2015 Subaru Forester: jerking or lurching

Filed Feb 13, 2023 · Acceleration, Transmission · IL · crash

I was backing out of a parking spot, and there was a telephone poll behind me in my path. I needed to pull forward to navigate around this poll. After backing up some, I put the car into drive to pull slightly forward, and the car lurched aggressively, so much so that I got out to see if it'd caught on something. It did not -- there was absolutely nothing there. So I got back in and tried to continue forward, and the accelerator went full force. I floored the brake pedal, but the car behaved as though I was flooring the accelerator. The car drove itself over a cement block, through a staircase and into the brick wall of an abandoned building, continuing to accelerate for a few seconds while against the wall. Air bags did not deploy. I walked away without physical injury, thank goodness. There were no warning lights, symptoms of or dashboard indicators of a problem before or during the issue. Upon investigation online, we see that there is a pending class action for this exact issue. The vehicle has been inspected by our insurance carrier and been deemed a total loss. Insurance has asked that we turn the title over to them in order to receive our payout, and I believe they plan to destroy the car.

Filed Oct 10, 2021 · Brakes, Engine · VT

At about 101,000 miles I took the car in to the dealership where I bought it for another issue. When the tech got it up on his lift he came in and notified the service manager that there was bubbles on my brake line. The service manager came to us and she said “I really shouldn’t let you drive out of here with those bubbles because I would be an unsafe condition”, the implication was that if they burst I would have no brakes. The road salt on the roads in the winter in Vermont was indicated as the cause of the problem. They installed all new brake lines behind the cabin. I had asked them to save a section of the brake lines showing the bubbles and that DID NOT happen. I do much of my own maintenance and to have steel brake lines bubble it’s hard to understand. Maybe the hose between the end of the steel brake line and the wheel could bubble but having the brake line bubble is nightmarish.The safety concern is if other Subarus in salty climates have that problem and the owner is not aware of it, the brakes are liable to fail. Scary. As to the engine, since the car was a new, putting pressure on the accelerator caused the car to lurch, Irritating and dangerous in tight settings. Notified the dealership on the day we got it and when mentioned, nothing could be done for the 5 years since it was new.

Filed Oct 7, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · MI

The car regularly lurches or feels as it will stall. This occurs when trying to go from stops to starts both in a slow and faster manner. Has occurred while trying to turn left with oncoming traffic and I was concerned I may get hit. Dealership said “all 2015 Forrester do this. It drives like the others on the lot. There aren’t any issues and if there were we would see light”. Obviously this is a know issue and Subaru doesn’t want to address it. When it happens the rpms shutter abs the speed doesn’t change

Filed Sep 9, 2021 · Transmission · CT

We were driving on the highway going 65 and then there were two quick shudders and jerks of the car. Seemed to lose power in those moments. Immediately after that, we could hear a faint whoosh sound when on the accelerator but the car did accelerate. That sound was not there before the shudders. Then about 30 seconds later the power gave out and the car started slowing down very quickly. Luckily we were in the right lane and could pull off to the shoulder quickly, though the shoulder was very narrow and dangerous. The car slowed down very quickly without applying that much brake. When we were stopped on the shoulder, I applied the accelerator, and the car was in Drive, and it didn’t go anywhere. Then we put it in park and the car rolled forward. So both the drive and park gears were not working. We turned the car off and then back on to try the gears again. Same issues happened again with drive and park. This was a very dangerous situation that occurred quickly on a highway. The issue described and what we experienced seems to be consistent with similar issues with other CVT transmissions. We hope the federal safety agency follows up with Subaru as we will be as well.

Filed Aug 10, 2021 · Electrical, Seat belts · NJ

1) OIL CONSUMPTION. My 2015 Subaru was purchased used in 2017 with approx 56k on engine. From the first oil change I had done one month later the car’s computer would say that the oil level was low. I would check the dip and it would be at least a quart low. From that point on the car would burn oil that I would keep the 5 gallon oil container in my car. 2) My Subaru is and has been driven consistently until one week I did not use it for a few days not more than 3. The battery completely drained water and all. Filled the battery with appropriate water and trickle charged it for about 5 days. I then was able to jump start the car just to drive to the auto parts store to buy a new one. Noticed the signal lights would not work but the car was driving fine. I thought it may be a fuse so I pulled the proper fuse out and replaced it with the proper fuse. I started the car and every single light on the dash board lit up. Oil temp, check engine light, the up hill etc. I drove the car back home from the auto parts store and it was jerking, revving, stumbling all over the place. Nearly drove into the car in front of me and just about made it home without it stalling. I was scheduled to have two recalls fixed but I had to have my insurance company tow it to the dealer. They said it could be a number of things. I paid them 149 to do a diagnostics check but said they needed an additional 500 to do a thorough check and it would not go towards any fix of any issue. He printed me a list of items that needed to be done but none would fix that issue. He said maybe the wire harness but not sure. I was just basically screwed. So I have a 2015 Subaru Forester that I have no idea what is wrong with the engine. 3) seat belt warning on the passenger side will not stop alerting to fasten seat belts even though no one is in the seat. I have to keep it buckled at all times. I have notified the dealer the day the recalls were done but he said he didn’t know why it was doing that.

Filed May 20, 2021 · Transmission · NV

Merging onto a a 70mph highway and vehicle stopped accelerating around 45 mph. RMPs kept increasing, black smoke-type substance was coming out of the exhaust pipes when I tried to accelerate. No lights, warning noises, or any other indication of anything wrong with the car. Vehicle kept lurching and rev'ing but no acceleration.

Filed Dec 4, 2020 · Airbags, Seats · 65,000 miles · TX · crash · 1 injury

Driver was rear ended on the highway when at a dead stop by a vehicle going around 60-70 MPH. The bottom of the driver's seat jerked forward and impacted driver leg causing contusions and the back support and head rest portion flew backwards, causing driver glasses and hat to come off and land toward the back hatch of the vehicle. Spare tire was dislodged from trunk area and impacted driver's head due to the seat back being in the reclining position. Air bags did not deploy at any level as well.

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 Apr 4, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 99,300 miles · NJ

Head gaskets leaking, also the cars hesitates and jerks when driving

Filed Mar 16, 2019 · Acceleration, Transmission · 70,468 miles · TX

When using light acceleration such as in a parking lot or at a red light or stop sign to start going the vehicle bucks forward it will literally make you jerk back in the seat. Also while pulling onto a street it jerks forward but has hesitation which isnt to safe if you ask me when trying to get out on the road if cars are coming...

Filed Mar 8, 2019 · Fuel system · 24,500 miles · FL

Several times when I slow to turn or slow in traffic then try to accelerate, the car doesn't respond. When I depress the accelerator again, it bucks and surges forward in a jerking motion. Its dangerous because someone following behind me in a turn could run into me or in traffic , I could suddenly surge into someone else's car. When I took it to the dealer, the only report I got when I picked it up was that they had re-programmed the computer and test drove it. That was 2 months ago and now I am having the same problem again. Every incident took place on city streets. I am alarmed about the other reports I am seeing on this and similar loss of control issues.

Filed Nov 10, 2018 · Acceleration, Transmission · 12,000 miles · CA

Car has jerky acceleration with hesitation, momentary power loss when accelerating from stop or at low speed.