2015 Subaru Forester Electrical System

POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED IN THREE OF FOUR DOORS, STARTING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THREE YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED.

THIS VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN MID-DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY 4 TIMES. THE BATTERY, FUEL SENSORS, FUEL PUMP, AND 'CLUSTER' HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK FROM SUBARU SERVICE ON A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, AND ON THURSDAY MORNING AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE THE FUEL GAUGE WAS AGAIN DISPLAYING BLANK EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS MORE THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS IN THE CAR. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THEN EVERY WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTED UP. THERE HAVE BEEN 5 REPAIR ATTEMPTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE ISSUES. THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS.

THIS VEHICLE HAS ALREADY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY 4 TIMES. THE LAST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED. I TURNED THE CAR ON IN THE PARKING LOT AFTER A GROCERY STORE TRIP (WITH MY BABY IN THE BACKSEAT) AND THE VEHICLE SAID IT COULD NOT ESTABLISH THE REMAINING FUEL LEVEL AND THE GAUGE WAS BLANK. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON AND FUEL GAUGE REAPPEARED, BUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN CITY STREET, ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY THAT THE CLUSTER (ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. STILL WAITING FOR PART TO COME IN AND FOR VEHICLE TO BE RETURNED TO ME. I AM NOT CONFIDENT THIS WILL FIX MY VEHICLE SINCE THEY SAID THEY WERE 99% SURE OF THE FIX THE LAST TWO TIMES. THIS VEHICLE IS FAULTY AND IS ENDANGERING MY FAMILY. IT IS BY SHEER LUCK THAT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT AND INJURED SO FAR.

I HAVE A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER (LESS THAN 32K MILES) AND MY CAR HAS NOT STARTED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THIS LAST YEAR. THIS LAST TIME I WAS WITH A FRIEND AND WE PARKED ON A SOMEWHAT DARKER CITY STREET LATE AT NIGHT WHERE I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE TO NOT WASTE GAS AND TALK. THE ONLY THING I REMEMBER DOING WAS TURNING ON THE UPPER CAR LIGHT FOR 60 SECONDS TO FIND MY FRIEND'S PHONE AND ADJUSTING THE DRIVER WINDOW WITH KEY IN ACCESSORY MODE I BELIEVE (ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING). WE DID NOT USE THE RADIO BECAUSE EMBARRASSINGLY, THE SAME FRIEND HAD WAITED WITH ME THE TIME BEFORE WHEN I PLAYED MY RADIO FOR 10 MINUTES ONE TIME. SO AGAIN, MY CAR DIDN'T START, AND SHE HAD TO WAIT WITH ME ONCE AGAIN 30-45 MINUTES UNTIL HELP CAME TO GIVE THE BATTERY A JUMP. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN EITHER WHEN I SIT IN THE CAR WITH THE KEY OUT AND USE THE INTERNAL LIGHT (EVEN FOR ONLY 60 SECONDS LIKE THIS LAST TIME) OR IF KEYS ARE IN, LISTEN TO THE RADIO FOR A FEW MINUTES ONLY WITHOUT ENGINE RUNNING. ANYTHING TURNED ON AFTER THE CAR HAS STOPPED RUNNING SEEMS TO MESS WITH THE BATTERY AND I'M AFRAID IT WON'T START. THIS LAST TIME WHEN IT WOULDN'T START THE ENGINE, I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVERS WINDOW DID NOT ROLL UP (EVEN THOUGH THE OTHER WINDOWS DID) AND THEN IT STARTED TO GRIND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT MULTIPLE TIMES, WAITING A LITTLE TIME IN BETWEEN BEFORE TRYING TO START IT ...THEN IT SEEMS TO SLOWLY DRAIN UNTIL NO LIGHTS AT ALL IN CAR. THE TOW COMPANY TESTED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT IS STILL GOOD, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT MENTIONED MAYBE IT'S NOT GETTING BOTH CELLS TO CHARGE EQUALLY OR HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH STARTER, NOT SURE. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY CAR, I REMEMBER DEALERSHIP MENTIONING THE ELECTRICAL AND NOT HOLDING THEM RESPONSIBLE (?) I THINK IF THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS, THEY NEED TO RECALL AND FIX, OR GIVE US A PORTABLE CAR JUMPER. SAD BECAUSE I LOVE MY SUV OTHERWISE. :(

SINCE BUYING IT NEW, THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES HAS FAILED TO START AND HAD TO BE JUMP-STARTED. TWICE TOWED TO DEALER, CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES THERE, NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES (SPORADICALLY, WITH NO INDICATION AS TO WHY). THE FIRST TIME AT 4,000 MILES, SEVERAL TIMES SINCE AND AGAIN THIS MONTH.

WHEN I STOP MY CAR, PUT IT IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE I CAN NOT OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR USING THE IN-DOOR SILVER DOOR LATCH. THE DOOR STAYS LOCKED AND WILL NOT OPEN. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN EVEN WHEN I TRY TO UNLOCK IT USING THE UNLOCK ROCKER SWITCH ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR ARM REST. THE DOOR CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED AND OPENED WHEN I UNLOCK IT USING THE BLACK IN-DOOR LOCKING LATCH. THERE IS AN APPARENT ELECTRICAL OR SOFTWARE PROBLEM WHICH CAN CAUSE SOMEONE TO GET TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THANK YOU.

FORESTER SAT FOR 2 WEEKS AND BATTERY WAS DRAINED COMPLETELY THOUGH NO LIGHTS OR ACCESSORIES WERE LEFT ON. RECHARGED BATTERY, DROVE IT FOR TWO DAYS THEN CAR SAT FOR TWO DAYS. AGAIN BATTERY WAS. COMPLETELY DEAD. VERY DISAPPOINTED AND CONCERNED OVER LACK OF RELIABILITY

I HAD A REMOTE STARTER INSTALLED BY SOME ONE OTHER THAN SUBARU. THE STARTER FAILED REPEATEDLY SO I TOOK IT IN. WAS TOLD AND GIVEN A PRINT OUT REFLECTING A LOW BATTERY. I TOOK IT TO NORTH TOWNE SUBARU ON SHERIDAN DR. IT IS A 20 MILE TRIP ONE WAY, THEY SAID "NO PROBLEM, CHARGED THE BATTERY ANY WAY AND SENT ME HOME. I PURCHASED THE FORESTER IN SEPT.2014, GOT THE STARTER FOR CHRISTMAS,AND AFTER THE VISIT TO SUBARU IT WORKED SOMETIMES. THIS WINTER AGAIN IT FAILED TO START. NOW THAT THE WINTER HAS BECOME EXTREMELY COLD I RETURNED TO THE INSTALLER WHO REPLACED IT AND IT STILL FAILED DUE TO A LOW BATTERY. THIS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL, AND THE FIX IS A STRONGER BATTERY. I AM NOT ABOUT TO TAKE ANOTHER TRIP TO SUBARU IN ERIE CO. AS I AM IN PAIN MOST OF THE TIME AND DRIVING LONG DISTANCES INCREASES THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THE STARTER STORE TO ORDER ME A BATTERY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS I CAN'T SEE SUBARU IN AMHERST DOING ANYTHING FOR ME. BUT I DO THINK SUBARU SHOULD REIMBURSE ME. OF COURSE I WILL NOT HOLD MY BREATH. ALSO I WILL NEVER GO TO THAT DEALERSHIP AGAIN.!!!!!!

THIS IS NOT EXACTLY A SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT COULD BE A CRITICAL ISSUE. WE LEFT THE BRAND NEW SUBARU 1015 FORESTER FOR TWO WEEKS WHILE WE WERE ON VACATION. WHEN WE CAME BACK THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. AAA TECH TOLD US THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM IN 2015 CARS WITH FULL COMPLEMENT OF FEATURES, AND TYPING "SUBARU BATTERY DRAINAGE PROBLEM" INTO GOOGLE BRINGS UP A LITANY OF COMPLAINTS. APPARENTLY ALL THE ELECTRONICS IN THE CAR DRAIN THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR ISN'T RUNNING. SUBARU IMPLIED IT WAS OUR FAULT FOR NOT STARTING THE CAR. THAT'S ABSURD. WE HAVE A 2010 HONDA CIVIC THAT WAS UNDER THE SNOW FOR 6 WKS. AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. SUBARU CHECKED OUR BATTERY, PRONOUNCED IT HEALTHY, SUGGESTED WE BUY A TRICKLE CHARGER (WHICH WE HAVE DONE), AND SENT US $100 FOR OUR LOYALTY. NOWHERE IN THE SUBARU LITERATURE DOES IT SAY THAT THE CAR MUST BE STARTED EVERY FEW DAYS OR WARN ABOUT BATTERY DRAINAGE. IF WE'D HAD AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRED US TO USE THE CAR WHEN WE FIRST GOT HOME, WE'D HAVE BEEN POUT OF LUCK. THIS TECHNOLOGY IS NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME, AND AT THE VERY LEAST CONSUMERS SHOULD BE WARNED.

WITHIN ONE HOUR OF GETTING THIS NEW VEHICLE, THE EYESIGHT WARNING AND BRAKING SYSTEM TURNED ITSELF ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY. THIS CONTINUES AFTER TWO DEALERS HAVE MADE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE SYSTEM. SUBARU HEADQUARTERS FORCED ME TO PAY FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD, BECAUSE THEY SAID I HAD PUT A NICK IN THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM STILL CONTINUES TO TURN ITSELF ON AND OFF APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES PER HOUR OF TRAVEL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE YOU ARE EXPECTING THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM TO WARN YOU OF UNUSUAL LANE CHANGES AND YOUR PROXIMITY TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU. ALSO WHEN YOU ARE USING THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM WITH CRUISE CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN WHENEVER THE SYSTEM TURNS ITSELF OFF. SINCE NO BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLES BEHIND YOU DO NOT GET A SIGNAL THAT YOU HAVE REDUCED YOUR SPEED. THIS IS ALSO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO REACTIVATE THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU STOP, TURN OF THE ENGINE AND RESTART THE CAR. SUBARU HEADQUARTERS CANNOT MAKE THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM FUNCTION CORRECTLY AND THEREFORE IT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE MARKET. *JS

THE ELECTRONIC SCREEN ON THE 2015 SUBARU FORESTER THAT INCLUDES THE BACK-UP DISPLAY REFLECTS A SOLID BLACK BAR DOWN THE MIDDLE IF YOU ARE WEARING POLARIZED SUNGLASSES. I'VE ALMOST BACKED OVER WALKERS IN PARKING LOTS WHO WERE IN THE OBSCURED AREA OF THE SCREEN BECAUSE OF THIS. I CHECKED AT THE DEALER, AND OTHER 2015 FORESTERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THE OUTBACK DOES NOT. SINCE I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM I HAVE DRIVEN A NUMBER OF CARS, INCLUDING TOYOTAS AND BMWS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM. SUBARU'S SUGGESTED SOLUTION IS THAT I DON'T WEAR POLARIZED SUNGLASSES. I WEAR CORRECTIVE LENSES, AND IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BUY CORRECTIVE SUNGLASSES THAT AREN'T POLARIZED. THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO WEAR NON-CORRECTIVE LENSES THAT ARE NOT PARTICULARLY GOOD FOR MY EYES, AND THROUGH WHICH THE WORLD IS BLURRED. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO GO SPEND $300+ TO BUY SUNGLASSES TO CORRECT A PROBLEM THAT SUBARU COULD HAVE CORRECTED BY PUTTING A DIFFERENT DISPLAY SCREEN IN THE CAR, SINCE BASED ON OTHER SUBARUS I'VE BEEN IN AND CARS FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS, THEY HAD THE OPTION TO DO SO. THANK YOU.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. UPDATED 03/30/15*LJ UPDATED 6/23/2015*JS

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND CANNOT BELIEVE THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS. THEY PRAISE THIS CAR FOR RELIABILITY, SO THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED THIS CAR. HOWEVER THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ARE SO SMALL YOU CAN'T READ THEM. ALSO, WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD TURN PINK ON BLACK. WITHOUT THE RUNNING LIGHTS THE NUMBERS ARE A PALE GRAY ON BLACK. WITH THE DIAL TO BRIGHTEN...THAT IS A JOKE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS OVERSIGHT. I WISH I HAD REALIZED THIS BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN, BUT I HAVE PRETTY GOOD EYESIGHT. *TR