2003 Subaru Forester Body & Structure Problems

Your car's front subframe (the metal frame that supports the front end) is rusting away on both the driver and passenger sides. This rust can cause the subframe to snap, especially when turning or hitting bumps, which could result in loss of control of your vehicle and injury to passengers. Fixing this typically involves replacing the rusted subframe components or having the frame reinforced.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

I WAS GETTING NEW TIRES PLACED ON MY VEHICLE WHEN MY MECHANIC NOTICED THAT MY CONTROL ARMS AS WELL AS THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED OUT. I CONTACTED SUBARU WHO STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CONTROL ARMS FOR RUSTING OUT BUT NOT ON THE SUBFRAME. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO GET CONTROL ARMS PLACE ON A MECHANIC FROM THE DEALER SHIP CONTACTED ME. HE STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS IN BAD SHAPE AND THAT IF THEY WERE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THEY COULD NOT PASS THE INSPECTION PER THE LEVEL OF RUST AND CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME. THEY STATED THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR SUBFRAME WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED/FIXED. MY MECHANIC HAS NEVER SEEN A SUBFRAME CORRODE SO BADLY IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE LAST THING ON A CAR TO GO SHOULD BE THE SUBFRAME AND FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS AND I AM REALLY SURPRISED THERE IS NO RECALL IN REF TO THIS. I AM NOT SURE HOW THEY DON'T KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE WHEN THEY KNOW THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE CONTROL ARMS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED. IN 2012, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) AND A RUSTPROOF SOLUTION WAS APPLIED TO THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

2003 - SUBARU - FORESTER - BODY HARDWARE, FENDER, STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS & RAILS, LOWER FRAME LEFT IS COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SUPPORT STRUT BESIDE IT BUT NONE ON THIS. THIS IS A MAJOR CRASH PROTECTION COMPONENT AS IT CONNECTS THE BUMPER TO THE FRAME. I TALKED TO THE DEALER ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL SO IT IS MY PROBLEM. CLEARLY THE STEEL THAT WAS USED WAS SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN SALTY/HUMID ROAD CONDITIONS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL ON THE STRUT. THE OTHER SIDE (RIGHT) IS IN GOOD CONDITION, INDICATING DEFECTIVE MATERIALS IN THIS PART. *TR

THE TWO FRONT SUB FRAMES HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST AND THIN METAL. *TR

MY SON WAS DRIVING FROM NEW JERSEY. SUDDENLY THE FRONT HOOD OPENED AND CRASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER THREE LANES TO STOP THE CAR. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THIS WAS A HOOD REPLACEMENT DONE LAST SPRING AFTER A DEER RAN ACROSS THE VEHICLE. THE LATCH HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM UNTIL THIS TRIP. ON THE WAY TO NEW JERSEY, MY SON NOTICED THAT THE HOOD PARTIALLY OPENED. HE STOPPED THE CAR AND MADE SURE THAT THE HOOD WAS TIGHTLY SHUT. THE SAME REPAIR SHOP IS INSTALLING ANOTHER HOOD AND REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD. THERE IS NO COLLISION INSURANCE ON THE VEHICLE (SUBARU FORESTER 2003). MY TWO GRANDSONS WERE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT. MY SON'S FIANCEE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE ONLY CRASH WAS THE BREAKING OF THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE HOOD. *TR

FRONT CRADLE ARMS AND REAR CROSS MEMBERS ARE RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO POSSIBLE SNAPPING. *TR

I HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED AT RAMSEY SUBARU AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT SUB FRAME IS RUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. IT SEEMS MORE LIKE THE THIN CHEAP METAL IS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THE WARRANTY IS ONLY GOOD FOR 5 YEARS. *TR

WE TOOK OUR 2003 SUBARU FORESTER IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS IN "SERIOUS" CONDITION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A PHOTO WAS TAKEN AND SENT TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER FOR HIS REVIEW. WE REPLACED THE CONTROL ARMS ON OUR OWN IN DECEMBER 2011. TOOK THE CAR IN TO OUR DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY 2012 FOR RECALL OF CONTROL ARMS AND NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT THE FRAME AT THAT TIME. MECHANIC STATED YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER INTO THE HOLE IN THE FRAME OF THE CAR. FORESTER WAS NEVER DRIVEN OFF-ROAD AND WAS DRIVEN SOLELY IN THE CITY. THE FRAME SHOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED OUT THROUGH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. WINTER THIS YEAR WAS VERY MILD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AS FRAMES ON CARS SHOULD NOT DEVELOP HOLES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT HOOD RELEASED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL AND DIRECT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE POLICE ARRIVED TO ESCORT THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY, WHICH WAS A STATE REGULATION, AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACHED THE HOOD. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.