2000 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

Your Subaru's head gasket is leaking oil onto the exhaust system, which the dealer says creates a fire hazard. Oil dripping onto hot exhaust components can ignite, making this a safety issue that requires replacement of the head gasket. Subaru previously tried to address this problem with a coolant conditioner, but that fix apparently didn't work permanently.

While driving at 50 mph, your car started overheating and you noticed coolant leaking from underneath the vehicle. The mechanic diagnosed a blown head gasket and a leaking radiator as the cause. Repairs at a shop addressed both issues. The fix likely involved replacing the head gasket and/or repairing the radiator to stop the coolant leak.

While driving at highway speeds (55-65 mph), your engine began overheating. A mechanic found that the head gasket had cracked, which led to complete engine failure at 169,000 miles. After replacing the engine, the transmission also failed shortly after. Fixing this issue will require replacing the head gasket and potentially rebuilding or replacing the transmission.

Your engine's head gasket has failed three times. Subaru fixed it twice under recall, but the problem came back a third time. Subaru is now refusing to cover the full repair cost, saying the recall ended in 2008. The repair will likely involve replacing the head gasket and related engine sealing components to stop the leak and prevent further engine damage.

Your car has a gas leak on the fuel line on the passenger side of the engine. This is a fuel system leak that needs prompt attention to prevent fuel odors and potential safety concerns. The repair will likely involve inspecting the fuel line for cracks or damage and replacing the affected section or connection.

Your engine is overheating due to blown head gaskets, which is a serious and expensive problem. The dealer replaced your thermostat as a temporary fix, but the underlying issue returned within weeks. Head gasket replacement requires significant labor costs and engine disassembly to complete the repair properly.

LETTER RECEIVED FROM SUBARU MARCH 2004 STATING THAT A COOLING SYSTEM CONDITIONER NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE COOLING SYSTEM TO PREVENT AN EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAK AT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS. WENT TO SUBARU AS REQUIRED BY LETTER MARCH 9, 2004, THEY ADD COOLING SYSTEM CONDITIONER AND I AM TOLD THIS WILL PREVENT LEAKS AT THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS AND THIS IS STATED IN THE LETTER TOO. NOTE THAT THE FIRST TIME, I RECEIVE THIS NOTICE IS 4 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE. THE MOST RECENT SERVICE, I HAD DONE BY ANNAPOLIS SUBARU WAS THE COOLANT SYSTEM SERVICE IN NOVEMBER 2005. IT IS FEBRUARY 2006 AND MY CAR NEEDS A CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. ACCORDING TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT HERB GORDON SUBARU, THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT REPLACING THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET IS ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE FAILURE IS A SAFETY RISK. AT NO POINT ARE YOU WARNED THAT YOUR ENGINE MAY STOP OPERATING WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR. I AM TOLD THAT SUBARU WILL PAY FOR THIS REPAIR IF YOUR CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. MY CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS 132,297 MILES ON IT. THE SERVICE PERSON THEN TELLS ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS REDESIGNED BY SUBARU TO PREVENT THIS ISSUE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. SUBARU IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING A FAULTY HEAD GASKET ON BRAND NEW AUTOMOBILES, WHERE IS THE MANDATORY RECALL? *NM

THE OXYGEN SENOR FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE SENOR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *JB

CHATTERING CLUTCH ON 2000 SUBARU FORESTER. THIS CONSTANTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS COLD AND CONTINUES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FOUR FORWARD GEARS. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND I KNOW IT IS NOT MY DRIVING/SHIFTING SKILLS. A CHECK OF A MESSAGE BOARD SHOWS THAT OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM OUTSIDE OF DRIVER ERROR. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT. MY CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THIS. BUT IF THIS IS AN ACTUAL DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER, I WANT IT KNOWN THAT I HAVE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO THE ISSUE OF BAD O2 SENSORS ON THIS CAR. MINE WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES BEFORE A RECALL WAS DONE. THAT WAS 32,000 MILES AGO AND NOW THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON ONLY AFTER A 60,000 MILE SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP IS ASKING ME TO DO MORE REPAIRS AS A PROCESS OF ELIMINATION TO ZERO IN ON THE CAUSE OF THE LIGHT SHOWING. I FEEL THEY DID SOMETHING DURING THE MAINTENANCE SERVICE AND WANT ME TO PAY FOR THEIR ERRORS. IF IT IS ANOTHER O2 SENSOR THAT HAS GONE BAD, DOESN'T THE STATE OF CA HAVE A 50,000 WARRANTY ON ALL EMISSION COMPONENTS? WOULD IT BE COVERED?

OXYGEN SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL COMING, BUT NOT ENOUGH PARTS YET. *AK

ENGINE HAD A POROUS BLOCK. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. CAUSE UNKNOWN. CAR CURRENTLY AT NEW MOTORS FOR REPAIR. MATTER HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AN ATTORNEY FOR POSSIBLE ACTION UNDER STATE LEMON LAWS.

THE OXYGEN SENSOR SWITCH IS NOT OPERATING. THE DEALER IS WILLING TO REPLACE IT, HOWEVER, HE CANNOT GET THE PART AS IT IS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS DEALER AND OTHERS SAID THEY HAVE SEVERAL NEW CARS WAITING FOR THIS PART. THIS MAY BE A NATIONAL PROBLEM, SUGGEST YOU CHECK INTO A RECALL. MY GAS MILEAGE IS NOW VERY POOR AND THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO RUN ROUGH. *AK

THE OXYGEN SENSOR SWITCH IS NOT OPERATING. THE DEALER IS WILLING TO REPLACE IT, HOWEVER, HE CANNOT GET THE PART AS IT IS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS DEALER AND OTHERS SAID THEY HAVE SEVERAL NEW CARS WAITING FOR THIS PART. THIS MAY BE A NATIONAL PROBLEM, SUGGEST YOU CHECK INTO A RECALL. MY GAS MILEAGE IS NOW VERY POOR AND THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO RUN ROUGH. *AK

THE OXYGEN SENSOR SWITCH IS NOT OPERATING. THE DEALER IS WILLING TO REPLACE IT, HOWEVER, HE CANNOT GET THE PART AS IT IS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS DEALER AND OTHERS SAID THEY HAVE SEVERAL NEW CARS WAITING FOR THIS PART. THIS MAY BE A NATIONAL PROBLEM, SUGGEST YOU CHECK INTO A RECALL. MY GAS MILEAGE IS NOW VERY POOR AND THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO RUN ROUGH. *AK

THE OXYGEN SENSOR SWITCH IS NOT OPERATING. THE DEALER IS WILLING TO REPLACE IT, HOWEVER, HE CANNOT GET THE PART AS IT IS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS DEALER AND OTHERS SAID THEY HAVE SEVERAL NEW CARS WAITING FOR THIS PART. THIS MAY BE A NATIONAL PROBLEM, SUGGEST YOU CHECK INTO A RECALL. MY GAS MILEAGE IS NOW VERY POOR AND THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO RUN ROUGH. *AK