2018 Subaru Forester: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Jul 6, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · FL

Starting up the car in the morning after a long day stuck in traffic (over 100 degree F weather), moved about 5 feet then the eyesight system stopped working, rear braking stopped, and power steering gave out - the car started and the engine ran normally. The car was abandoned as unsafe until diagnostics could be performed and a different car was used to get around . That evening the car started up fine, also the next morning to reproduce conditions. Tested the battery, which showed "good" (93% charge/40%healthy). I suspect that, in the morning the A/C, headlights, radio, backup lights, etc... put a large draw on the electrical system resulting in a system wide shutdown of adaptive features - However loss of power steering is insane and can easily result in death if it happens while driving especially while making a turn if the driver is not prepared/strong enough to force it. The linking of non-critical system to help the driver to an essential system is just asking for trouble.

Filed Jun 23, 2023 · Body, Engine · ID · crash · 1 injury

Front end collision with car making an illegal left in front of our Subaru. Our car hood, bumper, head lights, grill and parts of the engine were smashed, with liquid draining out of the engine. My husband (wearing a seatbelt) hit his knee and shoulder on impact. Airbags failed - Not a single airbag deployed. A police officer helped him move car parts out of the street. Safety was at risk because my husband hit the dash. Car is at an independent service center now. We need to know how to get it inspected. There were no warning lights on dash prior to impact.

Filed Mar 19, 2022 · Electrical · TN

This is the latest time in a series of incidents where the SUV would not start due to a problem with the main battery. New batteries drain very quickly after a series of electrical problems. So far, we have noticed keyless entry FOB says battery in the FOB is low and stops connecting (but then connects if we remove the key from it without us holding it to the button that turns the car on and off), we replace this battery but continue to have the same issues, front passenger side window is not able to be rolled down or up from driver side, as the battery continues to drain, gas gauges stop correctly registering amount of gas in the car, different warning lights light up on control panel without any sense of rhyme or reason, and overhead lighting gets dim. For a few weeks, the SUV blames the problems on the battery in the key FOB being low, even though it was replaced on December 15, 2021. When replacing the FOB battery did not work, we learned it was the actual main SUV battery that had been drained. It is now March 19, 2022, and we are having the same issues despite having only a moderate amount of miles put on the SUV and only 3 months of time passing since we purchased and installed a brand new car battery. We will have to spend money on batteries again.

Filed Aug 19, 2021 · Lights · SD

During the winter of 2019 I was driving during a heavy wet snow storm. I had to stop every 5 -10 minutes to wipe off my headlights as they were covered in heavy wet snow. This was a safety issue as I needed to get out of my car on the side of the interstate near Hardin MT, where often many vehicles would pass near the car. For an all weather SUV, this is a safety issue. The lights did not produce any heat to melt the snow so that I could continue to drive in a safe manner. Have never run into this issue before with any vehicle. I have written Subaru about this issue after this occurred, but have never received any response.

Filed Mar 5, 2021 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 65,000 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 subaru foster. The contact stated while parking her vehicle she shifted into park, the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a building. The contact mentioned no warning light was illuminated and no strange sound happened before the crash. The vehicle failed to deploy the air bags. The contact sustained whiplash and neck pain but no medical attention was required. Emergency officials were contacted and a police report was filed. The vehicle 's front bumper and headlight was damaged and the building door was broken. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was not notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. Failure mileage was approximately 65,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Oct 27, 2018 · Airbags, Seats · 15,130 miles · FL

Oct. 25, 2018. Car in garage stationary/started vehicle/ dashboard red warning light of seat with belt/airbag. Turned vehicle off. 1/2 hour later, returned to car, saw headlights on, two front doors locked/didn't start car. Called dealer and took in. Said airbag problem and need passenger seat replacement-but on big backorder/months and months. No firm date. Said choice: drive it at risk/ or take a rental. Gm gave us loaner. Gm said this is first one he has heard of at their dealership.