2001 Subaru Forester Cruise Control Problems

Your engine suddenly raced uncontrollably while pulling out of a parking spot, and neither the brakes nor emergency brake could stop it, resulting in a collision with another vehicle. You'd reported similar surging problems during startup twice before, and both a dealership and independent shop said they adjusted the idle and the car was safe—but the problem recurred. This suggests the underlying cause of the engine surging may not have been properly fixed. A mechanic will need to diagnose why the engine is racing uncontrollably, likely involving the idle control system, fuel delivery, or related engine management components.

Your brakes don't work properly in snowy or icy conditions, and your ABS system isn't engaging to help you stop. Your wheels also won't turn as expected in these conditions. This has happened multiple times, causing you to enter intersections against red lights at least 4 times, creating a serious safety risk. The issue may involve checking your brake system performance in cold weather, inspecting ABS sensor function, and ensuring proper brake fluid and pad condition for winter driving.

Your Forester accelerated on its own without you pressing the gas pedal, even when stopped. This happened intermittently and without warning, causing you to crash into another vehicle about 15 feet away and nearly hit a pedestrian. The dealer couldn't identify the cause, though research suggested a faulty throttle position sensor may be responsible. Fixing this will likely involve diagnosing and replacing the throttle position sensor or related fuel system components.

Your brakes became unresponsive in a school zone, requiring you to press them all the way down while your engine RPMs climbed dangerously high. Your car continued moving 4-6 feet even with full brake pressure, and this happened again in the parking lot. A mechanic tapped your throttle sensor and the problem temporarily resolved, but dealers haven't been able to diagnose the underlying cause through testing.

I WAS DRIVING ALONE IN A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER AROUND 3PM ON A SUNNY AUGUST DAY IN 2010. HEADING SOUTH ON A 2 LANE ROAD IN TALLAHASSEE, FL, I APPROACHED A RED STOPLIGHT AHEAD WITH TWO VEHICLES STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. AS I STARTED TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED, I SWERVED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE TO AVOID THE STOPPED CARS IN MY LANE AS THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 40 MILES/HR. A VEHICLE HAD JUST MADE A TURN AT THE LIGHT INTERSECTION INTO THE ONCOMING LANE, SO I HAD TO STEER THE FORESTER TO THE LEFT, UP OVER A CURB ONTO AN EMBANKMENT TO GET AROUND THE ONCOMING CAR TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION, THEN STEER BACK ONTO THE ROAD TO AVOID A TELEPHONE POLE. THE VEHICLE CAREENED BACK ACROSS INTO THE ORIGINAL LANE I STARTED IN WHILE THE TRAFFIC WAS STILL STOPPED AT THE LIGHT. I PASSED IN FRONT OF THE STOPPED CARS AND MISSED THEM . AT THAT POINT I SMACKED HARD AGAINST THE OTHER CURVE IN THE ORIGINAL SOUTHBOUND LANE I WAS TRAVELING IN AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST. THREE OF FOUR TIRES WERE DAMAGED FROM IMPACT WITH THE CURBS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OTHER THAN TO THE THREE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE AND THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL ASSEMBLY. I HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH 98,000 MILES ON IT, HAD EXTENSIVE REPAIRS DONE ON IT AND HAD DRIVEN IT ABOUT 6,000 MILES BEFORE THIS OCCURRENCE. I HAD NOTED NO INCIDENCE OF ABRUPT ACCELERATION WITH THIS VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE, NOR IN THE ADDITIONAL 5,000 MILES I HAVE DRIVEN IT SINCE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHO SENT ME TO A BODY SHOP. I TOOK THE REPAIRED VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE ACCELERATOR. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR LINKAGE SYSTEM. *TR

CAR ACCELERATING WHILE BRAKES ENGAGED AND FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL. HIT ANOTHER CAR AND BRICK WALL WHILE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. ENGINE AFTERWARD REVVED UP SO FAST WHEN CAR TURNED ON SEVERAL TIMES. RETURNED TO NORMAL. DROVE CARE TO DEALER. NOTHING WRONG CAN BE FOUND. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON JUNE 14, 2010, WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGES. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR CENTER WHERE IT WAS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP OR THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH WITH THE CONTACT'S FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 30 MPH. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE. MY 2001 SUBARU FORESTER SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I HAD NOT PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I COULD NOT MAKE THE CAR STOP WITH THE BRAKE ALTHOUGH I PRACTICALLY STOOD ON THE BRAKE. MY RIGHT LEG WAS INJURED BECAUSE THE LIGAMENT WERE STRAINED BY THE FORCE I USED TO TRY TO STOP THE CAR. THE CAR SMASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AND SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP. SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER, 2005 WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND SMASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP. I ASSUMED THEN THAT I HAD MADE A MISTAKE, BUT NOW, WITH THIS SECOND INCIDENT, I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. I HAVE ASKED THE MECHANIC TO CHECK THE ACCELERATOR. *NM

CONSUMER 2001 FORESTER ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. *TS *JB

MY MOTHER WAS BACKING HER 2001 SUBARU FORESTER INTO HER PARKING SPACE AT WORK, WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE CAR CONTINUED OVER A PARKING MEDIAN, OVER A GUARD RAIL AROUND THE PARKING LOT, THROUGH A ROW OF BUSHES BEFORE EVENTUALLY STRIKING A TELEPHONE POLE AND STOPPING. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES ON MARCH 10, 2005, SHE TOTALED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, IT WENT INTO A DITCH. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN MAY 2004. THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE WENT ACROSS TRAFFIC INTO A DITCH. SHE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP; HE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED A TIRE THAT WENT FLAT. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE SECOND TIME, WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER ON A WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD IT WENT ACROSS THE ROAD AGAIN. IT ENDED UP IN A DITCH AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT. SHE HASDTWO CRACKS ON L-1 AND BOTH T-9 AND T-10 NEED SURGERY. SHE ALSO HAS A CRACKED STERNUM. SHE HAD TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL FOR FIVE DAYS. SHE IS CURRENTLY SEEING A SPECIALIST AND AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON. SHE FOUND AN ARTICLE IN THE SACREMENTO BEE ON APRIL 13, 2005 TITLE, CLICK AND CLACK. THIS ARTICLE WAS IN REFERENCE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN SUBARU'S.*AK

WHILE COASTING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE PROBLEM FORCED THE CONSUMER OFF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

INQUIRY AS TO WHY THE 2001 SUBARU LEGACY CRUISE CONTROL RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO THE FORRESTER. *PH CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SIMILAR PROBLEM STATED ON RECALL ON SUBARU LEGACY. *LA

ON 3/31/2004 I WAS EXITING THE PARKING LOT OF A SUPERMARKET IN JACKSON, WHEN SUDDENLY, MY 2001 FORESTER LURCHED FORWARD AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AS I WAS BREAKING. IT WENT OUT INTO COOPER STREET (A VERY BUSY STREET). FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO ONCOMING CARS. IT CONTINUED OVER THE CURB AND HIT SEVERAL TREES BEFORE IT STOPPED. *NM

THE BRAKE/GAS PEDALS ARE LOCATED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THIS RESULTS IN ACCIDENTAL ACCELERATION WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED.*AK

SUBARU FORESTER 2001 - WAS BACKING UP AND ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK - FLYING BACK IN REVERSE ABOUT 50 FEET - HITTING TREE AND COMING FORWARD ABOUT 20 FT.

SUDDEN ACCELERATION..CAR WAS IDLING FEW MINUTES IN PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY,BEFORE ENTERING GARAGE. WHEN SHIFTED TO DRIVE, WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, CAR REVVED UP, ACCELERATED, CRASHED THROUGH GARAGE WALL INTO FAMILY ROOM OF HOME. BRAKES DID NOT WORK;ONLY IMPACT STOPPED CAR. AIRBAG DID NOT OPEN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER /DROPS TO 5 MILES. THEN GOES BACK TO 60 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED 6 TIMES, AND COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

WHILE PLACING VEHICLE IN PARK VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ACCELERATED FORWARD, RESULTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES.*AK

CONSUMER SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND CAR THROTTLED FORWARD OVER EMBANKMENT ACROSS STREET IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE. *YD

CONSUMER SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND CAR THROTTLED FORWARD OVER EMBANKMENT ACROSS STREET IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE. *YD

WHILE BACKING INTO DRIVEWAY ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A PAKRED CAR, CONSUMER STATED ACCELERATOR HAS STUCK IN THE PAST BUT ONLY WHILE IN REVERSE.*SLC

UPON EXITING DOORWAY OF DRIVE-THU CARWASH, TOOK CAR OUT OF NEUTRAL AND CAR LUNGED FORWARD ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL INTO TRAFFIC CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE.APPLYING ANTILOCK BRAKES DID NOT SLOW/STOP ACCELERATION,AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF DESPITE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ENGINE WILL REV UP AND SURGE FORWARD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, BUT HAS YET TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK