Body Class: Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Displacement CC: 2500
Displacement CI: 152.559360236
Displacement L: 2.500000
Drive Type: AWD/All Wheel Drive
Make: SUBARU
Manufacturer: FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES U.S.A., INC. (C/O SUBARU OF AMERICA)
Manufacturer Id: 1075
Model: Forester
Model Year: 2005
Plant Company Name: Fuji Heavy Industries
Seat Belts All: Manual
Transmission Speeds: 4
Transmission Style: Automatic
Trim: 2.5X
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
1999
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR SEAT BELT ANCHORS/ASSEMBLY ON 1999 SUBARU FORESTER DO NOT ALLOW FOR ACCEPTABLE SECURE INSTALLATION OF CHILD SEAT (HAVE TRIED APPROX 7 DIFFERENT MODELS/SEAT MAKES SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE MAY 1999). RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF ELR/ALR CONTINUOUS LOOP LAP/SHOULDER BELT WITH SLIDING LATCH PLATE. SEAT BELT LOCKS (THE FEMALE PART) FOR RIGHT, LEFT AND EVEN CENTER (WHICH IS LAP ONLY) ARE ANCHORED FORWARD OF SEAT CREASE SO THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PROPERLY SECURE CHILD SEATS. THE CHILD SEAT MANUALS/INSTRUCTIONS SUGGEST THAT VEHICLES WITH SUCH SEAT BELT PLACEMENT MIGHT NOT BE COMPATIBLE, ETC. THEY SUGGEST "MOVING THE CHILD SEAT TO A DIFFERENT POSITION." AGAIN, HOWEVER, IN 1999 FORESTER, NONE OF THE THREE REAR POSITIONS FUNCTION. SUBARU 1999 FORESTER OWNER'S MANUAL HAS SECTION ON CHILD SEAT INSTALLATION, OF COURSE. THEY SUGGEST/IMPLY SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY AND REAR SEATS ARE SAFE FOR USE WITH CHILD SEAT(S). THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE MANUAL, HOWEVER, ARE OF SEAT BELTS ANCHORED/PLACED AT SEAT CREASE, NOT AS ASSEMBLY ACTUALLY EXISTS ON 1999 FORESTER. WHAT CAN WE DO? WE ARE SCARED. POLICE OFFICER TRIED TO HELP INSTALL ONE OF TWO SEATS WE BOUGHT TODAY (NO. SIX OF SEVEN, SEVENTH PURCHASED AFTER FAILED INSTALL OF SIXTH). RE: BRAKES -- RIGHT REAR DISC BRAKES HAVE SQUEEKED SINCE PURCHASE IN 1999 (NEW) . DEALER MAINTENANCE IN AUGUST 2000 NOTED THE PROBLEM AND LUBED BRAKES BUT DID NOT CURE PROBLEM WHICH PERSISTS. *AK
2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT AS IF SHE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT UNUSUAL AND WHEN SHE BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP, SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND TO PUT INTO FIRST GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS HANGING OFF FROM THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP WAS POINTED OUTWARDS. FURTHERMORE, THE COIL THAT SHE BELIEVED TO BE THE STRUT WAS HANGING OUT AS WELL. HER MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE STRUT HAD PULLED COMPLETELY OUT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 02/19/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/19/10 THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO THE VEHICLE IN 1ST GEAR. UPDATED EVOQ 09/13/10