about two months ago my 98 forester was burned out on the inner driver side (while the car was off and parked). The entire inner door panel was melted away as well the driver seat and and underneath the steering wheel. It's been sitting at the dealership for a month and a half now and Subaru refuses to fix it because they say it would cost more than the blue book price of the car. Just wondering if anyone else has had electrical problems with their early Foresters (we've always had fuse problems with ours since the day we bought it), or if anyone has any good advice to getting Subaru of America to help us foot the bill on another used Forester. Thanks.
Electrical fire in 1998 Forester?
Jun 19, 2005
5 Replies
Since your Forester is a '98, it is beyond its basic bumper-to-bumper warranty. Do you have a service contract on the car? Otherwise, I would imagine that your claim would be with your own insurance plan's comprehensive coverage, if you have it.
You might check
formatting link
for any complaints/problems similar to yours and file a report on your car. If it turns out that there is a pattern of a safety-related defect, then there may eventually be a recall. If there is one, you may be able to get reimbursement under the recall. Incidentally, did the car have any recent repairs to the door where the fire started?
Ed P
Maybe he can write a letter to Subaru of Japan and get some action!
he he he.
I don't have fire on my insurance policy, but I'll try and call and see if there is something they can do anyway. I thought that maybe Subaru would feel somewhat responsible since it was obviously a fault on the electrics in the car itself (seeing that the car was off when the fire happened). It also happened about half an hour after my six year old and I parked and got out. If the fire had started when we were in the car I don't even know what would have happened becasue the doors were sealed shut due to the melted plastic. I guess no one has had problems with the fuses or electrics in their subarus which is really what I was trying to find out. Thanks for the advice tho. Sorry about the whole wrong side of the bed thing..
Hit up your insurance company. It's not a fire, it's an electrical fault. If you can prove an electrical fault existed while the car was still under factory warranty, you have a good chance of winning in court, if you're willing to take it that far.
Else, rip the motor, gearbox, running gear, everything mechanical you can salvage including back seat and the other doors, you'll make more money selling it as parts than you would ever get selling it as damaged.
-mark
Join the Discussion
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Didn't find your answer?
Ask the community — no account required