1999 SUBARU FORESTER

(PARTIAL COPY OF MESSAGE I SENT TO SUBARU EARLIER THIS WEEK.) [MY] FORESTER IS OLD, BUT I WOULDN'T BE REPLACING IT IF I DIDN'T NEED ANOTHER HEAD GASKET. YOU SURELY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM YOUR 4 CYL. ENGINES HAVE HAD WITH FAILING HEAD GASKETS. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS THE SECOND ONE EXPERIENCING SUCH FAILURE. I REPLACED THE ORIGINAL ONE SEVERAL YEARS BACK AT MY OWN EXPENSE. LET ME STATE MY UNQUALIFIED CASE THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS REPLACEMENT, AS YOU--SUBARU--KNEW WELL THAT GASKET FAILURE WAS IN THIS CAR'S FUTURE. HOW DO I MAKE THIS CLAIM? WELL, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, IT CAME WITH AN ADDITIVE IN THE RADIATOR. SOMETHING YOU CALL "COOLANT CONDITIONER." NOBODY TOLD ME WHY THIS WAS NECESSARY. I FOUND OUT ONE DAY WHEN MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE RED-LINED AND MY RADIATOR RAN DRY. I QUICKLY MADE MY WAY TO THE NEAREST SUBARU DEALERSHIP SO, RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM, THE MECHANIC THERE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS COOLANT CONDITIONER AND HOW IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN MY FORE

WHY IS THE BRAKE LINE CORROSION RECALL WQK-47 ONLY FOR 2009-2013 FORESTERS? I OWN A 1999 FORESTER WHICH HAS JUST HAD A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE THAT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES IS IN THE AREA OF THE JUNCTION BLOCK THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE CAR BEHIND THE AREA OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT SEEMS THAT VEHICLE SAFETY SHOULD NOT BE DEPENDENT ON THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY SOMETHING AS CRITICAL AS THE BRAKING SYSTEM. WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILED, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY SOFT AND I COULD FEEL IT SINKING TOWARD THE FLOOR. PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL HELPED SOME, BUT IT WAS STILL SINKING UNCOMFORTABLY QUICKLY. I WAS LESS THAN A MILE FROM HOME AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT THERE SAFELY BY PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL. AFTER PARKING, THAT WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE AREA UNDER THE JUNCTION BLOCK. I AM RESEARCHING WHETHER MY LOCAL MECHANIC CAN FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY SUBARU IS NOT RESPONSIBLE WHEN THIS I

Mileage: 80,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND SEIZED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

AS OTHERS HAVE STATED HERE AND MANY MORE FROM VARIOUS SUBARU FORUMS, I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE ISSUE (IT ACTS AS IF IT'S IN NEUTRAL) WITH THE AT. IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL SECONDS TO SEVERAL MINUTES (AND SOMETIMES LONGER OR NOT AT ALL) BEFORE IT ENGAGES. I USUALLY HAVE TO REV/PUMP THE ACCELERATOR UNTIL IT CORRECTS ITSELF. ONCE I'M IN DRIVE ALL IS WELL AS LONG AS I STAY THAT WAY. THIS IS RANDOM UNTIL IT STARTS TO GET WORSE OVER TIME. I'VE READ THAT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON AND IT'S A WORN PISTON SEAL OR SOMETHING THAT PREVENTS ENOUGH PRESSURE FOR THE FORWARD GEAR TO ENGAGE. THIS BEGAN IN 2010 WITH ONLY 89K MILES. THE ONLY TEMP FIX HAS BEEN TO DRAIN & REPLACE THE AT FLUID & FILTER, BUT THAT MAY ONLY LAST FOR MAYBE 500-1000 MILES OR SO. THE LATEST TEMP FIX INCLUDES THAT PLUS AN ADDITIVE (TRANS X) THAT WORKS BY SWELLING SEALS. THIS HAS BEEN MORE EFFECTIVE WITH 2500-3500 MILES BETWEEN FLUID CHANGES, SO I BASICALLY HAVE IT DONE EVERY TIME I CHANGE THE OIL NOW. I FIND THIS A

Mileage: 89,000

THERE ARE DAYS WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE. IT GOES IN REVERSE BUT STILL NOT ENGAGE THE DRIVE GEAR. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK OF THE VEHICLE SITTING AND NOT BEING TURNED ON IT WILL ENGAGE AND WORK FINE. BUT WILL DO IT AGAIN A FEW WEEKS TO A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER.

THERE ARE DAYS WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE. IT GOES IN REVERSE BUT STILL NOT ENGAGE THE DRIVE GEAR. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK OF THE VEHICLE SITTING AND NOT BEING TURNED ON IT WILL ENGAGE AND WORK FINE. BUT WILL DO IT AGAIN A FEW WEEKS TO A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER.

NOTE: BELOW IS AN EXTRACT FROM A MESSAGE I SENT TO AN ATTORNEY IN WISCONSIN IN 2011 REGARDING THE PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. NOTE ALSO: I SEE WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT ENTRY FOR PENDING DEALER REPAIRS ON A HONDA CIVIC (I THINK) PERTAINING TO "COOLANT LOSS". AT LEAST HONDA COMPANY WILL LIVE UP TO AND CORRECT ITS MANUFACTURING MISTAKES. I AND OTHERS HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THEIR SUBARU VEHICLES CIRCA 1997-2004. THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM LOSING COOLANT AT AN UNACCEPTABLE RATE. THIS IS THE RESULT OF FUNCTIONAL DESIGN FLAWS OF USING DIFFERENT METALS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS ALLOWS LARGER THAN NORMAL GAPS TO OPEN UP IN THE CYLINDER WALLS AS THE TWO METALS EXPAND DIFFERENTLY WHEN THE ENGINE HEATS UP. COUPLED WITH CHEAP GASKETS, THIS FORMULA HAS LED TO MANY ENGINE SEIZURES IN THESE CARS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Mileage: 81,400

IN ONE MONTHS TIME WE HAVE HAD 4 SEPARATE COOPER WEATHERMASTER S/T2 205/70R15 TIRES HAVE SIDEWALL FAILURE. THESE ARE SNOW TIRES USED ONLY DURING WINTER MONTHS. 3 OF THE 4 TIRES WERE PURCHASED FOR THE 2010/11 WINTER, AND HAD LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON THEM, THE 4TH WAS NEW WITH ABOUT 100 MILES ON IT WHEN IT FAILED. 1ST BLOWOUT) DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT IN DRIVEWAY JUST AFTER WE RETURNED HOME FROM ERRANDS. REPLACED WITH NEW TIRE BY DEALER. 2ND FAILURE) NOTICED BUBBLE ON DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE WHILE SHOPPING 45 MINUTES FROM HOME. CALLED ROADSIDE SERVICE TO PUT ON SPARE AND WHEN HOME, WENT TO DEALER WHO REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE. 3RD FAILURE) 2 HOURS FROM HOME, STOPPED FOR GAS AND NOTICED DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE WITH BUBBLE IN SIDEWALL. THIS WAS THE NEW REPLACEMENT FOR THE 2ND FAILURE. PUT ON SPARE AND DROVE HOME. THAT NIGHT WE HAD OUR 4TH FAILURE - BLOWOUT) THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT DURING THE NIGHT. 3 OF THE TIRES WERE 2 SEASONS OLD, THE 4TH WAS A BRAND NEW REPLAC

Mileage: 192,000

199 SUBARU FORESTER. LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN SARBANES ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT WITH CONCERNS ABOUT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH SUBARU VEHICLES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PUT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE. A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE FAILURE WAS WITH THE CLUTCH. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH ONLY A 119,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *JB

Mileage: 119,000

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS CORROSION AROUND THE GAS CAP. SHOP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS RUSTED FUEL FILLER NECK - REPLACED AT A COST OF $330. I HAD STARTED TO NOTICE A FUEL SMELL IN MY GARAGE, SO FUMES WERE LEAKING OUT. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE GAS MAY HAVE COME THROUGH. VEHICLE IS KEPT IN GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS PIPE TO CORRODE UNLESS THE MATERIAL IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

Mileage: 151,500

I HAVE A SUBURA 1999 FORESTER IT IS TELLING ME ON INTERNET THEIR IS A RECALL PART NEEDED FOR BRAKES SYSTEM. BUT MY DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOT. .ONLY FOR A DIFFERENT FORESTER. I THINK MY FORESTER SHOULD BE COVERED. IT IS A FORRESTER. I AM HAVING A BRAKE PROBLEM. THE INTERNET SAYS YES THE DEALER SAYS NO. *TR

Mileage: 192

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AFTER CHECKING/CHANGING GAS CAP AND HAVING LIGHT RESET, IT CAME ON AGAIN. I THEN CHECKED INTERNET SITES FOR POSSIBLE PROBLEMS AND THEN NOTICED CORROSION WHEN I REMOVED THE GAS CAP. ONE AREA HAD A SMALL HOLE STARTING IN THE METAL. WE HAD THE FUEL FILLER NECK REPLACED AT A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY GAVE ME THE OLD ONE BACK. IT WAS ALL CORRODED AND HE SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE GAS MAY HAVE COME THROUGH. VEHICLE IS KEPT IN GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS PIPE TO CORRODE UNLESS THE MATERIAL IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

Mileage: 94,863

HEAD GASKET/ENGINE FAILED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. CAR STALLED, UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE COASTING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,700. UPDATED 05/06/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED DREYER & REINBOLD CHECKED ENGINE, TRANSMISSION MOUNTS SPEED CONTROL AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. 05/06/08 *TR

Mileage: 48,700

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE COASTING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,700. UPDATED 05/06/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED DREYER & REINBOLD CHECKED ENGINE, TRANSMISSION MOUNTS SPEED CONTROL AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. 05/06/08 *TR

Mileage: 48,700

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE COASTING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,700. UPDATED 05/06/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED DREYER & REINBOLD CHECKED ENGINE, TRANSMISSION MOUNTS SPEED CONTROL AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. 05/06/08 *TR

Mileage: 48,700

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID A DOG. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATED THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HER THAT THIS WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE, RATHER THAN A SAFETY ISSUE. THE SUBARU MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 03-25-08 *BF UPDATED 03/25/08 *TR

Mileage: 100,000

THIS PROBLEM INITIALLY OCCURRED ONLY ONCE A MONTH OR SO, BUT HAS SINCE DETERIORATED TO OCCURRING MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY. WHEN APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT, OR BRAKING HARDER THAN USUAL, THE VEHICLE WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL. THE SHIFTER DOES NOT MOVE, IT IS STILL IN DRIVE, HOWEVER, WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY STOP RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR (EXCEPT THE ENGINE STILL REVS). THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO REV THE ENGINE TO HIGH REVS, OVER AND OVER, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION "CATCHES", AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD, OFTEN VIOLENTLY, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED. THIS MOST OFTEN HAPPENS AT STOPLIGHTS/SIGNS, HOWEVER IT WILL OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED HARD. THIS SEEMS TO BE QUITE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN WHEN IT WAS NECESSARY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE WAY OF SOMETHING ONCOMING AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO. A DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION AND ADDED NEW FLUID, WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS, AFTER WHIC

Mileage: 72,000

ABOUT 3 YEARS INTO OWNING THIS '99 FORESTER, THE ILLUMINATION FOR MY GEAR SHIFTING COLUMN BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS WENT OUT. COST TO REPAIR WAS PROHIBITIVE, SO I LEARNED TO DEAL WITH IT. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, THE LED CLOCK ABOVE THE MIRROR WENT OUT. COST TO REPAIR $180, SO I DECIDED TO LIVE WITHOUT A CLOCK. LAST FRIDAY, THE LED THAT ILLUMINATES THE GAS GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER WENT OUT. NOW I HAVE TO PERIODICALLY TURN ON THE CABIN LIGHT TO SEE HOW FAST I'M DRIVING, HOW MUCH GASOLINE I HAVE AND HOW MANY MILES I'VE DRIVEN. WHAT'S NEXT? THIS IS RIDICULOUS! *TR

ON 1998 FORESTER 5-SPD, WHEN PULLING OUT ON FREEWAYS AND OTHER ROADS, AS I SWITCH FROM 3 TO 4 OR FROM 4 TO 5, ENGINE WANTS TO DROP TO IDLE AS I TRY TO ACCELERATE. *NM

Mileage: 175,000