2009 Subaru Forester: windshield wiper failure

Filed Sep 19, 2019 · Electrical, Visibility · 84,350 miles · CA

The function of the radio and windshield wipers is intermittent. Upon start these devices do not appear to have electrical power and do not function. I suspect there are other items that do not work either, but I have not confirmed them. They both function properly when the engine is restarted. This has happened on 2 occasions over a 1 week period. This is a safety issue since in a rainstorm, the visibility would be nil. Otherwise the vehicle functions normally.

Filed Feb 7, 2019 · Visibility · 133,000 miles · CO

This vehicle has a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that is faulty and unnecessary. When the tires are at the correct amount of pressure the TPMS light appears on the instrument panel during cold weather and will not turn off. If you want it to go away you have to pay a technician to reset it. I have been told that the manufacturer made it so it cannot be disabled. As I stated it is faulty and unnecessary and people should not have to continually pay to have it reset or replaced. As well I own a 2008 impreza with the same issue. The windshield defrost/wiper situation is also a serious issue! Either the defrost does not heat the windshield enough for the wipers to clear the windshield or the wiper arms are not strong enough to apply enough pressure to clear the windshield. In rain and snow conditions the windshield is very hard to see through and quite frankly dangerous. I have spoken to many people with this model vehicle covering many generations with very few to very high miles and this appears to be an issue with all generations of this model.

Filed Nov 15, 2017 · Electrical, Visibility · 120,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 subaru forester. The contact stated that various electrical systems, such as some warning indicators, wipers, and the defroster, ceased to function. The failures occurred without warning and would correct themselves once the vehicle was manually restarted. The failures occurred on five occasions. Autonation subaru in spokane valley, wa could not replicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Filed Oct 14, 2017 · Electrical · 75,000 miles · NJ

Three separate times my wiper blades would not work, which is dangerous during a downpour. I've brought the 2009 forester in for repair and the mechanic could not find the issue as it was working when I brought it in. Also the radio did not work during these times. I thought it might be a fuse, but that is not the cause. This is an intermittent problem. Now I turn the vehicle off, and restart it and it will seem to resolve, for long periods of time, so you think the problem resolved, but 6 months later it happens again...these three time the vehicle was in traffic driving, and it was raining.

Filed Jan 24, 2017 · Electrical · 127,000 miles · OH

My wife had been driving her 2009 subaru forester on a day with light rain. She stopped for a while, and when she got back in the car and started it up again, her windshield wipers and dashboard lights would not work. She drove it for a while, and stopped to have someone check it. After restarting the vehicle, the windshield wipers and dashboard lights were working again. This could be a dangerous situation, especially for someone having to drive on a rainy night.

Filed Nov 12, 2014 · Suspension, Transmission · VT

2009 subaru forester. Consumer writes in regards to recall and other repair issues. *smd the consumer stated the recall was performed. However, she did not understand why the drive shaft and front sway bar needed to be replaced, on a vehicle with 70,000 miles. Also, the windshield wipers and left front wheel bearing were replaced.

Filed Aug 18, 2013 · Electrical · 38,000 miles · VA

While driving I noticed the center dash display was dark: radio and cd changer, outside temp, ave mpg, clock. The wind shield wipers would not work. After stopping the car, turning off the ignition and restarting, everything worked ok. There has been a total of 3 additional occurrences since. Also see one similar reported case: http://www.arfc.org/complaints/2009/subaru/forester/electrical_system/problem.aspx.

Filed Aug 30, 2012 · Electrical · 45,000 miles · SC

I went to the grocery store today; it was off and on rainy weather, so I had been running my windshield wipers a little. Turned off car; went in store, came back out, started car up - I noticed the time/temp/mileage display was black, then, I noticed the radio had lost power; then I noticed the wind shield wipers did not work, but not until I was out in the highway and needed to use them. This was dangerous and should never have happened. I made another stop, turned off car, went in store, came back out, started up car - at that time, the wipers, radio and display were back to normal ??? This undependable will not do. Subaru needs to repair my car at no charge. I believe my love affair with subaru is over, especially after reading all these complaints and what I experienced.

Filed Apr 3, 2009 · Visibility · 3,500 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 subaru forester. The contact stated that the windshield wipers on the driver's side of the vehicle were stuck underneath the passenger side wipers. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic and loose bolts were discovered, which needed to be tightened. The repair was performed and the mechanic stated that there was a flaw in the design of the windshield wipers. The contact called the manufacturer and dealer, but has not received a response. The failure mileage was 3,500.