2007 Subaru FORESTER: complaints, problems and recalls

2007 SUBARU FORRESTER WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE ENGINE SURGES WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL (NOT UNDER LOAD) AND YOU ARE GIVING JUST ENOUGH THROTTLE TO KEEP UP SPEED. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE A JERKING BACK AND FORTH MOTION. SINCE PEOPLE PURCHASE THE CARS TO DRIVE IN SNOW I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND SUBARU STATES THAT IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT THE DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE IS TO BLAME. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10175042 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A USED 2003 SUBARU FORESTER IN 2006. IN MARCH OF 2007 A SMALL PARKING LIGHT WENT OUT. I WENT OUT AND PURCHASED A NEW BULB FOR ABOUT $1.25 AND TRIED TO REPLACE IT. I QUICKLY FOUND OUT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE A VERY SKILLED MECHANIC TO CHANGE ANY BULB ON THIS VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO CHANGE ANY BULB YOU FIRST HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE FRONT GRILL WHICH IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON WITHOUT DAMAGING THE PARTS THAT HOLD IT INTO PLACE. THEN YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE LIGHT FICTURE TO CHANGE ANY BULB THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 56,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10194748 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE CONTACT'S WIFE, WHO IS OF NORMAL HEIGHT AND WEIGHT, SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DIMS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT SHOULD BE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES AND HIS WIFE MUST JUMP AROUND IN THE SEAT FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN BACK ON. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME HE AND HIS WIFE ARE IN THE VEHICLE. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAS ONLY DEPLOYED ONCE WHILE HE WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE W…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201780 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 1,365 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202566 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU FORESTER. THE VEHICLE HAS YOKOHAMA GEOLANDAR, SIZE P215 55R17 TIRES. WHEN ACCELERATING SLIGHTLY FROM A STOP, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE ABS ACTIVATED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP FOR 100 FEET. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE FAILURE IS WITH THE TIRES. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210684 at NHTSA ↗

THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED TIRES THAT WEAR AT AN EXCESSIVELY RAPID PACE, RESULTING IN A CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSING TRACTION WHILE DRIVING OVER SAND/GRIT USED FOR TREATING THE ROAD DURING SNOW. ADDITIONALLY, THE FLATIRONS IMPORTS, AN AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP, NEVER ADVISED US ON THE DEGREE OF TREAD LOSS. ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 2 AT NOON, MY HUSBAND WAS COMING DOWN LEFT HAND CANYON TRAVELING AT 35MPH WHEN HE LOST TRACTION WHILE DRIVING INTO A RIGHT-TURN BEND. THE CAR LEFT THE ROAD AND LANDED NOSE-FIRST ABOUT 30 FT INTO AN IRRIGATION DITCH. …

Owner-reported narrative. 15,763 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213023 at NHTSA ↗

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 AC…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,740 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213024 at NHTSA ↗

CONSTANT VIBRATION FROM TIRES AT 65MPH OR FASTER, GETS WORSE AS THE SPEED INCREASES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216988 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2011-09-06 (September 6, 2011)

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, WEST VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION IF THE HANGER BRACKET IS EXPOSED TO SALTY AND HUMID ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS ROADS CONTAINING SNOW MELTING AGENT.

Consequence: A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: SUBARU WILL HANDLE THEIR VEHICLES AND SAAB WILL HANDLE THEIRS. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DEGREE OF CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND WILL EITHER RUSTPROOF OR REPLACE THEM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.