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2012 Subaru Forester Transmission Problems

28 messages,  Last post on Apr 22, 2013 at 10:07 AM

You are in the Subaru Forester Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Engine, Transmission

Messages Page 2 of 4

#5 of 28 Lemon by lemoncar2011

Apr 10, 2012 (10:09 am)

Mr. Takeshi Tachimori,
 
I am writing in total disappoint and sicking feeing l in my stomach. I absolutely HATE my new 2011 Forester!
When ever I see that Commercial about telling you(Subaru of America) a story about your very first new car, all I can think about is my very first brand new car with 00 miles on it is my NEW Subaru Forester and how strongly I hate my car. I wish I had never bought it.
 
This is what my story would be about my first car..
Before buying my new car I owned all pre owned cars that NEVER needed repair. They were reliable cars and I never had a worry about problems. First car I had was a Ford escort, I loved it! Got married and sold it for my Toyota., I loved that car. I had it for at least six years. I drove cross-country from Maine to Denver. NEVER had problems going across country. I drove it up and down the mountains for 2 years never had a problem. It was a solid rugged car. Then let me tell you my story about my very first new car. It is a 2011 Subaru Forester with nothing but problems.
I bought my car for two reasons
1) I need to get a SAFE car for my job. I am a nanny and I have a family of 3. The most recent problem and disappointment is the middle seat belt is recalled. This means I can't work until the seatbelt gets fixed. When I got hired for the job I told them I was buying it for the safety reasons. Now I am out of work until I can get my seatbelt fixed
the other reason why I bought my car was because there was such high praise on the performance of a Subaru . I bought because I drive up to the mountains every weekend all seasons. I heard that it is great for driving to the mountains. Well have nothing high to say about it! I have been to my car dealer ship 3 times to get a 1) check engine light, cruise control, and engine check. and anti lock brakes. They would all go off at once while driving. It would stay that way until I had it fixed. It handled very bad after that. Engine wasn’t working well. Speed was off.
I hate my car! I wished I had never bought it. I believed in your “moto I believed in everything.
1)the reliability BIG FAT NO
2) safety another BIG FAT NO
 
So my first car experience has been nothing but disappointment.
 
Sincerely,
A more then disappointed Subaru owner
 
Ryan,
I am not sure why you asked
'between you and I" "Do you not like the car because you didn't want to get it"
Like I have express many times, I bought the car because of its safety and high performance of your brand.
I hate my car because it has had more issues then any other car I have owned! It was a brand new car! The performance has been horrible! I was in the market for a new car regardless. I just choose the wrong brand! I should have never bought the brand Subaru. I had never owned one before. When I bought my car it was an investment. From all the great stories I have heard about how long the cars last I thought I would own it for 10+ years. That was the intention! Know I have no faith or trust that it will last that long or even be reliable.
So between you and I "I hate the brand" " I was in the market for a new car. I need one for safety reason and the reliability or what your brand stands for. I got screwed big time. I am not happy with my cars performance. Buying your brand was the worst mistake I have every made. I was a fool to believe in your brand!
Please make sure that this email gets forward to the highest management as possible.
Alison (disappointed owner)
 
I have started to look into the Lemon Law. I feel as though I have bought a lemon. Once Groove Subaru tries to "fix" my car, AGAIN. I will take it back up to the mountains and see if it has been fixed. It will have been my 4th attempt with the same issue.
I am going to be perfectly honest, that I have no faith in my Forester. From now on I will always be waiting to see what will happen next. I will never be able to trust the car I am in. This is way I use the word HATE so strongly. I hate the car I have bought.
I feel as though I am paying for a car that didn't hold up to their standards.
 
Please forward this to the highest management possible. Including all the past communications.

#6 of 28 Re: Total Lemon [lemoncar2011] by fnamowicz

Apr 13, 2012 (4:39 pm)

Replying to: lemoncar2011 (Apr 10, 2012 10:08 am)
All 2011 Foresters run rough at idle similar to a bunch of bolts in a blender.
It is embarrassing when your neighbors hear you pulling out of your garage
The Dealers say this is normal live with it.

#7 of 28 Re: Total Lemon [lemoncar2011] by aatherton

Apr 14, 2012 (6:39 am)

Replying to: lemoncar2011 (Apr 10, 2012 10:08 am)
Even when it is working properly, the normal characteristics of the automatic transmission are surprising. Read this article at the link given:
TITLE: Phase 2 4EAT Transmission Characteristics
SOURCE: Subaru Tech Tips
APPLIES TO: All models with 4EAT A/T
http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/15568-trans-noise.ht- - - ml#post149559
 
There are some tips on overcoming some of the annoyances.

#8 of 28 Re: Total Lemon [fnamowicz] by xwesx

Apr 16, 2012 (9:35 am)

Replying to: fnamowicz (Apr 13, 2012 4:39 pm)
Bolts in a blender? I don't think so. The PZEV programming makes the engine (on vehicles so equipped) run a little rough during warmup, but it isn't noisy, just... irregular. Once warmed up, it smooths right out.

#9 of 28 Re: 2012 Subaru Forester Transmission Problems [ateixeira] by missdev

Apr 16, 2012 (1:06 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Mar 19, 2012 1:04 pm)
I took several different Foresters out for test drives over the course of looking at cars, but I actually did not test drive this particular Forester. My fault, I suppose, but I ended up wanting a different color than the one I test drove.

#10 of 28 Re: 2012 Subaru Forester Transmission Problems [missdev] by drew510

Apr 19, 2012 (3:23 pm)

Replying to: missdev (Mar 19, 2012 9:34 am)
Because you are travelling a hilly area, you might consider putting the car in "Sport" mode which alters the shift patterns and see if that helps. When you are in "drive" pull the lever to the left and it will go in sport mode. Good luck!

#11 of 28 Re: 2012 Subaru Forester Transmission Problems [missdev] by annaplatano

Oct 01, 2012 (3:11 pm)

Replying to: missdev (Mar 19, 2012 9:34 am)
I have a 2011 forester 2.5 X Touring (purchased new and it's coming up on 2 years old)
I've recently experience the same "rough start" problem that you have - my dealership told me the same thing, nothing can be done unless they can replicate the problem. Do you have any updated information on what happened to your car?

#12 of 28 Re: 2012 Subaru Forester Transmission Problems [annaplatano] by ateixeira

Oct 02, 2012 (8:19 am)

Replying to: annaplatano (Oct 01, 2012 3:11 pm)
You could reset the ECU to give it a clean slate.
 
Try at your own risk...disconnect the negative battery terminal, wait 20 minutes, have the keyless handy and reconnect. Lock/unlock a few cycles if the alarm goes off.
 
Gas mileage will be poor until the ECU leans out the mixture again.

#13 of 28 2012 Subaru Forester Misfire by deeque

Oct 08, 2012 (9:48 pm)

My car has been in four times in less than one year for the same issues you describe. My dealership comes up with different reasons each time, to avoid the lemon law. The reasons given for the misfire, which causes blinking lights on panel and the cruise control becomes disabled, are:
1. Watery gas
2. Not able to replicate
3. Subaru said they knew of the issues, but could not fix it, because they needed a software update that had not been written yet. I refused the car, until it was fixed. Two weeks later, I got the car back.
4. I thought it was fixed, but today, on a flat road, not under any load or incline, it happened again. The dealer said the gas cap wasn't tight enough (which I know it was, as I checked it).
 
I am now in the process of securing an attorney.
 
Please reply if you have had similar issues.

#14 of 28 2011 issues same! Re: 2012 Subaru Forester Misfire [deeque] by bffhusker

Nov 10, 2012 (8:43 pm)

Replying to: deeque (Oct 08, 2012 9:48 pm)
I have had the same issues as [deeque]. I am so tired of going to the dealer to be asked, "did a light come on on the dash?" "No" "Then there's nothing wrong with it." I got the same song and dance about watery gas, a "computer update", etc. The issues just keep getting worse. They treat me like I need a therapist. (not as bad as being told at the Ford dealer "there's change rattling in the cupholder.) I am disappointed in the extremely noisy fuel pump that has a whine like there's something wrong with your audio connection (but it's not the audio), and now this jerky shifting, rough riding, engine gunning, engine noise when backing out of garage, and other things. I am extremely disappointed in the passenger seat being several inches lower and you feel like your sitting in a hole. Who designed that? I didn't think that would bother me as much as it does. Just should have walked away right after that. I bought the Subaru based upon "reliability" and I'm definitely not feeling like it is reliable enough to drive on longer trips away from home. I will not be driving this vehicle more than another year and hope to trade it off.

Messages Page 2 of 4

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