2010 Subaru Forester: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Aug 29, 2020 · Electrical · 193,000 miles · SC

When car is idling multiple lights come on- check engine light, traction control , cruise control (blink) , awd and at oil temp lights

Filed Mar 7, 2018 · 125,000 miles · WA · fire

Driving along freeway when check engine light came on, as well as, blinking cruise control light, traction light, and blinking between blue and red on temperature gauge light. Car started to accelerate oddly and make chirping noise. Noticed smoke billowing behind me and getting worse to the point of not being able to see behind me. Smoke started a light yellow, mostly white, became white and grey, and impossible to see through. Turned on hazards, pulled onto shoulder, turned off vehicle. Vehicle continued to smoke. I got out of the vehicle saw flames under the hood and moved a good distance away to call 911.

Filed Nov 1, 2017 · Driver assistance, Engine · 138,900 miles · VA

Dashboard warning lights (traction control, cruise control and engine light) are lit because of a problem with the catalytic converter. It is very costly to fix the catalytic converter. Because we cannot afford to fix the catalytic converter, we are left with no traction control or cruise control. Also, if something horrible happens to the car, we will not be warned about it since the engine light is on for the catalytic converter. I am not alone. So many people have the same problem - just look at the hundreds and hundreds of people on the online subaru forum. This is totally unacceptable. When so many people are having the same problem through no fault of their own, then it is the manufacturer's responsibility to solve the problem. I am requesting for this problem to be addressed in a recall of the catalytic converter for the 2010 subaru forester.

Filed Apr 21, 2017 · Engine · 74,000 miles · CA

I respectfully request that the subaru forester 2010 be investigated for defective head gaskets as they appear to blow suddenly and unexpectedly, rendering the vehicle unsafe for driving. My vehicle has approximately 74000 miles on it and has been serviced regularly and nearly exclusively by the dealer. While driving the car, I noticed the coolant light came on and immediately pulled into an oil change service station to have them check on and replace the coolant and change the oil. Afterward, I drove the car home but noticed that when I was nearly home the coolant light came on again and I could hear a low whistling noise. It was too late that evening to take the car to the dealer. The next morning, on my way to get the car checked/serviced, the lights for coolant, check engine, traction control and cruise control began flashing intermittently. Was advised of blown head gasket(s) and that the car was unsafe to drive. Dealer did repairs, including replacement of engine block, which took approx 6 weeks. This issue happened suddenly and without warning, in a car that has been well cared for and has relatively low mileage for its age. This issue rendered the car unsafe to drive at the time it occurred. I am unsure if the issues have been fully resolved yet as I got the car back and the check engine light came back on 2 days later. It is currently back at the dealer for analysis. However, I wanted to report this because I am hoping other car owners might be protected from any potential accidents/safety incidents due to faulty head gaskets. Thank you and please feel free to contact me with any further questions.

Filed Oct 6, 2015 · Body, Electrical · 85,000 miles · NY · fire

After work, I got in my car and started it up. Check engine light came on, followed by traction control and tire pressure lights. This was odd because these lights had never been on before. I started to drive home--it was too late to bring the car to have it checked out. I live a minute and a half from work. The cruise control light then came on and flickered in no particular pattern. Then, about 45 seconds into my 90 second drive, the temperature gauge light came on. The weather was about 50 degrees and rainy. When I got home the engine fan was spinning really fast. I popped the hood. No smoke or anything visibly wrong. At roughly 2:10am there was no way I could bring it to get the issues looked into. So I left the hood open to let some heat out and when the fan slowed and then stopped, I closed the hood and went inside. About 10-15 minutes later, during which time the car had been stationary and the engine had been shut off, I heard a pop sound. It was a strange noise and I got up to check it out. It was a massive engine fire. It toasted the engine and melted a good portion of the front end. The fire dept shattered the windows and peeled the hood back. The car is totaled. The fire was just feet away from my house on one side, and the neighbor on the other side. Had I been asleep the fire could have spread to my house or my neighbor's, potentially killing people. It was one of the scariest things I've ever experienced. There is a video on youtube with something similar (search subaru engine fire). The car is a 2010 forester xt, completely stock. It has been very well maintained and has about 85,000 miles on it. My mother originally owned it. She bought it brand new from the subaru dealership and I bought it from her.

Filed Sep 17, 2015 · Transmission · 59,167 miles · VA

Check engine light, cruise control light and oil light came on 10 miles outside of my destination to baltimore,md (65 mile from home to destination) had vehicle towed to a dealership. I was informed that my trans cooler line had rusted out and needed to be replaced.($707.86). Picked up vehicle on 9/15/2015 and drive approximately 10 miles and issues reoccurred and I returned the car back to the dealership, where they ran a second scan of the vehicle and told me that the 3 and 4th gear had gone out and that I needed a new transmission ($7000.00) and that may not fix the issue.

Filed Feb 23, 2012 · Electrical · 26,277 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 subaru forester. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. Also the traction control, cruise control and air bag warning lights were illuminated. The dealer made nine attempts to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was aware of the failure. The current mileage was 27,433 and the failure mileage was 26,277.

Filed Mar 7, 2011 · Acceleration · 38,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 subaru forester. While the contact was driving approximately 60 MPH with the cruise control activated, a rapid increase in speed occurred and vehicle failed to slow down. The emergency brake was engaged and the engine was turned off to stop the vehicle. The contact restarted the engine and resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to duplicate the problem. The failure mileage was 38,000 updated 03/31/11*lj the consumer was able to turn off the ignition and used the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. Updated 04/28/11

Filed Nov 26, 2010 · Acceleration, Brakes · 21,797 miles · PA

We experienced brake failure twice on a trip 11/4/10 - 11/6/10. The first incident occurred on 11/4 while using cruise control. To slow for a vehicle in front of us, I hit the brake pedal. The brakes were not responsive and the cruise control remained active. Pumping the brake pedal in a few seconds deactivated the cruise control and the brakes returned. This occurred with a noticeable jerk. The second incident occurred 11/6 while on heading east on rt 30 coming down sidling hill. The cruise control was not in use. While attempting to brake to reduce speed going down the hill, the brakes completely failed. Repeated attempts to use the brake pedal failed to provide any braking. I used the parking brake to slow us down; however, the parking brake did not seem very effective. It took a considerable distance to come to a stop. I proceeded down the hill in a lower gear and at some point the brakes returned to use. There does not appear to be any reason as to why they failed or how or why they returned. The car has over 20,000 miles on it and this was the first incident of brake failure; although the situation with the cruise not deactivating had occurred once before. The car was taken to the dealer on 11/7. The dealer checked both the cruise and the braking system and found no problems. The dealer reported consulting with subaru on the problem as well. On 11/12 at the suggestion of the dealer, I contacted subaru customer service (ref#1-1157948155). Subaru's follow up was that the car was checked and found to be ok and we should drive it and see if it happens again. This was not acceptable and we opted for a replacement vehicle at considerable out of pocket expense. This vehicle should not be sold to someone else. It should be returned to subaru to determine what caused the failures described.