2016 Subaru Forester Power Train

I bought the car between 82-90K miles. Not long after I noticed when I was at an intersection and went from a stopped position to accelerating it would barely go. Spent over a lot to fix it and the guy who did says he has 2-3 Forresters a month in his shop for the same issue.

THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE SINCE SUBARU COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ORIGINAL OVERHEATING PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION. THEY MADE AN EDUCATED GUESS REPAIR TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH MAY MALFUNCTION DURING DRIVING THE VEHICLE,SLIPPAGE, TO LOCKINGUP. This afternoon, while my daughter was driving through the Mojave Desert on her way back home to Mammoth Lakes, Ca.; her dash light came on- AT OIL TEMP Warning, forcing multiple stops to cool the vehicle. The trip back to Hacienda Heights took over four hours (4) in extreme heat. I’ve attached a photo of the dash warning for your reference. After she called me from the road, I instructed her to turn around and wait for the warning light to turn off. (Google’s guidance emphasized cooling the transmission before resuming travel). Thankfully, the route [XXX] from Mojave was mostly downhill, which helped reduce strain on the vehicle—but it was still a stressful and exhausting experience. MY LETTER SUBARU I need to be candid: my time and patience are wearing thin. I’ve remained cooperative throughout this process and paid about $644 out-of-pocket for repairs specifically recommended by Ocean Subaru—including the initial solenoid replacement, CVT oil cooler, and thermostat. While I appreciate that the remaining repairs were performed under goodwill, the original overheating issue remains unresolved, and its root cause is still uncertain. SUBARU HASN'T REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. S Regarding future repairs or services, we cannot guarantee coverage until the details of any needed repairs are identified and thoroughly reviewed. If there are any updates or if further repairs are recommended, please feel free to let me know in a direct reply, and I will do my best to assist you. Thank you again for your understanding and patience. Sincerely, Michael Subaru of America, Inc. Customer Advocacy Department 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783) ext. 119949 Case Number: 250725-1500342 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Subaru is aware of issues with their transmission system and previously offered an extension but my car is outside the 100k limit. The transmission started to fail and each time i stopped at an intersection, it would start to idle roughly and try and lurch foreward even with the brake fully depressed. I had to shift to neutral to avoid being pushed into oncoming cross traffice each time for a few weeks and then all my warning lights came on and my usual safety features were shut down

When accelerator is slightly pushed after the vehicle has come to stop it accelerates in a jack rabbit manner. The driver stopped at beginning of driveway parking area, and decided to move slightly forward. A slight push on accelerator pedal caused vehicle to lurch forward and do $8,700 damage to the closed 2 car garage door, and $1,000+ to vehicle. Date of accident 02/10/2023

The contact owns 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact stated that she persistently depressed the accelerator pedal until the vehicle responded. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where she was informed that the vehicle was operating as designed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, various warning lights were illuminated. After using a personal diagnostic reader, he retrieved two unknown failure codes. The vehicle was taken to an independent where it was diagnosed that the transmission and an unknown sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted and the contact stated that the various warning lights remained illuminated and that when coming to a stop at a stop signal, the vehicle was jerking and lost motive power. The vehicle was able to restart after shifting the gear into park(P) to turn off the vehicle and then restart. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Pulled into parking space in shopping mall. The car accelerated over the curb and ran into a store front knocking out a wall. The car was still in Drive when it came to a stop. No one was hurt in the car, on the sidewalk or in the store. There is a class action law suit on this model of Subaru for uncontrolled/sudden acceleration while coming to a stop, but Subaru does not acknowledge any problem. This was the first indication of a sudden acceleration for this car. It just had its 30,000 inspection from the Subaru dealer.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAMELBACK SUBARU LOCATED AT 1521 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014, (602) 680-2495 FOR THE 120,000 MILES VEHICLE INSPECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED, THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SAME DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,953.

THERE IS A LEAK IN THE HEAD GASKET WHICH RUINED A TEMPERATURE GAUGE ($700 TO REPLACE). THE MECHANICS SAY IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THERE IS NOTHING I COULD DO TO AVOID THE ISSUE AND IT WILL KEEP HAPPENING UNTIL I FIX THE LEAK.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE

WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED IN PARK AFTER A TRIP, THE KEY BECOMES STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE TURNED OFF BUT THE KEY IS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. CYCLING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND PLACING THE CAR BACK IN PARK MULTIPLE TIMES ALLOWS THE KEY TO EVENTUALLY BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. ONLINE SEARCH SHOWED MANY COMPLAINTS FROM THE SAME YEAR VEHICLE.

THE KEY HAS STARTED GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION INTERMITTENTLY AFTER TURNING THE MOTOR OFF. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS INVOLVING TURNING THE MOTOR BACK ON AND PULLING THE KEY OUT AS I'M TURNING THE MOTOR OFF. IT MAY GO A COUPLE OF DAYS AND BE FINE THEN DO IT SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW. *TR

MY CAR IS SLOWING DOWN DRASTICALLY WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE GAS AND RPM IS INCREASING. I SUSPECT THAT THE CVT IS SLIPPING AND CAUSING THE CAR TO ENGINE BRAKE. THIS IS THE REASON SUBARU EXTENDED THE CVT WARRANTY, BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE CVTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SCHOMP SUBARU (580 S HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80012, (720) 343-2210), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500.

CVT CODES P0700 AND P2764 CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION AS FIXING JUST THE TORQUE CONVERTER WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE. ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND NONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES WILL WORK. THE CAR WAS DOING THIS FROM A STARTING POINT AND STAYED ON NO MATTER SPEED. SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CVT...$7,731.00 TO REPLACE

SAFETY CONCERN REGARDING MANUAL TRANSMISSION COMING OUT OF GEAR WHILE ENGINE BRAKING.THIS HAS HAPPENED ON FLAT ROADS AND WHILE DESCENDING HILLS, AND WHILE IN FIRST OR SECONDS GEAR. ISSUE EASILY DUPLICATED WHEN IN FIRST GEAR AT LOW SPEED (BETWEEN 1,500 AND 3,000 RPM) GOING DOWNHILL WITH FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL. AS THE VEHICLE DESCENDS THE HILL, THE GEAR LEVER BEGINS MOVING AND EVENTUALLY POPS INTO NEUTRAL. ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP AT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE. DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT 30,000 MILES, THE ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP AGAIN. WENT FOR A DRIVE WITH THE MASTER TECHNICIAN AND DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED SHIFT CABLES, BUSHINGS ON CABLES, CABLE ADJUSTMENT, ENGINE MOUNTS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS AND DEEMED THEM ALL IN GOOD CONDITION. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED SUBARU TECHNICAL SERVICES WHICH STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COMING OUT OF GEAR IS THE CAR "OPERATING AS DESIGNED" AND THAT IT IS "NORMAL CONDITION FOR CABLE SHIFTED SPLIT CASE 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION". DEALERSHIP ALSO VERIFIED THAT THE ISSUE OCCURS ON ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION AND SHIFTER. NO REPAIR OR FURTHER INVESTIGATION WAS ADVISED.

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT SPOT AT IDLE SPEED, I LIGHTLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD COLLIDING WITH THE VEH PARKED TO MY LEFT. MY VEH JUMPED THE CURB WITH THE FRONT END COMING TO REST ON THE SIDEWALK. I HAVE HAD CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH THIS SUDDEN SURGING ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE TO ENTER MY GARAGE OR STARTING FROM A STOP. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTON OF SUBARU & TOOK IT TO THEM FOR DIAGNOSIS ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM & FOUND NOTHING ABNORMAL IN IT'S OPERATION. APPARENTLY I AM NOT ALONE IN MY COMPLAINT AS I HAVE READ IN THE DECEMBER 2016 ISSUE OF MOTOR TREND MAGAZINE THAT THEY TOO MENTION THE "JUMPY THROTTLE RESPONSE". I HAVE ALSO READ OF SIMILAR RAPID ACCELERATION COMPLAINTS IN YOUR CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS SECTION WHICH PARALLEL MINE. I HAVE TOLD SUBARU THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS COLLISION & THAT I FEAR THAT COULD HAPPEN. EVEN THOUGH THIS COLLISION & RESULTIG DAMAGE WAS MINOR, I AM THANKFUL THERE WAS NO ONE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK THAT COULD HAVE BEEN STUCK. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEH NOW & DON'T KNOW WHAT MY NEXT STEP WILL BE. W.A LOVOLD MANHATTAN BEACH, CA

BROKEN TRANSMISSION DUE TO BROKEN TRANSMISSION BELT AT 43,000 MILES. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A HUGE BANG, AND MY CAR ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED BUT THERE WAS NOBODY BEHIND ME. MY CAR BEGIN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. I TRIED TO GET THE CAR TO DRIVE BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AND UTILIZED OTHER TECHNIQUES, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL NAPLES DEVOE SUBARU DEALER. EIGHT DAYS LATER, THEY CONFIRMED MY SUSPICIONS. MY CAR HAD A BROKEN TRANSMISSION AT 43,000 MILES. THIS COULD'VE ENDED MUCH DIFFERENTLY HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I NO LONGER BELIEVE MY SUBARU IS A SAFE VEHICLE. SUBARU HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SINCE THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WANT TO REPLACE IT WITH A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION RATHER THAN A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH CARRIES A BETTER WARRANTY. BOTH SUBARU OF AMERICA AND DEVOE SUBARU IN NAPLES HAVE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE, DISMISSIVE, DISRESPECTFUL, AND UNINTERESTED IN FIXING MY CAR IN A TIMELY, PROFESSIONAL MANNER. I WILL NO LONGER OWN A SUBARU. 30+ YEARS OF OWNING CARS WITH MANY OF THEM EXCEEDING 200,000 MILES AND NEVER HAVE I BEEN IN A CAR THAT CARRIED THE RISK OF KILLING ME. IF MY TRANSMISSION BELT HAD BROKEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING 75 MILES AN HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY I MIGHT NOT BE HERE WRITING THIS REPORT. GET IT TOGETHER SUBARU, NOT FEELING THE LOVE!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. KLAMATH FALLS SUBARU IN KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON 97603 WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,200. *TT *TR

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE WILL BOG DOWN AND IT WILL NOT MOVE. THE SITUATION LAST ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND DURING THIS TIME I AM UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY TO NONE PER DAY. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY SERVICE REP AND HIS ANSWER WAS THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR ABOUT THE LAST 12 MONTHS. THE LAST INSTANCE WAS THE DATE SELECTED ON THE CALENDAR.

WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THERE IS A 3 TO 4 SECOND LAG TIME IN THE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN SHIFTING AND GETTING POWER TO THE WHEELS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU BACK OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE ON A BUSY STREET (AS WE DO). I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND THEY SAID THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE TYPE OF TRANSMISSION (CVT) AND THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT IT. THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A LEVEL SURFACE. I STARTED THE CAR, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE, PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, RELEASE THE BRAKE. THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS RATHER QUICKLY. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, RELEASED IT AGAIN AND THE CAR STARTED ROLLING FORWARDS. THE CAR WAS DEFINITELY IN DRIVE, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BACKWARDS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT ONLY WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAD NEVER BEFORE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,800.

WHEN YOU GO FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THERE IS A LAG TIME IN THE TRANSMISSION. OR IF YOU GO FROM PARK TO DRIVE ITS THE SAME. IF YOUR ON AN INCLINE IT MAKES YOU HIT THE GAS TO ACCELERATE. AND IF YOU WERE TO PULL A TRAILER AND YOU ARE ON A SMALL HILL IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS. WE ONLY HAVE 3700 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU CORP AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO THE DEALER, WHICH I DID. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT HE ALSO SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS TO ME IS VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO FIX. THE DEALER ASKED HOW COME I HADN'T NOTICED THIS WHEN WE FIRST TRIED THE VEHICLE. AS I TOLD HIM ITS MY WIFES CAR AND I DRIVE MY OWN VEHICLE AND I DIDN'T NOTICE IT TILL SHE TOLD ME TO TRY IT OUT. I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ANYONE TO BUY A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER UNTIL THEY HAVE TRIED IT FOR A WHILE.

WHEN YOU GO FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THERE IS A LAG TIME IN THE TRANSMISSION. OR IF YOU GO FROM PARK TO DRIVE ITS THE SAME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU RELY ON YOUR CAR MOVING WHEN YOU SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE (E.G., WHEN YOU BACK OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY). WE WENT TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT HE ALSO SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS TO ME IS VERY DANGEROUS.