2014 Subaru Forester Fuel System Problems

This morning 2/20/2024 I was driving up a main commercial street in traffic, going about 10 -15 mph. I did not have my foot in the accelerator or brake as I was on a very slight incline. Suddenly, the car accelerated, made a roaring sound as if the accelerator had been stepped on strongly and started to jerk forward. I jammed on the brake and stopped the car. I did not hit the car in front of me. This happened once before, several years ago, but not to the extent of this time. The car has 45, 400 miles on it and was just serviced at the Subaru dealer 2 weeks ago. There were no problems noted at that time. There were no warning lights, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to this incident. It was probably the accelerator and fuel systems that failed. I have made an appointment with the Subaru dealer, but can't get in for a week. It was a dangerous and frightening incident. Fortunately, I was quick to respond and had a safe distance from the car in front of me. It could have been a very serious event had I not been quick to respond and had read in the past about this problem with the Subaru Forester. I tend to be a very alert, focused, and aware driver.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL WITH THE CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HAD TWO O-RINGS AND CRANK SEAL REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. DESPITE THE REPAIRS, THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE CHECK OIL LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE AFTER EVERY 1,500 MILES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CENTER SUBARU (45 WINSTED RD, TORRINGTON, CT 06790) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE EXCESSIVE OIL FAILURE DUE TO THE VEHICLE NO LONGER BEING UNDER WARRANTY AND NO OTHER RECALLS BEING PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED AND GAVE HER THE SAME INFORMATION AS THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,286.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 78 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FUEL INDICATOR DISPLAYED THAT THE FUEL WAS LOW. THE CONTACT CALLED THE POLICE AND WAS ESCORTED TO GET SOME FUEL. THE CONTACT ADDED FUEL TO THE VEHICLE, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND DROVE 400 MILES WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF DAYTONA (650 N NOVA RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114, (386) 255-2252) WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN A THIRD OF A TANK OF FUEL SINCE THAT CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO OVERHEAT. THE FUEL READER LATER DISPLAYED UNUSUAL READINGS AND STARTED ILLUMINATING CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVED NOTHING WAS DONE DURING THE WEEK IT WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED INVESTIGATION NUMBER: 1-38017139050. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK, BUT HAD NOT IN FOUR WEEKS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AS THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BEEN FLOORED. THIS OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE TO LEAVE MY DRIVEWAY WITHOUT MY THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESPOND TO BRAKING. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY TURN THE WHEEL TO AVOID GOING INTO THE CULVERT DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM MY DRIVEWAY. THE ROAD THEN IS AN IMMEDIATE RIGHT-HAND TURN BUT THE CAR WAS ALREADY GOING TOO FAST FOR ME TO SUCCESSFULLY STAY ON THE ROAD. THE CAR WENT INTO THE CULVERT ACROSS THAT ROAD, DEPLOYING ALL THE AIRBAGS, AND ESSENTIALLY DEMOLISHING THE CAR (>$20K TO REPAIR). MY WIFE AND I WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE FOR VARIOUS TESTS AND CT SCANS; FORTUNATELY, NOT TOO MUCH DAMAGE BEYOND WHAT THE SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAGS DID TO US....UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF *CN

AT COLD STARTING, APPROXIMATELY ONE TIME OUT OF 20, THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO START. IT CRANKS FOR UP TO 10 SECONDS BEFORE STARTING. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A FUEL DELIVERY OR AN IGNITION PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES FROM 35 TO 65 DEGREES. IF I DIDN'T CONTINUE CRANKING THE ENGINE TO AN EXTENT THAT I THINK IS HARMFUL TO IT, IT WOULDN'T START. I CONSIDER THAT A SAFETY ISSUE, IF I NEEDED TO GET THE CAR GOING QUICKLY. *TR

THIS VEHICLE IS A FORESTER XT TURBO. I WAS OPERATING ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 78 MPH, APPROXIMATELY 900 MILES FROM HOME, WHEN A SUDDEN LOSS OF PROPULSION OCCURRED. DASHBOARD HAD MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS. ENGINE WAS STILL OPERATING, THOUGH AT VERY LOW RPM SO I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL. AFTER MANEUVERING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I NOTICED THE TACHOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING BETWEEN 500-800 RPM. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS WERE STILL ILLUMINATED: CHECK ENGINE, HILL CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL, AND OPERATING MODE. OPERATING MODE WAS STUCK IN "SPORT" MODE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AT NORMAL SPEED TO NEAREST DEALER APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AWAY. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED I HAD AN ERROR CODE OF P0606. THIS IS A VOLTAGE ISSUE ON THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, (ECM). THE CORRECTIVE ACTION IS TO RE-FLASH THE ECM COMPUTER CHIP. THIS IS A RESTRICTED ACTION, REQUIRING A FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER TO COME TO THE DEALER TO DO THE PROCEDURE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THEY HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED THIS WITH A VEHICLE THEY SOLD BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE MODULE USUALLY OCCURS ON ENGINE START. THE TECHNICIAN CLEARED THE ERROR CODES AND I CONTINUED ON MY TRIP. UPON RETURNING TO MY HOME, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY DEALER TO BE SERVICED. MY DEALER STATED THEY WERE ONE OF THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE. I AM WONDERING WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL/NOTICE TO OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR A WHILE. IT IS FRIGHTENING TO LOSE POWER WHEN CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *TR

I WAS TURNING RIGHT TO PARK AT A STATE PARK. THE PARKING AREA IS SANDY AND FULL OF POT HOLES. I WAS ALMOST STOPPED WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY. MY CAR MOUNTED A FLAT BOULDER, ONE OF MANY IN THE PARKING AREA. I STILL DON'T FEEL LIKE I COULD HAVE STEPPED OR STOMPED ON THE GAS PEDAL VS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT IS A POSSIBILITY. I AM A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER. COULD THIS BE A DEFECT IN THIS CAR? I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED AND NOTED IN CASE OTHERS HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE. *TR