Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
825–50K
750–75K
575–100K
8100–150K
13150K+
50 reports with mileage · 38 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
88 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STARTED HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP, HESITATION OCCURS ONE SECOND TO A FEW SECONDS AFTER ACCELERATION AND CAN LAT APPROXIMATELY THREE SECONDS. SINCE THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE HESITATION, THE TRANSMISSION NOW SHIFTS WITH A SLIGHT THUMP TO A LOUD BANG, DURING ACCE…
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CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STARTED HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP, HESITATION OCCURS ONE SECOND TO A FEW SECONDS AFTER ACCELERATION AND CAN LAT APPROXIMATELY THREE SECONDS. SINCE THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE HESITATION, THE TRANSMISSION NOW SHIFTS WITH A SLIGHT THUMP TO A LOUD BANG, DURING ACCELERATION THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MISSES A SHIFT AND GOES INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO INSTANTLY OVER SPEED TO 2,000 RPM'S THE TRANSMISSION SEARCHES FOR DIFFERENT GEARS WHILE GENTLY ACCELERATING, ON 2 OCCASIONS THE DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER MODIFICATIONS WHICH HAS MADE THE PROBLEMS LESS INTENSE, BUT STILL EXISTS. *JB *SCC
NHTSA ODI #567961
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER EXPERIENCES VEHICLE STALLING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
NHTSA ODI #8019670
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2002
Air BagsCrash
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WITH AN ELK. BOTH DRVR AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT AIR BAGS WERE NOT DESIGNED TO DEPLOY FOR COLLISIONS WITH ANIMALS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8019072
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2002
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 30MPH WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FEEL FREE TO ADD/. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8019022
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
FROM A STAND STILL VEHICLE WILL HESITATE OR ONCE GETTING STARTED WILL LUNGE FORWARD. DEALERSHIP LOOKED OVER VEHICLE, AND CONTACTED SUBARU WHICH TOLD DEALERSHIP THAT VEHICLE MET ALL REQUIREMENTS, AND RETURNED VEHICLE TO CONSUMER WITH NO MODIFICATIONS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8017770
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING THE CLUTCH INTERMITTENTLY FAILS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND DELAY ENGAGMENT. *YH
NHTSA ODI #786411
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS DURING ACCELERATION OFTEN IN FAST MOVING CROSS TRAFFIC CAUSING OUR HEARTS TO STOP AS WE FEAR OF GETTING HIT BROADSIDE. THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATES AT HIGH SPEEDS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BRAKE. I HAD ONE INCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #765473
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
MYSELF, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS, HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR SUBARU VEHICLE HESITATING UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, FOR AS MUCH AS 2-3 SECONDS, FOLLOWED BY SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENS IN DRIVE AS WELL AS REVERSE. SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM (REALLY DEPENDS ON WHO YOU TALK TO AT ANY DEALERSHIP) BUT SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL…
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MYSELF, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS, HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR SUBARU VEHICLE HESITATING UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, FOR AS MUCH AS 2-3 SECONDS, FOLLOWED BY SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENS IN DRIVE AS WELL AS REVERSE. SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM (REALLY DEPENDS ON WHO YOU TALK TO AT ANY DEALERSHIP) BUT SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL AND THERE IS NO FIX. WHEN AND IF A REPLY IS SENT, I WILL FORWARD A COPY OF THE LETTERS SENT TO SUBARU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #764891
Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
WHEN PARKING AND BRAKES APPLIED VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. ON 27 JUNE 2002 WHILE PARKING VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, BRAKES WERE APPLIED, AND VEHICLE HIT A POST, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURY. VEHICLE AT DEALER AT THIS TIME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8012861
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
INTERMITENT BACKFIRE AFTER SHIFTING ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION FORESTERS. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, CONFIRMED THAT ENGINE BACKFIRES BUT SAID BACKFIRING WAS NOT A PROBLEM, HENCE NO FIX WAS NECCESSARY AND NON WOULD BE PROVIDED. HOW MANY OF YOU OUT THERE CONSIDER BA. *AK
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION JANUARY 8, 2003. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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