COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Subaru Forester electrical problems

791 distinct owner reports with an electrical-system component in this snapshot.

Includes the electrical-system component and its detailed subcategories. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

27 crash reports35 fire reports8 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

332 reports with mileage · 459 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What owners actually said

791 reports
2015 model year · 3,000 miles · Oct 27, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2015 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HESITATION/ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCK SLIGHTLY AS SHE/HE ACCELERATED. IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, OR WHEN SHE REMOVED HIS/HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHIC…

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2015 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HESITATION/ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCK SLIGHTLY AS SHE/HE ACCELERATED. IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, OR WHEN SHE REMOVED HIS/HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO SLOW DOWN ABRUPTLY. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD OFTEN HESITATE BEFORE REVVING UP. SUBARU INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A FIX. HOWEVER, WITHIN THREE TO FOUR WEEKS OF THE FIX, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THERE WAS AN ODD HESITATION AS IF THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO GO FORWARD AT IDLE AFTER BRAKING. WHEN THE ACCELERATED WAS PRESSED, THERE WAS A DELAYED REACTION AND A LURCH. ALSO, SEVERAL LIGHTS INCLUDING THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND SOON AFTER THE REPAIR, THE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS RETURNED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10918194

2014 model year · 30,000 miles · Oct 26, 2016
Electrical System

LIFT GATE: THE LIFT GATE BUTTON ON THE DASH WHEN DEPRESSED DOES NOT ALWAYS OPEN THE LIFT GATE. SEVERAL PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER, AND IT STILL FAILS OCCASIONALLY. USING THE KEY FOB OPENS THE THE LIFT GATE 100% OF THE TIME, BUT NOT USING THE BUTTON ON THE DASH.

NHTSA ODI #10918974

2017 model year · 1,200 miles · Oct 17, 2016
Electrical SystemStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE SCREEN REFLECTED LIGHT ONTO HER FACE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT'S VISION WAS IMPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.

NHTSA ODI #10916632

2015 model year · Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2016
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON OCTOBER 31, 2014 AT A MARYLAND DEALER. THE FOLLOWING ARE DATES, MILES AND THE ISSUES THAT HAVE ARISED SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP. ALL ISSUES RELATED TO VEHICLE HAVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. NO SPECIFIC ROADS, VEHICLE MANEUVERING OR WEATHER CONDITION, CHANGED OR CAUSED THE THE FOLLOWING ISSUES. 12/09/14…

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VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON OCTOBER 31, 2014 AT A MARYLAND DEALER. THE FOLLOWING ARE DATES, MILES AND THE ISSUES THAT HAVE ARISED SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP. ALL ISSUES RELATED TO VEHICLE HAVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. NO SPECIFIC ROADS, VEHICLE MANEUVERING OR WEATHER CONDITION, CHANGED OR CAUSED THE THE FOLLOWING ISSUES. 12/09/14 6680 MILES, ISSUE WITH STEERING & ALIGNMENT 12/20/14 8524 MILES, ISSUE WITH STEERING & ALIGNMENT APRIL 2015 REPLACED BATTERY 06/20/15 41,700 MILES, ISSUE WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 07/23/15 47672 MILES, ISSUE WITH DRIVEABILITY 08/26/15 53037 MILES, ISSUE WITH BODY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 08/2015 ALL ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED 09/23/15 57923 MILES, ISSUES WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & STOP LIGHT LAMP SWITCH 10/08/15 60428 MILES, ISSUE WITH POWER WINDOWS 12/03/15 68762 MILES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPLACED, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM JUNE 2016 ISSUES WITH STARTING VEHICLE BEGINS, UNDETERMINED CAUSE JULY 2016 ISSUES BEGAN WITH HVAC BLOWER FAN INTERMITTENT FAILURE 09/25/16 110839 MILES, UNKNOWN A/T POSSIBLE FAILURE SUBARU OF AMERICA STILL HAS AN OPEN TICKET FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT STILL PLAGUE THE VEHICLE; INCLUDING POWER WINDOWS, HILL START ASSISTANT, LOW OIL PRESSURE, AUDIO SPEAKER, VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, ABS, BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHTS. DEALER HAS STATED THAT FAILURE CAN ONLY BE DUPLICATED WHEN AN ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM CODE IS PRESENT. THUS THE REASON FOR OUTSTANDING ISSUES. FURTHERMORE, NOT ALL REPEATED ISSUES OR COMMUNICATIONS WITH DEALER ARE LISTED DUE TO LACK OF RECORDS.

NHTSA ODI #10909572

2016 model year · 300 miles · Sep 3, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

WE GOT OUR 2016 SUBARU FORESTER PREMIUM 2.5I FROM BAY RIDGE DEALER IN BROOKLYN ON JUNE 7,2016.

NHTSA ODI #10903443

2016 model year · 300 miles · Aug 17, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SOME TIME. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A COMPUTER GLITCH, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SUGGEST OR PERFORM ANY REPAIRS. THE MANUFACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SOME TIME. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A COMPUTER GLITCH, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SUGGEST OR PERFORM ANY REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

NHTSA ODI #10896488

2015 model year · 44,000 miles · Aug 17, 2016
Electrical SystemService Brakes

OUR 2015 SUBARU FOREST WILL RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING HAVE ALL OF IT WARNING LIGHTS COME ONE. EYESIGHT, HILL ASSIST, ABS, LANE DEPARTURE, ECT. IF YOU STOP AND PUT IT IN PARK THEN IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK UNLESS OVER RIDDEN. I CALLED IN TO SUBARU AND THEY SAID "2015 SUBARU FORESTER RIGHT? IT PROBABLY HAS A BAD BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH…

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OUR 2015 SUBARU FOREST WILL RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING HAVE ALL OF IT WARNING LIGHTS COME ONE. EYESIGHT, HILL ASSIST, ABS, LANE DEPARTURE, ECT. IF YOU STOP AND PUT IT IN PARK THEN IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK UNLESS OVER RIDDEN. I CALLED IN TO SUBARU AND THEY SAID "2015 SUBARU FORESTER RIGHT? IT PROBABLY HAS A BAD BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH OR BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR, WHICH MEANS YOUR BRAKES WILL NOT LIGHT UP WHILE DRIVING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE TO SUBARU AS I HAVE SEEN MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE ON SUBARU BOARDS. I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY 170 DOLLARS JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE WHEN THEY CLEARLY KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY HAZARD, IF MY BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO LIGHT UP WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT, I OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE MY BRAKING.

NHTSA ODI #10896525

2012 model year · Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2016
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE POWERED DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS; HOWEVER, SMOKE EMITTED UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT CLUTCH FLUID DRAINED OUT OF THE R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE POWERED DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS; HOWEVER, SMOKE EMITTED UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT CLUTCH FLUID DRAINED OUT OF THE RESERVOIR, AND THE SMOKE WAS CAUSED BY FLUID DRAINING TO THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS NOT ACCURATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS STARTER RELAY FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, THE CHIP FOR THE KEY FOB WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE SYSTEM. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY INTEGRATED UNIT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10894853

2008 model year · 140,000 miles · Aug 7, 2016
Electrical SystemFire

DRIVING 2008 SUBARU FORESTER LL BEAN PULLING INTO PARKING PARK. VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, PARKED, ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART SOUNDED LIKE A LOW BATTERY TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES ATTEMPTED TO START AGAIN, ENGINE STARTED RAN NORMALLY NO CAUTION LIGHTS. STARTED TO DRIVE HOME, ENTERED THE ON RAMP OF HI…

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DRIVING 2008 SUBARU FORESTER LL BEAN PULLING INTO PARKING PARK. VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, PARKED, ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART SOUNDED LIKE A LOW BATTERY TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES ATTEMPTED TO START AGAIN, ENGINE STARTED RAN NORMALLY NO CAUTION LIGHTS. STARTED TO DRIVE HOME, ENTERED THE ON RAMP OF HIGHWAY. NOTICED WHITE SMOKE IN REVIEW MIRROR PULLED OFF OF HIGHWAY STOPPED VEHICLE TURNED OFF, SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT SAW FLAMES UNDER CAR CALLED 911 FIRE DEPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED EXTINGUISHED FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #10893871

2012 model year · 56,000 miles · Aug 1, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER READ 2 MPH OVER THE ACTUAL SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED BY THE MECHANIC. THE MANUFAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER READ 2 MPH OVER THE ACTUAL SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED BY THE MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI #10892235

Related Official recalls

2

19V297000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Apr 11, 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.

16V738000 · Electrical System

Oct 13, 2016

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

0

No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.