2017 Subaru Forester: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Jan 21, 2023 · Electrical · FL

We took our 2017 Subaru Forester on December 9, 2022, to change the ignition switch because our key continued getting stuck. It was covered under an extended warranty. The spark plugs were changed during the same appointment only to satisfy the maintenance agreement. Before we took our Subaru in, our vehicle was running at an optimal level, and nothing was wrong with how it drove. On December 10, 2022, we drove our car, and it started to hesitate and misfire. This has never happened before. We called the dealership, and they had us bring the vehicle back in. They performed a fuel injection cleaning and reset the computer. Once again, the same problem continued after picking up our vehicle. The same problem continued daily, and several calls were made to the dealership and trips to the maintenance service department. It is erratic when it happens, but we have experienced it more during city driving versus highway driving. It’s been over a month, and the problem is still not resolved. At this point, we genuinely feel that this is a safety issue. Not to mention that if the vehicle continues to perform poorly, it can create additional damage. We are at a point of pure frustration and disappointment.

Filed Aug 23, 2021 · Electrical · NJ

The battery of our Subaru Forester 2017 has died three times from June 26, 2021 through August 20, 2021. Simply put, from one day to the next, the battery is suddenly drained of all its power. From July 2017 when we first leased the car through May 2021, we had no battery problems. The safety issue is one of personal safety -- that we can't depend on the car, so we hesitate to use it. We don't want to be stranded somewhere unexpectedly because the battery suddenly dies, especially after dark. Our Subaru dealership ran diagnostic tests today (August 23, 2021) and claimed there is no problem, that the draw on the battery is within acceptable parameters. They will continue to test it tomorrow, but from conversations with the tech manager today, I feel certain they will claim there is no problem. The solution the technician suggested is that we drive the car more frequently. But our use of the car has been consistent since we first leased it. There must be a reason that the battery was fine for 48 months and now suddenly loses power unexpectedly and repeatedly. We understand from internet research we did today that this kind of battery problem is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit here in New Jersey against Subaru for several of their models from the years 2015-present. We think Subaru ought to be more forthright about the issue and do what's right for their customers. Please help us.

Filed Aug 30, 2020 · Transmission · 30,000 miles · NY

After 20k miles, transmission hesitates more and more. Be careful and try to avoid situations where you have to accelerate quickly. The car does not move or accelerate when you hit the gas pedal quickly. Cvt slips, especially from reverse to drive. At slow speeds, it jerks the car trying to find the right gear. The problem began under 10k miles, and I took it to a local dealership, they told me that is how the car drives and told me it is normal. This is not my first forester, but definitely the worst. I called subaru america, and they said there is no known problem whit their transmission. I almost got killed in a highway stop and go situation, where I had to accelerate after a slowdown, and the car decided not to. If you own one, be careful.

Filed Sep 25, 2018 · Engine · 10,000 miles · DE

Vehicle hesitates during acceleration, worse if AC is on. Engine nearly stalls, losing power. Initially happened during left turn and while vehicle is in middle of intersection in front of oncoming traffic. This is repeated issue over several months

Filed Jul 8, 2018 · Airbags, Seat belts · PA

Front passenger airbag warning light comes on intermittently, either on start up or while driving, stays on for hours or days at a time, unrelated to whether the seat is occupied or not. When it is on, passenger seat belt light indicates it is not fastened even if it is. The seat has never had spills, rain or otherwise wet. This has been going on for at least 6 months. Subaru dealer states past error code b1760 which they reset and say there is nothing they can do because they can not find an immediate problem. Dealer admits that when warning light is on, the airbag will not deploy. This is so unsafe I hesitate to transport any front passengers. It is a large safety issue that is being ignored! Can you do anything?

Filed Jun 22, 2018 · 12,000 miles · MO

We have a 2017 forester subaru 2.5i with 12,548 miles. The SUV will randomly jerk, jump and has stalled in hwy & city traffic twice. Other times it will hesitate and seem to shift out of gear for 30 or more seconds. It seems to occur within a couple of miles after driving. Mostly after making a turn. Also we can feel hesitations, transmission shifting when driving at speeds of 40 to 65 miles. This has been a minor problem the last four months until the SUV stopped twice in traffic. Until it stopped in traffic online research "problems with 2017 subaru" (please check this out) indicates this is a cvs transmission problem. Numerous complaints verify that it is most likely a transmission glitch . I took the SUV to the dealer's service dept. Their tests did not indicate the problem. We drive our grandchildren to numerous activities. We will not do so as we do not want to risk their safety, having the car stop while driving in traffic could result in a serious accident. We no longer feel safe driving the car until this issue can be found. Please look into this as it may put others in harms way.

Filed May 28, 2018 · Acceleration, Engine · 10,322 miles · NY

Extreme hesitation from standing stop going straight ahead and turning. At 5 separate instances the car came to a complete rolling stop with no acceleration. After 5 to 7 seconds the car finally accelerated . When turning with plenty of room, for them, oncoming cars blared their horns, missing me by a few feet. Someone is shurely headed for a hospital or funeral home on this problem. Both the federal safety agency and subaru have been warned numerous times with no result for recall,repair or replacement. Dealers are saying they can't find a problem. This problem has been ongoing for years now. Maybe everyone's first stop should be at your state attorney generals office if we don't get results from either of you soon.

Filed Aug 14, 2017 · 5,400 miles · NY

07/03/17 first oil change. Several days after car hesitates upon acceleration. 07/14 car stalls while merging into roundabout. Restart car & it runs ok. 07/15 car stalls multiple times while entering intersection. Turn off eyesight & car runs. Do not drive car for several days. Bring car to dealer 07/20. 07/26 pick up car. No satisfactory resolution. Stalling perhaps due to mouse's nest or an oil overfill. 08/02 car stalls multiple times while pulling into traffic. Won't run with or without eyesight. Car towed to dealer. Problems reported to subaru main office. 08/14 car still at dealer with no resolution yet. Unless a specific cause & fix to this problem is found I will not feel safe driving this car again. I have a word document with all the details but am unable to attach it to this form.