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2009 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

28 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data

28
Complaints
1
Recalls
1
Crashes
2
Fires
Jan 2012Dec 2014
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Engine Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #08V460000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SUBARU IS RECALLING 16,715 MY 2007-2008 LEGACY SEDANS AND WAGONS, MY 2008 IMPREZA SEDANS AND WAGONS, AND MY 2009 FORESTER VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE CYLINDER HEAD-SIDE OIL SUPPLY PIPE AND TURBOCHARGER-SIDE PIPE IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKING OR AN OIL LEAK AT THE OIL SUPPLY PIPE AT THE CYLINDER HEAD-SIDE. AN ADDITIONAL BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED TO INCREASE RIGIDITY OF THE PIPE AND THE PIPE ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A MODIFIED PART. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Owner Complaints (28)

criticalENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2021

While driving on the interstate at 70 mph, your check engine light came on and your car lost all power, forcing you to pull over and wait for a tow truck. The dealer diagnosed a Stage 4 blown head gasket with no warning signs beforehand. Fixing this will require removing the cylinder head and replacing the head gasket.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11404303
highENGINE
Filed: Sep 2020

Your turbo has failed twice — once at 50,000 miles and again at 100,000 miles — due to problems with how oil is delivered to the turbocharger. Subaru has issued technical service bulletins about this issue but refuses to cover the repair under warranty. You may be facing a $3,500 replacement cost for a problem Subaru acknowledges in internal bulletins but won't fix for free. The repair will require turbocharger replacement and may involve inspecting or upgrading the oil supply lines.

NHTSA #: 11354992
highENGINE
Filed: Jun 2019

While driving at 60 mph, your engine suddenly stalled and both the check engine and traction control warning lights came on. The dealer was not contacted and the vehicle was never diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer also did not provide assistance. This happened at 108,000 miles.

NHTSA #: 11221748
mediumENGINE
Filed: Mar 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT COMPETITION SUBARU OF SMITHTOWN (601 MIDDLE COUNTRY RD, ST JAMES, NY 11780, (631) 361-4500), IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING AND THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. *TT*JB CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE 3RD COMPLAINT.*JB

NHTSA #: 11184000
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2019

FAIRLY RECENTLY I HAD MY RADIATOR REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK. COUPLE WEEKS INTO MY NEW ONE, I WENT TO START MY CAR AND A PROOF OF WHITE SMOKE SHOT OUT THE EXHAUSTS WHICH I NEW WAS NOT OK. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT FELT LIKE IT WAS IN LIMO MODE AND THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL, AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS ALL STARTED BLINKING - THEY WEREN'T ON BEFORE. SO I SHUT MY CAR OFF AND TOOK MY MOM'S TO WORK. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT I HAD NO COOLANT, BUT THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT I WAS LOW. FROM THAT DAY ON MY CAR HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH FULL RESERVOIRS OF COOLANT BY THE DAY WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKS, HEATING+COOLING, FAND A ULL RADIATOR UP TO THE BRIM. I'M ASSUMING MY ISSUE IS A HEAD GASKET LEAK AT ONLY 86,000 MILES...THAT IS TERRIBLE PRODUCT QUALITY - I CAN'T JUST GO AROUND AND PAY $2000 IN REPAIRS FOR A CAR I RELIED ON AND HAVE ONLY DRIVEN FOR 10K MILES. THAT'S JUST RIDICULOUS AND THERES NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT WITHOUT $2000 TO SPEND BUT SELL IT AND SCREW SOMEONE ELSE OVER.

NHTSA #: 11172994
mediumENGINE
FireFiled: Aug 2018

ENGINE AND VEHICHLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVING HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 3.5 HOURS. HAD JUST REFILLED WITH FUEL ABOUT 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. PROCEEDED TO NEXT EXIT. CHECK OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE DESTROYED.

NHTSA #: 11119869
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2017

HEAD GASKETS FAIL AROUND 125,000 MILES. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN MY CASE.

NHTSA #: 11035281
mediumENGINE
FireFiled: Aug 2017

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE FREEWAY WHEN ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND IMMEDIATELY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING AND ENGINE STOPPED AS WELL. FIRE AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE AND FILLED THE CABIN. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS HAD TO ESCAPE AND THE CAR WITHIN MINUTES WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA #: 11020679
mediumENGINE
Filed: Feb 2017

HEAD GASKETS FAIL AROUND 100,000 MILES. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN MY CASE.

NHTSA #: 10954066
mediumENGINE
CrashFiled: Jun 2016

SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. UPON PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA #: 10872291
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jul 2015

THIS PAST APRIL, I PURCHASED A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER FROM BYERS SUBARU AND EAGERLY ANTICIPATED THE OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE SUBARU PROMISES AND PROUDLY BASES ITS REPUTATION. CONTRARY TO THE SUBARU PROMISE, MY EXPERIENCE OVER THE FIRST 3 MONTHS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE, I HAD COMMITTED TO HAVING THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER AND DID. THE FIRST SERVICE WAS PERFORMED WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF PURCHASE ($700). A MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING AND REQUIRED A TOW TO A TEXAS SUBARU DEALERSHIP. INITIAL THOUGHTS WERE A TIMING BELT FAILURE. $600 DOLLARS LATER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING BELT PULLEY HAD FAILED AND WOULD REQUIRE EXTENSIVE ENGINE REPAIRS OR AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT ($2500 TO $6000). THE TIMING BELT WAS NOT DUE TO BE REPLACED FOR ANOTHER 10,000 MILES. DUE TO THE HIGH REPAIR COST AND THE FACT THAT THE DAMAGE OCCURRED WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER PURCHASE, I REACHED OUT TO SUBARU AMERICA FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. SUBARU COMMITTED TO 50% REIMBURSEMENT OF THE INITIAL $600 DEALER CHARGE. I APPROACHED BYERS SUBARU WITH THE SAME REQUEST FOR THE SAME REASON AND WAS INFORMED BY A MANAGER, THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND THAT I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA #: 10733435
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Dec 2014

ENGINE AND STABILITY ISSUES.

NHTSA #: 10734171
mediumENGINE
Filed: Mar 2014

THEIR WAS A CLUNK AND DRIVER CAR PULLED OVER AND OFF HIGHWAY . HAD IT TOWED TO OUR INDEPENDENT GARAGE. THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER WENT ON NOR DID THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT GO ON. *TR

NHTSA #: 10569298
mediumENGINE
Filed: Sep 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD BANG AS THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA #: 10544250
mediumENGINE
Filed: Aug 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD-SIDE OIL SUPPLY PIPE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V460000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA #: 10537346
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jul 2013

UPON RETURNING FROM A SHORT DRIVE WE PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I ASSUMED THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLY SOME TYPE OF OVERHEATING ISSUE, BUT UPON INSPECTION I DISCOVERED IT WAS ENGINE OIL DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST HEAT SHIELDS AND WAS BURNING OFF. I WAS STUNNED BY THIS AS I AM VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE. I TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP A FEW DAYS LATER AS IT WAS GOING IN ANYWAY FOR A RECALLED CAT CONVERTER. THEY THEN ADVISED ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THIS NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY AS THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD IF NOT REPAIRED. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 73,000 MILES AND I AM NOW FACED WITH AM ALMOST $2000.00 REPAIR. I AM SPEECHLESS AND BESIDE MYSELF AS I BOUGHT THIS CAR SPECIFICALLY TO GET A QUALITY VEHICLE THAT IDEALLY WOULD AVOID ISSUES OF THIS NATURE. I AM PURSUING A COMPLAINT WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA AND WANTED THE NHTSA TO BE AWARE AS WELL. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA #: 10524073
mediumENGINE
Filed: Apr 2013

LOUD KNOCKING SOUND NOTED COMING FORM ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. PULLED OFF OF HIGHWAY THEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD FLICKERED ON AND ENGINE DIED. HAD TO TOW TO DEALER. INFORMED THAT A ROD HAD KNOCKED LOOSE RELATED TO FAULTY BEARINGS HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10509264
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Nov 2012

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, AND THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE, IT ALSO HANDLED ROUGHLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLASHING, ALONG WITH VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL WARNING LIGHT. I HAD MY CAR TOWED, AS IT WASN'T DRIVABLE. MY LOCAL GARAGE REPAIRED MY CAR, I RECEIVED 4 NEW SPARK PLUGS, AND AN AIR FILTER. 9 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AS WELL AS THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT, AND THE VEHICLE DYNAMICS WARNING LIGHT, AGAIN IT WAS REPAIRED, THIS HAD TO DO WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MESSAGE, BUT ALL MY LOCAL GARAGE COULD FIND WAS A SMALL LEAK NEAR THE MANIFOLD THAT THEY REPAIRED. 2 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN, I NOW CALLED MY SUBARU DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED A FAULTY CATALYST CONVERTER, AND AF SENSOR, THE ALSO CHANGED MY OIL, AS IT WAS DUE, AND SUGGESTED I HAVE A TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH AND REFILL, AND THAT MY REAR AND FRONT DIFFERENTIALS, NEEDED A DRAIN AND REFILL. 5 DAYS PASSED ANOTHER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THIS TIME IT WAS FLASHING, I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED, THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED THE WRONG SPARK PLUGS WERE PUT IN INITIALLY, AND REPLACED THEM WITH PLATINUM TIP SPARK PLUGS THAT MY MODEL TAKES. 4 DAYS PASSED ANOTHER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WITH BEING UNABLE TO ACCELERATE, I WAS GOING UP HILL, SO I CONTINUED ON, TO REACH A PARKING LOT, I COULD STOP IN BUT SUDDENLY, IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING UNBLOCKED, THIS MADE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GO AWAY, UNTIL 2 DAYS LATER, ANOTHER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, I ONCE AGAIN BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE CATALYST CONVERTER, BUT SAID IT WAS 'TOO SOON" SO THEY LEFT THE WORK ORDER OPEN , IN CASE IT OCCURRED AGAIN,AND GAVE ME THIS LECTURE ABOUT THE GRADE OF GAS I AM BUYING. 4 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RETURNED, THIS TIME SUBARU DISCOVERED THE MY OTHER O2 SENSOR WAS FAULTY, AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT, WHEN THE PART COMES IN. *TR

NHTSA #: 10485863
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Apr 2012

FOR SOME ODD REASON ON MONDAY, APRIL 23 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MY AWD INDICATOR, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ALL AT ONCE. I CAME INTO WORK AND GOOGLED THE ABOVE ITEMS ALONG WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL OF THE CAR...MUCH TO MY SURPRISE MULTIPLE LINKS, ITEMS, AND THREADS APPEARED. SO I READ MOST OF THEM AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH SUBARU'S THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. I BECAME CONCERNED BECAUSE NO RECALL WAS ISSUED AND IT SEEMS MORE THAN COINCIDENCE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE SINCE I CALLED THE SUBARU DEALER AND THEY COULD HAVE CARED LESS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10456563
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Mar 2012

STOPPED TO FILL UP CAR WITH GAS ON WAY TO WORK AND WHEN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE I HEARD A REAL LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. AS I PULLED AWAY THE CAR WAS VERY SLUGGISH AND THE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE STARTED GETTING LOUDER. I WENT TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE CAR DIED AND I NARROWLY MISSED HITTING A BALTIMORE CITY WORK TRUCK AS THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE NON RESPONSIVE BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAD CUT OFF. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT CRASH INTO THE WORK TRUCK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO VALLEY MOTORS SUBARU IN COCKEYSVILLE AND THEY CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT I NEED A NEW AT LEAST A NEW LOWER BLOCK IF NOT A WHOLE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR SOME INFORMATION ON ANY KNOWN ISSUES WITH STYLE OF CAR AND ENGINE AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT IN APRIL 2008 A " STOP SALE" WAS ISSUED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA ON MY EXACT CAR. LEGACY VEHICLES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE STOP SALE WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT WE MUST PLACE AN IMMEDIATE STOP SALE ORDER ON ALL OF THE 2008/2009 SUBARU IMPREZA, FORESTER AND LEGACY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L TURBO ENGINE PRODUCED WITH THE BEGINNING CHASSIS NUMBER AND LATER AS SHOWN BELOW. MODEL BODY TYPE CHASSIS NUMBER PRODUCTION DATE FORESTER WAGON 701045 OR LATER 2008/01/08 OR LATER THE REASON FOR THIS IMMEDIATE QUALITY ASSURANCE ACTION IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF "ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE" FROM OTHER MARKETS ON VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THE PRODUCTION DATES LISTED. INITIAL INVESTIGATION CONFIRMS AN INTERNAL WEAR ISSUE ON THE FAILED UNITS. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCTOBER 2009 AND YOU CAN SEE THE VIN # IS PRETTY CLOSE IN THE RANGE AND I HAVE READ IN FORUMS OF PEOPLE WITH ALMOST IDENTICAL VIN'S AS MINE OF HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10450265
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jan 2012

2009 SUBARU FORESTER. PRODUCTION DATE: 02-14-08. INITIAL DIAGNOSIS IS INTERNAL TURBO FAILURE. THE CAR HAS 34,000 MILES ON IT AND OIL AND FILTERS ARE MAINTAINED. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR 2YR. OLD IN THE CAR WHEN IT STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE GRINDING SOUND. SHE DESCRIBED IT AS IT SOUNDED AND FELT LIKE SHE WAS DRAGGING SOMETHING. SHE LIMPS HOME WITH THE CAR AND I TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. IT SOUNDED FINE AT START UP. NO TAPPING OR GRINDING. AS SOON AS I START UP THE ROAD I COULD FEEL THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. LIKE I WAS DRIVING IN MUD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ALL STUCK ON. I HAVE READ MANY CASES OF THIS SAME THING HAPPENING WITH OTHER 2.5 TURBO ENGINES. THERE WAS A STOP SALE AND A RECALL BUT, ACCORDING TO SUBARU MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED. THE REPORTS I'VE READ INDICATE OTHERWISE. THE PRODUCTION DATE AND THE VIN# FALL INTO THE RANGE OF THE STOP SALE. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE OUTCOME AS THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND SOA HAVE NOT BEEN HELPFUL. I HAD TO CALL SUBARU MYSELF TO GET THEM TO RESPOND TO THE DEALERSHIPS CASE CONCERNING MY CAR. IT'S BEEN A WEEK NOW AND JUST TODAY I GOT A CALL FROM SUBARU REQUESTING PERMISSION TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO FIND THE SOURCE. A WEEK AND IT'S JUST SITTING THERE. NO OFFER OF A RENTAL. NOTHING. THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED YET AND I HOPE SUBARU DOES THE RIGHT THING AND LIVES UP TO ITS REPUTATION OF BEING A RELIABLE, LONG LASTING CAR. *TR

NHTSA #: 10443645
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Mar 2010

2009 SUBARU FORESTER BAD EXPERIENCE ENGINE STALL*CW WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE GARAGE FLOOR WAS FILLED WITH OIL, WHICH WAS DRIPPING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. HOWEVER, ON NOVEMBER 29TH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. IT STARTED MAKING ODD SOUNDS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND JUST WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENGINE WAS DEAD. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. UPON DIAGNOSES, THE DEALER STATED A PART NEAR THE ENGINE WAS NOT WORKING, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STOP. *JB UPDATED 01/07/15*JB

NHTSA #: 10317585
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Mar 2010

MY NEW SUBARU FORESTER HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 45,000 MILES. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS WHATSOEVER THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS DRIVING NORMALLY AND NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON TO ALERT ME THAT MY ENGINE WOULD SEIZE. I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I PULLED OVER ONLY BECAUSE I HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HAD I NOT PULLED OVER, I WOULD HAVE BROKEN DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. SUBARU HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME CAR WITH THE TURBO ENGINE. THEY DISREGARD THIS FACT WHEN I BRING IT UP AS MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE THE TURBO OPTION. HOWEVER, IT DOES HAVE THE SAME ENGINE. I SEARCHED ON LINE AND IT APPEARS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY SUBARU FORESTER OWNER WITH THIS COMPLAINT. THEY WILL NOT FIX THE CAR NOR DO THEY FEEL IT IS A SUBARU ISSUE. THEY ARE BLAMING THE FAILURE ON ME. I WOULD LIKE TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA #: 10317249
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jul 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. THE ENGINE WENT TO IDEL. THE CONTACT WAITED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS AND THE CONTACT REFUSES TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, BUT COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE WITH THE ENGINE OR ANY OTHER COMPONENT. SHE STATED THAT SHE WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,100. UPDATED 7/14/09 *CN UPDATED 07/17/09.*JB

NHTSA #: 10276329
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jun 2009

2009 FORESTER BOUGHT IN JULY '08. LESS THAN A YEAR AND 20,000 MILES, THE ENGINE FAILED. I WAS DRIVING LONG DISTANCE, AND HAD STOPPED AT A SIGN WHEN I NOTICED A LOAD BANGING NOISE FROM HOOD. AS I PLACED PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR DIDN'T REACT APPROPRIATELY - IT WAS SLOW. THE CAR WAS TOWED, AND A REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS BEING INSTALLED. I HAVE CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA FOR POSSIBLE BUY-BACK, BUT NO RETURN CALL. I'VE READ OF OTHER SIMILIAR CASES OCCURRING WITH THE 2009 TURBO MODELS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10275354
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jun 2009

ENGINE FAILURE AT 4,000 MILES ON FORESTER TURBO. LOUD ENGINE BANGING ON ROAD TRIP LEAD TO THE NEED FOR A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. DEALER SAID THAT CONTAMINATED METAL FORGING LEAD TO WEAK ENGINE COMPONENTS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10272850
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VISIBILITY
Filed: May 2009

1. GREASY FILM ON WINDSHIELD, COULD NOT SEE WELL TO DRIVE, FILM CANNOT BE WIPED OFF. CANNOT BE CLEANED OFF WITH NORMAL HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS ONLY INDUSTRIAL CLEANERS. FILM EXPANDS TO GET ON ALL THE GLASS & MATERIALS IN THE CAR, INCLUDING THE REAR HATCH. FILM IS MORE VISIBLE AT NIGHT & WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. CHEMICAL POISONING. BREATHING THE SUBSTANCE(S) HAS CAUSED ME TO BE SICK SINCE THE END OF DECEMBER. BREATHING ISSUES, COUGH, LUNGS, NOSE PROBLEMS. 2. BEING POISONED BY CHEMICALS IN THE CAR THAT MAY BE LEAKING OUT OF SOME AREA AS YET UNKNOWN. UNABLE TO SEE WELL TO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENS WHENEVER THE DEFROST IS RUN. ALSO, HEATER. NOT SURE ABOUT A/C. HAVE BEEN SICK NOW WITH JUST RUNNING THE AIR. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ENOUGH BUILDUP OF THIS SUBSTANCE THAT IT IS ON ALL SURFACES OF THE CAR INTERIOR AND/OR IN THE DUCTS OF THE VEHICLE. 2A. SYMPTOMS: COUGHING, SOMETIMES UNCONTROLLABLY WITH LONG RIDES IN THE CAR. SHORTNESS OF BREATH, UNABLE TO BREATH, CONGESTED, LUNG TIGHTNESS, NOSE CONGESTION, ETC. HAVE BEEN TO NATIONAL JEWISH HOSPITAL. THEY RECOMMEND GETTING RID OF CAR. 3. FOR THE FIRST 4 TIMES I BROUGHT IT IN, THEY ONLY WASHED THE WINDSHIELD, OR ALL THE GLASS ON THE CAR DEPENDING UPON HOW MUCH HAD BUILT UP ON IT. THEY SAID IT WAS OFF GASSING OF THE VINYL. THE NEXT TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THEY WAXED THE WINDOWS IN THE CAR, THIS SO YOU COULD BREATH IT, BUT NOT 'SEE' IT SUPPOSEDLY. IT BUILT BACK UP AGAIN ANYWAY. THEN THEY REPLACED THE HEATER BOX. GOT SICK AGAIN RUNNING ONLY AIR. THEN PER MY DIRECTION, THEY FOUND 2 A/C VALVES LEAKING. NOW, STILL GETTING SICK IF IN CAR WITHOUT WINDOWS OPEN AND/OR IF I RUN THE DEFROST/HEAT. 4. I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN SICK FROM ANY OTHER CAR MY ENTIRE LIFE. I WAS PERFECTLY HEALTHY, WITHOUT EVEN HAVING HAD A NORMAL COLD IN THE PAST 6 YEARS. THERE WERE NO TYPICAL COLD SYMPTOMS WITH THIS ISSUE. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, I HAD NO ALLERGIES RELATED TO BREATHING, LUNGS, ETC; NOR ANY DIAGNOSES SUCH AS ASTHMA. *TR

NHTSA #: 10268753
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Dec 2008

AT 9610 MILES MY 2009 SUBARU FORESTERS ENGINE FAILED. THE FAILURE CAME; AS BEST I COULD TELL; IN ABOUT 20MILES OF OPERATION. ENGINE STARTED TO SOUND LOUDER FROM CABIN. IF I WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE DOOR OPEN THE NOISE WAS VERY LOAD MULTI TONE METAL BANGING EMANATING FROM ENGINE BAY. BURNING SMELL ALSO OCCURRED. AS I DROVE THE LAST 20 MILES ENGINE WOULD BARELY STAY RUNNING AT LOW RPMS; ENGINE BANGING BECAME WORSE; ENGINE POWER APPEARED TO DECREASE AND A LOUD METALLIC GRINDING NOISE INCREASED UNTIL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. APPROX 10-15 SECONDS LATTER. ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED AND NEVER TURNED OVER AGAIN. DEALER TOLD ME TODAY THAT CAR NEEDS NEW ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10250442

Other 2009 Subaru Forester Issues