MyCarTSB

2002 Subaru Forester Transmission Problems

14 owner-reported transmission complaints from NHTSA data

14
Complaints
1
Recalls
4
Crashes
Jan 2002Dec 2001
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Transmission Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #02V282000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

Fix: 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.

Owner Complaints (14)

mediumPOWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Mar 2007

WHEN PARKING VEHICLE IN GARAGE, ENGINE REVVED AND CAR DROVE FORWARD CAUSING DAMAGE TO CAR AND GARAGE EVEN THOUGH CAR HAD BEEN PLACED INTO PARK. *JB

NHTSA #: 10184278
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Dec 2006

WHEN TRAVELING 60 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY LOOSES ACCELERATION, LIKE IT IS SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL. AT FIRST, I COULD REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS, ALLOW THE CAR TO COAST AND SLOW, AND THEN RE-APPLY GAS, AND IT WOULD ACCELERATE AGAIN. NOW WHEN IT OCCURS, I HAVE TO STOP, NORMALLY ON THE SIDE OF A RURAL HIGHWAY, PUT IT IN PARK, THEN BACK TO DRIVE FOR IT TO WORK PROPERLY. I AM AFRAID THIS IS GOING TO LEAVE ME STRANDED SOMEWHERE OUT IN THE 'STICKS.' THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 25K MILES, AND HAS HAD ITS SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. ANY INFO?*JB

NHTSA #: 10175222
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Aug 2005

THERE WAS NOT ANY WARNING OR INDICATION PRIOR TO THE VEHICLES FAILURE AND ALL SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTIONS WERE COMPLETED AND UP TO DATE. WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON OUR 2002 SUBARU FORESTER WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES AN HOUR. THE ONLY INDICATION OF THE FAILURE WAS A SUDDEN RISE IN RPMS ON THE TACHOMETER FOLLOWED BY THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND HAD TO INCH OUR WAY ALONG THE FREEWAY SHOULDER TO THE NEAREST OFF RAMP AND PROCEEDED SEVERAL MILES, COASTING DOWN HILL ,UNTIL THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER MOVE UNDER ITS OWN POWER. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA #: 10130903
mediumPOWER TRAIN
CrashFiled: Feb 2005

MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. *JB

NHTSA #: 10109867
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jan 2004

CAR HESITATES THEN LURCHES FORWARD AFTER PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. VEHICLE THEN HESTIATES AS IF LOSING POWER. HAD THE SAME PROBELEM IN AUGUST OF 2003 AND DEALER RESET THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER AND SAID NO PROBLEM. DEALER TRIED TO HAVE ME PAY FOR A FUEL INJECTOR CLEANING SERVICE THIS TIME. CAR HAS 29,000 MILES. I SPOKE A ANOTHER CUSTOMER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHO WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOTICED THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB SITE. SHOULDN'T THIS MATTER BE LOOKED AT FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL?

NHTSA #: 10056208
mediumPOWER TRAIN
CrashFiled: Jan 2004

ON THE GREEN TRAFFIC SIGNAL I ACCELERATED AND THE CAR SURGED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I JAMMED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THREW THE SHIFT INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR STOPPED, THEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFT IN PARK, THE CAR SURGED IN REVERSE HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME. I PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED SURGING TWICE BEFORE THIS. MY 2002 SUBARU FORRESTER WAS RECALLED FOR THE PARKING ROD REPLACEDMENT IN APRIL 2003.*AK

NHTSA #: 10054693
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Oct 2003

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A HUMMING WINDING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC TOLD THE DRIVER THAT FRONT DIFFERENTIAL CAME APART, AND PIECE OF METAL WAS INSIDE OF TRANSMISSION, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. *AK

NHTSA #: 10044013
mediumPOWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Aug 2003

TRANSMISSION HESITATES FROM A DEAD STOP. YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS FOR 2 SECONDS OR SO, THEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD.*AK

NHTSA #: 10033238
mediumPOWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Aug 2003

CAR "HESITATES" OCCASIONALLY, 1-2 SECOND DELAY AFTER YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL UNTIL THE CAR RESPONDS. ALSO, THE CAR SHIFTS INAPPROPRIATELY. MOSTLY THIS OCCURS ON HILLS. YOU WILL ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE, AND THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS; OR YOU ATTEMPT TO PASS SOMEONE ON HIGHWAY AND CAR WILL HESITATE, THEN BEGIN TO ACCELERATE, THEN WILL SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT. I HAVE HAD CAR TO DEALER, FIRST I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THEN, THEY REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, AND HAD THE COMPUTER RESET. THIS SEEMED TO IMPROVE HANDLING FOR ONLY ABOUT A WEEK. THE CAR IS NOW HESITATING AND DOWNSHIFTING ON A REGULAR BASIS.*AK

NHTSA #: 10030884
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Mar 2003

PROBLEMS GETTING RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. *MR CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 02V-282 TO REPLACE FAILED TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM. CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. THE NOTICE STATES REPAIRS WILL TAKE AN 1-1/2 HOUR, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP NEEDS VEHICLE FOR THE ENTIRE DAY AND WILL NOT AUTHORIZE A LOANER CAR FOR THE ENTIRE DAY. *TT *NLM

NHTSA #: 10009728
mediumPOWER TRAIN
CrashFiled: Aug 2002

WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN PARK IT WILL SLOWLY START TO ROLL BACK IN REVERSE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA #: 8017700
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Aug 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE CLUTCH INTERMITTENTLY FAILS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND DELAY ENGAGMENT. *YH

NHTSA #: 786411
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jan 2002

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEARS LOCK IN PARK POSITION ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA #: 8002494
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Dec 2001

THIS SITUATION WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY REPLACING "THE BRAINS" OF THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE IDLE SPEED HAS REMAINED BELOW 300 WITHOUT THE SERVICE LIGHT COMING ON SINCE. ONE OTHER COMMENT IS THAT THE SHIFTER DOES NOT LOCK INTO DRIVE LIKE MOST CARS IT LOCKS INTO 3RD. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE IDLE SPEED IS SUPPOSED TO BE BUT IT CAN'T BE 220. PUT BACK IN SERVICE ON DEC 8TH. *AK

NHTSA #: 755422

Other 2002 Subaru Forester Issues