2012 Subaru Forester: check engine light

Filed Sep 24, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · MN

The vehicle will just stall. It has happened three times; usually at a stop sign or slowing down to turn. I have had it towed and in the shop, and they can't find anything wrong with it. No error messages. One shop cleaned the throttle body and thought that might be the problem. The vehicle has always consumed oil; at least a quart is added every 700-1000 miles. We have changed the oil regularly and don't understand why the oil consumption problem. Now the cruise light flashes off and on. The traction light and check engine light stays on all the time.

Filed May 6, 2021 · Fuel system · VA

Keeps smelling like gas, and the check engine light, cruise light blinks, and tracktion control lightis blinking. Says code problem with the catalytic converter.

Filed Jan 14, 2015 · Acceleration, Brakes · 29,600 miles · ME

I want to also submit a statement about the problems I have had with my brakes,I also noticed others have had the same problems,as soon as I got the car I noticed the brakes were very soft.I took the car in,I was told they were fine.a couple weeks later I was in line at starbucks and the brakes went right to the floor,I pulled the emergency up narrowly missing the person in front of me.I called the dealer again,before I got the car back in again at dunkin donuts it did the same thing.it had also started making a horrible smell and had no power.and a few other minor things.I took it in they said the brakes were fine,I argued they were not.the smell was supposedly some kind of fluid leaking on the muffler.took it home brakes still kept doing the same thing,called back went back in the car was low on oil and the brakes were still doing the non existent thing,plus it still smelled bad and I had a list for them,they gave it an oil change,and said this time the brakes were fine but may need pads in 6,000 miles or so now the smell is normal thou,plus I told them it was not getting good gas mileage and hitching,they said unless the engine light comes on they cant do anything.well now lastly the rear seat belt works only occasionally,my brake light is on all the time and they only stop about half the time my tires are all worn out,at less than 10,000 miles which they say is normal (ok) and it stalls doesn't like to start,and is under recall it still smells bad,the cruise control only works when it feels like it,it uses oil,eats gas,and stalls doesn't like to start,and the brakes act like the anti lock feature is constant even when it shouldn't be?now after an accident and my air bags don't deploy I think it seems like a real trend here and I reported my accident to subaru of america they don't seem to care.

Filed Dec 2, 2014 · Body, Engine · WA

2012 subaru forester. Consumer stated the windows glass will not close. The head rest is not installed properly. Rear hatch door will not close without being slammed and opened while driving. Check engine light indicates a code of misfiring on two cylinders. *ss the consumer stated if the driver and passenger windows were lowered when driving at highway speeds, the window glass shifted out beyond the channel in the door and the windows would not close. The consumer stated he had to listen to a high-pitched squeal while driving. The dealer did confirm a problem existed, but there was no solution.

Filed Aug 19, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 8,650 miles · MN

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 subaru forester. The contact stated that whenever the check engine warning light illuminated, the cruise control would independently disable without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician stated that the vehicle was working according to standards. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 8,650 and the current mileage was 11,626. Updated 10/17/13

Filed Mar 22, 2013 · Transmission · 11,500 miles · CA

2012 forester 2.5x, 4-spd automatic transmission: when traveling at highway speeds, 50+ MPH, any attempt to quickly accelerate causes the automatic transmission to downshift all the way to second gear. This results in very high rpms, but a loss in velocity as the downshift to second gear is not appropriate at the high end of the allowable rpms for the engine. The loss in speed when attempting to accelerate is very unsafe and has caused me to have to unexpectedly return to my lane when attempting to pass another vehicle. Likewise, attempting to merge into traffic traveling faster in another lane is also unsafe as I lose speed while emerging into the lane with faster traffic. This downshift into second gear rather than third gear at highway speeds occasionally causes the check engine light to turn on and the traction control warning light to turn on. This is an ongoing problem and can be replicated at any time. This occurs at highway speeds, and can be replicated by depressing the accelerator pedal quickly, or just tapping on the accelerator. The vehicle should not be able to downshift to second gear at high speeds using an automatic transmission. I have returned it to the dealer twice and the dealers mechanics are easily able to replicate the problem. After numerous attempts to fix the problem, the dealership contacted the subaru headquarters and were told this is normal operation. It is anything but normal for an automobile and is very dangerous. There appear to be a number of complaints on various internet sites on foresters with similar problems.

Filed Aug 17, 2012 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 5,325 miles · MA

After sharp acceleration the check engine light came on and stayed on. No other issues noted. Two months later with 7500 miles on the odometer, the same thing occurred but this time the cruise control light and the vehicle stabilization light came on as well. Cruise control did not work and I assume the stabilization didn't either.

Filed May 21, 2012 · Driver assistance · 6,000 miles · IA

When in heavy traffic and it was necessary to accelerate at a high RPM, the traction control light and check engine light come on and start flashing and the cruise control light also flashed. This is the 3rd time this has happened. First time all the lights went out, second time it happened my cruise control was disabled and the other lights continued to be on and flash and I had to take it the dealership to be "reset". Dealership told me it was a "computer" problem and subaru has not fixed it. Yesterday it happened again. Was able to let off accleration quick enough to keep it from locking out my cruise and causing all the lights to flash continually.

Filed Apr 23, 2012 · Acceleration, Seat belts · CA

My forester has had the issue of misfiring on three occasions. It has been to the dealership for the first two, now they tell me I need to wait until they create a computer update, that my car has a "glitch in the computer". My cruise control becomes disabled, while driving and the check engine light flashes, along with vehicle dynamics control waring light also blinks. The dealership tells me the car will run properly, not to worry. The owner's manual states that the ABS is poroblably malfunctioning. The first time this happened, they dealership said I may have had watery gas. It has now happened under the same conditions: going up grade and needing to accelerate. In a four month period, I have had this same unresolved issue, three times. Also the seat belts are on recall. When I called tohave the seat belt replaced, I was told they were on back order and would contact me.

Filed Dec 27, 2011 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 1,600 miles · WV

While driving on a main route check engine light kicked on and proceeded to flash while the stability/traction control light came on disabling the traction control. This lasted approximately 10-15 seconds, all lights kicked off and seemed okay. A couple of days later the same thing happened only now the cruise control light was on and flashing, check engine was solid and stability/traction control light was on. At that time all the lights stay on until the codes are cleared, until that is done, stability/traction control and cruise control do not work.