What 147 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Subaru Forester Wilderness

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment, and the vehicle began to fill with smoke, prompting her to immediately stop and exit the vehicle. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact observed that the vehicle had become engulfed in flames, and local emergency services were called. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the flames. No warning lights were illuminated. A fire report was filed, but a police report was not filed. The contact was treated at an area hospital for a stress-related gastrointestinal issue. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was 102,000.

NHTSA ODI 11574868

My car randomly turns off when reducing speed. It caused an accident a few days ago. I have had multiple mechanics try to figure out the problem but the only thing that comes up on the diagnostic tool is it needed 1 coil replaced. They have all been replaced and still won't go away. The Che k engine light is on. And the car uses about a quart or more of oil everytime I fill up but has no leaks. When I reduce speed the car in traffic, around corners or to stop it constantly turns itself off. Starting it it sometimes turns itself off if I don't give it some gas at the same time. It smells like burning oil constantly.

NHTSA ODI 11551440

unintended sudden acceleration defects without warning without driver input. I could kill & be killed. It can happen again! I backed up a little in an angle moving away from parking. Suddenly, without any warning, the car took off and frantically flew backward, passing a stop sign (offense), crossing the main road 4 lanes, perpendicular to the marked lanes (offense), mounted on the sidewalk and landed on a private property breaking bushes. It happened sooo fast! I could not figure out what happened! If a car was travelling in the main road, both of us might have been seriously injured or died! The police gave me a citation for two civil offenses and “negligently operating MV” which is a criminal offense. The Police demanded to suspend my license! I am scheduled by the police for a court hearing, demanding to issue a criminal claim against me, arraign me as a criminal and stand a criminal trial! I few days ago I backed up in an angle out of my driveway to Rte-9 which is a major Road/highway as I have been doing for years with no problem. The same phenomena happened: the car accelerated frantically, turned in a circle and stopped by hitting a telephone pole! If the car approaching did not stop I found out that numerous complaints and more than one law-suit filed against Subaru 2012-2018. Mine is 2011. Thousands of dollars in legal fees, being sued for property damages, getting driving points, increased insurance for years, badly damaging my car. This might happen! Should I even touch this car again?

NHTSA ODI 11547379

Driving a 2011 Subaru Forester, about 5mph in traffic on city street when car suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated at full gas and rammed into truck in front of me, with no pressure on the gas pedal. Slamming on brakes and pulling on hand brake was not enough to override the unexpected and unasked-for acceleration. I can only imagine what would have happened if there were pedestrians or if I'd been going faster. Subaru should be absolutely ashamed - in researching this, I've learned that they KNOW that this happens, but refuse to create a recall. Shame on you, Subaru.

NHTSA ODI 11467901

As I drove into my driveway smoke started coming out of engine compartment. Behind and under vehicle was a massive leak of either oil or transmission fluid. No warning lights were observed and vehicle was running fine while we were out. The entire vehicle was quickly engulfed in flames and burned to the ground before firefighters arrived.

NHTSA ODI 11417991

A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF APPARENTLY NORMAL DRIVING. THE FIRE EVENTUALLY DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE(S) OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED

NHTSA ODI 11366797

WHILE PARKING IN A STORE'S LOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP I ENDED UP CRASHING THROUGH A FENCE AND FALLING DOWN A 10 FOOT EMBANKMENT. *DT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11253025

I WAS PULLING SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SPACE (BRAKING) AT A SHOPPING CENTER WHEN MY SUBARU SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, TAKING MY CAR OVER THE CURB THROUGH A HEDGEROW AND INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE, AT WHICH TIME IT STOPPED. WITNESS CONFIRMED THE SUDDEN RAPID BOLTING OF THE CAR FORWARD FROM AN ALMOST STOPPED POSITION.

NHTSA ODI 11218101

WHEN I PARKING MY CAR INTO THE PARKING PLACE, THE CAR SUDDENLY GAVE A ROAR AND RUSHED INTO SOMEONE'S BACKYARD. ALTHOUGH I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS DEEP AS POSSIBLE, THE CAR RUSHED AROUND 10 METERS(?) AND FULLY STOPPED AFTER THE CAR HIT THE RODS OF WOOD STAIRCASE(TWO OF THE RODS OF STAIRCASE WAS BOKEN BY MY CAR). AT THAT MOMENT I JUST WANT SHIFT THE CAR FROM "D" TO "R" (BUT NOT YET), THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAPPENED TO THIS CAR. TIME: IT HAPPENED BETWEEN 2:30 TO 3:00 PM ON NOV 30, 2017. PLACE: RUSHED INTO THE BACKYARDS OF 8352 KAVANAGH RD, DUNDALK MD 21222, THIS BACKYARDS LOCATED ON SANDY PLAINS ROAD. CONSEQUENCE: 1. SCRATCHS TO FRONT BUMPER. 2. FRONT BUMPER BECAME LOOSE AFTER COLLISION HAPPENED TO THE ROD OF STAIRCASE. 3. I HAVE STIFF MUSCLES ON BOTH THIGHS FOR TWO DAYS AFTER THIS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11052597

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A TICKING NOISE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN STOPPED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, RAISED THE HOOD, AND OBSERVED SMOKE AROUND THE DIPSTICK. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE OIL AND FOUND THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT IT WAS CLOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RELATED TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE, BUT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE EVALUATED AND THEN DRIVEN 1,200 MILES IN ORDER FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BLOCK ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ODI 10978799

ON JUNE 8 2015 I ATTENDED A MEETING. WHEN THE MEETING ENDED AT 8 PM, IT WAS RAINING HARD. I HURRIED TO THE CAR, OPENED THE DRIVER?S DOOR WITH MY LEFT HAND AND SMACKED THE CORNER OF THE DOOR INTO MY LEFT EYEBROW. THE BLEEDING WAS SUBSTANTIAL, DRIPPING LARGE DROPS ONTO THE GROUND AND ONTO MY DRESS. A STRANGER STOPPED, ADVISING ME TO KEEP CONTINUAL PRESSURE ON THE WOUND UNTIL IT STOPPED BLEEDING. EVENTUALLY IT DID SO AND I DROVE HOME ONE-HANDED WITH THE OTHER KEEPING PRESSURE ON MY FOREHEAD. SINCE THE BLEEDING HAD ENDED, A PRESSURE BANDAGE KEPT IT STOPPED FOR THE NIGHT. THE BLACK EYE HAS FADED. THERE IS NO PERMANENT DAMAGE EXCEPT FOR A 5/8" SCAR ACROSS MY EYEBROW AND A RUINED DRESS. INSPECTING THE DOOR THE NEXT MORNING, I REALIZED THE CORNER OF THE DOOR COMES TO AN ACUTE ANGLE. THE DOOR ITSELF IS WEATHERSTRIPPED AND HAS A RUBBER GASKET. BUT THE EXPOSED METAL CORNER OF THE DOOR HAS NO PROTECTION. IT IS TOTALLY EXPOSED! I HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF BEING A 5?8? FEMALE WHOSE EYE HEIGHT MEETS THE CORNER OF THE DOOR. I ALSO HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF BEING LEFT-HANDED SO I OPEN THE DOOR WITH MY PRIMARY HAND. (OPENING A DRIVER?S DOOR WITH THE RIGHT HAND OFFERS SOME PROTECTION BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE ARM.) SUBSEQUENT TO THIS EVENT, I WROTE SUBARU CORPORATE AS WELL AS THE LOCAL DEALER. THEIR REPLY THANKED ME FOR SUGGESTING A DESIGN CONCEPT (I THINK THAT WAS THE PHRASE). A 'GOODY BOX' FROM SUBARU ARRIVED SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

NHTSA ODI 10734995

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A DEALER, BUT THE REMEDY WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10681476

DRIVEWAY ACROSS FROM TWO WAY STREETS, CHURCH AND MAIN STS. CARS PARKED ON EITHER SIDE OF DRIVEWAY, MAKING EXITING DIFFICULT AND PRECAUSIONS MUST BE TAKEN. UPDATED 5/1/15 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10661683

WHILE BACKING UP (CAR IN REVERSE) AT ABOUT 5 MPH, ACCELERATION OCCURRED MAKING THE CAR GO BACKWARDS VERY FAST. PRESSING THE BRAKE PAD TO THE GROUND HAD NO AFFECT. THE CAR, REVERSING OUT OF CONTROL, SIDE-SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. CAR FINALLY BACKED UP INTO A HUGE FORKLIFT WHICH WENT THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW AND STOPPED THE CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT THE SUBARU FORESTER WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10652155

MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND AT LEAST 2 OTHER CARS AT AROUND 4:45 P.M. ON 9-8-14. MY ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED RACING AND PULLING MY CAR TOWARD THE CAR SITTING IN FRONT OF MINE. I ALREADY HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BECAUSE I WAS STOPPED. I PRESSED EVEN HARDER ON THE BRAKE AS THE CAR TOOK OFF OUT OF MY CONTROL. THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING AND MY CAR CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10631997

CAR WAS BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 3RD FOR KNOCKING SOUND,I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE WHICH WAS REPLACED, CAR PICKED UP JUNE 10 AFTER REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. WHILE DRIVING ON JUNE 10TH IN THE EVENING, THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK AND KICK AND NOT RESPOND TO PUSHING ON GAS PEDAL, AT ONE POINT STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN SLOWED DOWN, PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTED THAT BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING OUT FROM HOOD. CAR BURNED SIGNIFICANTLY WHILE FIREFIGHTERS TRIED TO PUT IT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10604609

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES HAVE MALFUNCTIONED FOR ME NUMEROUS TIMES AND I WILL NOW ONLY DRIVE MY SUBARU (DESPITE ALL WHEEL DRIVE, WHICH WORKS WELL) WHEN ROAD CONDITIONS ARE GOOD. ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING MID-DAY ON PLOWED BUT SNOWY ROAD; DOWNHILL; I WAS NOT TURNING, BUT WANTED TO GO MORE SLOWLY AND TAPPED BRAKES. ANTI LOCK BRAKES KICKED IN AND CAR BEGAN TO SKID; SKIDDED OFF ROAD AND INTO A MAILBOX; NEEDED TO BE TOWED OUT. AFTER BEING PULLED OUT, AND CONTINUING DOWN HILL, AT 10 MPH, CAR BEGAN TO SKID AGAIN. FRIEND FOLLOWING ME SAID IT APPEARED FRONT BRAKES WERE WORKING AND BACK BRAKES WERE NOT. HAD TWO MECHANICS LOOK AT THE BRAKES (ONE I TRUST AND THE DEALER) AND BOTH TOLD ME THEY ARE FINE. DEALER SAID THE COMPUTER RECORD DIDN'T RECORD A PROBLEM BUT I THINK SOFTWARE THAT MANAGES THE ABS IS MALFUNCTIONING. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW NUMEROUS BLOG DISCUSSIONS ABOUT DISCONNECTING ABS ON SUBARUS IN WINTER SO I THINK OTHERS MUST BE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS - FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST AND THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS/PEDESTRIANS SO NO ONE WAS HURT. I HAVE DRIVEN A SUBARU FOR 13 YEARS IN ALL KINDS OF CONDITIONS SO I DON'T THINK IT IS ME NOT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE ABS. ABS PROBLEM OCCURS IN CONDITIONS WHEN I THINK AWD IS HELPFUL BUT I NEED TO SLOW DOWN -- HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH AWD WHEN I AM GOING UPHILL OR NOT BRAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10568027

MY HUSBAND PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU FORESTER IN MAY OF 2011 FOR ME WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS. IT WAS A BIG INVESTMENT FOR US AND I HAD HOPED TO DRIVE MY NEW SUBARU FORESTER 2011 FOR SEVERAL YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT, I NOTICED THE BRAKES TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY FASHION OR QUICKLY ENOUGH. I TOLD MY HUSBAND ALL THE TIME, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO DRIVE MY CAR, ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT ITS BRAKES. I HAD MY VEHICLE REGULARLY SERVICED AS PER THE COMPANIES WARRANTY REQUIREMENTS AND AT ONLY AUTHORIZED SUBARU SERVICE & DEALERSHIP CENTERS. I RECENTLY TOLD THE SERVICE DEPT AT MY 30,000 MILE SERVICING ABOUT THE BRAKES ISSUES I HAD AGAIN, TO THEIR ATTENTION BUT THEY SAID THAT- 'THAT WAS THE WAY THE FORESTER'S BRAKES WERE AND THAT I HAD TO PUSH THE PEDAL HARD TO THE FLOOR(PUMP THE BRAKES) TO STOP IT QUICKLY ENOUGH" AND MY BRAKES WERE FINE ACCORDING 30,000 MILE SERVICING, AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR RESPONSE I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD 25 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY APPEARED IN FRONT OF ME TO STOP TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. I PUSHED THE BRAKES BUT MY VEHICLE JUST WOULD NOT STOP QUICKLY ENOUGH. I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. TO DISCOVER THAT MY FRONT BUMPER NOW HAD A HUGE CRACK IN IT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A VEHICLE WHOSE BRAKES ARE SO BAD THAT IT WILL NOT STOP THE VEHICLE QUICKLY ENOUGH AND NEEDS TO BE PUMPED TO STOP IT SOONER(WHICH MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THE ONE ABOVE) , .AFTER THE CAR CAME OUT FROM THE BODY SHOP I HAD A RECENT OCCURENCE BUT THIS TIME IT WAS A RAINY DAY I STARTED TO SLOW DOWN PRESSING THE BRAKE TO TURN TO MY ROAD WHICH I HAD THE SAME ISSUE, INSTEAD OF STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN THE BRAKES ARE ACCELERATING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE BRAKES AT THE VERY LEAST TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS. I AM DETERMINED TO TRADE IN MY VEHICLE FOR SAFE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10567203

I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, APPLIED MY BRAKES AND WAS ABOUT TO PUT MY 2011 SUBARU FORESTER INTO PARK WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND DROVE INTO A STORE FRONT. THE CAR TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET BEFORE HITTING THE WALL AND PLATE GLASS WINDOW. MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10564680

PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A LOCAL TRAIN STATION. CAR WAS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. NOT SURE IF KEYS WERE IN IGNITION OR NOT. WHEN REACHING OVER TO GET HANDBAG AND TOTE I HEARD THE ENGINE REV UP VERY SUDDENLY AND LOUDLY, CAR JUMPED 6" CURB AND PROPELLED FORWARD ABOUT TWO FEET WHEN RIGHT FRONT BUMPER HIT TREE AND CAR STOPPED. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I WAS NOT INJURED. BEFORE I EVEN KNEW ABOUT THIS WEBSITE I TOLD THE ADJUSTER AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CAR TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN. THE ONLY REACTION I GOT WAS STRANGE LOOKS. TOLD BY BODY SHOP THAT CAR WAS "TOTALLY FIXABLE" WITHIN TWO WEEKS. $7,000 IN BODY WORK 3 WEEKS LATER WAS TOLD ENGINE WAS "RUNNING ROUGH" AND IT WAS SENT TO SUBARU DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. TOLD THAT ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT - MACHINING HEAD; VALVE REPLACEMENT; NEW GASKETS ETC. FIVE WEEKS LATER SUBARU STILL HAS MY CAR. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO PRIOR TO KNOWING ABOUT THIS WEBSITE AND SEEING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM I ORDERED A NEW SUBARU USING THIS ONE AS A TRADE IN. SUBARU WON'T GIVE ME A TRADE IN VALUE UNTIL CAR IS FIXED AND THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FIVE WEEKS AND STILL HAVEN'T FIXED IT. I LIVE IN THE SUBURBS AM 62 YEARS OLD AND I'VE BEEN TAKING TRAINS, BUSES, MY BIKE AND WALKING TO GET TO WORK AND TO DO EVERYDAY ERRANDS. NO OFFER OF A LOANER FROM SUBARU ALTHOUGH I'VE ASKED TWICE. CONTACTED CORPORATE SUBARU AND REPORTED WHAT I READ ON THIS WEBSITE AND MY OWN EXPERIENCE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE HARD TO PROVE. LAST WEEK CORPORATE SAID THEY WOULD TRY TO OFFER ASSISTANCE WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE NEW CAR IN THE WAY OF LOYALTY INCENTIVE. AS OF TODAY I HAVE NO CAR, NO IDEA WHEN OR IF THE OLD ONE WILL BE FIXED, HOW MUCH IT WILL BE WORTH AS A TRADE IN, A NEW CAR THAT I CAN'T HAVE AND THAT HAS NO DEFINITIVE PRICE, AND A LOT OF TALK BUT NO ACTION FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE SUBARU. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10523859

DRIVER (ADULT FEMALE) WAS BACKING UP TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER LIFTED FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND HIT THE BRAKE. VEHICLE ACCELERATED EVEN MORE. CRASHED INTO A GUY WIRE ON AN ELECTRIC POLE, SNAPPING OFF THE TOP OF THE POLE. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE SECOND DRIVER (ADULT MALE) WAS BACKING UP IN THE DRIVEWAY TO TURN AROUND. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. SECOND DRIVER NOW A BELIEVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10522911

PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT THE CVS DRUG STORE, PINE ISLAND RD AND DEL PRADO BLVD IN CAPE CORAL FL., PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS ON ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, HITTING A PARKED CAR HEAD ON. MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND MY CAR HIT THE PARKED CAR SO HARD IT DROVE IT OVER A CONCRETE BARRIER OUT OF THE LOT. THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR ALONE WAS $10,000. THE OTHER CAR WAS DESTROYED. I HAVE HAD SUBARU CARS FOR 33 YEARS. THIS FORESTER WAS MY 8TH SUBARU. WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED, I WAS THROWN BACK, MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE BRAKE OR GAS PEDAL. THE CAR KEPT RUNNING AFTER THE ACCIDENT UNTIL I TURNED IT OFF. STATE FARM INSURANCE SENT A SAFETY DIRECTOR OVER TO CHECK THE CAR (AFTER IT WAS FIXED), THE BODY SHOP ALSO HAD AN INSPECTOR CHECK THE CODES ON THE COMPUTER. I GOT RID OF THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT HAD IT HAVE 11 MONTHS ON THE LEASE BECAUSE I DID NOT TRUST IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10496757

I HAD PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU FORESTER IN AUGUST OF 2011 WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS. IT WAS A BIG INVESTMENT FOR ME AND I HAD HOPED TO DRIVE MY NEW SUBARU FORESTER 2011 FOR SEVERAL YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT, I NOTICED THE BRAKES TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY FASHION OR QUICKLY ENOUGH. MY WIFE, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO DRIVE MY CAR, ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT ITS BRAKES. I HAD MY VEHICLE REGULARLY SERVICED AS PER THE COMPANIES WARRANTY REQUIREMENTS AND AT ONLY AUTHORIZED SUBARU SERVICE & DEALERSHIP CENTERS. I BROUGHT THE DEFECTIVE BRAKES TO THEIR ATTENTION BUT THEY SAID THAT- 'THAT WAS THE WAY THE FORESTER'S BRAKES WERE AND THAT I HAD TO PUSH THE PEDAL HARD TO THE FLOOR(PUMP THE BRAKES) TO STOP IT QUICKLY ENOUGH.' I WAS GREATLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR RESPONSE TO MY CONCERNS AND AS A PRECAUTION I BEGAN TO KEEP AN EVEN GREATER DISTANCE FROM ALL OF THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. RECENTLY, I WAS ENTERING A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 10-15MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY APPEARED IN FRONT OF ME. I PUSHED THE BRAKES BUT MY VEHICLE JUST WOULD NOT STOP QUICKLY ENOUGH. IF I WOULD LET GO OF THE BRAKE AND THEN PUSH IT AGAIN HARDER AND FASTER TO THE FLOOR( PUMP THE BRAKE) AS THE SERVICE CENTRE HAD PREVIOUSLY ADVISED ME THEN I WOULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SO I SWAYED MY CARS STEERING WHEEL AND AVOIDED MEETING WITH AN ACCIDENT BUT MY VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT TOUCHED THE RAILING AT ABOUT 5MPH ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT MY FRONT BUMPER NOW HAD A HUGE CRACK IN IT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A VEHICLE WHOSE BRAKES ARE SO BAD THAT IT WILL NOT STOP THE VEHICLE QUICKLY ENOUGH AND NEEDS TO BE PUMPED TO STOP IT SOONER(WHICH MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THE ONE ABOVE) , HAS DEFECTIVE BUMPERS AND ALSO HAS A REAR CENTER CHILD SAFETY SEAT SEATBELT WITH A RECALL ON IT .PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE BRAKES AT THE VERY LEAST. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10494780

A VEHICLE 2 CARS IN FRONT OF ME DROPPED A LOAD OF FREIGHT ON THE FREEWAY--POSSIBLE ONE LANE OVER. THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES, AND ONE MAY HAVE SWERVED INTO MY LANE. I WAS ABLE TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES AND SLOW TO ABOUT 15-20 MILES PER HOUR BEFORE I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WITHIN 20 SECONDS OF HITTING THAT CAR, FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. WITHIN 2 MINUTES MY CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE PASSENGER CABIN WAS FULLY INVOLVED. THIS WAS AN ALMOST BRAND-NEW CAR WITH NO AFTERMARKET PARTS, AND LITTLE FRONT-END DAMAGE. IT SEEMS SUSPICIOUS THAT SUCH AN ACCIDENT WOULD CAUSE SUCH AN INTENSE AND FAST-SPREADING FIRE. HAD CHILDREN BEEN RESTRAINED IN SAFETY SEATS, I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE HAD TIME TO GET THEM OUT OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10461403

ON 5/24/11, WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, MY FORESTER WAS HIT BROADSIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT RAN A RED LIGHT. THE IMPACT OF THE SPEEDING VEHICLE CAUSED THE FORESTER TO SPIN 360 DEGREES AND FLIP-OVER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I WAS LEFT TRAPPED INSIDE THE FORESTER AND WITNESSES POINTED OUT THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE FORESTER FLIPPED OVER. APPARENTLY THERE IS NO ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION KILL SWITCH. FURTHERMORE, THERE IS NO INTERIOR RELEASE OF THE REAR HATCH. AS A RESULT I REMAINED TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND CONCERNED ABOUT A GASOLINE LEAK AND POSSIBLE EXPLOSION. I WAS EVENTUALLY REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE BY EMTS AND BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF SIMILAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN A REMOTE AREA OR IF THE DRIVER WAS MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED, MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE RESULTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10430338