2001 Subaru Forester

WHEN I SHIFT INTO DRIVE (ANY OF THE DRIVE GEARS), THE CAR HESITATES TO ENGAGE (MOVE FORWARD) FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN 2-3 SECONDS AND UP TO 1 MINUTE. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE WAIT TIME IS RANDOM SO I NEVER KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE. THE OTHER DAY, I HAD TO REVERSE TO GET OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THEN THE CAR WOULDN'T ENGAGE INTO DRIVE FOR ANOTHER 45 SECONDS AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY A CAR COMING UP BEHIND ME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! I'VE READ ABOUT HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS BY OTHER SUBARU FORESTER (1999 - 2001) OWNERS ON-LINE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I SPOKE WITH BOTH THE DEALER AND SUBARU REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY WON'T COVER THE COST OF A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. I THINK THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND AM LOOKING INTO THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS FURTHER. *JB

AROUND 100K MILES MY 2001 SUBARU FORESTER (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) EXPERIENCED SEVERE HESITATION AND MISSING (BUCKING) IN ALL GEARS, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER. THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED AND MECHANIC ASSURED ME EVERYTHING WITH THE TIMING BELT AND CLUTCH WAS OK. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME SEVERE JOLTING AS BEFORE. IN LOWER GEARS CAR ACCELERATES EXTREMELY SLOWLY, AND OFTEN STALLS AFTER THE SEVERE SHAKING. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM; WHILE TAKING A LEFT OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD, MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND STALLED, AND I WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *NM

I OWN THREE SUBARU VEHICLES ONE OF WHICH IS A 2001 FORESTER-L. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE R/R WHEEL BEARING ON MY FORESTER TWICE @ 28017 MILES AND AT 75375 MILES. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. I WAS REIMBURSED BY SUBARU FOR HALF THE COST FOR SECOND INCIDENT. IN DISCUSSION WITH OTHER FORESTER OWNERS AND LOCAL MECHANICS THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM (PLEASE SEE VQ 7510621 AND VQ 7510621). I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY 1998 LEGACY L WAGON, BUT IN FAIRNESS THIS WAS AT 112, 000 MI. MY FEAR HERE IS THAT I WILL ALSO INCUR THIS REPAIR ON MY 2002 IMPREZA. *JB

WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 SUBARU FORESTER. SHE GOT TOO CLOSE TO EDGE OF PAVED SURFACE ON NARROW SECONDARY ROAD AND TIRES DROPPED OFF EDGE. INSTEAD OF THERE BEING THE REQUIRED FLAT SHOULDER OR BERM, THERE IS A 4+ INCH DROP AT THAT POINT. THE DROP AND CORRECTING TO THE ROADWAY CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE ENDED UP ROLLING TWO OR THREE (WITNESS ACCOUNTS VARIED) TIMES AND ENDING UPRIGHT IN A FIELD. DURING THE VERY FIRST ROLLOVER MY WIFE WAS AWARE OF THE SEAT BELT COMING UNLATCHED. OBVIOUSLY, SHE THEN BECAME AN OBJECT BEING TOSSED ABOUT IN THE VEHICLE DURING THE REST OF THE CRASH SEQUENCE. THERE IS NO EVIDENT, PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE BELT OR BUCKLE MECHANISM. THE INERTIA LOCK STILL FUNCTIONS; THE BELT WILL CLICK INTO THE BUCKLE AND REMAIN THERE WITH A TUGGING MOTION IS APPLIED. OBVIOUSLY I CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE TYPE OF FORCES THAT WERE APPLIED DURING THE CRASH. I CONTACTED SUBARA OF AMERICA AT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT WITH THIS INFORMATION AND THEY WOULD ONLY LOOK INTO THIS IN THE EVENT THE INSURANCE COMPANY SEEKS TO SUBROGATE THE CLAIM TO THEM. THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AS THE SEATBELT DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT (FOR COLLISION LOSS PART OF CLAIM) AND PENNSYLVANIA LAW DOES NOT ALLOW SUBROGATION FOR MEDICAL CLAIMS. I WAS NOT SEEKING A LITIGATION SETTLEMENT IN CONTACTING SUBARU... I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD WANT TO INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE WAS KILLED. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES ON MARCH 10, 2005, SHE TOTALED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, IT WENT INTO A DITCH. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN MAY 2004. THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE WENT ACROSS TRAFFIC INTO A DITCH. SHE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP; HE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED A TIRE THAT WENT FLAT. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE SECOND TIME, WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER ON A WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD IT WENT ACROSS THE ROAD AGAIN. IT ENDED UP IN A DITCH AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT. SHE HASDTWO CRACKS ON L-1 AND BOTH T-9 AND T-10 NEED SURGERY. SHE ALSO HAS A CRACKED STERNUM. SHE HAD TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL FOR FIVE DAYS. SHE IS CURRENTLY SEEING A SPECIALIST AND AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON. SHE FOUND AN ARTICLE IN THE SACREMENTO BEE ON APRIL 13, 2005 TITLE, CLICK AND CLACK. THIS ARTICLE WAS IN REFERENCE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN SUBARU'S.*AK