2001 Subaru Forester: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Mar 11, 2011 · Acceleration, Transmission · 200,500 miles · MA

Driving on highway at 75 MPH with cruise control set. Tried to cancel cruise control with stalk, it did not disengage. Tried repeatedly, it did not disengage. Hit the brakes to cancel cruise control, it did not disengage (brakes only slowed car down). Stepped on the clutch to cancel cruise control, it did not disengage. When I stepped on the clutch and shifted into neutral, the engine revved all the way to redline and remained there (meaning the cruise control was still engaged). Coasted to side of road with clutch in, engine continued to rev at redline... Continued hitting cancel on the stalk, eventually revs settled down to idle. Manual transmission was non-operational after this incident.

Filed Dec 27, 2010 · Transmission · 80,300 miles · WV

My 2001 standard transmission subaru forrester failed to release cruise control when brake was used. I had difficulty, but was able to gain control and shift into neutral on the shoulder. Afterward, brakes seemed to work fine.

Filed Apr 22, 2004 · Acceleration · DC

Inquiry as to why the 2001 subaru legacy cruise control recall didn't apply to the forrester. *ph consumer experienced the similar problem stated on recall on subaru legacy.

Filed Sep 21, 2003 · Transmission · 45,000 miles · OR

When driving with the cruise control engaged for 10+ minutes, the car speed begins to drag and surge (suddenly slows, then resumes set speed). The car seems to be actively pulling back against the throttle if I put my foot on the gas to accelerate past the cruise setting, the dragging back against the throttle still occurs. If the cruise is left engaged, the lurching worsens, and when I exit the freeway the (automatic) transmission doesn't want to down shift. It resists until there's a loud noise, the rear of the car bucks, and then it goes into the next lowest gear. This happens through every gear, and then again upshifting from a stop: the rpms wind up higher than normal, the car resists shifting, and then the transmission slams into the next gear. The problem remains until I stop and take the car out of drive, which apparently resets it. The problem is most likely to occur in weather under 70 degrees. The dealer has reprogrammed an engine control module per recall #wwf89, and has also replaced the alternator and the ignition relay, but the problem persists. I believe this problem is dangerous, particularly when it's winding up to shift into fourth gear at 60 miles an hour, and it violently bucks into gear. Also, the problem is getting worse and more unpredictable. Most recently, I was testing the cruise control to see if the problem would occur in rainy weather. When it began surging, I immediately disengaged it, but the drag-back on the throttle continued anyway (this was the first incident in which the lurching continued after I turned off the cruise control). I am concerned this problem is going to occur without the cruise control being engaged at all, and also that the transmission is going to seize up without warning. (note: the "incident date" on this form is the date the first repair was attempted, but the problem actually started happening in april, 2003. The "number of failures" is an estimate -- it happens as often as I test it.)

Filed Feb 8, 2003 · Engine · 37,200 miles · WY

Exhaust fumes some co poisoning symptoms 2001 subaru forester posted by dave on february 08, 03 at 06:52:29: I fueled my forester with 91 octane premium fuel and took off on a 5 hr drive to denver. There were extreme driving conditions 40 MPH winds and ground blizzards. Set the cruise control at 75 MPH and it was all the car could do to maintain 70 MPH in high gear and on some hills it would downshift to a lower gear to satisfy the computer setting of 75. After 2+ hours of driving I noticed a strong smell of exhaust fumes. I developed a headache. I opened the brrrrr windows and wrote a note to the effect that if I succomed to co fumes and died for my survivors to sue subaru. In the state capitol, I stopped at the d.o.t. And went into the testing lab and borrowed a co tester then went back onto the interstate (the car was idling while in the lab). I was woozie and disoriented classic co symptoms. Scarie! Anyhow back onto the road for a 15 min attempt to reproduce the scenario. The fumes were gone the co detector stayed at zero/ppm, I suppose the convertor had cooled off. On the return trip the wind had died and the engine did not hafto work quite as hard there were still some times of slight smell of the fumes but not as intense as on the initial 2 hour experience. I also refueled at the 2 hr mark with 87 octane fuel. I believe that the purchase of a small co detector may be a good idea for safety. And I believe that the manufacturer should investigate this as a possible serious hazard but have no idea how to go about initiating such a thing. This post is to further that cause. Cc: subaru mfg.com