Subaru FORESTER electrical problems
501 complaint narratives mention electrical terms.
Key facts
6,414 owner complaints analyzed
43 distinct recall campaigns
35,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 3,652 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Electrical and battery issues evidence
501 of 6,414 complaints match this topic (7.8%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 8002093 · 2002-01-14 (January 14, 2002)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8002093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 768545 · 2002-10-16 (October 16, 2002)
BLOWER SWITCH WAS ON HIGH, NUMBER 4 WHEN ELECTRICAL SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL. BLOWER WOULD NOT RUN ON NUMBER 4, (HIGH). THE SWITCH HAD BURNED CONTACTS AT THE WIRE CONNECTOR. REPLACEMENT SWITCH COST $60.07 PLUS TAX. MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 768545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 889722 · 2001-06-04 (June 4, 2001)
COMPONENTS OF VEHICLE THAT RELY ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OPERATE ERRATICALLY AND WILL TURN ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD OF VEHICLE WILL COME ON AND STAY ON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 889722 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509215 · 2013-04-23 (April 23, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG NOISE AND LOOKED BEHIND ME AND SAW BLACK SMOKE AND HAD LOST ALL POWER, NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES AND NO LIGHTS I HAD TO TRY TO CROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET MY CAR TO THE SHOULDER WHILE IT WAS DECELERATING. I GOT THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND WAS WORRIED OF A POSSIBLE FIRE. I GOT OUT AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED. THE RESULT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THAT HAD BLOWN THE ROD THROUGH THE BACK PILLAR AND SPRAYED OIL OV…
Owner-reported narrative. 189,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195139 · 2007-07-02 (July 2, 2007)
LATCHES ON THE FORRESTER CANNOT BE OPENED UNLESS YOU HAVE A KEY FOB. THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCESS THE TAILGATE WITHOUT THE BATTERY OPERATED FOB. IF YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT GETS INTO THE CAR WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE, OR IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE SIDE. HOW WILL YOU GET OUT THE BACK--THERE IS NO WAY TO EVEN ACCESS WITH A KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE. IF YOU ARE IN AN ACCIDENT AND YOU LOOSE TRACK OF YOUR FOB TOO BAD, YOU CAN'T GET OUT FROM THE BACK. I MYSELF CARRY DOGS IN CRATES IN THE BACK OF THE FORRESTER. HAD I REALIZED…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10195139 at NHTSA ↗