2001 Subaru Forester Problems, complaints & recalls

While pulling out of a curbside parking place on a city street the engine started racing and I could not control it by stomping on the brakes or applying the emergency brake. As I was wrestling to keep the surging car under control another car came driving by and was sideswiped. On two prior occasions I had taken this car to check out the surging which takes place when the car is starting up. The dealership and the independent repair shop that I consulted both assured me that they had adjusted the idle and the car was now safe to drive. But is it?

When the temperature gets cold and I turn on the defrost to warm up the car while parked I can smell gas in the vehicle. It goes away once I start driving. This is a problem many subaru owners have because a hose loosens and allows gas to leak out. Once the car warms up the hose tightens and the problem goes away. This can potentially cause my car to catch on fire.

The driver's seat belt does not retract. Then it gets closed in the door because it hangs loose. In the back seat, the middle seat belt has the wrong part so it cannot be latched. Because of this, I cannot safely drive with more than 2 passengers in the back seat.

When turning the turn signals on, the headlights go off. This happens frequently, suddenly plunging you into darkness. The headlight covers are made of inferior plastic that clouds over with age, making it impossible to see at night. I had to have them replaced because it looked as if the headlights were not on when they were.

In december, less than 3 months after buying the car used, while driving I heard what sounded like a flat tire. I was only a few hundred feet from a service station so drove to it, but driving that short distance ruined the tire. I had just put air in the tires, but didn't know about the problem with aluminum rims. Often, after putting air in the tires, they would be flat by the time I got home (just a few miles). This happened in 2003. I have had to had the rims taken off, ground/smoothed off, then resealed...

Whenever the outside temperature drops below 20 degrees fahrenheit, there is a strong odor of gasoline in and around the car. When taken to a mechanic, I was informed that all of the hose clamps on the fuel lines were loose. They were then tightened but every time the outside temperature drops, it happens again. It happens whether parked outside or in a garage.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 subaru forester. While driving approximately 55 mph and engaging the brake pedal, the abs malfunctioned and erroneously activated, which prevented the brakes from stopping the vehicle. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a concrete median, which caused significant damage to the front end of the vehicle. The contact failed to indicate if any injuries were sustained or if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the abs was faulty. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 194,503.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 subaru forester. While driving approximately 35 mph, the rear end of the vehicle swayed from side to side without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Subaru forester smells of gas inside cab when weather is cold. Gas leak visible first time it occurred in 2013. I tightened a clamp and leak stopped. This winter I cannot see the leak, but the fuel smell overtakes my car about 5 minutes into warming up. Eventually it dissipates but I do believe that there is a leak somewhere in the vehicle. This seems to be epidemic in subarus. *Tr

Tl* the contact owns 2001 subaru forester. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the rear cross member became fractured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the rear cross member failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.

Brakes just do not work on snow, ice (abs does not kick in), and the wheels do not turn. Happened several times, ran into an intersection on red at least 4 times. Accident waiting to happen; noticed other complaints of accidents. *Tr

In cold weather we get a strong fuel smell. The smell enters the car and gives everyone a headache. Other subaru owners we know have the same problem. Subaru knows of this problem but will not make a recall. Estimates for a fix run about $300. *Tr

When it is below 25 degrees fahrenheit, fuel lines and related components (including retaining clips and fittings) leak gasoline, causing gas fumes to enter the passenger compartment. This problem is sometimes referred to as a fuel line seep. Fumes then enter the passenger compartment via the heating ventilation system or through general ambient entry. Even when the heat in the passenger compartment is off, fumes enter the compartment. This exposes passengers to harmful carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons as well as...

When it is below 25 degrees fahrenheit, fuel lines and related components (including retaining clips and fittings) leak gasoline, causing gas fumes to enter the passenger compartment. This problem is sometimes referred to as a fuel line seep. Fumes then enter the passenger compartment via the heating ventilation system or through general ambient entry. Even when the heat in the passenger compartment is off, fumes enter the compartment. This exposes passengers to harmful carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons as well as...

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 subaru forester. The contact stated that when the vehicle stopped moving, it accelerated without the accelerator being depressed intermittently and without any warning. The contact also crashed into another vehicle fifteen feet away and almost hit a pedestrian when the failure occurred. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the mechanic stated that the problem was unknown. The contact researched the problem and stated that the...

On monday at 4:50 pm I was driving n a school zone and realized that I was having to ride my brakes I also thought there was some funny noise from the engine. I rolled down my window and couldn't hear any thing. As I approached the stop sign my car would not stop and I pressed my brakes all the way down. The rpms went all the way into the red and my car continued about 4 to 6 feet with brakes all the way down. When car finely came to a stop I placed it in park because I thought this my stop my car from going into...

I was driving down the freeway at night when I heard a loud bang noise and looked behind me and saw black smoke and had lost all power, no power steering, no brakes and no lights I had to try to cross 2 lanes of traffic to get my car to the shoulder while it was decelerating. I got the car to the shoulder and noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment, and was worried of a possible fire. I got out and called a tow truck and had it towed. The result was a blown head gasket that had blown the rod through the...

Driving n on i5 highway when car made noises, pulled over & would not start again. Towed in. Was told that engine was dead. Car had just been serviced by dealer. Had to buy new engine. Subaru would not take any responsibility. Car had very low mileage & was in good shape. When doing research, found that this was an ongoing and common problem with all vehicles with 2.5L engine and due to defective head gasket. *Tr

Driving on highway at 75 mph with cruise control set. Tried to cancel cruise control with stalk, it did not disengage. Tried repeatedly, it did not disengage. Hit the brakes to cancel cruise control, it did not disengage (brakes only slowed car down). Stepped on the clutch to cancel cruise control, it did not disengage. When I stepped on the clutch and shifted into neutral, the engine revved all the way to redline and remained there (meaning the cruise control was still engaged). Coasted to side of road with...

The issue is in regard to my 2001 subaru forester, when the weather cools off to bellow 0, a strong smell of gasoline develops inside the passenger cabin. I have small kids and aside from a possibility of and engine fire am also worried about impact of breathing the strong gasoline fumes in the cabin. From other subaru owners feedback (see bellow from subaru blog), this appears to be widespread on the forester models up to 2003 and even in other subaru models, the subaru dealer and other mechanics have indicated...

I was driving alone in a 2001 subaru forester around 3pm on a sunny august day in 2010. Heading south on a 2 lane road in tallahassee, fl, I approached a red stoplight ahead with two vehicles stopped in front of me. As I started to brake, the vehicle abruptly accelerated, I swerved into the oncoming lane to avoid the stopped cars in my lane as the vehicle continued to accelerate to about 40 miles/hr. A vehicle had just made a turn at the light intersection into the oncoming lane, so I had to steer the forester to...

My 2001 standard transmission subaru forrester failed to release cruise control when brake was used. I had difficulty, but was able to gain control and shift into neutral on the shoulder. Afterward, brakes seemed to work fine. *Tr

Car accelerating while brakes engaged and foot off gas pedal. Hit another car and brick wall while using the emergency brake. Engine afterward revved up so fast when car turned on several times. Returned to normal. Drove care to dealer. Nothing wrong can be found. *Tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 subaru forester. The contact stated that on june 14, 2010, while at a stop sign, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into the vehicle in front of her. There were no injuries but the vehicle sustained minor damages. No police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a repair center where it was currently being inspected. The contact had not called the dealership or the manufacturer at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 150,000. The vin was unavailable.

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 subaru forester. While the contact was examining her vehicle, she noticed that the check engine light was illuminated. A local mechanic stated that the knock sensor had to be replaced. The contact also noticed that the inside of her vehicle became very warm while she was driving. The current and failure mileages were 99000.