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

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

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

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

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