NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
613 reportsMileage unknown · Mar 6, 2016
StructureVehicle Speed ControlCrash
CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, ABOUT 10-15 FEET, FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE INTO A BRICK BUILDING,IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT CAUSING 7K DAMAGE TO MY CARS. PRIOR TO THIS CRASH, THE LANE DEPARTURE AND AUTO BREAKING LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON AND OFF. I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE CRASH PREVENTED THAT. THE CAR WAS REP…
Read full complaint
CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, ABOUT 10-15 FEET, FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE INTO A BRICK BUILDING,IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT CAUSING 7K DAMAGE TO MY CARS. PRIOR TO THIS CRASH, THE LANE DEPARTURE AND AUTO BREAKING LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON AND OFF. I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE CRASH PREVENTED THAT. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND TAKEN TO THE SUBARU DEALER WHERE PURCHASED, AND THEY EXAMINED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. SINCE THEN, MY SCREEN DATE WAS SET AND THEN REVERTED BACK TO FEB 4, 2010. ALSO, THE LANE DEPARTURE AND AUTO BRAKING LIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING TWICE SINCE GETTING THE CAR BACK. ADDITIONALLY, THE SCREEN NOW DISPLAYS ADDITIONAL MESSAGES THAT IT HADN'T IN THE PAST, SUCH AS VEHICLE AHEAD HAS MOVED, AND ROAD CONDITIONS MIGHT BE ICY. THE LATTER SHOULD HAVE SHOWN UP PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT, LIVING IN THE SNOW BELT OF NE OHIO. HAS THERE BEEN ANY "SILENT RECALLS" PLACED ON THIS CAR SINCE 2010 REGARDING THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUES THAT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A FORMAL RECALL ON, RATHER THAT SUBARU HAS ISSUED THIS INFORMATION TO IT'S TECHS ONLY? I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS GAS PEDAL ISSUE HAS BEEN DISMISSED DUE TO WEATHER MATS, DRIVERS AGE OR DRIVER'S FOOT MISSING THE CORRECT PEDAL. I AM AN EXPERIENCED AND SAFE DRIVER WHO DOES NOT LIKE GETTING SCAMMED BY A MANUFACTURE OF INFERIOR PRODUCT. SUBARU IS LOVE....QUESTIONABLE SINCE IT SEEMS TO ME THEY ARE MAKING CHANGES WITHOUT INFORMING THE GOVERNMENT OF THESE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA ODI #10840115
20,000 miles · Mar 4, 2016
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringCrashInjury
7 MONTHS OLD, 20,000 MILES. DRIVING 65.6 MPH, IN LIGHT RAIN WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. 1ST TIME DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER, NOTICED WIND OR FLAT TIRES CAUSING SOMETIMES SIDE SHAKING. STOPPED TO CHECK TIRES. NOTICED NO WIND NOR LOW TIRES PRESSURE. CONTINUED ON. HAD USED CRUISE CONTROL ON AND OFF, AND TURNING ON AND OFF THE TRACT…
Read full complaint
7 MONTHS OLD, 20,000 MILES. DRIVING 65.6 MPH, IN LIGHT RAIN WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. 1ST TIME DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER, NOTICED WIND OR FLAT TIRES CAUSING SOMETIMES SIDE SHAKING. STOPPED TO CHECK TIRES. NOTICED NO WIND NOR LOW TIRES PRESSURE. CONTINUED ON. HAD USED CRUISE CONTROL ON AND OFF, AND TURNING ON AND OFF THE TRACTION SWITCH TO FIND A PATTERN FOR THE IRADIC DRIVING. COULD NOT ID A CAUSE. CONTINUED DRIVING. CAR TOOK A SUDDEN JERK TO THE LEFT, KNEW WE WERE GOING TO CRASH AND COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. 'CRASH' . WE SLID 40 FEET DOWN THE CENTER DIVIDE. THE FRONT WHEELS WERE STILL POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE WERE LUCKY. THE REAR WHEELS HAD 'EXCESSIVE WEAR' , FRONT WHEELS WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. WHEN THE CAR WAS TORN APART, THE MAIN PULLY HAD A 1" DING AND THE FAN BELT WAS KNOCKED OFF THE MAIN PULLY AND PARTICALLY OF THE 2ND PULLY. THE BELT WAS ON ALL THE OTHER PULLIES.. I BELIEVE THE TRACTION DEVICE MALFUNCTIONED WHEN I WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL HYDROPLANED. AND THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED SENDING ME INTO A OUT OF CONTROL CRASH, THAT I COULD NOT STEER OUT OF. SUBARU OF AMERICA SAID WET PAYMENT, HIGH SPEED AND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON REAR TIRES CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THEY DOCUMENTED THE SPEED AND WEAR OF REAR TIRES. RAIN WAS VERY LIGHT, A DRIZZLE. HIGHWAY WAS STRAIGHT AND LIGHT TRAFFIC. NO DEBRE ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA ODI #10839979
14,000 miles · Feb 26, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System
I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT THAT TURNED GREEN, AND WHEN I TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR, NO GAS. PULLED AROUND THE CORNER, AND PUT IN PARK, ENGINE REVVED HIGH RPM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, XMODE LIGHT, AND ANOTHER 'CAR ON HILL' LIGHT CAME ON DASH'..MESSAGES ON DISPLAY WINDOW 'HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM' AND 'EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM' MESSAGES…
Read full complaint
I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT THAT TURNED GREEN, AND WHEN I TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR, NO GAS. PULLED AROUND THE CORNER, AND PUT IN PARK, ENGINE REVVED HIGH RPM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, XMODE LIGHT, AND ANOTHER 'CAR ON HILL' LIGHT CAME ON DASH'..MESSAGES ON DISPLAY WINDOW 'HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM' AND 'EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM' MESSAGES FLASHED. WE TURNED EVERYTHING OFF, STARTED ENGINE AGAIN, SAME THING, SAME MESSAGES. TURNED OFF AGAIN, RESTARTED, AND THIS TIME THE GAS PEDAL WORKED, BUT DASH LIGHTS STAYED ON WITH WARNING LIGHTS. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IT ABOUT 5 MORE MILES, THEN STOPPED FOR DINNER. AN HOUR LATER, THE CAR STARTED FINE, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO GAS PEDAL ISSUES. TOOK TO SUBARU WEST 2/25/16 WHERE THE TECHNICIAN HOOKED UP HIS HAND HELD COMPUTER THING TO PLACE NEAR HOOD RELEASE. HE SAID THERE WAS JUST ONE SIGNAL THAT TOLD HIM IT WAS PROBABLY FROM THE FACT I HIT THE GAS AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME, AND THE VEHICLE SENSES THIS AND SHUTS OFF THE THROTTLE. SAFETY ISSUE? I AM A ONE FOOTED DRIVER, SO NOT SURE HOW THAT HAPPENS, BUT HE SAID HE CLEARED THE COMPUTER AND ALL SHOULD BE GOOD, BUT TO BRING IT BACK IN ASAP IF THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT GOES ON. HMM.
NHTSA ODI #10838631
11,350 miles · Feb 25, 2016
Power Train
WE WERE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2016. THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK AND WE SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. WE PULLED ONTO THE BERM AS SOON AS WE COULD AND WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK. WE KNEW IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION PLACED IN THE CAR.…
Read full complaint
WE WERE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2016. THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK AND WE SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. WE PULLED ONTO THE BERM AS SOON AS WE COULD AND WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK. WE KNEW IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION PLACED IN THE CAR. WE HAD THE CAR BACK FROM THE REPAIR SHOP LESS THAN 3 WEEKS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER WERE COMPLETELY REPLACED FROM THE MANUFACTURER'S. SUBARU HAS NOTIFIED US THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER PLUS 4 NEW TIRES ARE BEING PLACED IN THE CAR NOW CURRENTLY BACK AT THE DEALER IN THE REPAIR SHOP. THE TIRES WERE RUINED BY THE BURNING TREAD AS THEY LOCKED UP WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR SINCE IT WAS AT THE MANUFACTURER. THIS IS NO LONGER JUST A WARRANTY ISSUE IT IS NOW A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR'S TIRES WERE COMPLETELY LOCKED WHEN IT WAS BEING TAKEN OFF THE TOW TRUCK. IT HAD TO BE JACKED UP AND SLID OFF THE BACK OF THE FLAT BED RAMP.
NHTSA ODI #10838461
12,500 miles · Feb 18, 2016
Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK, ABOUT 35MPH ON A PAVED ROAD. SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ITEMS SUDDENLY FAILED, ALL AT THE SAME TIME - WIPERS, WINDSHIELD WASHER, HEATER FAN, TURN SIGNALS ALL WOULD NOT WORK. WHEN SHE STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, AND TURNED IT BACK ON, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED AGAIN. I AM TAKING IT IN FOR …
Read full complaint
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK, ABOUT 35MPH ON A PAVED ROAD. SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ITEMS SUDDENLY FAILED, ALL AT THE SAME TIME - WIPERS, WINDSHIELD WASHER, HEATER FAN, TURN SIGNALS ALL WOULD NOT WORK. WHEN SHE STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, AND TURNED IT BACK ON, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED AGAIN. I AM TAKING IT IN FOR WARRANTY SERVICE AT GANLEY SUBARU, WICKLIFFE, OHIO.
NHTSA ODI #10836928
19,000 miles · Feb 4, 2016
Visibility/wiper
THIS IS MY FIRST WINTER OWNING A SUBURU FORESTER AND MOST OF THE TIME IT IS STORED IN OUR GARAGE. WE LIVE IN WNY AND SOME TIMES HAVE TO PARK IT OUTSIDE. ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE SUV WAS PARKED OUTDOORS IN TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 25 DEGREES AND ALL THE WINDOWS FROZE OVER ON THE INSIDE. FOR THOSE TIMES IT WAS PARKED 3 HOURS OU…
Read full complaint
THIS IS MY FIRST WINTER OWNING A SUBURU FORESTER AND MOST OF THE TIME IT IS STORED IN OUR GARAGE. WE LIVE IN WNY AND SOME TIMES HAVE TO PARK IT OUTSIDE. ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE SUV WAS PARKED OUTDOORS IN TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 25 DEGREES AND ALL THE WINDOWS FROZE OVER ON THE INSIDE. FOR THOSE TIMES IT WAS PARKED 3 HOURS OUTDOORS AND IT TOOK US 15-20 MINUTES TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS BEFORE WE COULD DRIVE. A COUPLE OF TIMES WE RAN INTO STORES AND IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES THE INTERIOR OF THE WINDOWS BEGAN TO FREEZE. THIS WEEK WE HAD A SERVICE CALL AT OUR LOCAL SUBURU DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US HE WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT SUBURU HAS GIVEN THEM NO SOLUTIONS. HE TOLD ME TO TRY LOWERING A WINDOW WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT TO TRY TO GET THE MOISTURE OUT. IT APPEARS THIS MODEL IS OVERLY AIR TIGHT AND THIS DESIGN FLAW HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. SINCE IT IS ALWAYS COLD DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THE PROSPECTS OF THIS CONTINUING TO HAPPEN WILL RESULT IT ME BUYING A DIFFERENT MAKE VEHICLE NEXT TIME AROUND.
NHTSA ODI #10824223
19,100 miles · Jan 27, 2016
Power Train
WHILE STARTING TO DRIVE FORWARD ( NORMAL SPEED ) FROM A STOP -WENT ABOUT FIFTY FEET. I HEARD A CLUNK. THAN THE SUV ROLLED TO A STOP. I THAN TRIED TO PUT IT IN REVERSE - WOULD NOT MOVE. I THAN PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE - IT DID NOT MOVE. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING - IT WAS. I CALLED MY EMERGENCY HOT LINE AND HAD T…
Read full complaint
WHILE STARTING TO DRIVE FORWARD ( NORMAL SPEED ) FROM A STOP -WENT ABOUT FIFTY FEET. I HEARD A CLUNK. THAN THE SUV ROLLED TO A STOP. I THAN TRIED TO PUT IT IN REVERSE - WOULD NOT MOVE. I THAN PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE - IT DID NOT MOVE. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING - IT WAS. I CALLED MY EMERGENCY HOT LINE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT THE CHAIN IN THE TRANSMISSION ( OR SOME PLACE IN THE DRIVE MECHANISM ) HAD BROKEN. STILL WAITING FOR IT TO BE FIXED - 11 DAYS HAVE PASSED SO FAR.
NHTSA ODI #10822614
200 miles · Jan 21, 2016
Electrical System
I HAD A REMOTE STARTER INSTALLED BY SOME ONE OTHER THAN SUBARU. THE STARTER FAILED REPEATEDLY SO I TOOK IT IN. WAS TOLD AND GIVEN A PRINT OUT REFLECTING A LOW BATTERY. I TOOK IT TO NORTH TOWNE SUBARU ON SHERIDAN DR. IT IS A 20 MILE TRIP ONE WAY, THEY SAID "NO PROBLEM, CHARGED THE BATTERY ANY WAY AND SENT ME HOME. I PURCHASE…
Read full complaint
I HAD A REMOTE STARTER INSTALLED BY SOME ONE OTHER THAN SUBARU. THE STARTER FAILED REPEATEDLY SO I TOOK IT IN. WAS TOLD AND GIVEN A PRINT OUT REFLECTING A LOW BATTERY. I TOOK IT TO NORTH TOWNE SUBARU ON SHERIDAN DR. IT IS A 20 MILE TRIP ONE WAY, THEY SAID "NO PROBLEM, CHARGED THE BATTERY ANY WAY AND SENT ME HOME. I PURCHASED THE FORESTER IN SEPT.2014, GOT THE STARTER FOR CHRISTMAS,AND AFTER THE VISIT TO SUBARU IT WORKED SOMETIMES. THIS WINTER AGAIN IT FAILED TO START. NOW THAT THE WINTER HAS BECOME EXTREMELY COLD I RETURNED TO THE INSTALLER WHO REPLACED IT AND IT STILL FAILED DUE TO A LOW BATTERY. THIS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL, AND THE FIX IS A STRONGER BATTERY. I AM NOT ABOUT TO TAKE ANOTHER TRIP TO SUBARU IN ERIE CO. AS I AM IN PAIN MOST OF THE TIME AND DRIVING LONG DISTANCES INCREASES THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THE STARTER STORE TO ORDER ME A BATTERY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS I CAN'T SEE SUBARU IN AMHERST DOING ANYTHING FOR ME. BUT I DO THINK SUBARU SHOULD REIMBURSE ME. OF COURSE I WILL NOT HOLD MY BREATH. ALSO I WILL NEVER GO TO THAT DEALERSHIP AGAIN.!!!!!!
NHTSA ODI #10821572
30,000 miles · Jan 18, 2016
Engine
I'VE NOTICED I RUN EXTREMELY LOW ON OIL AT ABOUT 1,500 MILES BEFORE MY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. I'VE BEEN ADDING A QUART AT EVERY 5,000 AS TO NOT RUN DRY AND DAMAGE THE ENGINE. I MOSTLY DRIVE HIGHWAY MILES AND STARTING HAVING THIS ISSUE AT 30,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10820863
23,000 miles · Dec 28, 2015
Service BrakesWheels
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THE WHEEL LUGS HAVE SNAPPED WHILE THE WHEELS WERE REMOVED FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT, ROTATION AND REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BRAKE CALIPER RETAINER BOLTS SNAP WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION SO THAT THE REAR BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE WERE NEXT TO INOPERABLE AS ONLY A PORTI…
Read full complaint
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THE WHEEL LUGS HAVE SNAPPED WHILE THE WHEELS WERE REMOVED FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT, ROTATION AND REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BRAKE CALIPER RETAINER BOLTS SNAP WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION SO THAT THE REAR BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE WERE NEXT TO INOPERABLE AS ONLY A PORTION OF THE BRAKE PAD CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR. THE DEALER DID NOT MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE OR REPAIR THE BRAKE ROTORS OR PADS UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WHAT MADE IT MORE OF AN ISSUE WAS THE THE LOCAL DEALER DIDNT HAVE THESE PARTS ON HAND AND GAVE ME THE SPECS FOR THE BOLT TO PURCHASE FROM THE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE. THESE NEW BOLTS HAVE HELD.
NHTSA ODI #10816534
Official recalls
3Oct 3, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Feb 28, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
Mar 21, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗