Everyone just loves their Subaru Forester, right? You never hear anyone complaining about them. They are the family SUVs that last forever. Or so we thought. We actually found quite a few Subaru Forester complaints that sound pretty frustrating. 

The most frustrating Subaru Forester Complaints

To gather up a list of the most common Subaru Forester complaints, we have gone to the direct source. The actual drivers. On CarComplaints, those who purchased and lived with the Subaru Forester listed their most frustrating issues. 

CarComplaints also lists recalls and information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If they list an issue, then it’s pretty important to pay attention, because they’re responsible for keeping our roads safe. 

Subaru Forester transmission problems 

The 2017 Subaru Forester lists multiple transmission problems. The most significant issues seem to be shuttering and jerking. One driver complained about how their Subaru Forester often pulls forward when shifting from park into first gear. There is a slight delay before the SUV flies forward. The jerking is so violent that items have fallen, spilled, and tipped over. 

Two drivers took their Subaru Forester back to the dealership to have their software updated, but that didn’t seem to solve the issues. They still experienced rough shifting and vehicle shuddering. 

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Another driver noticed that their Subaru Forester had difficulty accelerating and shifting into the correct gear, especially while going uphill. When driving up steep inclines, the Subura almost came to a complete stop and updating the software failed to correct this issue. 

Subaru Forester engine problems 

The 2015 Subaru Forester has a concerning amount of engine problems listed. Before hitting 65,000 miles, one driver noticed that their Subaru Forester was burning an excessive amount of oil. It burned through one quart of oil about every 3k miles and adjusted their maintenance schedule accordingly. 

Other drivers found that their Subar Foresters were prone to randomly accelerating. Sometimes the acceleration occurred while backing up, causing multiple accidents. Other drivers found that with a very light tap of the acceleration pedal, their Subaru Forester would fly forward, also increasing the risk of accidents. 

Other drivers found that once they put their Subaru Forester in park, it would accelerate forward forcibly. At the dealership, Subaru technicians were unable to find the cause of this problem, therefore it went unfixed. 

Subaru Forester electrical problems 

The 2019 Subaru Forester is quickly racking up complaints about electrical issues. We know this is shocking. The tailgate is prone to becoming inoperable.

One driver could only open their tailgate with a screwdriver. Another driver found that their tailgate wouldn’t open with the press of a button or lock. They also couldn’t manually open the tailgate with the handle. 

Another driver discovered that their GPS was giving incorrect and potentially dangerous directions while driving. This problem occurred before their Subaru Forester reached 7k miles, and the manufacturer claimed there was nothing they could do. 

Other drivers had issues with the infotainment center. It seemed to freeze up, go blank, and randomly restart. Restarting the car didn’t seem to help solve the problem. It became difficult to use the navigation, radio, back up camera, and more.