NHTSA Complaint #11397613 — 2017 SUBARU FORESTER

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM issue reported to NHTSA

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1 Injury

Complaint Details

ODI Number	11397613
Vehicle	2017 SUBARU FORESTER
Component	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Date of Incident	February 20, 2021
Date Filed	February 23, 2021
Mileage	40,000 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	1
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	NY

Consumer Description

THESE MODELS HAVE AMPLIFIER SOUND ISSUES THAT ROUTINELY CAUSE THE AMPLIFIER TO FAIL AND CUT THE SOUND. THIS COULD DEFINITELY CAUSE A CRASH BY DISTRACTING THE DRIVER. THE AMPS ARE EXTREMELY PRONE TO FAILING AND CAUSE EAR DEAFENING TONES, NO SOUND, CRACKLING ETC. THE PROBLEM IS EXTREME AND DEALERS HAVE NO APPARENT WAY OF RECTIFYING THE ISSUE. THE INTERNET IS LOADED WITH CUSTOMERS REPORTING THIS INCLUDING MYSELF. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD FIXED. NORMAL DEVICE FAILURE IS FINE BUT THIS IS OVER THE TOP. MY CAR WENT TO THE DEALER ROUGHLY 4 TIMES DUE TO THIS. MY VEHICLE PRODUCED A EAR PIERCING SOUND IN MID WINTER WITH THE WINDOWS UP AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO GAS STATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PROTECT MY EARS AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS SILLY BUT THE SOUND SYSTEM IS ROUGHLY 500W AND THAT MIXED WITH THE HIGH PITCHED TONES IS EAR DAMAGING. I'M LUCKY I DID NOT CRASH. THE ONLY WAY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY WAS PHYSICALLY UNPLUGGING THE AMPLIFIER. PLEASE HELP.

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