Subaru Forester Change Vehicle

“Three times in the five months I had the Forester - the back up camera did not come on. The entire screen was black. Dealer could not duplicate issue. Also another frequent complaint on Subaru Forums”

“Took car to selling dealer to have auto-dimming inside rear view mirror with HomeLink installed. When I picked it up, image from rear view camera was shown in display whenever engine was on, not just when in reverse, and back-up lights were on too. Had to return to dealer which took 3 days to diagnose problem. Wires had been pinched when new mirror was installed. Had to replace mirror wiring harness. Solved problem”

“will not eject”

“Same comment as radio”

“Over computerized. Too complicated. many features not needed or ridiculous. Changing clock time overly complicated. Radio station selection overly complicated. Manual is incorrect or badly written. Horrible technical writing”

“The entire audio system failed and was replaced under warranty”

“Still using technology long surpassed by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, even Apple. Can't search for locations by name, and must cumbersomely type addresses, cities, and street names. I have to use Google Maps to find that information, and at that point, why bother using the built in nav in the first place? Pathing algorithm sent me inexplicably off the highway then on again 100 or so yards later. There was no blockage, or accident, or any other reason. I know now not to trust it, which is the o”

“On more than one occasion, GPS and navigation system malfunctioned... location and directions were significantly in error and would not correct without complete reboot of system by turning off the car and then back on again”

“When I took the car home the GPS did not work and I had to take it back to the dealer the next day to have it repaired”

“System not accurate, system locks up/freezes, will not reset until engine is shut down”

“Since the new radio was installed. Phone will not stay paired”

“The dealer has reset the Bluetooth function three times and it still is not working now. The manual is useless”

“The sound quality people hear that you call from the forester with eyesight is very poor. I had the dealer call me from multiple of their new subarus. The forester with eyesight is awful. Their other cars sound crystal clear. They eventually told me there isn't anything they can do. They said to wait for a software update”

“The infotainment system was not working for 6 months. The phone would not pair up with the Bluetooth, making it impossible to make or receive phone calls. Several trips to the dealer, bought a new cell phone after being told that was the problem. It wasn't. Finally, the dealer installed a new unit. Still did not work. Turned out the wire connection was placed into the incorrect fuse box. Very frustrating”

“Very poor connect quality while on bluetooth”

“No radio reception either AM or FM”

“The HD Radio Signal keeps cutting in and out. Problem reported on Subaru forums since 2014. Had dealer look at it twice before we duplicated the trouble. Dealer told me "operating as designed" My family has 2 other 2017 Subarus with radios that do not drop the signal & the loaner car I had from the dealer also did not drop the signal. Dealer & Subaru Corporate cannot tell me why my model radio drops the HD signal while others do not. Both dealer & Subaru corporate pretty much told me to get lost”

“The entire system, CD Radio, would start scanning and there was no way to stop it or reset it. Subaru replaced entire unit”

“the radio would freeze and become unresponsive to all controls; replaced under warrantee”

“Unable to communicate using voice. Module/fuse replaced by dealer”

“This is the same issue as I reported in the previous box”

“bucking and slipping, usually from a start but not always the car has good days when it is fine and bad days when the transmission acts up”

“At slow speeds, the transmission jerks”

“The CVT programming in the 2017 Forester is downright terrible. Often times very light pedal application on the accelerator will cause the transmission to shudder and jolt, both when slowly accelerating from a standstill, and even when cruising at 35mph. The transmission also sometimes takes up to 3 seconds to engage - be too quick on the accelerator after shifting and you will feel a huge jolt when accelerating or even reversing. It is the worst automatic transmission I have ever experienced,”

“Service manager says transmission lock up creates rough shift at school zone speed (15-20mph) inherent in CVT transmission but not a problem for repair”

“It stumbled in lower "gear" (it has a CVT). The transmission computer was rebooted and reduced the problem considerably, but not completely”

“About once every 5 days the transmission is hesitant, and does not engage. When starting from a dead stop it takes 2-3 seconds to engage”

“The car could not be taken out of "X Drive" because of a faulty control module. The module was replaced under warranty”

“The computer needed to be rebooted to correct a problem with transmission stumbling in lower "gear" (it has a CVT). It was helpful, but did not completely eliminate it”

“Factory recall due to low transmission fluid level”

“Transmission does not shift as expected in the "S#" mode. Technician was unable to diagnose. Subaru Corporate would not provide technical support to diagnose the problem, which is minor but annoying”

“Mirror needed to be replaced because of an accident”

“Driver's seat control panel (Left side) came loose and could not be reattached to the seat... dealer replaced panel under warranty. Seems to have been a factory quality control problem”

“1. Took 2 months,3 svc visits, incl. a requested diary from me to document that tailgate would open from dash button only 40% of time, for svc to finally realize tailgate could not open from dash button if doors were locked-absolutely NO ref in car's book about this. Since it is logical to drive with the doors locked, why does Subaru secretly require the car doors to be unlocked to operate the dash button? The book is very specific about being in park, with parking brake on. 2. Then the dash but”

“Glass/windows reflect interior moldings. Windows and other electronics do not work with the accessory switch on. Only works with engine running”

“PURCHASED FORESTER WITH EYESIGHT CAMERA. RECENTLY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY A ROCK. SUBARU QUOTED $1750 DOLLARS TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD AND REALIGN CAMERA. QUOTED $978US DOLLARS IN USA FROM SUBARU DEALER”