2007 SUBARU FORESTER Power Train Problems

The contact owns a 2007 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the gear shifter failed to operate as designed. The contact stated that while placing the vehicle in reverse the vehicle accelerated forward causing the vehicle to crash on top of a large rock. The contact stated that she sustained injuries to the face and the right eye. The contact stated that she had eye surgery due to the crash. The contact stated that Law Enforcement did not arrive on the scene and no police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

On 7/19/2022 while backing out of a parking spot with a right hand turn we heard a loud noise and the car did not seem to want to continue moving. Upon further inspection the right front tire was sitting at an extreme and unusual angle. Tipped out at the top and no longer pointing in the same direction as the other front tire. Upon recovery of the vehicle and inspection the lower control has completely separated from its inboard forward attachment point due to corrosion. As a secondary result the right from CV axle was disconnected at the transmission CV joint. Due to the slow speed during the incident there was no injury or other vehicle damage. Had this broken at highway speeds the result could have been much different. The vehicle is in our home garage for repair. It has not been otherwise inspected. All parts are available for inspection and I also have pictures of the failed lower control arm. The vehicle is current on all recalls.

ON FEBRUARY 13, 2019 MY TRANSMISSION FLUID LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME. I STOPPED TO BY THE FLUID BUT COULDN'T FIND OUT WHERE TO FILL IT UP AT AND THE DIPSTICK WAS STUCK. I WAS DRIVING AROUND 40 MPH.. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND ASKED HIM TO CHECK IT OUT. HE SAID IT WASN'T THE FLUID THAT WAS THE PROBLEM IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. PREVIOUS TO THIS THE LIGHT NEVER FLASHED AND WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON I DO GET I CHECKED TO SEE IT ITS SERIOUS OR NOT. CHAT CONVERSATION START 76K PEOPLE LIKE THIS CARS 7:55 PM HI, I BOUGHT A USED 2007 SUBARU FORESTER AND IT HAS REQUIRED A COUPLE OF LARGE REPAIRS THAT YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT. IN 2015 I HAD TO REPLACE THE OIL HEAD GASKET AT RELATIVELY LOW MILES 70K AND NOW IN 2019 AT 104K MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. IS COMMON IN THE SUBARUS? THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 104,000

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED FROM NJ, AND RECENTLY RELOCATED TO WA. APPROX. 126K MILES, THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVER SIDE RUSTED THROUGH, DROPPING THE CAR ONTO THE WHEEL, AND PULLING THE DRIVEAXLE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. IT APPEARS THAT THE CONTROL ARM RUSTED FROM THE TOP SIDE, WHICH WOULD LIKELY BE DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW TO LOOK FOR IT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN FIRST BACKING UP FROM THE DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING, LESS THAN 1 FOOT OF TRAVEL BEFORE I STOPPED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. I SPOKE WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA, WHO TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL ON THE CONTROL ARM WAS "CLOSED" AND THAT THE REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, AND WOULD NEVER ACCEPT THAT CATASTROPHIC CORROSION IN A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE SUSPENSION COULD BE AN ACCEPTABLE DEFECT FOR WHICH THE END USER SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. IF THE CAR WAS INDEED "TREATED" FOR THIS CONDITION BY THE OWNER AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL, THEN CLEARLY THE TREATMENT IS UNSATISFACTORY AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS AN ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE TO A VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. MY ONLY BLESSING IN THIS SITUATION IS THAT IT DID NOT FAIL THE PREVIOUS EVENING WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME, OR LATER THAT MORNING HAD I BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.

Mileage: 126,000

MY VEHICLE REGULARLY SHIFTS IN A VERY IMPRECISE WAY, AT THE WRONG TIMES, IN PARTICULAR AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE IS ALSO UNUSUAL DELAYS IN SHIFTING DOWN WHEN QUICK POWER IS APPLIED, SOMETIMES RESULTING IN DELAYS IN EMERGENCY OR QUICKLY NEEDED MANEUVERS. THE CARE BEHAVES IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAYS AS IN NHTSA COMPLAINTS #10480933 AND #10317114. I HAVE FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN OTHER FORA IN SPECIALIZED CAR WEBSITES, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN AND ENGINEERING DEFECT ON THE PART OF SUBARU, WHICH HAS GRAVE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. I CALLED ONE DEALERSHIP AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AT SUBARU, AND WAS TOLD THAT NO BULLETINS OR RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS DEFECT. IN BOTH CASES, I WAS TOLD THAT THE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, ABOUT $2,000 TO $3,000 WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT, WHICH HAS GROWN GREATER AS THE CAR AGES, SUBARU SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL AND REPAIR THE DEFECTS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

REAR AXLE HANGER BEARING GAVE OUT. HAD TO REPLACE REAR AXLE. TIRES ALWAYS MAINTAINED METICULOUSLY. CONCERNING BECAUSE SYMMETRICAL AWD FAILURE IN WINTER DRIVING IS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 70,103

THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND "BUCKS" AT LOW SPEEDS, TURNING CORNERS, ACCELERATING/DECELERATING, CHANGING LANES, GOING UP A GRADE OR HILL AND DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. SHIFTING GEARS SEEMS TO TAKE LONGER THAN EXPECTED AND THE TACH REGISTERS HIGH AND THEN ERRATICALLY JUMPS DOWN (OR UP) TO A MUCH LOWER LEVEL ON THE TACH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY OR TO SEEMINGLY GET STUCK IN A GEAR. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY TRY TO SHIFT WHILE NOT ACCELERATING, SOMETIMES WHEN TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED. THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WHERE I HAVE HAD IT EXCLUSIVELY SERVICED CANNOT SEEM TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. THEY HAVE CHANGED WIRES AND REPLACED AN AIR FUEL SENSOR, ONLY TO SAY THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF THIS SITUATION BEFORE MY 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT EVEN BACK THEN, THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY SINCE THE DATE I INITIALLY NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND HAVE REPEATEDLY INFORMED THEM OF THIS ISSUE, BUT THE CONDITION HAS CONTINUED TO GET MORE SEVERE OVER TIME. I TRULY FEEL UNSAFE IN THE VEHICLE AND THAT AT ANY POINT IN TIME, WHILE ON A HIGHWAY OR REGULAR ROAD, THAT THE VEHICLE COULD FAIL AND THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR RESULT IN A CRASH OF SOME KIND. I HAVE NOW DRIVEN THREE SUBARU LOANERS FROM THE DEALER AND I FIND THAT EACH VEHICLE EXHIBITS SIGNS OF THE SAME SITUATION I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH MY VEHICLE. I WONDER IF SUBARU MAY NOT BE TELLING ITS CUSTOMERS OF THIS POTENTIAL DEFECT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE OR IF SUBARU JUST DOES NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND/OR SKILL IN ITS MANUFACTURING PROCEDURES (ESPECIALLY RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION) TO PROPERLY ASSEMBLE ITS VEHICLES FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL DRIVERS. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

IN 2007 I BOUGHT A NEW SUBARU FORESTER. THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS & SNAPS WHILE CHANGING GEARS. SOMETIMES THE WHOLE CAR IS JOLTED BY THE TRANSMISSION SNAPPING INTO GEAR. THIS PROBLEM JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, BUT ALSO HAPPENS WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING & CHANGING SPEEDS. IT OFTEN TAKES TOO LONG FOR MY VEHICLE TO CHANGE GEARS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE DEPT. AT TWO DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERSHIPS. THEY CLAIM THEY CHECKED MY TRANSMISSION & FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT. I FEAR MY TRANSMISSION MAY FAIL AT A CRUCIAL TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN JULY 2007 AND IN AUGUST OF 2009 SHE SMELLED FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL CUT ROLL VALVE SINCE IT WAS CRACKED, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAILED PART WITH THE SAME DEFECTED PART; THEREFORE SHE COULD EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE AGAIN. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED HER $2,500 AS A DOWN PAYMENT TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE. SHE DECLINED THE OFFER AND WANTS THE DEALER TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 1300 MILES ON IT SHE HAD THE FRONT AXLES REPLACED. SHE NO LONGER FEELS SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 3/12/10 *CN UPDATED 09/28/10

Mileage: 12,819

PROBLEM 1: DATE IN: 5/22/07DATE OUT: 5/23/07 PROBLEM: BRAKES OR TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP; I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM 2: DATE IN: 6/22/07DATE OUT: 6/22/07 PROBLEM:BRAKES OR TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP. THE WAY THAT THE DEALERSHIP HANDLED THIS ISSUE IS BY DISENGAGING THE HILL HOLDER FUNCTION. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A FRONT-END COLLISION; YET THE IMPACT OF THE COLLISION WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO CAUSE $9,200 WORTH OF DAMAGES. FURTHERMORE, ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DETECTION LIGHT WAS NOT INDICATING INITIATION WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER, USING THE SEATBELT, IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE HAD PLANNED ON TAKING THE CAR IN TO HAVE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM ASSESSED. I SENT A REQUEST TO THE FLATIRON IMPORTS ON 12/5/07, REQUESTING THAT THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM BE ASSESSED FOR PROPER FUNCTIONING WHILE IT IS BEING SERVICED FOR THE MECHANICAL DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT; HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION OF THIS REQUEST AS OF 12/12/07. *TR

Mileage: 2,740

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE CHANGING GEARS BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 10 AND 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO COAST, CHANGE GEARS, OR ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,365. UPDATED 09/26/07 *TR

Mileage: 1,365