOT APPLY. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT SUBARU HAS NO SUCH WARRANTY POLICY. SUBARU DESTROYED MY ENGINE OIL, AFTER RECEIVING A CERTIFIED LETTER DIRECTING THAT THE OIL BE PRESERVED FOR TESTING, CHARGED ME FOR THE OIL'S DISPOSAL, TORE DOWN MY ENGINE, DESTROYED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, CHARGED ME FOR THE ENGINE TEAR DOWN, AND HAS REFUSED TO COOPERATE IN DISCOVER - I SUED - COURT ORDERED SUBARU TO COMPLY WITH DISCOVERY, AND SUBARU ADMITTED THAT IT'S LETTER DENYING MY WARRANTY WAS BASED ON A FALSE REASON. MY TRIAL AGAINST SUBARU IS IN SEPTEMBER - TRYING TO FIND OTHER INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HELP.

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, IT BURNS WELL OVER A QUART OF OIL WHEN IT TRAVELED 1000 MILES. HENCE HAVING TO REPLACE 3 TO 4 QTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THIS IS ?NORMAL.? I THOUGHT THAT THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PUT THIS ON THE STICKER INFORMATION OF ALL NEW CARS WHILE OTHERS ARE DOCUMENTING THE SAME INFORMATION. *LA

VEHICLE CONTINUES TO RUN HOT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

1999 SUBARU FORESTER S. AT 40,000 NEW TRANSMISSION. AT 45,000 SPEED ODOMETER STICKING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NOW AT 96,000 MILES LEAKING HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALL MAJOR PROBLEMS REQUIRING MAJOR MONEY TO BE REPLACED.*AK

CHRONIC ENGINE AND OIL LEAKAGE OF A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER. NO SATISFACTION FROM 2 DEALERSHIPS (BALD HILL SUBARU AND PILGRIM SUBARU). I HAVE NOTED THE LAST DATE OF SERVICE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONSTANT AND CHRONIC. I HAVE LOST TIME FROM WORK, HAD BREAKDOWNS ON 2 VACATIONS, AND HAVE CONSTANT ANXIETY ABOUT THE SITUATION. *NLM

OIL PUMP SEAL OIL LEAK, FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. STILL LOOSING OIL FOUND HEAD GASKET LEAK, WILL FIX UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER SAID ENGINE STILL USING OIL, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT AS THEY SAY 1 QUART EVERY 1000 MILES IS NORMAL. BUT DEALER WANT TO CHECK THE VEHICLE EVERY 2000 MILES. *YH

OIL PUMP SEAL OIL LEAK, FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. STILL LOOSING OIL FOUND HEAD GASKET LEAK, WILL FIX UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER SAID ENGINE STILL USING OIL, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT AS THEY SAY 1 QUART EVERY 1000 MILES IS NORMAL. BUT DEALER WANT TO CHECK THE VEHICLE EVERY 2000 MILES. *YH

VEHICLE IS LOSING APROXIMATELY ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE "BURNING" OIL NOR IS IT LEAKING. THIS AMOUNT OF OIL LOSS APPEARS HIGH TO ME. I CALLED SUBARU INTERNATIONAL IN NEW JERSEY AND THEY SAID THIS IS "NORMAL" FOR A SUBARU. I FIND THIS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A VEHICLE CAN LOSE 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. I ASKED THE DEALER (MARZOLF SUBARU) TO FIX IT, AND THEY SAID NO AS IT WAS NOT UN-NORMAL FOR A SUBARU TO LOSE THIS MUCH OIL. THANKYOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM.*AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HESITATING INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER VEHICLE SITS FOR MORE THEN TWO DAYS. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

ENGINE REBUILT DUE TO FAILURE, HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE OF REBUILT UNIT. MJS