10.8% of complaints about the 2003 Subaru Forester came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 9.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is fuel system (31 complaints), typically at 11.2 yr or about 91,000 miles.
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, WEST VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION IF THE HANGER BRACKET IS EXPOSED
A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE/LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS COULD UNLATCH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
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.
THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THE ENGINE FUMBLES THEN STALLS.*AK
CLUTCH JITTER; STARTED IMMEDIATELY: CLUTCH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 11,900 MILES. SPOKE WITH COUSIN IN CANADA WHO BOUGHT THE SAME CAR THE SAME DAY. ALREADY HAS REPLACED CLUTCH ONCE AND IS HAVING TROUBLE AGAIN WITH JITTER. VEHICLE STALLS FREQUENTLY UPON COLD START. COMPUTER WAS REMOVED FROM VEHICLE AND SENT BACK TO FACTORY TO BE RECALIBRATED AT 11,900. *LA
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PINING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED IN COLD WEATHER. THE NOISE STOPPED AFTER TWO MINUTES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN INSTRUCTING TO REPLACE THE PISTONS.
THE VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD WHEN PUT IN REVERSE CAUSING IT TO HIT THE FRONT DOOR OF A STORE. THE OWNER THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SHOT IN REVERSE, WHILE ACCELERATING FORWARD, THE CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A HOUSE. OWNER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *JB CAUSE NOT YET DETERMINED. *TT