Dashboard rattles in 2003 Forester

[Sgt.Torg]

My 2003 Forester 2.5X which I purchased new in January seems to be
developing a lot of dashboard rattles. There are plenty of creaks,
clicks and pops mostly coming from the silver-colored center console
around the auto transmission shifter. The whole console seems flimsy and
has too many joints - it's just not solid enough.

Anyone else noticed this? This is my first Subaru and I must admit, I am
disappointed to find that Subaru pays as little attention to this area
as every other manufacturer. Frankly, I expected better from a car
costing $30K CDN.

Hope it doesn't get any worse

 

[BBB]

My 2003 Forester 2.5X which I purchased new in January seems to be
developing a lot of dashboard rattles. There are plenty of creaks,
clicks and pops mostly coming from the silver-colored center console
around the auto transmission shifter. The whole console seems flimsy and
has too many joints - it's just not solid enough.

Anyone else noticed this? This is my first Subaru and I must admit, I am
disappointed to find that Subaru pays as little attention to this area
as every other manufacturer. Frankly, I expected better from a car
costing $30K CDN.

Hope it doesn't get any worse

I've had no problems whatever with my 2003 XS Premium. It might be
worth looking around behind the console to see what's happening. It's
very easy to remove both sections of the console, at least on the
standard shift model. Lower section comes off by pulling back and up on
the rear of the stick boot. I would expect that there would be a
similar situation on the automatic model. This exposes the two screws
that secure the top section. Remove these, and then slide a thin
screwdriver around the edge to release the clips. Usually these kinds
of things tend to break once removed, but these are actually pretty
sturdy and they all stayed intact.

Good luck.

--

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

If the sound system has been replaced or worked on it may have required
the r&r of that panel. If so, maybe someone broke some clips.

Carl
1 Lucky Texan

 

[Mike]

My '02 Forester S sometimes makes a slight rattling sound from
somewhere around the stereo. Hasn't been consistent enough though for
me to take the trouble of really trying to dig in there and see whats
causing it.

 

[Bart]

Mine is also flimsy and is starting to rattle...it is about a year and 1/2
old.

 

[Captain1]

Had annoying rattle in dashboard of my /99 Forester. and asked service dept.
to look into it, while under guarantee, several times,even removed dash
board and found nothing. At 150,000km service, nailed the service manager
who found problem in 30 secs, noise was caused by missing stopper/bumber pad
on lower edge of glove compartment . He replaced stopper and added a third
stopper between the two existing ones , and bingo, the noise was gone.