2020 Subaru Forester UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Good evening. My claim number for reported issues to Suburu USA is [XXX]. Issue; On 5 or 6 occasions our 2020 Suburu Forester vehicle stalled while we were driving it. The stall has happened both when we are stopped at a traffic light or slowing down for traffic or a traffic light or in one case, at a drive through. This is a safety issue as when we start to drive; the vehicle shuts down and the steering wheel locks up along with all dashboard lights coming on. Also, on at least 2 occasions a message came up to restart the car for our safety. Other cars around us were moving or had to wait for us which creates anger towards us and danger for other drivers if they try to drive around us. The issue has been ongoing since approximately July 2024. I am not able to add a MPH range below, but generally we are traveling 0-10 mph because we are usually braking or going from stop (at a light) and then trying to drive when the stall happens. The vehicle has been brought to XXXX XXXX in Hanover, Massachusetts each time and thus far, they have not been able to resolve the issue. Tonight, we dropped the vehicle off again due to the most recent stall that happened on Saturday [XXX] I have brought this to Suburu USA’s attention and other than the dealership trying to find the issue, not much has been done that I know of. I am hoping your office can inquire with Suburu because it is either an issue specific to our vehicle, or if not, there may be other suburus stalling out there which can lead to serious situations for other drivers. I feel compelled to report this because if there is a wider issue, it should be reviewed to protect others, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Unknown or auto stop-start On two occasions when I stopped at a red light (auto stop-start activated) the car stalled out when I hit the gas. There was a warning message that alerted on the dash as well as flashing lights and beeping. The only way to restart my car was to put it in park, turn it off, then turn it back on. These were both at heavily used intersections and I had to use my emergency lights to try prevent being rear-ended and both times I have struggled to quickly resolve the issue which caused danger to others as well. My car has been serviced and inspected in the last 2 months so I am unsure the cause. I had received no alerts or warnings on my car prior to these instances and assumed the first instance was a fluke. I have scheduled a service with a subaru dealer in the near future.

Collided with a deer that was running across the freeway. Driving legal speed. Impact to front driver's side. Impact seemed relatively minor. No passenger injury. Odd that the airbags didn't deploy. Able to coast to the shoulder. Steam coming from radiator. That dissipated quickly. Had my sister call 911. Took pics of the front as well as the deer fur stuck to the car. About 2 minutes went by and I returned to the front to assess the extent of the damage. Car totaled. As I was assessing, I noted flames starting at the engine compartment firewall, almost directly centered between right and left sides. Vehicle eventually became fully engulfed. Seems like that fire shouldn't have started a full 5 minutes after the engine had been shut off. Advised to report by State Farm as the loss prevention person also thought it was unusual, as did OSP and fire. Said they'd never seen a car burst into flames after a deer strike.

The Auto stop start feature on the car drains the battery and alternator too much. It shouldn’t be forced on consumers. If it was a feature I wanted to use I should have the option of turning it on not be forced to always turn it off since I don’t use it. The alternator has already been replaced under warranty due to this feature. Between that and the dealership saying it would be over $700 to replace the battery is ridiculous. Today the car died while at a stop and the battery is needing to be replaced.

We hit a deer, front-end impact, then our Forester started on fire and completely burned up. The airbags did not deploy, we were not injured but the car is a complete loss.

Firestone Wauwatosa, WI told me I need to have them recalibrate the Driver Assist System as part of an alignment I took the car in for on 5523. This added $125.00 on top of a $209.99 cost for the lifetime alignment cost. Laura, in the service department at Zeigler Subaru, Kenosha, where we bought the car, said this would only have to be done if the car had been in an accident. Not knowing what is actually required leaves me feeling unsafe.

Thermo Control Valve is the issue according to Subaru. This is apparently an issue as a quick google search took me to many forums of other owners/drivers experiencing the same issue. For me, I was stopped at a red light and my car performed an automatic engine off like normal, and as the light turned green I took my foot off the brake and went to press the gas but my car fully shut off and gave me several warnings that all of the systems were offline. I had to put it in park and try to turn it off and on again to get it going, but it was incredibly stressful for my car to lock up like that on a busy road. This valve causes errors that turn off all the safety features in the car which sounds like a huge issue.

Windshield cracked for no apparent reason.

My wife was out this morning meeting friends for coffee. She gave a friend a ride home and she noticed a crack in the windshield on the drivers side. There was no indication that it was hit with a rock or anything else. I see that there was a lawsuit against Subaru for defective windshields.

When I applied the brake ,the vehicle suddenly accelerated and smashed into my garage

Windshield cracked with out any other related damage. No rock chips or other damage. While sitting still windshield popped and a small 1/2 inch crack started on the edge of the glass and spread all the way across the windshield. Subaru clames there is no coverage even tho there is no damage to the windshield

Windshield keeps cracking as if unable to withstand regular road conditions that other vehicles/windshields for vehicles with the same capabilities and from the same brand (but different models) can. Windshield for my vehicle has been replaced once but will need to be replaced again, each time with an oem part

Windshield cracked, what appears to be originated from the inside near the heating coil. Has spread horizontal about two-thirds of the windshield. Available for inspection upon request. Has not had any inspections yet. Can inhibit the eyesight if continues to spread.

The Windshield broke for no apparent reason. It’s a big crack that affects visibility. I know there is an ongoing problem with other similar suburu vehicles and is currently under a lawsuit process.

I was driving down the highway & noticed a crack was growing insanely large due to the heat & while I had other cracks on my windshield that were little dings it looked like a grain of sand/very small pebble hit the side of my windshield and nearly cracked in down the middle. I have heard of other people with Subaru foresters complaining about this issue & it makes the safety of the driver at risk when just about anything can crack your windhshield making it unsafe to drive/hard to see.

DTC P26A3 thermo control valve ? All my safety features are disabled until the part becomes available- it is apparently on back order and/ or not part of an active recall or both ? Having difficulty getting information from my dealer/service dept

My windshield cracked overnight, in my driveway, with no possibility of a person or animal being the cause. The nearest neighbor is 2 miles away. Subaru warranty denied my claim and said they saw a rock chip in the pics. The glass repair shop that submitted the claim said their was no sign of force (rock) to the windshield being the cause of the crack.

Windshield - The front windshield cracked all by itself. This is the 2nd time the front windshield cracked. I got the 1st driver side crack repaired as it was relatively small (dime size). The 2nd time the crack was on the passenger side. This cracked is in the middle of the window and is approximately 17 inches long and starts at the edge. The crack happened when I was driving.

Windshield Glass Cracked.

There have been three cracks in the front windshield in 18 months with little to no provocation. These have required replacement of the front windshield and re-calibration of eyesight. With each crack, there was little to no cause. On one occasion, there was a tiny piece of gravel that resulted in a crack that extended across 50% of the front windshield. My concern is for my personal safety should the windshield crack and cause harm to me as the driver or impair my visibility while driving which increases my risk for an accident. There’s also the concern about cost and time spent with repeated replacements. The date of incident below is the date of the third crack

On highway speeds, the hood, which is shut, rattles. I have not had the hood inspected nor I have brought it to the manufacturer.

Windshield cracked with minor strikes. There are two cracks, one small crack, one large crack in windshield and some chips. The windshield seems to be prone to cracking and when I discussed this with the Subaru dealer on 08/05/2022 about the 2020 Forester, he stated that the windshields are thinner to reduce weight for improved fuel efficiency and are not as durable as older windshields. The representative said it would cost $1415.80 plus tax to replace with original windshield. Why would I want an original windshield if it not durable and prone to breaking? This is a defective product and I would think it would be replaced by the dealer at no charge with a more durable product.

Front windshield developed a 12 inch stress fracture with no invisible sign it was due to a rock chip. The crack first appear below the windshield wiper in the center.

Windshield cracked

Windshield on NEW car has cracked (for no apparent reason) two times within one year of purchase. Subaru has denied defects in each instance.