2015 Subaru Forester

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REARVIEW MIRROR CAMERA FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (GRAND PRIX SUBARU LOCATED AT 500 S BROADWAY, HICKSVILLE, NY 11801; (855) 675-5585) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MIRROR COULD BE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,400. UPDATED 08/09/2017*JS

WHILE DRIVING, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, THE HILL ASSIST BRAKE AND THE ABS LIGHTS RANDOMLY DEPLOY. HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 24 HOURS. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON SEEMS TO CLEAR THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, AFTER THAT, NOW TWO TIMES WHILE TRAVELING AT A REGULAR SPEED, THE BRAKING SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED ITSELF, INCLUDING THE CVT ENGAGING INTO LOW SPEED AND FORCING THE CAR TO DRIVE ONLY AT 10-20 MPH. AS WELL, WHEN THIS OCCURS THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. OTHER READS SOUND LIKE A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR OR SENSING SYSTEM, BUT THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL MALFUNCTION AS ONE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WAS SUDDENLY STOPPED WITH NO WARNING. THEN WHEN TRYING TO GET TO SAFETY, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO "RESET" AND BE FINE FOR A FEW MILES, ONLY TO EITHER GO TO THE ALL LIGHTS ON SYSTEM (ABS/HILL ASSIST/STABILITY CONTROL) OR GO INTO THE BRAKING/CVT ERROR AS WELL. WILL HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT IS ELECTRONIC IN NATURE AS THE DEFAULT FALL BACK IS NOT A MANUAL WORKING BRAKE SYSTEM BUT SEEMS TO BE A NON-WORKING BRAKE SYSTEM.

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 5-22-17 UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. ASSURED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN WORKING ORDER WE DROVE UP TO MAMMOTH LAKES CA THAT FRIDAY (5-26-17). 2 HOURS INTO THE DRIVE, JUST INSIDE THE MOJAVE DESERT, WE EXPERIENCED A ABRUPT STALLING/LUNGING SENSATION. LETTING OFF THE GAS FOR A MOMENT, I THEN GAVE THE CAR A BIT MORE GAS AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME SENSATION AGAIN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND SMELT A CHEMICAL/OVERHEATING SMELL. SHUT THE CAR OFF, POPPED THE HOOD AND NO SMOKE. I THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY OTHER LIGHT WAS ON. I THEN PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND PROCEEDED. THE RPM'S WENT TO ABOUT 4K BUT THE CAR WAS NOT EXHILARATING. I DROVE THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 1/4 MILE INTO A GAS STATION. AT 11PM I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY $600 TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO LADIN SUBARU OF THOUSAND OAKS. I AM CURRENTLY AWAITING YET ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS. NOT SURE I FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY IF IT PUTS ME AT RISK OF BEING REAR ENDED ON A HIGHWAY. NOT TO MENTION THE ISSUE OCCURRED JUST 4 DAYS AFTER IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED! SUBARU COULD POTENTIALLY BE IN THE HOLE FOR $16K AS THE CAR IS STILL UNDER ITS EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOT SURE I EVEN FEEL CONFIDENT THEY CAN RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH THE LEFT WHEEL BOUNCES AND MY ENGINE RPM INCREASE, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AS WELL AS THE FRONT END. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING A ROAD WHICH CURVES TO THE RIGHT. IT MAKES THE CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CV JOINT ON THE LEFT FRONT IT MAKES GRINDING OR PULSING SOUND. THIS ONLY HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I RECENTLY HAD A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND THE CAR DOES STOP STRAIGHT WITH NO PROBLEM AT ANY SPEED. I FEEL AS IF THE WHOLE FRONT LEFT IS GOING TO COME OFF AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

PROBLEM IS WITH THE SUBARU "EYESIGHT" SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN SUTTING ITSELF OFF MORE AND MORE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS UNTIL NOW, IT SHUTS DOWN THE SYSTEM AND CRUISE CONTROL MULTIPLE TIMES DAILY EVEN AT NIGHT.DAYTIME OR WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. THE LOCAL DEALER CHECKED IT AND FOUND NO PROBLEM THAT HE COULD SEE FOR IT.

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN TURNED ON DEFROSTER. INSPECTION BY DEALERSHIP VERIFIED CRACK WAS NOT DUE TO ANY OUTSIDE FORCE. SUBARU HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD CRACKS ON OUTBACK & LEGACY MODELS, BUT HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST FOR REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD ON MY FORESTER. WINDSHIELD CRACK STARTED AT BOTTOM OF PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD & EXTENDED ABOUT 12 INCHES UPWARDS TOWARD CENTER OF WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK HAS CONTINUED TO EXTEND TOWARDS THE CENTER AND IS NOW ABOUT 24 INCHES IN LENGTH. SEE: HTTP://BERANEK.AGRRMAG.COM/2015/12/SUBARU-EXTENDS-WINDSHIELD-WARRANTY/#.WLHQBCFXRLK.EMAIL

WHEN I STOP MY CAR, PUT IT IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE I CAN NOT OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR USING THE IN-DOOR SILVER DOOR LATCH. THE DOOR STAYS LOCKED AND WILL NOT OPEN. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN EVEN WHEN I TRY TO UNLOCK IT USING THE UNLOCK ROCKER SWITCH ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR ARM REST. THE DOOR CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED AND OPENED WHEN I UNLOCK IT USING THE BLACK IN-DOOR LOCKING LATCH. THERE IS AN APPARENT ELECTRICAL OR SOFTWARE PROBLEM WHICH CAN CAUSE SOMEONE TO GET TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THANK YOU.