2015 Subaru Forester: multiple warning lights

Filed Nov 28, 2023 · Engine · MD

After driving for about 15 minutes, I was stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of 2 hilly and curvy roads with poor visibility. When I stepped on the accelerator to go, all of the lights on my dash lit up and the car died. I tried several times to restart the car and it wouldn't start. We managed to get the car pushed into someone's yard and had it towed to my mechanic. When my mechanic tried to start it the next day, it started right up. In looking at the codes, it showed a code for an air flow meter sensor, so they replaced that. I got the car back 2 days later. Drove for about 20 minutes, parked my car in my driveway, and when I went to restart it about 30 minutes later the same thing happened. The lights on the dash lit up and the car died. After waiting about another 30 minutes I was able to start the car, and moved it out of the way so it could be towed. Since I live in a very hilly area with 2 lane curvy roads, it's just not safe for me to drive it anywhere with the possibility of it stopping again. The car started up for the tow truck driver, and again for my mechanic. This time there was no error code when my mechanic checked.

Filed Jan 3, 2023 · Transmission · MN

April 2022 my car started to make noises when accelarating. I took it to several mechanics who could not diagnose the problem. Dec. 30, 2022 I took it to another mechanic who thought it might be the brakes and replaced them. He then test drove the vehicle and the noise remained, so he stopped at a transmission shop and they said possible transmission issues, not sure. No warning light ever came on. I was driving on dec. 31, 2022 when the sounds were louder. I turned around to go home and was in traffic and down shifted to descend a hill when I downshifted the car stopped and many warning lights came on the dashbosrd. I shifted back into regular gear and the left lane was available so I changed lanes and pulled in to the mndot parking lot which was about 100 feet away. I shut off the vehicle and had it towed to the subaru dealer. They diagnosed the car with a broken transmission and that since I have a salvage title it is not covered. The repair cost is over $9000.

Filed Jul 8, 2022 · Engine · WA

Sudden, without any warning, complete engine failure. Luckily I was in the right hand lane while ascending a major mountain pass. We were in the midst of a "atmospheric river" with rain coming from all directions when the engine just stopped. I muscled the car onto a very narrow shoulder and called for help, I knew we were in a very dangerous situation as this was the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2021, and the highway was full of cars and semi trucks whizzing past our Forester, we stayed put in the car. The State Patrol eventually appeared behind my Subaru, we conversed, and the officer used his front push bumpers to move my car up the remaining 2.5 miles up the the pass summit and onto a parking lot away from the freeway. Eventually AAA tow truck driver arrived, loaded our Subaru onto the platform carrier, with my wife and me in the cab, he drove 157 miles to our dealership parking lot. When we arrived, he again checked the battery, it was dead. He then proceeded to use an external storage to charge up our battery, and after a short time he successfully started our Subaru. I chose to leave the car at the dealership lot so they could check the systems the next morning. They could find no problem whatsoever with the engine, drive train, fuel system, or electrical system. The told us to report any problem to them, but stated our Forrester was safe to drive. The next day our trusted mechanic confirmed they could find no problem in our car. We have been driving our Forester per normal since this incident happened, the problem has not repeated. In summary no warning lights appeared on our dashboard before the incident; we used our lights to warn other drivers while we waited for help and eventually all lights went off; the problem has not been reproduced by dealer, mechanic, or us. What I believed occurred is: Driving through the "atmospheric river" the volume and intensity of the rain caused an electrical short, that was removed during the tow

Filed Oct 14, 2020 · Transmission · 67,809 miles · FL

Using cruise control at 77 MPH in fast lane of i95 northbound from fl when, approx 10 miles south of va border, I felt a snap like pull in vehicle - kind of like a rope breaking when playing tug of war. The rpms increased and car rapidly lost speed and would not accurate. Fortunately, I was able to safely pull off i95. I noticed all lights on dash were on and car was running. I turned it off, approx 15 to 30 seconds after pulling off highway. After I turned car off, it would not restart. I was towed (innerstate towing) to a toyota dealership in roanoke rapids, nc due to no subaru dealership. Toyota tech looked at car and car started fine. The mechanic felt the transmission over heated. I then limped along to subaru dealership in colonial heights, va. I traveled in slow lane on i95, at no more than 70 MPH, with a full tank of gas and no issues. A subaru tech drained fluid and found metal. It was determined the transmission needed replaced. While at toyota dealership, I contacted the location where I purchased my subaru forester and that tech indicated it was a faulty fuel pump or transmission. When car lost speed, I had two fuel bars left. I am now getting the pump tested as well. Fortunately, my car is under warranty due to subaru's extension but I find this unacceptable. I could have easily been killed in an instant. This is my 3rd subaru and I have had more problems with this one than my two previous cars combined. Further, I keep going up in models and price point but the quality has declined. I am a loyal subaru customer but I think this model may be my last. Because nothing seized up and no loud bang, jerking, or rattling; I am beginning to suspect it was the fuel pump and I coincidentally the bad transmission was discovered. No belts were broken and the snap like noise is unknown. I have no invoices yet and police were not called. I am driving a loaner car.

Filed Sep 20, 2020 · Fuel system · 85,000 miles · NC

I was driving on the highway at about 60mph and suddenly the gas pedal seemed to lose pressure. Then all of the lights came on the dash as the car stopped. I had to wait about 10 minutes and try restarting 10+ times until it finally would stay running and allow us to get off the highway. This occured with 80 miles left until empty. This is the 3rd time it has happened on a trip. We had only been driving 1.5 hours.

Filed Jul 30, 2020 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 67,000 miles · IN

While driving on the highway at 65mph the car lost all power. The rpms went up like it was in neutral (car was still in drive). Fuel tank was down to a little less than 1/4th of a tank but still had 100 miles until empty. Adaptive cruise was engaged at the time (automated cruise applied accelerator that rose the rpms to 4500). This was in the middle of a 4 hour road trip on a flat straight road. Car exhibited no warning or lights until complete power was lost. I was able to safely pull over to the shoulder. All lights came on in the dash after I was stopped. I turned the car off and I was able to immediately start it again. Shortly after I filled up the tank and the car drove fine for the next hour until I was home. This was a scary incident that could be very dangerous. I noticed that this car has about a dozen other reports that are much like this in the past year.

Filed Jun 29, 2020 · Engine · 43,500 miles · CA

Driving on the highway at roughly 70 MPH, engine suddenly revved and then car essentially went into neutral. Engine didn't seem connected to the transmission. Coasted to the shoulder, then engine died. Shifted back to park and tried to restart, all lights on dashboard lit up and engine turned over, but would not start. Had to be towed to dealer. Found many similar experiences online. Some found fuel pump and pump relay failure. I have not received a diagnosis from the dealer yet. This was a potentially deadly failure.

Filed May 6, 2020 · Acceleration, Engine · 82,300 miles · TN

While driving in the highway at 75 MPH with cruise control on the car suddenly went to 5000 RPM and at the same time started to brake all the lights in the dashboard came on I pulled over and the car's engine shut down. I tried to started about 5 06 times the car wouldn't star and after that the car was completely dead. I had it tow to a shop. The next morning it started like nothing the mechanic at the shop said it was the battery.after changing the battery I took it to the gas station after putting gas it wouldn't start again after several tries it started.at this point I don't think the battery was the issue but I am glad I got home. This happened in starkville ms 200 miles from where I live.

Filed Feb 21, 2020 · Engine · 93,000 miles · VA

Loss of engine power/acceleration. Traveling home in our 2015 forester, VIN [xxx], 93k miles, when we encountered a problem. On the interstate, traveling approximately 70mph, our forester seemed to come out of gear, all the dash lights illuminated & the gas pedal would not work as far as actually accelerating the car (the gas pedal would ?rev up? When pressed, but there was no actual acceleration happening with the engine). There was no warning; no engine issues; no warning lights on the dash prior to this event. We were luckily able to pull safely off the interstate. We did shut the car off in hopes of ?resetting? Something but could not get the car to restart (it would just crank). Therefore, we had to have it towed. This is the third time this has happened in the past year on this vehicle. We have taken it to our trusted local mechanic. No issues were found, and no codes were identified. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed May 14, 2019 · Electrical · 900 miles · NJ · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 subaru forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several warning lights became illuminated with alarms and several beeping sounds. The vehicle was driven home where the vehicle stalled once and the vehicle was stopped. The contact lifted the hood and became aware of an abnormal burning electrical odor coming from under the hood. Additionally, the battery lost its charge and was replaced. Flemington subaru located at 167 nj-31, flemington, nj 08822, (908) 824-2334, was contacted and an arrangement was made to have the vehicle picked up and towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the mechanic was unable to duplicate the issue with the vehicle. After approximately 14 days the vehicle was returned to the contact. The contact stated that she was offered a repurchase price of the vehicle at the blue book value plus an additional $400. The contact stated that a decision was not made as whether or not to accept the repurchase order. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure was intermittent. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The approximate failure was 900.

Filed Mar 1, 2019 · Acceleration, Brakes · 40,000 miles · FL

When highway driving multiple warning lights are illuminated on dash, traction control, eyesight, cruise control off, hill assist. The eyesight systems are disabled shutting off cruise control. When this happens the rear brakes light are not working. When the car is the shut off then restarted and the brake is depressed the car will not come out of park after starting. This happens when it is reset after the car sits off overnight. The last time I could not get it out of the park I went behind the brake pedal and move the brake switch and pressed the connection on top in. This reset the system and I was able to get the car out of park and all the warning light on the dash disappeared. The stoplight switch/brake switch part #83311fj001 is defective. On 3/1/19 subaru announced a recall not sure if it's this part/issues but I am hoping it is.

Filed Aug 19, 2018 · Driver assistance, Engine · 60,500 miles · MS

Dashboard warning lights lit up "like a christmas tree"! Safety features are disabled. No eye sight, traction control, lane deviation. I have been to the dealer multiple times with no success. This has been going on for several months. Lights come on and go off, seemingly at random. Mostly stay on now.