1998 SUBARU FORESTER

138 complaints filed with NHTSA.

138
Complaints
9
Crashes
5
Fires
9
Injuries
1
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL13
TIRES8
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR5
SUSPENSION:REAR5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS4
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY4
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION4
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE4
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE4
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3

Recent Complaints

20070509FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1998 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE IT WAS ON FIRE. *MC THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE KNOCK SENSOR 30 DAYS PRIOR. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *JB

20060823CrashTIRES

1998 SUBARU FORESTER'S TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS WHEN THE TIRE BLEWOUT IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO OFF THE ROADWAY AND STRIKE A CONSTRUCTION CONE, DELINEATOR POST AND SOUTH DITCH. THE VEHICLE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL, TAILLIGHT AND BUMPER WERE DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *NM

20060209CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND HIT SOME BRUSH. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE HEATER WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS NOT A POLICE REPORT FILED. UPDATED 3/28/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 105,000

20060209CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND HIT SOME BRUSH. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE HEATER WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS NOT A POLICE REPORT FILED. UPDATED 3/28/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 105,000

20040715CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE CONSUMER PLACED HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE LUNGED INTO GEAR TAKING OFF SOME 40 FEET, STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE DAMAGING BOTH VEHICLES. *JB

Mileage: 89,995

20030316CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY SPOUSE HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT WITH OUR 1998 SUBARU FORESTER. THE FRONTAL IMPACT CAUSED BOTH AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN IT DEPLOYED BROKE THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) DOOR WINDOW AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. NO ONE WAS SEATING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT THAT MAY BE A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR ALIGNED. *NLM

20030316CrashEQUIPMENT

MY SPOUSE HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT WITH OUR 1998 SUBARU FORESTER. THE FRONTAL IMPACT CAUSED BOTH AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN IT DEPLOYED BROKE THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) DOOR WINDOW AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. NO ONE WAS SEATING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT THAT MAY BE A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR ALIGNED. *NLM

20020114VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS VERY FAST, CRASHING INTO TWO VEHICLES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TURNED ON IGNITION THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY FAST IN REVERSE AND CAUSED ACCIDENT, CONSUMER IS ALSO HAVING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS THE BATTERY DRAINING, SECURITY SYSTEM GOES OFF WHILE PARKED, AND THE DOORS LOCK BY

20020114POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS VERY FAST, CRASHING INTO TWO VEHICLES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TURNED ON IGNITION THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY FAST IN REVERSE AND CAUSED ACCIDENT, CONSUMER IS ALSO HAVING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS THE BATTERY DRAINING, SECURITY SYSTEM GOES OFF WHILE PARKED, AND THE DOORS LOCK BY

20020114ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS VERY FAST, CRASHING INTO TWO VEHICLES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TURNED ON IGNITION THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY FAST IN REVERSE AND CAUSED ACCIDENT, CONSUMER IS ALSO HAVING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS THE BATTERY DRAINING, SECURITY SYSTEM GOES OFF WHILE PARKED, AND THE DOORS LOCK BY

20010802CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

YESTERDAY AFT. MY CAR DROVE ITSELF INTO A STORE WINDOW WITH ME AT THE WHEEL. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL DISASTER. I WAS ALREADY PARKED THERE, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT TOOK OFF WITHOUT MY TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. IN FACT, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). MY BRAKING WOULDN'T STOP IT, SO I MANAGED TO GET IT INTO A FORWARD GEAR. HAD I NOT, THE CAR MIGHT WELL HAVE DRIVEN FURTHER INTO THE STORE AND HURT THE SEVERAL SHOPPERS. ONCE IN

20000822FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CAR BEGAN SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD-NO INDICATION FROM DASHBOARD THAT PERHAPS THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING. WHEN THE CAR WAS ULTIMATELY TURNED OFF AT THE HOME OF THE OWNER, THE ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD IGNITED, FLAMES ENGULFED UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE WHICH WAS TEN FEET FROM GARAGE OF HOME .DAMAGE TO DRIVEWAY AS WELL, DUE TO MELTING OF RUBBER AND PLASTIC IN THE CAR.FIRE REPORTED TO INSURANCE COMPANY. CAR WAS NOT DRIVEABLE AS PER FIRE CHIEF-CA

19990914FireSTEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

A FIRE STARTED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO A FAULTY POWER STEERING HOSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

19990217FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

DRIVING 40 MPH ANOTHER DRIVER POINTED OUT PROBLEM. PULLED OVER & NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & PUT OUT FLAMES. FIRE CHIEF SAID FIRE ORIGNATED FROM FUEL LINES. FLAMES HAD ENGULFED VEHICLE IN MINUTES. VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK

19981118FatalVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, DRIVER LOSE CONTROL RESULTING IN DRIVER HITTING A MAN.

19980514CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *AK

19980421CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

19971010FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. FIRE STARTED FROM REAR OF VEHICLE'S BACK SEAT.CAUSE OF FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK