Differential Unit Problems of Subaru Forester

This is an intermittent problem. The vehicle surges sometimes and misfires when it cold starts. I took the car to the retailer, they did not found any issue. Only the differential oil was changed. They told me to return if the problem occurs again. Again it came back and intermittent. I am sure retailer will not be able to find the problem again. It is sudden loss of powers for couple seconds and it a hazard on the road. Hope there are recalls on this issue.

See all problems of the 2015 Subaru Forester 🔎.

I drove from NJ to me (bought in 2017). I noticed difficulty when trying to accelerate/pass cars from the left lane. I thought nothing of it. After 5 hrs I got off the highway & made a right onto a main st when I heard a loud noise, felt it pull back & my wheels lock up. I thought I hit something or got a flat & was riding on my rims. From the right lane I moved onto the shoulder-it jerked roughly but remained stuck. I walked around it & noticed nothing wrong on the outside. I waited 2. 5 hrs for a tow truck to take me 6 mins away to our hotel. I called a few local repair shops. None could see me for a week so my plan was to bring it to the hotel. The tow truck driver said my caliper was sticking & recommended I have it towed to Subaru since no one would be able to service it at the hotel. Subaru called/said someone pulled my rear differential plug & it would need to be replaced with possible transmission damage. They blamed the oil change guy, saying he made an error (the differential was near the oil drain plug) & the repair was not covered under warranty. The diff they meant was the front diff-they are close. There are 2 diffs & the rear diff is where my issue was-10 ft away from oil drain. I've only had oil/brake pad changes & neither had a reason to touch any diff. That work is recommended between 30-50k miles & I had 31k. I drove a rental to NJ while my car waits in nh. I talked to corporate/service all week but they won't listen to me even though I make a valid point. They asked who did those routine services. I shared the info & asked why it was relevant. He "hinted" that it could void the warranty. I asked if that was why my claim was denied but he said he didn't say that was the reason. It's illegal to tell customers only Subaru can service their cars. Experienced mechanics say if anyone pulled the diff plug in NJ I wouldn't have made it to me-5 hrs away.

See all problems of the 2016 Subaru Forester 🔎.

I was driving to work, and the car wouldn't accelerate, it also handled roughly. The check engine light, cruise control light was flashing, along with vehicle dynamics control warning light. I had my car towed, as it wasn't drivable. My local garage repaired my car, I received 4 new spark plugs, and an air filter. 9 days later the check engine light came on, as well as the cruise control light, and the vehicle dynamics warning light, again it was repaired, this had to do with the catalytic converter message, but all my local garage could find was a small leak near the manifold that they repaired. 2 days later the check engine light went on again, I now called my Subaru dealership, they replaced a faulty catalyst converter, and af sensor, the also changed my oil, as it was due, and suggested I have a transmission fluid flush and refill, and that my rear and front differentials, needed a drain and refill. 5 days passed another check engine light, this time it was flashing, I had to have my car towed, the Subaru dealership discovered the wrong spark plugs were put in initially, and replaced them with platinum tip spark plugs that my model takes. 4 days passed another check engine light, with being unable to accelerate, I was going up hill, so I continued on, to reach a parking lot, I could stop in but suddenly, it felt like something unblocked, this made the check engine light go away, until 2 days later, another check engine light, I once again brought my car back to the dealership, the mentioned something about the catalyst converter, but said it was 'too soon" so they left the work order open , in case it occurred again,and gave me this lecture about the grade of gas I am buying. 4 days later the check engine light returned, this time Subaru discovered the my other O2 sensor was faulty, and they would replace it, when the part comes in.

See all problems of the 2009 Subaru Forester 🔎.

1) grinding noise when accelerating especially going up hill. 2) 4wd differential failure 3) differential can only be replaced as part of the whole transmission. 4) vehicle only has 86300 miles, seems like a transmission/differential should last longer than that. Cost for replacement over $3,700.

See all problems of the 2001 Subaru Forester 🔎.

While driving 55 mph on the highway there was a humming winding sound coming from underneath the vehicle. Driver took the vehicle to the dealership for analysis, and mechanic told the driver that front differential came apart, and piece of metal was inside of transmission, causing transmission to fail.

See all problems of the 2002 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Differential fluid has metal pieces/shavings in it, dealer says this is okay.

See all problems of the 1999 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Front differential unit failed from lack of lubrication, Subaru stated that independent facilities mistakenly drained the differential fluid instead of engine oil during oil change because of the close proximity of plugs, the differential pan and oil pan nees to be properly labeled. Nlm.

See all problems of the 2000 Subaru Forester 🔎.