What 831 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Forester Wilderness

On 9/11/2021, i was pulling into a vacant parking spot. I backed into an open area and applied the brakes and shifted from reverse to forward, The car accelerated full open, initially the brakes did not stop the car, I pulled to the left trying to avoid hitting the auto in front of me. I hit the auto on the left bumper, the car continued to race full open while my foot was on the brake, we moved forward five foot or so and then the car stopped. The air bags did not deploy. The auto that we hit was not occupied and there we no injuries. note; we have not yet made a police report but will soon, so the line is now marked no. we have looked on line and similar incidents have been reported going back 20 years' we are waiting for Monday to have the car towed from our house to ther repair shop, no estimates yet. but the entire front is pushed in.

NHTSA ODI 11432666

The contact owned a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while her mother was driving at 25 mph, the engine revved and the vehicle independently accelerated to 50 mph. The contact attempted to stop the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal but the vehicle continued to the accelerator. As a result, the driver went off the road, through a field, crashed into a few tree stumps, and a playground fence. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a sore neck and a couple of bruises but did not require medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to a collision center. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,099.

NHTSA ODI 11425150

2019 Subaru Forester was stopped with left directional signal on to make a left turn. Waiting for oncoming traffic to pass. Vehicle was hit multiple times from the front, back AND side. Airbags did NOT deploy. Driver of the vehicle which hit us said he was “distracted” when he hit us and that it was his fault.

NHTSA ODI 11419216

THERE IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN THAT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF. WE HAD EYE DROPS STORED IN THE SUBARU CONSOLE IN THE NOOK BY THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON. WHILE WE WERE DRIVING, THE WEIGHT OF A PURSE MUST HAVE PUSHED DOWN ON THE DROPS CAUSING IT TO ACT LIKE LEVER AND PULL UP ON THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON. THE BRAKES ACTIVATED WITH THE CAR COMING TO A VERY ABRUPT STOP. THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING US (TOO CLOSELY) REAR ENDED US. $15,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO A 2019 SUBARU. SUBARU IS NOT THE ONLY MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THE PARKING BREAK BUTTON IN THE CONSOLE WHERE IT IS A CONVENIENT SPOT FOR EYE DROPS, CHAP STICK, OR MAKE-UP.

NHTSA ODI 11397979

DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREET I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE I HIT THE BRAKES AND INSTEAD LURCHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I PUSHED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME ABOUT 8 FEET AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. DURING THIS TIME I REPEATEDLY PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HAD NO RESPONSE. AFTER HAVING THE CAR REPAIRED AT THE COLLISION CENTER THEY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO SUBARU. SUBARU RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. AFTER I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE COLLISION CENTER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DETECTOR WOULD NOT GO OFF FOR MY WIFE WHO WEIGHS UNDER 100 POUNDS.'TO CLARIFY THE SENSOR INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF.' I SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. TOTAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS ABOUT $8200 AND I'M NOT CERTAIN OF THE DAMAGES TO THE OTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11378113

THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRIC MIRROR WHERE THE BACK CASING WAS BROKEN. WE WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A COSMETIC ISSUE ONLY AND THEY ORDERED A MIRROR FOR US. WE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVEWAY TURNED OFF. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR IS SAYING THE FIRE STARTED IN THE WIRING IN THE DOOR. THE MIRROR OPERATED 100% WITHOUT ISSUES, IT APPEARS MOISTURE FROM RAIN GOT INTO THE MIRROR WIRES WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11320974

I WAS PARKING AT A BUSY SKI CENTER, CAR IN DRIVE AS I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO AN OPEN SPACE, CAR IN FIRST ROW OF VEHICLES FACING A SMALL ROAD. THE ROAD CONNECTS THE PARKING LOT WITH THE SKI SHOP . 5 MPH WOULD BE NORMAL SPEED ON THIS ROAD, WHERE PEDESTRIAN SKIERS WALK FROM THE LOT TO THE SKI SHOP. BEFORE I COULD STOP TO TURN OFF THE CAR, THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING CRAZILY, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. I WAS ABLE TO STEER ONTO THE ROAD, CAR ACCELERATING FASTER AND FASTER, NO BRAKES, NO CONTROL. THERE WAS A SMALL CAR DRIVING SLOWLY SOME DISTANCE AHEAD, AND I WAS GAINING ON IT FAST, A SPLIT SECOND AWAY FROM CRUSHING IT, SO I DELIBERATELY SWERVED INTO A SNOWBANK, HIT SOME TREES, AND THAT FINALLY STOPPED MY CAR. I WAS UNHURT. EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE AND PASSENGER DOOR DAMAGE FRONT AND BACK, AND ROOF RACK DAMAGE. POLICE CAME TO THE SCENE, CAR WAS TOWED BY FLATBED BACK TO THE DEALER. INSURANCE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. MANUFACTURER WILL EXAMINE THE VEHICLE THOROUGHLY, WILL REMOVE THE "BLACK BOX" TO FIND WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF BRAKES. THIS EXAMINATION MAY TAKE 4-6 WEEKS. SO FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED. I CANNOT ESTIMATE WHAT SPEED THE CAR REACHED ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ODI 11310740

TRAVELING FROM RI TO WESTERN NY. DEPARTED RI IN AM WITH MODERATE RAINFALL WHEN "EYESIGHT DISABLED" INDICATOR FLASHED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF HALF HOUR. WHEN RAIN SUBSIDED, INDICATOR DISAPPEARED. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, WAS DRIVING 65-70MPH ON STRAIGHT SECTION OF MAJOR INTERSTATE WITH GOOD VISIBILITY, APPROACHING A HIGHWAY OVERPASS WHEN "OBSTACLE DETECTED" WARNING APPEARED DESPITE NO OBSTACLE IN ROAD, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER CAR WENT INTO A SLOW SPIN (FELT AS IF FLOATING) TOWARDS LEFT, STRIKING A GUARDRAIL UNDERNEATH THE OVERPASS HEAD-ON AND CONTINUING TO SPIN 360 DEGREES AT WHICH POINT I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT FELT AS IF BRAKES HAD ENGAGED (? CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING SYSTEM) ALTHOUGH I DID NOT HAVE FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL AND I DID NOT ATTEMPT TO BRAKE WHILE IN THE SPIN AS I FEARED ROLLING THE VEHICLE. DESPITE EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN ALBANY, NY AND CURRENTLY AWAITING EVALUATION BY INSURANCE ADJUSTER. OF NOTE, 5 MONTHS EARLIER THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED WHEN HIT WITH SMALL ROCK AND WAS REPLACED AT SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.

NHTSA ODI 11308147

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE AUTOMATIC SAFETY FEATURES FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-55 MPH AND CHANGING LANES, THE LANE DEPARTURE WARNING FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11287979

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED DUE TO A CHAIN REACTION TOTALING SEVEN OTHER VEHICLES. WHEN THE CONTACT PUSHED THE SOS BUTTON INSIDE HER VEHICLE, SHE SPOKE WITH STARLINK AND WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE CONNECTED TO 911. INSTEAD, THE "YOUR CALL CANNOT BE COMPLETED AS DIALED, PLEASE TRY YOUR CALL AGAIN LATER" MESSAGE WAS HEARD. ALSO, THE STARLINK APP INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AT 100%; HOWEVER, THE BLIND SIDE DETECTION HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE CRASH. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT CALLED SUBARU STARLINK AND WAS INFORMED THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD BACK AND THEN CALLED SUBARU AMERICA. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD OPEN AN IT TICKET. THE CONTACT FOLLOWED-UP WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND FOUND THAT NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE AND A TICKET WAS NOT OPENED. THE CONTACT INJURED HER BACK AND SUSTAINED A SPRAINED ANKLE AND WHIPLASH. IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO NORTH READING SUBARU (978-386-6090, LOCATED AT 260 MAIN ST, NORTH READING, MA 01864) AND THEN TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP. THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,419.

NHTSA ODI 11281132

MY SON'S NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER TOURING BURNED TO A CRISP (TOTAL) ON SATURDAY, 10/19 IN I-95 NEAR NEW ROCHELLE, NY. VEHICLE WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND THE CAR IN FRONT STOPPED AND THEY HIT IT, THEN THEY WERE HIT IN THE BACK, TOO. THEIR CAR BURNED BUT THE CAR IN FRONT AND BEHIND DID NOT. THE CAR IN FRONT WAS EVEN ABLE TO MOVE INDICATING NOTHING WRONG WITH ITS GAS TANK.

NHTSA ODI 11269863

I WAS INVOLVED IN A 4 CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS REAR ENDED BY TWO VEHICLES BEHIND ME WHICH SENT ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME; THEREFORE, I WAS THROW INTO THE WINDSHIELD SUPPORT POST AND SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH MY SUBARU AND PRAY FOR OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THIS VEHICLE! NEW BERN, NC

NHTSA ODI 11255731

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER PARKED VEHICLES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO HER ARM WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER IN ANNAPOLIS, BUT CURRENTLY HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO CONTACT ANNAPOLIS SUBARU INC LOCATED AT 149 OLD SOLOMONS ISLAND RD, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401, (443) 837-1400, BY PHONE BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ODI 11241936

IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING FRONT END TO OTHER CAR REAR END ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE ENGINE THEN CAUGHT FIRE IN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE CAR BURNED. FORTUNATELY NO INJURY TO DRIVER OR PASSENGER.

NHTSA ODI 11240861

I WAS DRIVING MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT DID END UP REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, WHICH PUSHED HER INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THE IMPACT WAS AT LEAST 30-35 MPH AND THE CAR IS TOTALED. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11192258