What 105 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Subaru Forester Wilderness

I purchased the car Feb. 2026 from [XXX] in Seagirt. There were no problems with it. In Saturday April 18 , 2026 I was driving on Parkway north. As I paid toll at Tinton Falls toll I proceeded to go and the car made weird noises followed by a loud pop and black smoke and flames appeared under the hood. The car was engulfed in flames. I exited the car right away and starting walking away from it and called 911. They came and put out fire and towed it. I did not have comprehensive coverage therefore not getting anything back. The dealership sold it as is so they aren't doing anything about it. I do not understand why that happened to my car since it only had 73,000 miles INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11732983

The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at a low rate of speed through a parking garage, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The vehicle initially crashed into a parked vehicle which caused a chain reaction with two other parked vehicles. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The police arrived at the scene and a police report was filed. The contact sought medical attention for a laceration to the head and a stiff neck. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

NHTSA ODI 11423566

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* 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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A BURNING ODOR FILLED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BECAME VERY HOT AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE CONTACT'S CLOTHING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS A SECOND OCCURRENCE AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A SAVINGS COUPON IN ADDITION TO THE SEAT REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COMPLETELY DAMAGED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 10966491

2012 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION ACCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10918173

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

AFTER HITTING A CURB PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED AT A LIGHTENING SPEED AND RACED AT INCREASING SPEED FORWARD KNOCKING OVER A BUSH AND CRASHING INTO A BRICK WALL OF A CHURCH BUILDING. THE SEVERE IMPACT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO OPEN AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS SO DAMAGED THAT IT IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THIS ALL OCCURRED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS MYSELF, THE DRIVER, AND A PASSENGER WERE SENT TO EMERGENCY ROOM WITH MULTIPLE ABRASIONS AND CONTUSIONS.

NHTSA ODI 10892782

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10888686

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE REVERSING INTO A CAR PORT IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SURGED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR PORT IN THE DRIVEWAY, AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO TWO CAR PORTS AND THE OTHER VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT DID NOT RESPOND. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V830000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10881254

WHILE IDLING IN A PARKING LOT, MY FORESTER CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT QUICKLY. SO, THE DAMAGE WAS FORTUNATELY ISOLATED TO THE LOCATION WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. IT SEEMS THAT THE CONNECTOR BETWEEN THE WIRING HARNESS AND ONE OF THE O2 SENSORS ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IGNITED. THE FIRE BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS NEAR THE CONNECTOR AND DAMAGED THE O2 SENSOR. BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THIS FIRE HAPPENED SPONTANEOUSLY AND SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY RISK . IN MY OPINION, A 3.5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT SPONTANEOUSLY CATCH FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 10807884

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V830000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED BUT, DUE TO THE INCOMPLETE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND SANK TO THE FLOORBOARD FAILING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A CRASH OCCURRED AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED RIB CAGE BRUISING, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,055.

NHTSA ODI 10691111

ME AND MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING 20MPH DOWN A SMALL HILL,A LADY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US,I HIT THE BRAKES,WHICH LOCKED UP AND WE SLID SO I LET OFF THEM IMMEDIATELY,THE ROADS WERE ICY AND SNOWY,SO WE GAINED A LOT OF VELOCITY,WE MISSED HITTING HER BUT WENT SIDEWAYS,A LITTLE AIRBORN AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE.I VIOLENTLY STRUCK MY HEAD OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW,AND MY SHOULDER AND ARM WERE PINCHED BETWEEN MY BODY AND THE DOOR.THE TIRES POPPED,THE FRONT BUMPER CLIPS BROKE.WE BOTH SUFFERED SEAT BELT BRUISES,AND MY DAUGHTER SLAMMED HER KNEE.I HURT MY SHOULDER PRETTY BAD AND MY HEAD STILL HURTS THEY ARE DOING CAT SCANS.MY AIR BAG ON MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR,WHERE IT STRUCK THE POLE NEVER DEPLOYED.I JUST THANK GOD IT DID NOT HIT ON HER SIDE.BUT WE WERE DEFIANTLY GOING FAST ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THAT SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG IT BENT THE DOOR AND THE ROCKER SILL THE THOUGHT OF IT NOT GOING OFF IS VERY SCARY AND A BIG MALFUNCTION,I'VE BEEN HAVING ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES,SEATBELTS,CAR NOT RUNNING PROPERLY,AND A BUNCH OF OTHER ISSUES I REALLY DID NOT NEED THIS AND I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM THAT CAN KILL SOMEONE AND WE WERE VERY LUCKY,WHEN I CONTACTED SUBARU I GOT THE USUAL RUN AROUND.NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER.NEEDS SOMEONE TO INTERVENE LIKE YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10672580

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO AN ATM MACHINE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,700. UPDATED 04/30/14 MA UPDATED 04/19/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI 10573102

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, HE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT IT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN INTO A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,500. UPDATED 11/14/13*CN

NHTSA ODI 10546145

WHILE PASSING A PARKED DUMPSTER, THE DRIVER STEPPED LIGHTLY ON THE GAS. INSTEAD OF THE EXPECTED MILD ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE REVVED GREATLY AND AN UNEXPECTED HIGH ACCELERATION OCCURRED. IT RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10484833

WHILE OPENING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, THE TOP, RIGHT CORNER OF THE DOOR STRUCK MY FOREHEAD, CAUSING A GASH JUST ABOVE MY RIGHT EYEBROW THAT REQUIRED SIX STITCHES TO CLOSE. A LITTLE LOWER AND THE SHARP, POINTED CORNER OF THE DOOR FRAME COULD HAVE CAUSED THE LOSS OF MY RIGHT EYE. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE DESIGN OF THE DOOR FRAME. IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOOR, ONE MUST REACH FOR THE DOOR HANDLE AND, IN DOING SO, LEAN IN TOWARD THE DOOR. WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED, IF ONE IS NOT STANDING BACK FAR ENOUGH, THE DOOR WILL HIT THE PERSON OPENING THE DOOR. THE DESIGN IS COMMON TO BOTH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. I INQUIRED WITH KINNEY MOTORS OF RUTLAND, VERMONT (802-775-6900), WHERE I PURCHASED MY 2012 SUBARU FORESTER TO SEE IF THERE IS A FIX FOR THE ABOVE PROBLEM AND, WHILE THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS POLITE AND TRIED TO BE HELPFUL, NO FIX WAS AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10460042