[Kean]

Sounds to me like someone bought the car sight unseen with little to no research whatsoever. Things like the manual passenger seat should have been obvious.

....but even things like the gas cap, I'm having a hard time understanding why you would need or want to lock the car as you're filling up. I'd think you have bigger problems if you live in an area where you have to worry about someone stealing your purse from inside the car with you standing there while filling up. As for safety, you're already outside the car so I guess I'm not understanding the point. If you really want to lock the car after opening the fuel door, why not just reach over and touch the passenger door handle?

I've never had the power lift gate try to close with my wife or myself under it and it's certainly not something that should be occurring unless you are activating it yourself with the button, etc. You should note that there is no sensor to detect obstructions so you need to do your due diligence and make sure all are clear before closing / opening. If the system is doing something screwy then report it to the dealer.

Incessant beeps...... Some of those can be turned off, changed in the settings or even mitigated through your driving habits. I drive my wife's 2020 about once a week and to be honest, I don't have an issue with incessant beeping from the Eyesight system. ....then again, I'm not one to brake late (pre-collision braking alarm), drift out of my lane (lane assist alarm) or sit at a light when traffic in front of me is already moving. As for RCTA alarms, that's not a bad thing at all IMO as it only beeps while reversing and there is something behind or coming up from the sides.

RAB can have issues reversing down an incline, with objects lining a driveway, etc. Then again, at least you can disable it for those situations if it's a problem. I can actually agree that it would be annoying however if there is no other way than having to disable it every time you want to back out from your house.

Either way, you obviously bought the wrong car. My only advice would be to make sure you research the next one so you're not setting yourself up for another expensive disappointment.

 

[Kean]

You guys don’t get it. I turned off all of the beeps. In about four different places. And it’s still beeping. There was one stretch of road today where it beeped on and off about 15 times in 20 seconds. I’m not being hysterical. I’m genuinely pissed off at this car. And I’m sorry if you don’t understand that women actually do get their pocketbook stolen at gas stations. And I did a ton of research before I bought this car. I’ve been driving a Subaru for 10 years; I expected to love it. I just happen to think it sucks and I did want to rant.

No, I get it. My wife owns a 2020 Forester Premium with these features including the power lift gate, RCTA, BSD, etc.

What would really help is knowing exactly what these "beeps" are that you're mentioning. There should be an indication on your instrument cluster as to what these are. Also, what were the circumstances? What was on and what was turned off at the time?

As for the purse, it's not that I can't see this from the perspective of a woman. It doesn't take an imagination to identify these kinds of vulnerabilities. Ask my wife. ....I spend enough time preaching to her about how to mitigate risk in situations like this. For example (more specific to this scenario), not buying gas at night, not running the tank so low that she doesn't have a choice, choosing well populated areas with lots of folks like our local Costco, staying alert and most of all, making sure others around you know you are alert. Look around and check your mirrors. In other words, don't look like a target and you likely won't be. ....no different than advice I would give another guy or my son.

I also remind her not to keep valuables in the car and keep her purse tucked away (e.g. behind the seat for safety as well as keeping it out of sight). I do the same with my backpack, my wallet, my tablet, electronics, etc. ....keep the key FOB on you, not in the car, in a purse in the car, etc.

In either case, like I mentioned earlier, if you want to lock the car you can simply reach over and touch the front door handle after you open the gas door. It works on my wife's car as I just checked. .....or as mentioned, use the fob after opening the gas door.

Locking the car doors locks the gas door which makes perfect sense to me. It helps ensure others can't easily gain access while you are away.

Look, if you're seeking assistance, we are here to help. We can help you identify possible problems (if that's the case) or even provide solutions that you may not know or have thought about. ....but if you're mind is already set on hating this car, not trying to learn more about it and just getting rid of it, then I guess all I can do is wish you luck.

 

[Kean]

Something doesn't sound right @HateThisCar especially with the seemingly random beeping and sounding like the tones are dying.

@danornan is right that the dealer should have spent more time explaining a lot for this with you. In fact, back when we bought my wife's 2020, Subaru had a program (forgot what it was called) where the dealer would call the customer later and answer any questions, go over the various systems, cockpit controls, etc. We did this with our dealership via video conference while we sat in the car. I already knew just about everything to know or so I thought. The gal actually pointed out a couple things I wasn't aware of which really helped.

A visit to the dealer may be in order to make sure all is well, something is wrong or at least to help explain what you're encountering.

 

[Kean]

@TTiimm

It used to be only New Jersey and Oregon that wouldn't let you pump your own gas but after a recent change in law, now it's only New Jersey. ....OP is in New England so unless she's talking about pumping gas in NJ or some other special situation (e.g. full service, handicap, unique situation), I'm guessing she meant that she was worried she couldn't keep her car locked while outside pumping gas.

Perhaps she can clarify but in either case, it's an easy enough solution IMO.

 

[Kean]

.....but again, as I mentioned, all you have to do is reach over and touch the front passenger door handle to lock the car once you pop open the gas cover.

 

[Kean]

Hey folks. You may want to read the rest of this thread. She already mentioned that she found the cause for the "incessant beeping" she complained about or at least most of it. .....her dog on the back seat.

That's uncalled for @hdrider031 .

 

[Kean]

Fyi.... The gas cap does indeed lock at least on her trim as well as my wife's (2020 Premium). ....and yes, the door must be unlocked before you can pop it open.

....and again, I'd urge folks to reread the thread as I just mentioned earlier. The OP found the source of the beeping (or most of it). It was her dog on the backseat and the sensor. No trip to the dealer needed she said.

As for whether or not she decides to keep the car, that's her decision to make but at least she has some answers / solutions to some of her concerns.

 

[Kean]

I agree the beeps and blips are annoying, I struggle sometimes with the lane centering. I find myself fighting it.

I agree that the lane centering is pretty much annoying / useless at least IMO. I find it can also wander. I simply never turn it on so it's not a problem because in my wife's 2020 it has to be activated. It's not on by default or at least once it's turned off it stays off unless you hit the switch. Same can't be said for some of the other features which default to on every start cycle.

I will say that the best feature tied into the Eyesight is the adaptive cruise control. I wish I had that the 13 years I was commuting 120 miles round trip each day of the week before I retired.

 

[Kean]

I totally get it, and I can agree with what the OP is saying. Someone said the OP should have done their research before buying it. The OP said they had a 2013 Forester and loved it, and you expect the newer one to be even better, you already know you like it. Someone made an issue of the locking gas cap. Come on, not everybody likes the same thing or lives in the same situation. I've been a Subaru buyer since 2009. I've bought 4 new Legacys and 1 Forester since 2009. I didn't have to research the latest Legacy, I already owned 3 of them and loved them so why not buy the 4th (2020)? Well, the 4th one sucks, and I absolutely HATE IT. It can happen. Personal preference, everything is subjective and I respect the OP's position, and they are entitled to state their opinion. You can disagree, but why dig into them?

I think there were a couple of us but yes, one of those was me.

Yes, I still believe she should have done her research as I would suggest anyone do when buying a new car. In this day and age when you can learn so much about your new car purchase before you walk onto a dealer lot, it's the best thing a consumer can do.

Think about it.... A new car is likely to be the 2nd largest purchase most people will make besides a home. For some, it will be their biggest. Many will also take out 5+ year loans to help pay for them. It makes sense to know as much as you can about it before committing to something like that.

You can't completely rely on previous experience with a brand / model. People that do risk the same grief the OP is going through. Things change including the platform, drivetrains, features and especially the technology. ...sometimes drastically between generations.

We've had 3 new Subarus since my '03 WRX. Every one of them I researched and was aware of the features and the operation of them. I also visited sites / forums like these and got a feel for potential problems. .....again, something that changes over time with each model year, changes in design / production, parts, generations, etc.

After putting 253k on my wife '08 Forester, we were automatically drawn to the 2020's when it was time to replace it. However, I made no assumptions the 2020 would be anything like her 2008 and it wasn't. ......except for some basic attributes. We were talking about a new larger platform, different transmission, different engine, different management systems, different handling characteristics, cabin changes and so on. Most of all, there was a huge jump in technology. ....all of which I spent time researching (actually downloading the manuals which are free) and getting familiar with before I even contacted our dealer so we knew what to expect.

When someone comes here (first post) to just completely bash on their new purchase and say how unhappy they are about the features, etc. as if it's Subaru's fault, yeah, I stated the obvious. ....but I also offered help as did several others to figure out the "incessant beeping" issue she had among others like how to easily lock the car by touching the handle after accessing the fuel door. ....and if some actually read through the thread, they would see the beeping wasn't something normal like she thought. It was her dog shifting around on the back seat and the sensor tripping the audible warning. She discovered that after making appointment with the dealer which she then cancelled. Someone else actually provided a work-around for it as well.

I get it. Some folks will have buyers remorse and even get emotional about it. Again, it's an expensive purchase. However, she knew enough about car forums to find this one to vent her frustrations. My advice would be that next time, use it and others to do some research on the next purchase or at least in the meantime, learn about the car she now has and perhaps other issues she is experiencing, we can help her out with. Who knows, she may even find out it's not as bad as she thought and / or some of these issues (like the incessant beeping) aren't really issues with the car per se and can be easily resolved.

 

[Kean]

I've been driving my FT for 3 weeks (roughly). The ONLY tech that keeps alerting me (constantly) is the blind spot tech (BPT) and the lane drifting tech (LDT). The BPT is silent. With the LDT I didn't realize I drifted so much into other lanes. How can this NOT help me, right? I really like this being active. Especially the BPT. I always look over my shoulder depending on the lane I want to switch to (with directional on), and the BPT helps me to never forget because sometimes I do (Human, not perfect) Also, when I see the indicator, even if I'm not changing lanes, I like to know what kind of vehicle is there. A van, car, 18-wheeler, etc.).

The Subaru acronyms are actually BSD for Blind Spot Detection and LKA for Lane Keep Assist. ....but actually, it's the Lane Departure Warning that alerts you when you drift over the line without the turn indicator, etc. LKA is the system that steers the car to keep it centered in your lane. RCTA is Rear Cross Traffic Alert. ....so many acronyms man.

Since the 80's, I have always used "blind spot mirrors" on all my cars. I have driven vehicles that you can't physically look over your shoulder and have to depend on the mirrors entirely. With the spot mirrors, I never have to look except at the side mirror. ....and I do like the BSD warning light although I will admit that I don't tend to notice so I'm a little iffy on how much it really helps me.

I will say the only somewhat annoying alert is the lane departure warning but it doesn't go off so much as to be a bother most times. .....part of that reason is simply because I regularly use my turn indicators when switching lanes regardless of who is around me.

The collision voidance alert can be a bit of pain sometimes especially when I'm well aware of what I'm doing. .....but I'd rather have it than not particularly for my wife since it's her car.

The RCTA system is probably one of my favorites though. Really helps in busy parking lots, etc.

 

[Kean]

AFAIK the seats will move without the key being on. It's just a lot slower than manual seats...

Yup. If it didn't, I would never be able to get in to my wife's car after she's driven it. I always have to move the seat back right after I open door. ....no need for the ignition to be on accessory, on, etc.

 

[Kean]

@maestrosteve ,

You do realize that many cars have a trunk release in the cabin that doesn't require the key to activate, right? There are also cars where you can access the trunk via rear fold down seats, a pass-though, etc. that also don't require a key once in the cabin. .....then there is the safety release. My own car (Challenger) has a button to release the trunk.

With the Forester which the OP has, it's obviously a moot point, right? ....I still stand by what I wrote. Many of the issues the OP has / had were with the tech, the manual passenger seat, etc.

 

[Kean]

It's a moot point as you stated when talking about the Forester. With people saying the OP should have investigated the car, you can't really ask about EVERY feature or non-feature, and some things you just won't realize until you own it.

...no but she really didn't need to inquire about EVERY feature to understand things like the passenger seat was manual vs. powered. Heck, it's in the description of features on the Subaru website.

As I mentioned before though, the Subaru manuals are completely free for anyone to download to really understand all of the features, tech, etc. . ....and then there are the forums like this one where the OP had no issue finding to vent about the product but apparently didn't tap into in order to learn more about the car before purchasing.

Do I think everyone does proper research before a car purchase? ....obviously not. Do I think more people should? ....heck yeah.

As for trunk releases, we'll have to agree to disagree as I'm driving an example of a $40k+ car that has a manual release inside as well as an unlocked pass-through which I'm perfectly fine with myself.

 

[Kean]

@jenkinscha

Yeah, while I don't drive my wife's car nearly as much as she does, I've learned more about how to adjust ACC to work more smoothly in slower, heavy traffic, etc. It's been great and works well.

 

[Kean]

Also, don’t take any of the angry/aggressive posts here personally as some people probably just feel you’re attacking/insulting their choice of a car or that you’re going against their logic.

.....if you think that, you're missing the point as well. Personally, I'm not angry about anything and don't feel I've been aggressive.

Look, all too often people will decide they hate something and continue to find ways to fuel their dislike rather than hearing reason, seeking solutions, etc. .....wanting an echo chamber rather than honest viewpoints, advice, etc. The OP found the main source of her "incessant beeping" issue was due to her dog in the backseat setting off the sensor. ....a member provided a simple solution for that.

Things like the AS/S can be deactivated and again, more permanent and relatively easy solutions were provided for that too. Other features like the Lane Keep Assist can be deactivated by the push of a button for 3 seconds and will remain off until turned back on.

The locking gas cap also is an easy fix in regard to her wanting to lock the car due to fear of having her purse stolen. ....several ways to do that and approach those scenarios differently.

Not sure what else we can do and honestly, I don't think anything at this point will change her mind which is perfectly fine. .....but when you join a forum like this just to vent about your utter dissatisfaction about the product and ask "does anyone else feel the same way?", would you not expect people to tell you how you they really feel?

 

[Kean]

@DragonSubie7

I'm not saying his comments were directed entirely or in part at me. Just using my own part in this as an example of one of several who have provided advice, solutions and opinions on the topic who aren't "angry / aggressive". Hell, I even called out one early on that clearly crossed the line calling the OP names. ....and the moderation team swiftly dealt with that member deleting the offensive reply.

I'm merely pointing out that there is a lot more here than some replies could (or should) be perceived as angry, aggressive or fanboish. Yeah, I know it happens and I know some can be quick with the critical remarks vs. actually trying to understand and help the OP but that's not what I think should be the take away from this discussion.

If that's what some want to focus on, I have no interest in that.

 

[Kean]

So, what do we and Subaru do? Upon delivery of the vehicle, the purchasers are shown what to do to get the vehicle safely home. Much more than that will likely be overwhelming. Upon delivery, they're also presented extremely simplistic, written instructions and very simplistic videos to disable the junk we don't care about (and that would be most of it). Similarly, we would be given even more carefully written and videoed instructions as to how to use the stuff that's valuable to us. And, Subaru, give us real people available online on an appointment basis to help us with the continual problems we'll have with these messes.

No idea what year or trim your Forester is but as far as instructions and documentation, my wife's 2020 came with two quick start guides that I found extremely handy.

One is simply the Quick Guide and goes over things like the gauge cluster layout, HVAC system, adjusting the seats, telescoping steering wheel, how to unlock / lock the doors, power liftgate (if equipped), how to start the car, check the oil, open the gas door, fuel capacity, adjust seatbelts and so on. It's a very easy read with lot's of pictures, simplified diagrams and not word heavy. ....only 50 pages +- and you really only need to look at the parts that are relevant.

The 2nd quick start guide is Eyesight Quick Guide. Just 18 pages and covers all of the (arguably) annoying features and how to turn them off which usually just requires a button press or for you to hold it for 3 seconds. It too has plenty of pictures and shows you where each is located (if equipped).

As I mentioned early on in this discussion, these guides are available to anyone without purchase so (as I do) I read up on the features of a car before I ever buy one or even step onto a lot for a test drive.

There is really nothing in a modern Subaru that would prevent one from safely driving it home. The lights, seats, seatbelts, mirror adjustments, etc. all work like most of the cars out there. The doors can be locked / unlocked using the FOB like most cars have for years, etc. Things like the Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Detection, etc. are just warnings. Collision Avoidance is passive until it needs to kick in which (IMO / IME) is a good thing. In either case, none of it prevents one from just hopping in the car and driving home from the dealer.

If you haven't already, I would strongly suggest taking a look at the quick start guides I mentioned. They will clear up a lot of the mystery. ....or at the very least will show you how to easily deactivate some of those features you don't like.

Kudos to you for at least finding and posting on this site. My dad knows little to nothing about forums and quite frankly, has had an attitude of unwillingness to learn about new things, etc. for some time. ....which I find common in many senior citizens. Stubbornness I guess you might say. Unfortunately, we are getting to that point where we may need to start having that uncomfortable talk about his future with driving.

 

[Kean]

I use the adaptive cruise quite often in my wife's car over the past 3 years while traveling on highways here in So CA including in heavy traffic. Haven't had an issue yet although in certain instances I will take over momentarily. ....even speeds in excess of 70.

Also haven't noted an appreciable drop in MPG using it in our scenario but then again, that's all relative.

 

[Kean]

Auto stop/start is not to save gas. It’s an emissions device/technology.

From Subaru:

"Newer Subaru Forester® and Crosstrek® when equipped with CVT transmission vehicles feature Auto Start Stop technology, which can help gas mileage by managing the engine to save fuel. This overview will explain how the system starts and stops the engine, what the dashboard icons mean, and how to turn off or disable the feature. For Select Models and Trims: • 2019 and newer Forester • 2020 and newer Crosstrek when equipped with CVT transmission 2020 Subaru Forester Touring model shown. Features may vary by models and trims. Check your owner’s manual for details. "

The bottom line is that it is marketed by manufacturers as a way to save fuel and naturally, reducing emissions is part of that. Still (without debating semantics), I wouldn't call it an emissions device or equipment in the sense that an EGR valve is or a catalytic converter, evap system, etc. ....and I'm thankful for that otherwise we would likely not have the option to defeat it with the press of a button.