1998 SUBARU FORESTER Power Train Problems

MY 98 FORESTER HAD THE RIGHT REAR BEARING CHANGED 3 TIMES BY NON DEALER CHAIN. STARTED MAKING NOISE AGAIN. WHEN I WENT TO SUBARU, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT'S COMMON. HE HAS BEEN REPLACING THEM WITH LEGACY BEARINGS AND HAS NOT HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. ALSO THE VENT ON TOP OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL BLOWS OR SWEATS DIFF FLUID OUT ONTO DIFFERENTIAL. POTENTIAL FOR FREEZE UP OF DIFFERENTIAL ONCE ALL FLUID IS GONE. MECHANIC CLAIMS HE WOULD HAVE TO OPEN DIFFERENTIAL AND "NOTCH" SOME METAL GUARD IN THERE TO PREVENT THIS. THIS ALONG WITH BEARINGS-$600. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

CLUTCH CHATTERS BADLY AND CLUTCH DOES NOT ENGAGE UNTIL THE PEDAL IS ALMOST FULLY DEPRESSED WHEN VEHICLE SITS OVERNIGHT. PROBLEM SEEMS MORE PRONOUNCED IN COLDER WEATHER, BUT OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION TO CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION, THE CONDITION MAY CAUSE FIRST AND REVERSE GEARS TO GRIND WHEN SELECTING THESE GEARS FROM A STOP. AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AND THE CLUTCH OPERATES NORMALLY. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO SUBARU REPAIR SHOPS NUMEROUS TIMES, INCLUDING AT 33,220; 59,451; 74,213; AND 92,380 MILES. THE SUBARU REPAIR SHOPS CAN USUALLY DUPLICATE THE CHATTER, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CLUTCH ENGAGING ONLY AFTER BEING ALMOST COMPLETELY DEPRESSED. AT 92,380 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONLY 1.5 MILES IN THE MORNING TO THE SUBARU REPAIR SHOP WITH THE POOR CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT STILL OCCURRING, AND THE SUBARU REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY STILL COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED AND REPAIRED SHORTLY AFTER THE 33,220 MILE SERVICE COMPLAINT AT SUBARUS EXPENSE, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARU FORESTERS, AND POSSIBLY OTHER MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBARUS (FOR PLE, ://FORUMS.VMAG.COM/SUVSUBARU0200/MESSAGES/5197.HTML).*AK

Mileage: 30,000

CLUTCH CHATTERS BADLY AND CLUTCH DOES NOT ENGAGE UNTIL THE PEDAL IS ALMOST FULLY DEPRESSED WHEN VEHICLE SITS OVERNIGHT. PROBLEM SEEMS MORE PRONOUNCED IN COLDER WEATHER, BUT OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION TO CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION, THE CONDITION MAY CAUSE FIRST AND REVERSE GEARS TO GRIND WHEN SELECTING THESE GEARS FROM A STOP. AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AND THE CLUTCH OPERATES NORMALLY. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO SUBARU REPAIR SHOPS NUMEROUS TIMES, INCLUDING AT 33,220; 59,451; 74,213; AND 92,380 MILES. THE SUBARU REPAIR SHOPS CAN USUALLY DUPLICATE THE CHATTER, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CLUTCH ENGAGING ONLY AFTER BEING ALMOST COMPLETELY DEPRESSED. AT 92,380 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONLY 1.5 MILES IN THE MORNING TO THE SUBARU REPAIR SHOP WITH THE POOR CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT STILL OCCURRING, AND THE SUBARU REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY STILL COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED AND REPAIRED SHORTLY AFTER THE 33,220 MILE SERVICE COMPLAINT AT SUBARUS EXPENSE, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARU FORESTERS, AND POSSIBLY OTHER MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBARUS (FOR PLE, ://FORUMS.VMAG.COM/SUVSUBARU0200/MESSAGES/5197.HTML).*AK

Mileage: 30,000

CONSUMER WAS PARKING ON AN UPGRADE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY PUT VEHICLE IN PARK ATTEMPTED TO EXIT WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE CROSSING A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND STOPPING IN SOMEONES YARD. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HIT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NO SUMMARY. DT

WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS VERY FAST, CRASHING INTO TWO VEHICLES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TURNED ON IGNITION THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY FAST IN REVERSE AND CAUSED ACCIDENT, CONSUMER IS ALSO HAVING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS THE BATTERY DRAINING, SECURITY SYSTEM GOES OFF WHILE PARKED, AND THE DOORS LOCK BY THEMSELVES. *YD

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE NOISE AND ODOR, DEALER ADVISED THAT BEGINNING STAGES OF POWER TRAIN FAILURE WAS OCCURRING. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE NOISE AND ODOR, DEALER ADVISED THAT BEGINNING STAGES OF POWER TRAIN FAILURE WAS OCCURRING. *SLC

WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND IT STAYED ON THE FLOOR, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A BOLT IN THE TRANSMISSIONS CLUTCH PIVOT BALL THAT BROKE AT THE POINT THAT ENTERS THE TRANSFER CASE.*JB

WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND IT STAYED ON THE FLOOR, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A BOLT IN THE TRANSMISSIONS CLUTCH PIVOT BALL THAT BROKE AT THE POINT THAT ENTERS THE TRANSFER CASE.*JB

YESTERDAY AFT. MY CAR DROVE ITSELF INTO A STORE WINDOW WITH ME AT THE WHEEL. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL DISASTER. I WAS ALREADY PARKED THERE, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT TOOK OFF WITHOUT MY TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. IN FACT, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). MY BRAKING WOULDN'T STOP IT, SO I MANAGED TO GET IT INTO A FORWARD GEAR. HAD I NOT, THE CAR MIGHT WELL HAVE DRIVEN FURTHER INTO THE STORE AND HURT THE SEVERAL SHOPPERS. ONCE IN A FORWARD GEAR, THE CAR THEN IT TOOK OFF FORWARD ON A WILD RIDE; AGAIN, I WAS MERELY THE PASSENGER. I MANAGED TO STEER THE CAR FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE IT DECELERATED, MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ALL THIS TIME, WHILE I CLEARED A LIGHT POST AND TWO CARS ON EITHER SIDE, AS WELL AS TRAFFIC IN THE ROAD. *AK

CLUTCH CANNOT HANDLE ENGINE TORQUE. CLUTCH CHATTERS ON ENGAGEMENT WHEN COLD, RESULTING IN VEHICLE NOT STARTING UP AND ACCELERATING AS EXPECTED. THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT IF VEHICLE CANNOT MOVE OUT OF WAY OF OTHER TRAFFIC. CLUTCH VIBRATION ON HARD ACCELERATION FIRST NOTED AT 8653 MILES AND REPORTED TO DEALER. NOTICEABLE CHATTER WHEN COLD (UNDER 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE TEMP) UNTIL USED SEVERAL TIMES. CHATTER CONTINUES TO BECOME WORSE AND OCCUR AT HIGHER TEMPERATURES AS MILEAGE INCREASES. REPORTED TO DELAER AT 30,110 MILES AND DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. REPORTED AGAIN AT 35,913 MILES AND DEALER NOTED BUT SIAD DID NOT REQUIRE REPAIR. REPORTED AGAIN AT 48,000 MILES AND DEALER WANTS TO REPAIR AT CUSTOMER EXPENSE. PROBLEM WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY IF REPAIRED AT ORIGINAL REPORT (8653 MILES).*AK

CLUTCH CANNOT HANDLE ENGINE TORQUE. CLUTCH CHATTERS ON ENGAGEMENT WHEN COLD, RESULTING IN VEHICLE NOT STARTING UP AND ACCELERATING AS EXPECTED. THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT IF VEHICLE CANNOT MOVE OUT OF WAY OF OTHER TRAFFIC. CLUTCH VIBRATION ON HARD ACCELERATION FIRST NOTED AT 8653 MILES AND REPORTED TO DEALER. NOTICEABLE CHATTER WHEN COLD (UNDER 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE TEMP) UNTIL USED SEVERAL TIMES. CHATTER CONTINUES TO BECOME WORSE AND OCCUR AT HIGHER TEMPERATURES AS MILEAGE INCREASES. REPORTED TO DELAER AT 30,110 MILES AND DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. REPORTED AGAIN AT 35,913 MILES AND DEALER NOTED BUT SIAD DID NOT REQUIRE REPAIR. REPORTED AGAIN AT 48,000 MILES AND DEALER WANTS TO REPAIR AT CUSTOMER EXPENSE. PROBLEM WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY IF REPAIRED AT ORIGINAL REPORT (8653 MILES).*AK

DUE TO DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARING WHICH WENT BAD,. PROBLEM HAPPENED 5 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS MAKES A LOUD NOISE AT LAST FAILED AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE WHEEL. *YH

VEHICLE DELAYED THEN JERKED INTO REVERSE, RUNNING INTO A BUILDING AN CAUSING SIGNIFICANT VEHICLE DAMAGE. *SLC

SECOND FAILURE IN 3+ MONTHS OF REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. BOTH REPLACE 6/00.*AK

THE CLUTCH DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD AND FOR EXTENDED PERIODS IN COLD WEATHER. CLUTCH "CHATTERS" MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO START UP FROM REST WITHOUT HESITATION AND/OR STALLING. POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. CLUTCH SEEMS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE TORQUE OF THE ENGINE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AFTER OWNING THE FORESTER JUST 3 MONTHS, THE WINDSHIELD HAD THREE CHIPS IN IT WHICH THEN SPREAD INTO A CRACK ACROSS THE DRIVER'S VIEWING AREA. AFTER ONLY 21,000 MILES THE CLUTCH DISC/PLATE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND WAS NOT A WARRANTY MATTER. AFTER 42,000 MILES A BEARING IN THE REAR AXLE HAS GONE BAD AND THE CLUTCH IS BEGINNING TO MAKE THE SAME NOISE FOR WHICH IT HAD TO BE REPLACED EARLIER. I AM MOST DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE.000 MILES,000 MILES THE

AFTER OWNING THE FORESTER JUST 3 MONTHS, THE WINDSHIELD HAD THREE CHIPS IN IT WHICH THEN SPREAD INTO A CRACK ACROSS THE DRIVER'S VIEWING AREA. AFTER ONLY 21,000 MILES THE CLUTCH DISC/PLATE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND WAS NOT A WARRANTY MATTER. AFTER 42,000 MILES A BEARING IN THE REAR AXLE HAS GONE BAD AND THE CLUTCH IS BEGINNING TO MAKE THE SAME NOISE FOR WHICH IT HAD TO BE REPLACED EARLIER. I AM MOST DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE.000 MILES,000 MILES THE

AXLE SHAFT LEAKED GREASE (POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD). CORRECTION OF FAILURE OUTLINED IN MANUFACTURER CAMPAIGN WXN71 DATED 5/5/1999. AS OWNER, I DID NOT RECEIVE CAMPAIGN NOTIFICATION FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA. IN RESPONSE TO INQUIRY, DLR ADVISED THAT RECALL ON MY VEHICLE IS CLOSED; WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY.*AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE ACCELERATING ON TO THE INTERSTATE, TRANSMISSION WAS REBUIT BY SUBARU AT 30,767 MILES. *AK

ENGINE STARTED TO RACE WHILE DRIVING,TRANSMISSION WON'T ENGAGE WITHOUT GRINDING. NEEDS NEW CLUTCH. NOT SURE WHY A CLUTCH SHOULD GO IN 2 YEARS OF HAVING THE CAR.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MADE A STOP AT THE STORE, SMELLED BURNING. LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT AXLE ON TO THE EXHAUST. VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK

BAD SEAL ON O RING OF OIL DIP STICK CAUSED OIL TO OVERFILL TRANSMISSION FLUID, CAR WOULD STALL DUE TO LACK OF OIL PRESSURE. DEALER FIXED AFTER THIRD VISIT.

OIL LEAKS FROM DRIVE AXLES. DRIPS ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. TWO ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR HAVE FAILED. OWNERS CONCERNED OF POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *AK

REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKED ON TWO OCCASIONS.

GREASE AND OIL DRIPPING ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER STARTS SMELLING. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AKTHEY DOUBLED THE VISCOSITY OF THE DRIVELINE GREASE. FROM 90 TO 150 WEIGHT. TTHERE ONLY ONE PROBLEM WITH THIS.THE FUMES COMING OFF THE EXHAUST WERE MAKING ME SICK.THE LAEKAGE WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS STARTING ON FIRE- FIRE HAZARD. *ADJ