2001 Subaru Forester: hesitation when accelerating

5 of the 139 complaints about the 2001 Subaru Forester describe hesitation when accelerating.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 4%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 10 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Hesitation when accelerating by model year

2023
1
2022
2
2021
5
2020
3
2019
7
2018
5
2017
8
2016
5
2015
20
2014
8
2010
3
2007
1
2006
4
2005
1
2002
8
2001
5
2000
3
1999
2
1998
2

What owners say

Filed May 30, 2006 · Transmission · IN

When I shift into drive (any of the drive gears), the car hesitates to engage (move forward) for anywhere between 2-3 seconds and up to 1 minute. This does not happen when shifted into reverse. The wait time is random so I never know how long it will take. The other day, I had to reverse to get out of a parking spot and then the car wouldn't engage into drive for another 45 seconds and I almost got rear ended by a car coming up behind me. This is a safety issue! I've read about hundreds of other complaints by other subaru forester (1999 - 2001) owners on-line. This leads me to believe that it is a manufacturer's defect. I spoke with both the dealer and subaru representative and they won't cover the cost of a new transmission because I am out of warranty. I think this is unacceptable and am looking into the legal implications further.

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 Jul 14, 2004 · Transmission · 24,000 miles · IL

Manual transmission suburu forester purchased may 12, 2001 in chicago, illinois. In may of 2004 car began to have slow start up in lst. And 2nd. Gears. Dealer said he did not find a problem. However, problem worsened and progressed into 3rd, 4th. And 5th. Gears. Until one day in july while on highway clutch exploded. Dealership suggested car had been driven as though by a race car driver which caused the problem. Dealer suggested in my june 04 phone call that car might need a tune up which is why I did not hesitate to drive it with my children in it at highway speeds. After looking at attorney internet complaint site I found numerous similar if not exact complaints as I have made to dealership. At present dealer has my vehicle in another state and tells me I must pay for the 'clutch disc" at l39. And the cost of my rental car at 30. Day , repair could take 4-7 days. Also, I paid for the tow off the highway-the first tow. This problem could cost me $500. If the dealer would have found the problem initially in may this would have never occcured on the highway with children in car. Vehicle lost 20 miles spped in less than 10 seconds causing me to quickly and calmly move off to the side of road and await state trooper help. Mechanics tell me that dealership mechanic should have investigated clutch problems when I made complaints of loss of power in 1st. And 2nd. Gears.

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 Sep 17, 2000 · Tires · WA

There was not enough room on the questionnaire to show the entire dot number which is dot el yt chb 1000. This tire failed at 55 degrees temperature, at 60 MPH on the freeway. The odometer had only 1563 miles on it. I heard a clunking sound that alarmed me, so I got into the slow lane. After a few minutes the clunking sound stopped. A minute or so later, the tire failed. There was no evidence of nails or other road hazard, but the tire did have a lot of tire dust inside it. I did not go in to work that day, so I could replace all my tires as soon as possible. I replaced 4 tires with michelins at a cost of $408.29, and I intend to replace the 5th tire as soon as costco gets a new shipment in. I have retained all the tires I replaced. I hesitated to take the tire to firestone for evaluation, because I did not think they would be impartial.( dot number: elytchb100 tire size: p205/70r15 )