What 207 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Forester Wilderness

My Subaru Forester has a significant safety defect. If my web searches are representative this software problem affects multiple models and years of Subaru. I have addressed this problem with the local dealer, Subaru America, and Subaru Japan and have been told "that is the way it was designed and it is supposed to do that." As you may imagine that is not a satisfactory answer to a significant safety issue; I can only imagine Ford saying the Pinto was designed with a gas tank that explodes in a collision or a more recent Takata claiming that their seatbelts were designed that way. So here is the problem in a nutshell (and I have a host of Emails from various levels of Subaru if you want the details of how I have attempted to get them to address the issue.) There is a sensor on the gas cap that detects if it is not fully closed since that is a pollution control issue. (More on that later) When that sensor is activated, it disables the Subaru Eyesight system and when the Eyesight system is disabled it disables every safety feature except the seatbelt and it lights up the dash with a dozen alarms none of which have anything to do with the gas cap. That takes down collision avoidance, lane changing, and autodim headlights among others. It also wants you to check the engine and consult the users manual. None of that has anything to do with the actual situation. Now I have taken the car to the dealer who assures me it is operating as designed and there is no fault in the sensor. When you close the gas cap there are audible clicks and as a 190 pound man I can assure you that the cap is fully closed when I close it. But on a random basis the dashboard lights up despite the fact that the gas cap is fully engaged and the safety systems become disabled. Usually it stays lit up until I refill the tank, but its behavior is not predictable - occasionally it just resets as I drive. Besides the obvious hazard of having safety systems which do not work, havi

NHTSA ODI 11738084

I was going down a highway using the lane keeping assistance feature. Suddenly the vehicle stopped following the road and ran me into a ditch. I was able to steer back onto the road, but if the ditch had been deeper I believe there would have been a rollover accident. The root cause is that when the audio system is turned up in the vehicle, the warning chimes do not interrupt the music or sound loudly enough to be heard over it. When the vehicle needs manual intervention assistance staying on the road, the driver may not hear the warning sound in time before the system disengages. The warning chime sounds need to be able to be heard over the audio system. This exact thing has happened to me 2-3 times in the last year.

NHTSA ODI 11688606

While driving on I-17 Southbound near mile marker 311 at approximately 75 mph, I experienced a sudden and dangerous malfunction of the Lane Keep Assist (Auto-Steer) system in a 2021 Subaru Forester. The feature was active at the time and unexpectedly veered the vehicle sharply toward the concrete wall on the left shoulder of the highway. I attempted to regain control, but due to the abrupt nature of the malfunction, I overcorrected and collided with the wall on the rear driver side. There were no vehicles in the immediate vicinity, or this could have resulted in a multi-vehicle collision at high speed. I hit my head during the impact but did not require emergency medical services at the scene. Road conditions were dry and clear, with no visible debris or extreme weather factors. There were no warning lights or error messages from the vehicle prior to or during the incident. The Auto-Steer system did not disengage on its own before veering off course. This was the first time driving this particular vehicle, which was a company car, and I immediately reported the incident to my employer. The damage was reported and the vehicle is seemingly available for inspection. At the time of this report, the issue has not yet been formally diagnosed by a dealer or service technician. The failure of this driver-assist feature significantly endangered my safety and potentially the safety of others had there been nearby traffic. I am filing this report so the issue can be investigated, and similar malfunctions prevented in the future.

NHTSA ODI 11672501

**Component Malfunction**: The windshield developed cracks shortly after purchase, which expanded without impact, affecting visibility and causing the Safety Eyesight system to malfunction. **Safety Risk**: The expanding crack impaired vision and led to safety system malfunctions, posing a risk to driver and passenger safety. **Problem Reproduction**: It is unclear if the issue has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center. **Inspection Status**: The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. **Warning Signs**: There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure; the issue appeared in the first week after purchase.

NHTSA ODI 11617156

I’ve owned the vehicle under a year and am already on my second window replacement. I drive the same route everyday and ever experienced windows cracking in any other vehicle before this vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11598420

Braking system sometimes is activated by a sign on the side of the road, by a tree if we are turning, or nothing at all. Nearly in 2 rear end collisions when the system activated incorrectly. We cannot drive into our garage with the system activated...brakes keep slamming on. The only safe way to operate this subaru is to manually turn it off every time we start the car. Subaru dealership states it cannot recalibrate the eyesight system as it does not have that ability. Dealership is in Corvallis oregon. Lane notification system also has issues in construction zones (it tries to steer the car into the water barriers marking the lane changes. At least the side warning system can be permanently disabled. We have filed many complaints with subaru to no avail. Promised return phone calls never happen, phone transfers to their technical department result in dropped calls. This system is dangergous!!!

NHTSA ODI 11522161

The first incident occurred when I drove into a parking space, applied the brakes, and the car suddenly sped forward, so I had to repeatedly jam on the brakes to make the car stop. Fortunately, no person or vehicle was directly in front of me. In the past week, we have experienced problems with the ADAS. We were backing into a parking space at night and made contact with a parked car. Our car made no warning sounds or lights to warn us. The following day, the blind spot detector light went on and off intermittently, sometimes with an exclamation point, and sometimes without an exclamation point. The lights on the mirror did not come on when cars were approaching from behind. We are making an appointment with the dealer ASAP.

NHTSA ODI 11510842

My Forester needed new tires at 13,250 miles. I had my tires rotated and that is when Subaru noticed the worn tires. I called Subaru Corporate and they informed me that do not replace tires. I bought new tires and then went to have a wheel alignment. The technician told me he could do the alignment but he couldn't adjust the Lane assist diagnostic or the VDC and other safety features. Now I am unsure what to do. I have tried to resolve this with Subaru of America without resolution. Hopefully, you will be able to help me. Why are Subaru dealers not doing these adjustments? Thanks for your help with this serious situation. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11504436