NHTSA Complaint #10039246 — 2001 SUBARU FORESTER

WHEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED FOR 10+ MINUTES, THE CAR SPEED BEGINS TO DRAG AND SURGE (SUDDENLY SLOWS, THEN RESUMES SET SPEED). THE CAR SEEMS TO BE ACTIVELY PULLING BACK AGAINST THE THROTTLE IF I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE PAST THE CRUISE SETTING, THE DRAGGING BACK AGAINST THE THROTTLE STILL OCCURS. IF THE CRUISE IS LEFT ENGAGED, THE LURCHING WORSENS, AND WHEN I EXIT THE FREEWAY THE (AUTOMATIC) TRANSMISSION DOESN'T WANT TO DOWN SHIFT. IT RESISTS UNTIL THERE'S A LOUD NOISE, THE REAR OF THE CAR BUCKS, AND THEN IT GOES INTO THE NEXT LOWEST GEAR. THIS HAPPENS THROUGH EVERY GEAR, AND THEN AGAIN UPSHIFTING FROM A STOP: THE RPMS WIND UP HIGHER THAN NORMAL, THE CAR RESISTS SHIFTING, AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNTIL I STOP AND TAKE THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE, WHICH APPARENTLY RESETS IT. THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR IN WEATHER UNDER 70 DEGREES. THE DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE PER RECALL #WWF89, AND HAS ALSO REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE IGNITION RELAY, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT'S WINDING UP TO SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR AT 60 MILES AN HOUR, AND IT VIOLENTLY BUCKS INTO GEAR. ALSO, THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND MORE UNPREDICTABLE. MOST RECENTLY, I WAS TESTING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR IN RAINY WEATHER. WHEN IT BEGAN SURGING, I IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGED IT, BUT THE DRAG-BACK ON THE THROTTLE CONTINUED ANYWAY (THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT IN WHICH THE LURCHING CONTINUED AFTER I TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL). I AM CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO OCCUR WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED AT ALL, AND ALSO THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO SEIZE UP WITHOUT WARNING. (NOTE: THE "INCIDENT DATE" ON THIS FORM IS THE DATE THE FIRST REPAIR WAS ATTEMPTED, BUT THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY STARTED HAPPENING IN APRIL, 2003. THE "NUMBER OF FAILURES" IS AN ESTIMATE -- IT HAPPENS AS OFTEN AS I TEST IT.)*JB