Air Conditioning

Sounds like the same issue I had with my 2015. Try having the dealer check the refrigerant charge. If it keeps dropping you may need AC system repairs which will be covered by the warranty. I eventually had the entire system minus the condensor replaced. Be prepared for a lot of BS in the meantime when they tell you this is normal.

I have a 2019 Subaru Forester. My AC blows hot air after idling for approx. 30 minutes. It is currently in the dealer. They are trying to figure out why is happening. I live in Az; this is the first time it happens to me. Dealer is currently working with Subaru Engineers to find the reason why. So if you have issues, take it to dealer so it can be documented, and they can have more data. It may be a design problem.

My 2015 Forester has had this problem since new. The dealer recharged it 3x, then started throwing parts at it and replaced the compressor with no luck. The problem gets worse when driving at speed, but not at high rpm while parked. I suspect the issue is that with the extra cooling air flow the condenser has a lower operating pressure than while idling; when the compressor cycles off the pressure drops, and the regulating valve doesn't open fast enough to maintain the same volumetric flow rate through the orifice.

http://www.subsuv.com/subco-784.html

We had same problem with our air conditioning blowing hot air after idling. The Subaru engineer said nothing is wrong. We have letter from service manager stating car blows hot air after idling. This is normal? Can’t believe Subaru won’t fix

I’m having the same issue with my 2015 Forester. AC stops working after 15 minutes. Took it in to the shop I’ve been going to for 20 years, so I trust them. They told me the AC compressor was bad. In their words “ it should last the life of the car.” Car is only 5 years old. Thought I was smart getting a Subaru but from what I’m reading here, maybe not. Does anybody know if a class action has been filed. I think it needs to be. Obviously Subaru doesn’t want to fix the problem.

When the days started getting warm, I noticed that my car’s air conditioning wasn’t working. I took it to Midas Brake and Muffler in Courtenay to get the refrigerant topped up. Or maybe they don’t “top it up,” maybe they evacuate it totally and refill it. Anyway, they did that, charged $220. The air conditioning seemed to be working right away, but within a few moments of when we drove the car away, it wasn’t working again. We brought it back to Midas, left it there for several hours. When we came back to get it, the mechanic there said he had checked for pressure and leaks and etc., but that everything seemed to be fine and the AC was working. He couldn’t find anything to fix. The Forester was due for two complimentary recalls, so we took it to the dealership in Nanaimo. One of the service staff there said they couldn’t “top up” the refrigerant, they had to evacuate it and refill it. I guess they did that, they also replaced the condenser, and they said they'd spent several hours on “diagnostics.” They said the AC was working, and charged $1,200. It really seemed to be for a very few minutes as we drove the car away, but again it stopped working, started blowing warm air. We turned around and drove the car back to the Nanaimo dealership. The service person looked under the hood, and said the compressor wasn’t spinning as it’s supposed to. We left the car in the shop again, and were given a loaner car to take home, and told us he (or someone from the dealership) would drive my car home to Denman Island and pick up the loaner. The next day the service person phoned to say that the car was ready, and that one of their staff would drive it up. I asked him what the problem with it had been, and he said it had to do with moisture in the system, that it had been evacuated and refilled again. He said a few other parts had been replaced as well. I had the impression that he really didn’t know what the problem had been or how it had been solved. In the late afternoon, the person who was supposed to be driving to us phoned to say that the air conditioning still isn’t working. She wanted to know what I wanted her to do. I said after paying $1,200 to get the air conditioning fixed, I didn’t want the car back with the air conditioning still not working and no diagnostic information about how it could be fixed. She said the shop had spent another five hours on diagnostics gratis, and couldn’t do more without charging more. My husband looked this problem up online, and found a description of a similar Forester problem from an owner who’d been advised by a Subaru dealer that recommended replacing both head gaskets, the timing belt, and the water pump for $2,800. This post said that other sites had mentioned similar Forester problems. Someone posted a response to him that said, “Forget about what the dealer said, they’re trying to sell you stuff that has nothing to do with your ac problem. The system is icing up and shutting down. You need a good ac shop. They will evaluate the pressure readings and advise you from there.” I don’t know what an air conditioning shop is, or whether there is one anywhere near here. Does anyone have any advice about this?

I have a 2015 Subaru Forester. I bought it from Subaru in 2016. I live in NY and the air conditioner worked (just ok) for 2 years. Then I noticed it took longer to get cool and then I would forget about it during our long winters until the next summer. In 2019 it just blew air. In 2020 it didn't work and I took it to a Subaru dealer to get fixed in 2021. I have 63,000 miles on the car. First I paid for a diagnosis, which said both the conpressor and the condenser assembly needed to be replace. From the research I did, the air condition in a car should last 8 to 10 years if not the life time of the car. I believe Subaru should address the problem with the air conditoner. I know of others who have had the same problem. I paid $170.78 for the diaginosis and $1411.30 for the repairs. Is there a class action suit or a recall?

Sounds similar to my 2019 Subaru Forester. Dealer said the compressor needed replacement. There is less than 15000 km (9500 miles) on the SUV! Luckily it is warranty work. I'm concerned about the long term when the warranty runs out.

After replacing the compressor, which was actually bad, we found out a small leak in the evaporator. My 2011 Forester XT is being serviced right now, a lot of work to unmount the entire front panel. Way to go down here in Brazil.

Yes, had the sme problem with my 2015 Forester. finally replaced the compressor. The method to activate the compressor is an electro magnet. The magnet has a gap which, if to large, will not create enough force to engage the compressor. Had a electro fan just like this in a 1962 Italian car. Not impressed. Now the new AC will not turn off regardless the depression of the AC on/off switch. Dealer says this is correct regardless what the owner's manual says. After many Subarus this may be the last. PS: had to replace struts at 34k miles