2009 Subaru Forester Electrical Problems

Your engine is shutting off unexpectedly while you're driving. After starting the car and driving for a few minutes on a residential street, the engine simply turned off in the middle of the road. This may be related to a known recall (NHTSA Campaign ID: 19V297000). The fix will likely involve diagnosing the electrical system and addressing whatever component is causing the unexpected shutdown.

Your 2009 Subaru Forester is stalling when you accelerate from a stop, even after multiple repair attempts. Multiple dealers have suggested the issue is related to a rich fuel mixture (too much fuel relative to air in the combustion). The fix likely involves diagnosing and replacing fuel system components like the oxygen sensor, fuel injectors, or fuel pressure regulator to correct the fuel-to-air ratio.

Your radio and windshield wipers sometimes don't work when you first start the car, though they function normally after you restart the engine. This has happened twice over the course of a week. In rainy conditions, losing wiper function creates a serious safety issue since you wouldn't be able to see the road. The problem likely involves a loose electrical connection or a faulty power distribution component that needs to be inspected and repaired.

3 INSTRUMENT LIGHTS TURN ON SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED: ABS, HILL ASSIST, VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL AND REMAIN LIT UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE 3 INDICATOR LIGHTS TURN ON TOGETHER INTERMITTENTLY DURING SUBSEQUENT DRIVING. SUBARU BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION SHOWS UP ON DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TWICE WITH SUBARU BRAND PART. ADDITIONALLY, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ADJUSTED TWICE SUBSEQUENTLY BY DEALER REPAIR SHOP. DEALER REPAIR SHOP REPORTED FIRST SUBARU BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. THEY ADVISED SECOND BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH DID NOT STAY IN PROPER PLACE AND ARE NOT CERTAIN WHY. ISSUE PRESENT OVER APPROXIMATELY PAST 6 MONTHS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, SUCH AS SOME WARNING INDICATORS, WIPERS, AND THE DEFROSTER, CEASED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD CORRECT THEMSELVES ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS MANUALLY RESTARTED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. AUTONATION SUBARU IN SPOKANE VALLEY, WA COULD NOT REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

THREE SEPARATE TIMES MY WIPER BLADES WOULD NOT WORK, WHICH IS DANGEROUS DURING A DOWNPOUR. I'VE BROUGHT THE 2009 FORESTER IN FOR REPAIR AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE ISSUE AS IT WAS WORKING WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. ALSO THE RADIO DID NOT WORK DURING THESE TIMES. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A FUSE, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CAUSE. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. NOW I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, AND RESTART IT AND IT WILL SEEM TO RESOLVE, FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, SO YOU THINK THE PROBLEM RESOLVED, BUT 6 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENS AGAIN...THESE THREE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN TRAFFIC DRIVING, AND IT WAS RAINING.

MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING HER 2009 SUBARU FORESTER ON A DAY WITH LIGHT RAIN. SHE STOPPED FOR A WHILE, AND WHEN SHE GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN, HER WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. SHE DROVE IT FOR A WHILE, AND STOPPED TO HAVE SOMEONE CHECK IT. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE WORKING AGAIN. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE HAVING TO DRIVE ON A RAINY NIGHT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BOTTOM HAD A SHORT IN THE ODS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALER WORKED ON THE BATTERY TERMINALS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN, TWICE. UPDATED 07/14/16.*JB

THE PAST MONTH OR SO I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER DIDN'T SEEM TO FEEL RIGHT ON MY BUTT. THE SEAT SEEMED TO ALMOST BURN ME IN ONE SPOT. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD, BUT DIDN'T LOOK INTO IT FURTHER. JUST THIS PAST WEEK I NOTICED THAT ONLY THE BACK HEATER WAS WORKING. WHILE CLEANING THE CAR OUT TODAY I NOTICED A VERY SMALL BURN HOLE IN THE CLOTH SEAT. I DECIDED TO REMOVE THE SEAT AND INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. DURING MY INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY A BURN MARK AND THERE WAS MELTED/BLACK AREAS UNDER THE CLOTH. I DID NOT DIG TOO DEEP INTO THE SEAT SINCE I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE AN ISSUE PUTTING IT ALL BACK TOGETHER. I HAVE TWO PICTURES. ONE OF THE HOLE AND ONE UNDER THE CLOTH. I DID THE BEST I COULD PHOTOGRAPHING UNDER THE CLOTH. I REMOVED THE POWER TO THE SEAT HEATER.

ON 12/19/2015 AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE RADIO, CIGAR LIGHTER, TEMPERATURE/TIME, AND ELECTRONIC MIRROR CONTROL WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON A SECONDARY STREET. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON THE AFOREMENTIONED ITEMS BEGAN TO FUNCTION AGAIN. FUSES WERE CHECKED AND ALL FUSES SEEM TO BE IN TACT. THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE EXTERNAL MIRRORS ARE A SAFETY CONCERN.

I HAVE A SUBARU 2009 THAT I BOUGHT LAST YEAY WITH AROUND 25000 MILES UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY . VIN [XXX] . AND THIS AS HAPPENED TE TIMES SO FAR . WHILE DRIVING OR JUST STARTING OF THE CAR SHAKES VERY HARD , AND THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON THE CHECK ENGINE AD CRUISE CONTROL AND AS THE CAR TRIES TO SHIFT THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES . THEN AS YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT LOSES POWER ALMOST AS IF IT IS STALLING OUT . IT DID THIS TO ME ON INTERSTATE 85 AT 65 MPH AND I BARELY MISSED A TRUCK. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER SHIP TWICE AND TAKEN IT IN ONCE AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG ? NOW THAT I ALMOST WRECKED LAST NIGHT I AM CONTACTING YOU . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS GOING AROUND A CUP-DE-SAC TO STOP TO A HAVE MY PASSENGER EXIT THE CAR TO HER HOUSE, I HEARD ENGINE REV AND PUSH FORWARD INTO HER HOLLOW TILE WALL, GARDEN AND DOWN THE OTHER SIDE OF HER PROPERTY AND STOP ON THE WALL BEFORE I THOUGHT OF TURNING THE ENGINE OFF. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN RAINY WEATHER, VEHICLE BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND LOST POWER, FORCING DRIVER INTO AN UNSAFE SITUATION OF COAXING CAR TO SHOULDER. CHECK ENGINE, STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON, AND CRUISE LIGHT FLASHED. AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING, SAME LIGHTS REMAINED ON BUT ENGINE RAN NORMALLY. WE HAVE ALSO ANOTHER 2009 FORESTER WHICH EXPERIENCES MISFIRES, SAME LIGHTS, AFTER STARTING COLD ON A RAINY DAY. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FROM SUBARU ON OTHER LESS CRITICAL TOPICS, THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AN INCLINATION ON THEIR PART TO ADDRESS THIS ENGINE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DISASTER. OUR ONLINE RESEARCHES SUGGEST THAT MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR MALFUNCTIONS, AND WE DON'T DETECT ANY SERIOUS EFFORT BY THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX THIS. *TR

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE, NOTICED SIDE LIGHTS WERE ON, CAR WAS NOT ON. AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE NOTICED A SMELL OF BURNED PLASTIC. TRIED MULTIPLE WAYS TO SHUT OFF THE SIDE LIGHTS, COULDN'T DO IT. FINALLY TRACED THE SMELL OF THE BURNING PLASTIC TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, BY THE LIFT GATE, BY THE SPARE TIRE. THE ELECTRICAL CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE VEHICLE TO THE TRAILER HITCH WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNING AND SMOKING. DISCONNECTED IT AND THE POWER FAILURE STOPPED, BY THEN THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED AND WIRES BURNT. TOOK PHOTOS OF THE WIRING TO SHOW IT, PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE CONDENSATION IN THE AREA AND MOISTURE CAUSED A SHORT IN THE HARNESS. WITHOUT INTERVENING CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT DOWN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE CENTER DASH DISPLAY WAS DARK: RADIO AND CD CHANGER, OUTSIDE TEMP, AVE MPG, CLOCK. THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTING, EVERYTHING WORKED OK. THERE HAS BEEN A TOTAL OF 3 ADDITIONAL OCCURRENCES SINCE. ALSO SEE ONE SIMILAR REPORTED CASE: HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/SUBARU/FORESTER/ELECTRICAL_SYSTEM/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

COMPASS DISPLAY IN REAR VIEW MIRROR WENT OUT, NO LONGER DISPLAYS DIRECTION. MY FRIEND HAS THE SAME VEHICLE AND HIS WENT OUT ALSO. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE BECAUSE IT HELPS TELL THE DRIVER WHAT DIRECTION HE'S TRAVELING WHEN TRAVELING IN UNFAMILIAR PLACE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE A DATE THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THERE ARE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE TODAY; IT WAS OFF AND ON RAINY WEATHER, SO I HAD BEEN RUNNING MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS A LITTLE. TURNED OFF CAR; WENT IN STORE, CAME BACK OUT, STARTED CAR UP - I NOTICED THE TIME/TEMP/MILEAGE DISPLAY WAS BLACK, THEN, I NOTICED THE RADIO HAD LOST POWER; THEN I NOTICED THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK, BUT NOT UNTIL I WAS OUT IN THE HIGHWAY AND NEEDED TO USE THEM. THIS WAS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. I MADE ANOTHER STOP, TURNED OFF CAR, WENT IN STORE, CAME BACK OUT, STARTED UP CAR - AT THAT TIME, THE WIPERS, RADIO AND DISPLAY WERE BACK TO NORMAL ??? THIS UNDEPENDABLE WILL NOT DO. SUBARU NEEDS TO REPAIR MY CAR AT NO CHARGE. I BELIEVE MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH SUBARU IS OVER, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND WHAT I EXPERIENCED. *TR

2009 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS REMOTE STARTED AN WITHIN SECONDS, THE WIRE HARNESS BURNT, MELTING SOME PLASTIC PARTS *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS GOING TO THE SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS AND OTHER COMPONENTS HAD BURNED OUT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *JB

FIRE ERUPTED WITHOUT WARNING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE PANEL BELOW THE TRUNK COVER ON 2009 SUBARU FORESTER WITH LESS THAN 3,500 MILES. THE WIRE HARNESS BURNT. THIS HAPPENED ALMOST 2 MONTHS AGO AND SUBARU IS IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE INSURANCE AS IT SEEMS TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

IGNITION DOESN'T RECOGNIZE VALET KEY, "SECURITY" LIGHT ON DASH COMES ON, KEY WON'T TURN AND CAR WON'T START. *TR