2001 Subaru Forester: engine stalls while driving

Filed Dec 21, 2005 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · MA

Around 100k miles my 2001 subaru forester (manual transmission) experienced severe hesitation and missing (bucking) in all gears, resulting in a loss of power. The timing belt was replaced and mechanic assured me everything with the timing belt and clutch was ok. Within a few days the car experienced the same severe jolting as before. In lower gears car accelerates extremely slowly, and often stalls after the severe shaking. This is a potentially very dangerous problem; while taking a left out of my neighborhood, my car began to shake violently and stalled, and I was almost struck by oncoming traffic.

Filed Jan 13, 2004 · Engine · 35,000 miles · CT

Vehicle engine sputters, surges and shakes intermittently. Sometimes stalls when stopped. Sometimes accelerator significantly hesitates provide engine speed. Very dangerous when crossing traffic or merging. Mechanic replaced coil pack, spark plugs, wires, pcv valve, adjusted throttle position sensor. Dealer reports problem unknown and not under warranty at 43,000 miles

Filed Mar 17, 2003 · Engine · 38,000 miles · VA

At about 25,000 miles my 2001 forester stalled 3 times in my driveway and shook a bit. I had the idiot-new-owner-package with the dealer where they did all the maintenance, etc. And was scheduled for an oil change/whatever maintenance anyway so I asked them to check it out. They could not reproduce the problem and it did not happen again to me until several months later. Now at 38,000 miles (3000 miles after warranty and after the end of the idiot-package) it happened again. This time it stalled on several occasions both in parking lots and at stop lights. It shook at an idle and the check engine light came on. A local shop diagnosed the problem as a failed coil pack. He also noted that the apparent cause was that it appeared no maintenance had ever been done. The spark plug change and a 30k mile tune up that were on my service tickets as having been performed were probably not actually done. There was no way to prove that without towing the car to subaru at my expense and then probably having them still claim the service had been done. I drive very conservatively, don't speed, don't take off quickly and live in a moderate temperature/weather area (northern va). There is no reason that with proper maintenance this should have happened. Subaru of america says it is a dealer problem. The dealer claims no wrong doing. I can dispute the point and have it towed to another dealer for verification of the lack of proper maintenance, which we all know will not be their finding or pay the $530 repair straightaway. I chose the latter. Is there anything I can do now to get subaru to refund the cost of repair?

Filed Mar 10, 2003 · Engine · NM

The vehicle stalled on several occasions.*dt

Filed Aug 31, 2002 · Engine · NY

Vehicle keeps stalling out in the middle of operation, highway, street.

Filed Apr 23, 2002 · Engine · CA

Vehicle sputters and shakes intermittently after first taking off. Also, stalled at various speeds 3 times. Dealer cannot remedy the problem.