EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. HAVE TO ADD MORE THAN A 1 QUART BETWEEN OIL CHANGES(EVERY 3K MILES).
NHTSA ODI 11301531
Home · 2012 Subaru Forester Wilderness · Complaints
These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.
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EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. HAVE TO ADD MORE THAN A 1 QUART BETWEEN OIL CHANGES(EVERY 3K MILES).
NHTSA ODI 11301531
PURCHASED VEHICAL 3-4 MONTHS AGO W/ 86K MILES. OIL LEAKS IN HEAD GASKET ( QUART EVERY 6 WEEKS..RESEARCHED THIS AND TURNS OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FROM 1999- 2013. ON ALL FORESTERS. MANUFACTURER USED MORE SEALANT AND LESS GASKET ON THAT ENGINE.WHY WASN'T THIS RECALLED?? EASILY VERIFIED VIA TUBE OR INTERNET.THE OTHER ISSUE IS LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WORN OUT AT 86K MILES. STEERING IS VERY UN STABLE.
NHTSA ODI 11232174
2012 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 106,000 MILES BURNS ALL OF THE ENGINE OIL DRY. I HAVE READ THIS IS DUE TO FAULTY PISTON RINGS. WHERE IS THE RECALL FOR THIS ? IT IS UNACCEPTABLE. REGULARLY, IF NOT, OVER MAINTAINED.
NHTSA ODI 11222584
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OCCURRENCE OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WAS EASING INTO A PARKING SPACE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ENGINE REVVED, AND THE VEHICLE SURGED AND BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD ON ITS OWN ACCORD. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT USING THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER 2 PARKING CURBS AND SHRUBBERY AND WAS HEADED INTO TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH SO I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT AND AVOIDED TRAFFIC BY TURNING RIGHT, STAYING ON PARKING LOT GRASS & ROCK BARRIER. CAR WENT INTO GULLY AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. CONTACTED CORPORATE OFFICE WHO HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AUTO ENGINEERING FIRM AND NO PROBLEM DETECTED. SINCE SOME RECURRENT ISSUES REPORTED ON SAFETY BOARDS, DECISION MADE TO TRADE IN VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND NOW HAS CAR UP FOR SALE; WE HAVE MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE BEING SOLD TO UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER.
NHTSA ODI 11204672
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL AT APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MPH I WENT TO PRESS THE BRAKES WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CONCRETE WALL IN FRONT OF ME. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND NEITHER ME OR MY PASSENGER WERE NOT HURT. DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER, FRAME, GRILL AND VARIOUS COMPONENTS JUST INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA ODI 11204536
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V008000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN MARCH OF 2019. SUBARU OF RICHMOND (9177 W BROAD ST, RICHMOND, VA 23294) STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA ODI 11203744
ENGINE SEIZED DURING STRAIGHT ROAD, UPHILL ASCENT. OIL LIGHT BLINKED TWICE QUICKLY THEN WENT SOLID AND THEN IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER AT 60MPH ON FREEWAY. NO PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH ENGINE. I WAS IN FAR LEFT LANE WITH NO EMERGENCY PARKING SO I NAVIGATED TO THE FAR RIGHT EMERGENCY SHOULDER AND STOPPED. CAR REQUIRED TOW TRUCK TO SHOP.
NHTSA ODI 11192998
TAKATA RECALL. OUR SUBARU DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THEY CANNOT GET US IN TO FIX OUR AIRBAG FOR AT LEAST A MONTH IF NOT MORE. I FIND THIS UNSAFE TO BE FORCED TO DRIVE A CAR THAT COULD EXPLODE ON MY PASSENGER AT ANY TIME AND UNREASONABLE TO HAVE TO AVOID DRIVING MY CAR DURING THIS TIME WITH A PASSENGER BECAUSE MY DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO PUT US AHEAD OF LESS PRESSING ISSUES.
NHTSA ODI 11191101
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 1 MPH ENTERING A DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE OF A HOUSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUBARU OF GRAND BLANC (6061 S SAGINAW ST, GRAND BLANC, MI 48439, (810) 202-0831), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
NHTSA ODI 11190869
TAKATA RECALL. UNABLE TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR UNTIL JUNE. CANNOT DRIVE WITH SOMEONE IN FRONT SEAT UNTIL THEN. THIS IS NOT IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
NHTSA ODI 11190440
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED HANSON SUBARU (2300 CARRIAGE LOOP SW, OLYMPIA, WA 98502, (360) 943-2120) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER FOR A MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TT CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW THE COMPLAINT STATED THE DEALER WOULD WORK WITH THE CONSUMER.*JB
NHTSA ODI 11186724
TAKATA RECALL: MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO COMPLETE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL SERVICE IN A TIMELY MANNER. I CALLED HEUBERGER SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (888-747-0089) ON FEBRUARY 9 TO SCHEDULE SERVICE FOR TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. SUBARU STATED THAT THEY WOULD ORDER PARTS AND CONTACT ME TO SCHEDULE THE SERVICE WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. I CALLED HEUBERGER SUBARU AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 22, AND SUBARU STATED THAT PARTS WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND CONFIRMED THEY WOULD CONTACT ME LATER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. AS OF MARCH 9, SUBARU STILL HAS NOT SCHEDULED THE RECALL SERVICE, ONE CALENDAR MONTH AFTER THE ORIGINAL REQUEST. *TR
NHTSA ODI 11185561
DRIVER SEATBELT BUCKLE WILL NOT RELEASE. MAY TAKE UP TO 10 FIRM PUSHES OF RELEASE BUTTON BEFORE BUCKLE RELEASES. ENGINE OIL WAS AT 1 QUART EVEN AFTER 1 QUART OF OIL WAS ADDED PER MONTH. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS ROD KNOCK. SECOND OPINION LED TO CHANGING OIL TWICE AND CHECKING PRESSURES. RECOMMENDED CHANGE OIL EVERY 3000 MILES ON THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF ENGINE.
NHTSA ODI 11182718
MY CAR SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC OIL EVENT WITHOUT AN INDICATOR LIGHT OR ANY OTHER WARNING THAT IS NESITATING A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS IN SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES RECENTLY WITHOUT ANYONE NOTICING THE OIL PROBLEM? ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND WAS HEARING A TICKING NOISE LIKE WHEN YOU PUT A BASEBALL CARD ON YOUR BICYCLE SPOKES WITH A CLOTHESPIN. WHEN I WAS A MILE FROM MY WORKPLACE AN OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE EXPRESSWAY INTO A GAS STATION. I PUT SYNTHETIC OIL INTO THE CAR, RESTARTED IT AND DROVE LESS THAN A MILE TO AN OPEN SERVICE STATION WHERE I LEFT THE CAR FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE STATION INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I SPOKE TO SUBARU AFTER DISCOVERING THAT THIS EVENT WAS NOT MINE ALONE AND IN 2015 SUBARU WAS SUED FOR THE PROBLEM. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS OR DREAMED IT WAS POSSIBLE.
NHTSA ODI 11161791
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD NOT BEEN STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT OR DEBRIS. THE DEALER (PIAZZA SUBARU OF LIMERICK, 105 W RIDGE PIKE, LIMERICK, PA 19468, (888) 690-2369) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI 11114571
WHILE BACKING UP IN REVERSE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. OPERATOR HAD FOOT ON BRAKE BUT VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING TO STOP THE CAR AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL CONTACT WITH A PARKED VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED DAMAGE. POLICE OBSERVED SKID MARKS FROM ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE. EVENT OCCURRED ON JULY 24, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 P.M. IN A SMALL PARKING LOT AT A CONVENIENCE STORE IN FREMONT, NH.
NHTSA ODI 11113411
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 69 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE HOOD. THE CRUISE CONTROL INDEPENDENTLY DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE RELAY SYSTEM AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, WHICH ONLY INCLUDED TURBO BOOSTER ENGINE VEHICLES. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S NON-TURBO BOOSTER ENGINE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA ODI 11109597
MY SUN VISERS FALL OFF. THEY FALL OFF AND LAND IN MY LAP. THEY AT TIMES CATCH THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY HAVE DONE THIS SINCE 2016. BOTH OF THEM DO THIS. WHEN I AM DRIVING, FREEWAY OR AROUND TOWN, THEY FALL OFF AND STARTLE ME AND CAUSE THE SUN TO BE IN MY EYES. OFTEN THEY ARE NOT ON MY CAR AND I CAN'T SEE ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA ODI 11100209
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE POWERED OFF AND BACK ON BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD REENGAGE. DTC WAS P2138. THIS IS THE FOURTH INCIDENCE OVER A 14 MONTH PERIOD. AFTER POWER CYCLE RESET, THE ISSUE DOESN'T RECUR FOR ONE TO THREE MONTHS. IN TWO INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL BUT NOT IN THE OTHER TWO.
NHTSA ODI 11088744
TAKATA RECALL
NHTSA ODI 11064286
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V014000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PUTNAM SUBARU OF BURLINGAME (85 CALIFORNIA DR, BURLINGAME, CA 94010) AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI 11056101
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT PROGRESSED FROM THE BRAKE LINES. THE DEALER (PUTNAM SUBARU OF BURLINGAME, 85 CALIFORNIA DR, BURLINGAME, CA 94010, (650) 558-5628) WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE WHEN THE WARRANTY WAS AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. INITIALLY, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE SECOND TIME, THEY CLEANED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE THIRD TIME, THE DEALER FURTHER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF MOISTURE COULD RE-ENTER THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE FAILURE TO RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V014000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE REMEDY AND PARTS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR MORE THAN 1.5 YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE BRAKE LINE FAILURE AND HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA ODI 11054031
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS TURNING LEFT WHEN I WAS STRUCK BY A CAR GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. ACCORDING TO POLICE THE IMPACT WAS AT 01-1 O'CLOCK. . MY CAR WAS SPUN INTO THE GUARD RAIL CAUSING DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT AND RT REAR OF MY CAR. THE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED AND RELEASED THE SEAT BELT AND THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR ,STEERING COLUMN , GEAR SHIFT ,ETC. I SUSTAINED RATHER SEVERE NECK INJURIES WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD HAVE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED IF THE SAFETY SYSTEMS HAD OPERATED.
NHTSA ODI 11051371
TAKATA RECALL.I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST 9 MONTHS AND THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE PARTS
NHTSA ODI 11040957
2012 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUBARU SAFETY RECALL TKA17. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL REPAIR EXCEED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE COMPENSATED. UPDATED 09/25/2017*JS
NHTSA ODI 11029772
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