2003 Subaru FORESTER Engine Problems, Complaints and Defects, Recalls and Failures

This is an online automotive information provider of a detailed information on complaints, defects and recalls for Subaru FORESTER 2003 engine. Our users can find data on mass market car models from most popular brands. The service allows to compare and analyze statistics for reported problems, complaints, recalls for various manufacturers. We hope our site will help with selecting of a reliable and safe car. By using this tool, you will be able to get records with description of safety issues for vehicles, equipment, tires and child restraints. These issues include safety recalls for your Subaru FORESTER 2003 engine and complaints other owners have filed.
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2003 Subaru FORESTER Engine Problems, Complaints and Defects

 Issue ID1116225
 Internal NHTSA #10640252
 ManufacurerSubaru of America, Inc.
 BrandSUBARU
 ModelFORESTER
 Model Year2003
 File date27/09/14
 ComponentENGINE
Product type codeVEHICLE
 Description of the problemWe were driving on the interstate traveling about 70 mph when my husband noticed the back window had a greasy film that the wiper only made worse. We pulled off the highway to a gas station to take a look and noticed smoke billowing from the hood. After waiting a few minutes he raised the hood to more smoke. Having just had an oil change two days prior, i recalled that the service person mentioned slight transmission and oil leaks that were not major concerns and the car was safe to drive and could be addressed later. Turns out there was a hole in the piping directly underneath the battery, which was caused by battery acid dripping directly onto the metal piping causing the automatic transmission fluid to leak out. After removing the bolts from the plastic apron underneath the car to take a better look, it appeared transmission fluid had been leaking for a while. After pouring several quarts of transmission fluid into the car we were able to slowly drive it to the nearest service garage (about 5 miles), where we got a diagnostic done. Apparently this problem is not a new one to subaru as a service bulletin was released for this particular issue (though they stated it could be from corrosion due to road salt or salt water, not battery acid). A replacement at oil cooler piping kit and foam packing must be installed to prevent corrosion damage. The battery placement directly over the piping is what contributed to the hole in the piping, causing a dangerous situation that could have led to a fire underneath the car. Apparently subaru has redesigned the location of the battery in relation to the at fluid piping in their later model cars so it was a concerning issue that warranted this change. The garage manager felt it should have been a recall issue as it could have led to the vehicle catching fire.
 Vehicle Mileage at Failure111969
Number of Occurences1
Source of the issueNHTSA WEB SITE
 City and StateVIRGINIA BEACH, VA
VIN pattern JF1SG63663HXXXXXX
 Was vehicle invloved in a crash?N
 Was vehicle involved in a fire?N
 Was incedent reported to police?N
 Was medical attention required?N
 Was part original equipment?
No. of injured persons0
No. of fatalities0
 Date of purchase19/02/25
Was original owner?N
Anti-lock brakesN
Cruise controlN
Number of cylinders4
Drive train typeAWD
Transmission type
 Vehicle speed70
 DoT tire identifier
 Tire size
 Location of tire code
 Type of tire failure code
 Was defective tire repaired?
 Date of manufacture
Type of child seat code
Type of restraint
 Dealer's name
 Dealer's telephone number
 Dealer's city
 Dealer's state code
 Dealer's ZIP code
  • What is Recall?

    A recall is when a product is removed from the market or a correction is made to the product because it is either defective or potentially harmful.
  • What is Failure?

    Failure is the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success. Product failure ranges from failure to sell the product to fracture of the product, in the worst cases leading to personal injury, the province of forensic engineering.
  • What is Defect?

    Non-conformance of a car component with the specified requirements, or non-fulfillment of user expectations, including the safety aspects.

 

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