Owners/service Manual Problems of Subaru Forester

The vehicle was stationary. I pressed the power rear gate open button on the driver side dash, but the rear gate didn't open, and the car just beeped three times. The beeps would happen every time I tried to press the gate button on the car or on the faub. I opened the access panel and manually opened the door, extending the door to full height. When I pressed the buttons on the car, the power gate would go down but would slam shut and the car would issue a long beep. When I pressed the button either on the car or the faub to reopen the rear gate, it wouldn't budge and the three beeps happened again. I then pressed the buttons on the car and held them passed the three beeps until the gate unlocked and I was able to lift it open. The gate closed again when I pressed the lock/gate close buttons, slamming shut as before with the long beep. No matter what I tried, I couldn't get the gate to open on its own ( with power). When I turned the car on, there was no indication that the rear gate was open, but when I put the car in drive and started to drive, the car continuously beeped until I stopped driving and put it in park. I turned it off and let it sit overnight. The next day, I tried to open the hatch as mentioned above and it still did not open, though I could manually open it if I held the buttons down beyond the three beeps. When I tried to turn the car on, though, it would not start. After I tried to start the car with the push button start, all the icons began flashing and clicking on the dash and control panels and the eyesight function was off and the car said to check vehicle function, all while flashing and clicking. When I pressed he button start again it all stopped. The parking pedal seemed very stiff and was difficult to press at all. The car would not start through starlink either, so now it sits in my parking lot until I tow it to a dealer tomorrow.

See all problems of the 2019 Subaru Forester 🔎.

The back door will not open with remote control, dashboard open button, or manual button on door itself. There are ways mechanics can open it, but not your average child or adult. Sometimes the back gate is is the only way out to rescue a passenger. This gate fails and could cause death in emergencies like when trapped in car during hot (or cold) weather, and if it is the only way out in accidents. This fault happens intermittently, but it is reported all over the internet for this model.

Since owning car since December 2018, I have noticed intermittently that the rear hatch will not open manually when I press the buttons in the back. Also sometimes it does not open when I press the button on left side of dashboard. There is a release mechanism on the inside rear door panel but it is difficult to reach because I have to crawl into the rear of car from a side door. I also need a metal tool to open panel. I think Subaru needs to add a keyhole on the outside of hatch so I can use my key to open it in emergencies.

Sirius radio will not list all channels available causing user to have to manually tune radio, which is a safety hazard. Dealer unable to fix after six months. Have been advised not a wide problem but dealer is seeing a few other Foresters with this problem, but no fix.

See all problems of the 2016 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Drivers side door un/lock function doesn't operate . All other locks work correctly from key fob. Manual operation of driver door lock works.

See all problems of the 2015 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Bluetooth equipped sirius radio does not work properly, causing the operator to have to tune the radio manually, distracting the driver from careful operation. Several attempts by the Subaru dealer to correct have been unsuccessful. The vehicle was purchased because of Subaru's claim to sell safe vehicles!.

When closing rear power lift gate, a stroller fell partly out of the trunk. I instinctively grabbed it, and the gate hit the back of my head and started to slam me into the car before I could pull my head out. The door did not stop closing. According to the Subaru instruction manual, the rear gate can cause serious personal injury by entrapment. The door did not stop when encountering resistance (my head). The dealer says that I cannot change this to a manual control rear hatch without destroying the struts that hold the door up. I can close it manually as long as I remember to take the height control off with a button on the front dash every time I use the car outside the garage. When height control is on, which is the only way to stop the rear door before it opens fully and therefore must be used in our garage, you cannot close it manually. Since it closes slowly (8 seconds -- long for closing a door), you have to be very aware of children's movements, which are often rapid, and suppress your own reactions if something starts to fall out. The door should stop readily if it encounters an object even as small as a finger or else it should be manual and you should be able to stop it at different heights when opening it manually.

See all problems of the 2017 Subaru Forester 🔎.

While vehicle was in motion on city streets and highways the rear-end shifts to the left when driving over a bump (dry or wet pavement). It also shifts to the left when driving on ice. I know cars perform poorly on ice, but I've had many driving careers and this problem is unique and not normal for any car. Also it hydroplanes easily. The rear tires (especially the right rear tire) wear unnaturally. I have to replace tires approximately every 18000 miles. This is a manual transmission and I rarely hit the brakes. I don't accelerate aggressively and never slam on the brakes. I usually get 60000+ miles from my tires. The front tires by comparison last 5-10 times longer than the rear tires based on the amount of tread wear as compared to the rear tires over the same amount of miles as I do rotate them regularly. This car makes me feel unsafe on ice at any speed and is a little bit hair raising just on wet pavement. Why it would shift to the left on the smallest of bumps and even on dry pavement (worse on wet pavement) is beyond me. Recently the control arms and tie rods had to be replaced at 102k miles. After that repair the check engine light came on and air sensors had to be replaced. This car seems like a lemon to me. I bought this new car figuring I wouldn't have issues I've had with used cars. I entered a date of 2016 when this happened since it has been happening since I bought this car although it happens every time I'm on ice.

Eyesight and cruise control intermittent shutdown and restart. On an increasingly frequent basis, when the cruise control and eyesight are engaged, both will disable and can be a few seconds to minutes before the eyesight re-enables and the cruise control can manually be re-engaged. When this happens, vehicle goes from auto-drive to manual-drive. Also, an e1 error appeared on the odometer display.

Models w/ manual climite control: very hard to see settings, especially in day time, and if need to adjust while driving such as to DE-fog windows, may result in driving off the side of the road and wrecking.

Problems with fuses on the 2003 Subaru Forester. The consumer noticed a blown fuse and that the control of her rear view mirrors were not working. The consumer also noticed while in the process of replacing fuse #4, the label and manual stated "2003 Forester manual" a8070be/msa5m0304a-page 12-6) differed in amperage for not only the #4 but also #8 (abs solenoid). The consumer promptly changed the fuses to 20 amps each. The consumer was informed that the manual was wrong and that the label was right. The consumer promptly changed back to the 15 and 30 amp fuses. The consumer requested clarification in writing from Subaru about the proper amperage and official notification to owners who have the same manual.

See all problems of the 2003 Subaru Forester 🔎.