Passenger side front door problem in 2003 Forester Subaru

[Matthew]

Hi:

In my 2003 Forester, we had a problem with the passenger side front
door. When a passenger opened it, it felt like it never latched
closed. There was no lighted indicator saying it was not closed. In
addition, on one occassion the door flew open when we were backing up
in the driveway.

We took the car to three different dealer service dept's and they could
not find a problem, in addition, we contacted Subaru corporate so that
they could coordinate an analysis of the problem and still nothing was
found.

This is was my second new car, and perhaps I did not manage the
dealerships well enough to get what I wanted. So for example we might
have missed the opportunity to get "Lemon Status" on the car. We
ended up trading the car in for a Honda, so that we would not have to
continue to deal with the problem.

However I really miss having a Forester for other reasons, such as the
baggage room, and the flexibility it afforded. Other than the
dangerous door problem, the Forester was a great car to drive.

I am wondering if anyone else has heard of the problems we have
experienced with the vehicle. I am wondering if it is a model/year
issue (as in only found in 2003).

Thank You

Matthew Harelick

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi:

In my 2003 Forester, we had a problem with the passenger side front
door. When a passenger opened it, it felt like it never latched
closed. There was no lighted indicator saying it was not closed. In
addition, on one occassion the door flew open when we were backing up
in the driveway.

We took the car to three different dealer service dept's and they could
not find a problem, in addition, we contacted Subaru corporate so that
they could coordinate an analysis of the problem and still nothing was
found.

This is was my second new car, and perhaps I did not manage the
dealerships well enough to get what I wanted. So for example we might
have missed the opportunity to get "Lemon Status" on the car. We
ended up trading the car in for a Honda, so that we would not have to
continue to deal with the problem.

However I really miss having a Forester for other reasons, such as the
baggage room, and the flexibility it afforded. Other than the
dangerous door problem, the Forester was a great car to drive.

I am wondering if anyone else has heard of the problems we have
experienced with the vehicle. I am wondering if it is a model/year
issue (as in only found in 2003).

Thank You

Matthew Harelick

That's unfamiliar to me, but I don't monitor Forester specific
groups/threads.
I wonder 2 things, could the car have been wrecked/repaired at the
dealership OR did somone slam the door onto the seat belt webbing.
Still, seems like either way some damage/maladjustment would have been
detected.

Carl

 

[QX]

In my 2003 Forester, we had a problem with the passenger side front
door. When a passenger opened it, it felt like it never latched
closed. There was no lighted indicator saying it was not closed. In
addition, on one occassion the door flew open when we were backing up
in the driveway.

I am wondering if anyone else has heard of the problems we have
experienced with the vehicle. I am wondering if it is a model/year
issue (as in only found in 2003).

]
Try posting or looking around at
www.subaruforester.com

There are 3,432 members there, with 1,403 active members.
Surely if this is a common problem, it will have been mentioned there.