Subaru Forester Subaru Forester

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Subaru Forester repairs by problem area

Engine (40%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (9%)

Brakes and Traction Control (6%)

Suspension and Steering (13%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (21%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (7%)

Other (4%)

Chart based on 2788 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the Subaru Forester.

Subaru Forester repair cost distribution

$2500+ (5%)

$1000 - $2499 (11%)

$500 - $999 (17%)

$100 - $499 (36%)

< $100 (31%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 1623 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2021 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

182-horsepower 2.5L H4 7-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in California, United States
Apr 2021 - Jun 2022
Nov 2021

9000 mi
The glove box lock keeps falling out. Has happened three times so far (including once right after I got it back from the shop). Must be a very poor design. 
Jan 2022

12413 mi
Glove box lock just won't stay in place. Dealer has just acknowledged that this is a poor design (the release for the lock is right where your fingers go when you open the glove box). This time they just showed me how to put it back. I just leave it in the glove box compartment now; I wasn't going to worry about locking it anyway. 

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2020 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

182-horsepower 2.5L H4 7-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jan 2021 - Jul 2022
Sep 2021

32000 mi

US $200
Replaced pads 
Subaru Forester in Iowa, United States
Dec 2020 - Jun 2022
Mar 2022

7 mi
dashboard noise...better but still not fixed.. b pillar rattle 
Subaru Forester in Georgia, United States
Mar 2021 - Jun 2022
Nov 2021

18000 mi
Radio no audio 
Subaru Forester in Iowa, United States
Dec 2020 - Jun 2022
Jan 2022

64000 mi
Fuel evap canister filter plugged. Replaced filter, Covered under extended warranty 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Mar 2020 - Jun 2022
Jun 2022

11000 mi
Went in for an oil change. While I noticed a noise similar to a cv joint I wasn’t prepared to leave it for this. The mechanic came out about 30 minutes later and informed us that the noise was related to the transmission and that they had ordered a replacement. Sent me home with a loaner vehicle. They received the transmission and installed it the next morning under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Feb 2021 - Jul 2022
Jul 2022

30000 mi
On a trip the "Thermo Control Valve" failed which in turn signaled the "check engine light" to be turned on (but not flashing) but it also turned off the Eyesight/Cruise Control/Collision Avoidance/Automatic Braking system off as well. The valve is locked on the wide open position and the car is drivable, but all the safety features and cruise control are inoperable. The needed parts are on back order and this seems to be a major mechanical issue around the nation. I am driving the car as is and will have to wait for my parts to arrive. The Asian logistics problem is making this problem worse. I'm told it will be 30 to 45 days before the parts arrive and my car can be repaired. To say I'm an unhappy customer would be an understatement. 
Subaru Forester in Arizona, United States
Oct 2020 - Jul 2022
May 2022

24000 mi
12 volt accessory outlet had a blown fuse. 

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2019 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

182-horsepower 2.5L H4 7-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Mar 2020 - Jun 2022
Sep 2021

11900 mi
Chrome on door handle delaminated. Repaired by dealer under warranty 
Jun 2022

15000 mi
Chrome on Drivers door handle was coming off. Dealer installed new outside door handle 
Subaru Forester in Hawaii, United States
Apr 2019 - Jun 2023
Jan 2022

23000 mi

US $45
The screeching sound was caused by a small rock between brake rotor and back plate 
Subaru Forester in Delaware, United States
Jan 2021 - Jun 2022
Mar 2021

18000 mi
Loose suspension Recall 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Oct 2018 - Jun 2022
Jul 2021

29760 mi
Battery replaced. Failed after 2 1/2 years. Stop/Start model Expansion Valve replaced 
Sep 2021

33480 mi
Engine temperature control assembly showed fault 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jun 2021 - Jun 2022
May 2022

33000 mi
Thermo Control Valve Failure 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
May 2019 - Jun 2022
Jan 2020

5000 mi
Rear [power] lift gate not functioning. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jan 2021 - Jun 2022
Mar 2022

38000 mi

US $500
new rotors and pads at all four wheels. I had to purchase rotors myself because the dealer had none available to sell. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2019 - Jun 2022
Jan 2020

24800 mi
A/C system seals were leaking. system was purged and recharged with new seals 
Nov 2021

52080 mi

C $240
rear wheel bearing (one failed, changed both) 

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2019 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Dec 2020 - Jun 2022
Jun 2022

30380 mi
Right rear wheel bearing started making noise. Took to dealer, properly diagnosed and repaired in about 3 hours. No charge still under warranty. 

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2018 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Nevada, United States
Jun 2018 - Jun 2022
May 2022

51000 mi

US $40
Engine light and misfire. Used stp aerosol carbon intake cleaner with 9 minute timer. It actually worked. The car started to run very poorly and backfire on cold start. This treatment cleared it up. Seriously amazed it worked. Car runs heat so far. About 1k since treatment. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2017 - Jun 2018
Mar 2018

4340 mi
The Harmon Kardon amplifier blew out after only a few months. It took about 4 weeks to get a replacement. Only one speaker was working 
May 2018

8060 mi

C $259
regular service for 10000km, also tires changed, and looking into the steering system pulling side to side.  And had stereo amp changed out. Original one blew out after a month, then took a while to get the part. 
Subaru Forester in Idaho, United States
Oct 2022 - Oct 2022
Oct 2022

45440 mi

US $100
Transmission leak spotted while getting an oil change. Window chatter on rolling up and rolling down. 
Subaru Forester in Oklahoma, United States
May 2021 - Jun 2022
Jul 2021

20000 mi
Wiring harness replaced under goodwill. Car had check engine light right after we bought it. Looks like rodents chewed through the harness and it wasn't picked up when Heuberger inspected the vehicle and sold it to us 

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2018 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States
Aug 2017 - Apr 2019
Dec 2017

2000 mi
I have had to add air to one of the tires approx. every 300 miles since I got the car; the "honeymoon" is over. 
Subaru Forester in Arkansas, United States
Dec 2017 - Dec 2021
Jun 2018

2700 mi

US $165
Nail in sidewall of rear tire. Replaced tire. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Mar 2018 - Sep 2018
Jul 2018

5000 mi
Hood misaligned 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2017 - Jul 2022
Jan 2022

35960 mi

C $800
Squeaking and brake drag. Pads, rotors and drums replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Alabama, United States
Dec 2017 - Jun 2022
May 2022

20000 mi
Passenger airbag error. Parts needed, not repaired. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jul 2017 - Jul 2022
Jul 2022

32000 mi
Could not remove key from ignition switch. Was repaired under warranty. Mirror and overhead light stays on after closing doors. happens when opening door and closing without starting engine. The car still blinks that door is ajar. If not noticed will fully drain the battery overnight. 

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2018 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Dec 2017 - Jun 2022
Sep 2018

3100 mi
rattle coming from centre of dash, corrected this but still another rattle coming from dash closer to driver side 
Jul 2021

11160 mi
ongoing problem with rattles and squeaks from dash 

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2018 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Alabama, United States
Oct 2018 - Jun 2022
Feb 2019

13000 mi
Power steering stopped working temporarily. Dealer could not find problem. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Sep 2017 - Mar 2019
Nov 2017

3200 mi
From new car consumed 1 quart every 600 miles. The dealer started an oil consumption test and am waiting to see the rate of burn for the next 1000 miles. If it consumes the same, dealer already stated that they will replace the engine under warranty. 
Apr 2018

9000 mi
engine was replaced after multiple oil consumption tests showed that the car was buring 2 quarts every 600 miles. 
Dec 2018

18000 mi
After having the original engine replaced a few months ago I dropped the car off for its third oil consumption test. The new engine is burning 2 quarts of oil every 1K miles. Initially the dealer stated it was part of its break-in period. Car continued to need a quart added every 500+ miles. Engine will most likely be replaced again under full warranty. Dealer has expressed that they will address an early lease termination with corporate. SiriusXM radio does not work fully. Radio will not display all stations. XM said headunit is bad or malfunctioning. Dealer tried a programming update but it did not resolve the XM radion functions being missing. 
Mar 2019

22000 mi
Third Oil consumption (second engine; first new engine at 2K miles) test came back that the car was burning 1 quart every 100 miles on the second engine. Subaru decided that the car needs a new engine (3rd engine in 22K miles) Due to car needing another engine Subaru North America proactively did a buyback. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Feb 2018 - Mar 2023
Feb 2022

57000 mi

US $2000
Center viscous differential failed. 
May 2022

59000 mi
Full engine replacement due to high oil consumption and failed oil consumption test. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Oct 2017 - Feb 2021
Mar 2018

1400 mi
Over one quart of engine oil consumed over first 1400 miles; oil and filter were changed and I am to monitor oil level going forward. 

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2017 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Oct 2016 - Dec 2021
Aug 2018

6200 mi
Misfire on #1 cylinder when started. Computer was fed an update and problem fixed 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Jul 2016 - Jan 2022
Jun 2017

7000 mi
Transmission pan leaking. Dealer made adjustment under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Aug 2016 - Feb 2022
Jan 2022

72000 mi
Unknown battery drain. Replaced battery. Successful. 
Feb 2022

72000 mi
Condenser recall 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Sep 2016 - Sep 2018
Sep 2018

8000 mi
Window would not go down on driverside 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Mar 2017 - Jun 2018
Apr 2018

26000 mi
Leak was noticed from transmission pan during normal oil change maintenance. Persisted between changes so they scheduled a time and replaced the gasket under warranty 
Jun 2018

31000 mi

US $7
Leak coming from oil pan identified shortly after oil change. Discovered washer had been bent during reinstallation. Changed part and replaced oil (again). No leaks since 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Jul 2016 - Nov 2020
Dec 2016

3000 mi
Heavy soot deposits on exhaust pipe tips. 
Mar 2017

4000 mi
S# transmission mode kept engine revs well below torque peak, which made no sense given S# mode is "performance mode". 
Jun 2017

5500 mi
engine runs roughly on mild inclines. excessive soot on tailpipes. Technician did basic ECU check, claimed there was no problem but that there was pending ECU reprogramming, not currently available. 
Sep 2017

7000 mi
engine runs roughly under light acceleration up hills. Technician added program update for proper high temperature operation, also corrected overfilled oil level (too much oil can raise havoc with valve timing adjusters). Repair did not correct rough engine performance up hills. 
Dec 2017

8000 mi

US $73
Engine continues to stumble when vehicle is traveling up long hills. Service tech has seen problem before but had no new programming or other assistance from Subaru to attempt adjustments or actual repair. 
Jun 2018

12000 mi
rear hatch control no longer working as expected (hatch no longer opens automatically when hatch button pressed). Technician claimed hatch was working properly. No parts replaced. 
Sep 2018

14000 mi

US $60
Engine stumbles/runs rough when vehicle is climbing moderate hills. technician applied carbon cleaner to valve system (direct injection engine) but found no problem. Problem has been occurring repeatedly and was present in '14 XT forester with same engine. Technician is now contacting factory field support for more info. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Aug 2016 - Mar 2018
Feb 2018

12020 mi
Keyfob quit working, Battery was found to be okay, had to replace keyfob and reprogram to vehicle. Car makes popping noise in middle during driving (usually in deceleration, but not hard braking). Noise seems to come from left rear door. Dealer has been unable to reproduce. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Oct 2020 - Mar 2022
May 2021

39000 mi

US $150
CVT failed. Replaced under Subaru 100k CVT extended coverage. 
Subaru Forester in South Carolina, United States
Sep 2016 - Aug 2022
Aug 2022

45000 mi

US $160
During windshield replacement the eyesight went bad and cost $2500. The majority was covered by insurance, but unbelievable expense and difficulties getting it done. 
Subaru Forester in Missouri, United States
Jun 2017 - Jun 2022
Jun 2018

14000 mi
Trim under the passenger window replaced 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jul 2016 - Oct 2020
Dec 2017

22000 mi
Power lift gate making squeaking noise. Dealer claimed to lubricate it. Lift gate still makes noise and needs to be corrected yet again on the next service visit. Driver seat belt buckle squeaking noise. Dealer could not reproduce. Buckle still makes noise and needs to be corrected on the next service visit. Holding buckle stops the noise. Found reports online of others with same problem. 
Aug 2020

59900 mi
Injectors were fouled. $2000+ repair not covered under warranty but Subaru covered the cost as it is a common problem on the Forester XT due to direct injection system design flaws plus I also had a large amount of problems with this vehicle. I had problem fixed and sold vehicle just short of 60,000 miles. 

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2017 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 237hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Trinidad and Tobago
Mar 2017 - Feb 2022
Jul 2017

868 mi

$1
Rattle in passenger sun visor extension. Fixed by removing extension from visor and adding felt strip to tighten up space when retracted. 
Mar 2018

4960 mi
Engine felt a bit lethargic under 2500 rpm, and the power would suddenly kick in and surge forward around 2700 rpm. This made the acceleration and downshifting very jerky when the engine was between 2000-3000 rpm. After reading some info the 'net, I decided to tighten the hose clamps on the intercooler inlet, outlet, and turbo bypass valve. After doing this, the engine is smooth in acceleration again, like new. Update: problem returned a month later. 
Jun 2018

6820 mi

$25
Replaced factory Tridon brand hose clamps for Turbo intercooler, throttle body and turbo bypass valve with aftermarket Breeze brand liner hose clamps. Car drives like new again and no more uneven acceleration. 
Feb 2020

19315 mi
Brake power booster vacuum bleeds off when car sits for several hours or overnight. Brake pedal very firm to depress prior to starting engine. Dealer claims that it is normal, but this was not normal for the first 30,000 kms of ownership or normal for my other cars. No repair done. 
Jul 2020

21824 mi
Tighten and retorque intercooler and turbo bypass valve clamps to 4nm. Right intercooler clamp found loose. Dealer has returned car after service with loose clamps more than once. Annoying ticking tapping sound in both left and right B-pillars especially when chassis twists when driving over uneven bumps or road. Suspected spot weld splatter friction noise. Sprayed WD40 lubricant at top of B-pillars between sheet metal seams. Rattle gone. 

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2017 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Peru
Dec 2016 - Jun 2022
Nov 2017

5580 mi
Air conditioner stop working. It was checked and repair under guarantee. 
Subaru Forester in Oklahoma, United States
Jun 2016 - Jun 2018
Dec 2017

36000 mi
battery was leaking acid!!! 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Feb 2017 - Jun 2022
Jan 2018

15000 mi
pax seat airbag sensor needed replacement 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Sep 2016 - Jun 2022
Mar 2017

6000 mi
Integrated electronics unit was not activating windshield wiper de-icers. Replaced BIU. Had to take car back because fog lights quit working. Technician was not aware he needed to explicitly enable the feature in the new BIU's configuration. 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Aug 2016 - Jun 2018
Sep 2016 Rear O2 sensor tripped, turning on check engine light. A software update seems to have eradicated the problem. 
May 2018

9000 mi
Passenger air bag sensor replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Feb 2018 - Jul 2018
Mar 2018

25200 mi
Blue tooth was virtually disfunctional. Could hardly hear other party and other party couldn't hear driver. Dealer said they "downloaded an upgrade" for the system. It helped very slightly, but it is still not acceptable. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jun 2016 - Jun 2018
Jan 2017

7800 mi
Factory initiated TSB effort to confirm CVT filled with fluid to proper level. 0.5L added according to repair report. 
Subaru Forester in Newfoundland / Lab., Canada
Oct 2016 - Jan 2022
Nov 2016 Shudder in car a certain speeds. Dealer checked fluid level in trans.Level was good. 
Nov 2017

12400 mi

C $150
CVT transmission was re-programmed. Happy to report the shudder I experienced has completely gone from the car. Issue resolved after EXACTLY ONE year. 
May 2018

16120 mi

C $150
brakes, lights etc 
Subaru Forester in Maine, United States
Mar 2017 - Jun 2018
Aug 2017

7000 mi
Passenger side front door guard trim peeling away. Replaced under warranty. 
Nov 2017

11000 mi

US $120
After sitting four days, the car had no power whatsoever. AAA tested it and zero voltage was seen. No lights were left on. The OEM battery was replaced by AAA with a higher CCA battery. 
Dec 2017

11000 mi
This car costing 35K, has the worst heat in cold weather out of 7 Subarus I have owned, very disappointed. Also the CVT when it is cold out causes the engine to stay at high revolutions for a long time, resulting in a huge MPG loss. 
Subaru Forester in Vermont, United States
Jan 2017 - Jun 2022
Mar 2017

400 mi
dealer installed remote start was not functional at time of delivery, took it back the following week and they discovered someone had cut a wire when reassembling the dash at the time of install, repaired the wire, and system is now functional 
May 2017

3000 mi
navigation head unit was locking up randomly, dealer replaced head unit under warranty 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jul 2016 - Jun 2018
Dec 2017

42000 mi
A/C condenser leak 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jun 2016 - Jun 2022
Dec 2016

6820 mi
"Enter" key for middle console is dimmer on one side of the key. Internal LED so nothing I could fix. 
Sep 2017

16740 mi
AC compressor leaked, no cold air blowing. Took 3 weeks to get a new compressor in. Under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Dec 2020 - Jun 2022
Apr 2022

25000 mi

US $100
All sorts of electrical problems related to battery going dead. All were re-settable after replacing the battery. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Mar 2017 - Jun 2022
Aug 2019

8500 mi
Replaced O Rings on compressor. Replaced O Rings on compressor. Lll 
Jun 2020

9600 mi
Occupancy sensor for front passenger seat replaced 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jun 2021 - Jun 2022
Jun 2022

50000 mi

US $800
Replace both rear wheel bearings 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jun 2021 - Jul 2022
Jul 2022

36000 mi

US $621
Replaced rear rotors. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Jul 2016 - Jul 2022
Oct 2017

9000 mi
Reprogram ECM for engine hesitation and jerking. 
Apr 2018

13000 mi
Leak in AC condenser 
Apr 2022

54000 mi

US $79
Replaced rear brake pads 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Mar 2017 - Jul 2022
Jul 2022

83000 mi

US $97
replace right rear wheel bearing 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Oct 2016 - Jun 2022
Nov 2021

37000 mi
WUM98 - "Forester Passenger-side Front Airbag ODS" Type: Recall Service Campaign: WUM98 | NHTSA Campaign: 19V-701000 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Jun 2017 - May 2022
May 2022

49000 mi

US $300
I did new front brake rotors & pads (DIY) before giving to my daughter in May ($300). 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jul 2016 - Jun 2022
Jun 2018

14000 mi
AC was blowing hot air. Condenser replaced under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Apr 2017 - Apr 2018
Apr 2018

19 mi

C $290
Rock got caught in heat shield. 1 hr labor to repair. 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
May 2017 - Jun 2022
Nov 2021

64000 mi

US $800
replaced brakes 
Jun 2022

72000 mi

US $25
Headlight replaced 
Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Dec 2016 - Sep 2020
Jun 2018

17500 mi
Passenger Window wouldn't go all the way down - was told it was a computer programming error that was fixed 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jun 2017 - Jan 2022
Jul 2018

22100 mi
sideview mirrors did not heat to remove frost as part of winter package 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Feb 2017 - Jun 2022
Apr 2018

13640 mi
Hydraulics on rear gate lift still squeaking 
May 2022

48980 mi

C $800
brakes below reasonable safety margin 
Subaru Forester in Rhode Island, United States
Jul 2017 - Jan 2022
Sep 2018

6000 mi
The AC stopped cooling and the dealership checked it and said that the AC condenser needed to be replaced, repair took 2 hours and this included washing the vehicle before it was returned. This is a problem with faulty AC Condensers on 2017 model Subaru Foresters. 

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2017 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Mar 2017 - Jul 2017
Jun 2017

5303 mi
Vehicle is consuming oil. Oil level low by 34 oz. Started oil consumption test with new oil/filter change. 

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2017 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jan 2019 - Jan 2023
Jun 2019

25000 mi
Air conditioning condenser Bushing 

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2016.5 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in New South Wales, Australia
Aug 2016 - Jun 2022
Dec 2016

2480 mi
Incorrect panel fit due to overtightening during assembly. 

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2016 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Arizona, United States
Oct 2015 - Jun 2022
Feb 2018

22000 mi
transmission was leaking, replaced seal 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Nov 2015 - Jun 2018
Jun 2016

1860 mi
Voice entry on address entry for nav system didn't work. Doesn't reconcile any address I speak to it. 
Jun 2017

9920 mi
Fuel pumped failed. Car stalled. It could run, but idled and ran rough. Rpm shoots up for no reason. Dealer replaced the fuel pump and car runs fine now. I do wonder what damage was caused since the dealer told me that the car was running extremely lean. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
May 2016 - Jun 2018
Jan 2018

24000 mi
Replaced leaking transmission gasket 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Mar 2016 - Oct 2023
Jan 2017

49000 mi
12 volt outlet repaired at dealership. Loud squeaking noise when backing up car and applying brakes . There are grooves on two rotors. Dealership said pebbles may have gotten into brake system. No repair needed. 
Aug 2019

39000 mi
CVT leaking from oil pump. Dealership performed chain pump reseal. 

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2016 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in California, United States
Sep 2017 - Jun 2018
Jan 2018

19000 mi
Replaced TPMS sensor under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Dec 2016 - Jan 2018
Jan 2018

26000 mi
Blower fan resistor 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Aug 2015 - Jun 2018
Nov 2017

16000 mi
Battery needed replaced 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Nov 2015 - Jan 2022
Jan 2018

22000 mi
Replaced display and electronics displaying backup camera and sound system.. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Dec 2015 - Jun 2022
May 2016

3000 mi
Software update required on the BCM. 
Jan 2018

17000 mi
Car was parked for 2 hours, battery was dead. Jump stated and car ran fine. Unsure if we need a new battry or what caused it, will be investigating further.e 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Jun 2016 - Jul 2022
Jan 2018

16740 mi
Noise of rotating parts when the vehicle was moving. The dealer had to order the tranmission parts and replace them. ABS, traction control and hill start assist warning lights turning on either at engine start (preventing from switching to drive mode) or when driving. Deficient brake pedal turned out to be the cause. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Feb 2016 - Jan 2022
Mar 2016

13000 mi

US $40
Battery went dead. Power lift gate Information system update 
May 2016

15000 mi
Power lift gate kept jamming and programming gets locked up. 
Jan 2017 Car would not start. Interior lights came on but would not start. Car towed to dealer. Replaced battery. 
Jul 2017

33000 mi
Dashboard warning lights for Eyesight, lift assist, and check engine came on. Code check resulted in technical bulletin issue previously issued in August/2016. Alternator needed to be ordered. 
Jan 2022

99000 mi

US $1400
lower control arm and stabilizer links 
Subaru Forester in New Mexico, United States
Aug 2015 - Jan 2021
Jul 2016

8300 mi
Rear hatch opening problems. 
Oct 2016

11200 mi
Rear hatch locks up sometimes. 
Feb 2017

17000 mi
Rear Hatch jams, sticks, fails to work at times. Nothing was done to fix it--It is a design defect of this car. 
Mar 2017

17000 mi
Rear hatch still not working reliably (same as since day #1 new). Also cruise control & eyesight have quit both at the same time randomly. 
Apr 2017

18000 mi
Rear Hatch does not function at times. Still they are unable to fix. THIS IOSM A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND WILL NEVER BE FIXED. 
Mar 2018

27000 mi

US $82
Even though the car was under 36 month 36 thousand mIle warranty, I replaced the battery myself. Subaru would have required the car being towed in to a dealer, and the car being left over the weekend util they could work on it the following week. We needed the car to go to work. Real shame they would not replace the battery over the counter-I TRIED. 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Jun 2016 - Jun 2022
Aug 2017

14000 mi

US $82
After getting my car washed at the car wash the day before, I noticed the rear wiper/arm totally gone 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Nov 2015 - Jul 2017
Jul 2016

6300 mi
Bad rattle at back lift gate. Taken to dealer twice. 1st trip didn't fix it. Brought back several days later left for 3 days still not fixed. Each time said it was but the rattle is still there! 
Aug 2016

7000 mi
Rattle has not been fixed. Dealer was notified of the problem and said they would schedule is a repair and provide a loaner while they had it, since last time they had the car for 3 days. They have not called or emailed me. BAD dealer 
Sep 2016

8000 mi
Returned trip about the rattles in the back Lift gate , had for 5 days -still have rattle. Dealer can not fix problem. Having had a Toyota 4-Runner and Honda Pilot, we never had these problems. Tech removed passenger side trunk cover& seatbelt assembly. Also removed & reinstalled brake system parts + flashing around gas intake tube. Found no issues. Fixed loose rear view mirror. Rattle better but still persists 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jan 2016 - Jun 2022
Oct 2019

21797 mi

US $53
Rear brake pads worn down 90%. Replaced pads with Bosch BC-1114H @ $52.80. 
Jan 2021

26390 mi

US $191
Replaced dead battery with Interstate MT35 60 Month battery. 
Jul 2021

28465 mi

US $3
Replaced passenger rear stop light bulb Phillips # 7443 @ $2.50. 
Aug 2021

29030 mi

US $7
Replaced passenger side wiper blade 17 inch @6.99. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Aug 2015 - Jun 2022
Dec 2021

46000 mi
Recall item: automatic gearshift switch malfunctioned and key would be stuck in ignition. Dealer had to reproduce the problem (which was happening about 30% of the time) in order to fix. Luckily they did. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Jan 2017 - Jun 2022
Apr 2017

20000 mi
Alternator Replaced 
Nov 2019

85000 mi

US $200
Wheel bearing 
Jun 2021

114000 mi
CVT Transmission Replaced 
Mar 2022

122000 mi
wheel bearing 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Oct 2015 - Jun 2018
Mar 2018

23000 mi
Squeaks under the dash, around the EyeSight camera, and in the tailgate 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Feb 2016 - Jun 2022
May 2020

34000 mi
Transmission/parking brake interlock failed preventing removal of ignition key. Was not covered under warranty at time of incident but was later reimbursed by Subaru. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Sep 2015 - Jan 2022
Feb 2018

39000 mi

US $944
TPMS module damaged by water which overflowed from a clogged sunroof drain line. 
May 2021

102864 mi

US $644
Repair loose converter heat shield 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Dec 2015 - Jun 2018
Nov 2017

19840 mi
The November 2017 32,000 service included front brake pads, which seemed a bit early to me as we are not heavy drivers. 
Subaru Forester in Louisiana, United States
Jan 2018 - Jun 2018
Mar 2018

8000 mi
Problem with rear car gate auto mechanism, caused short, ran down battery, called AAA who replaced battery. Went to dealer to check out car after failing to understand how rear gate system worked. 
Jun 2018

16000 mi

US $135
oil change at dealer 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Feb 2017 - Feb 2018
Feb 2018

36000 mi

US $80
Alignment Ghost walked 

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2016 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jul 2015 - Jun 2022
Dec 2015

9000 mi
blower resistor failed so no air from a/c vents on 1,2,3 but air on 4 which supplies a full 12v to blower motor 
Jun 2016

24000 mi
blower resistor failed again so no air from a/c vents. settings 1 through 4 did not work 
Jul 2019

90000 mi

US $1400
throw out bearing went, installed new throw out bearing and clutch, cv axle was seized so repaired that as well 
Jun 2021

120000 mi

US $800
Bushing for front lower control arms needed to be replaced. bushings were gone due to ordinary wear and tear 

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2016 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

148-horsepower 2.0L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Malaysia
Jan 2020 - Jun 2022
Aug 2020

49600 mi
The Lower arm bushes of both RH and LH were replaced. The castor angle was corrected as the vehicle was shifting to the left. 
Nov 2021

62620 mi

$400
The air conditioning gas keeps leaking. Bearings for rear wheels - LH & RH - replaced as they were very noisy. 
Jan 2022

63860 mi
The A/C gas keeps leaking leading to reduced or no cooling in a few weeks. 
Jun 2022

70680 mi

$35
Entire Flushing of Air Conditioning system and replenishment of Compressor oil plus the recharge. 

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2015 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Mar 2015 - Nov 2021
Sep 2016

19220 mi
Engine issue resulted in limp mode where all driving assist systems were disabled (eye sight, traction, abs etc). Dealer could not detect issue because car computer does not keep a record of symptoms. 
Oct 2016

21080 mi
Traction control, ABC, EyeSight all disabled at once. Car went into limp mode. Intermittent, and codes aren't stored, so shop can't diagnose. 
Jun 2017

30380 mi
Traction control, ABC, EyeSight all disabled at once. Car went into limp mode. Intermittent, and codes aren't stored, so shop can't diagnose. 
Aug 2017

31620 mi
The brake has a sensor that detects when the pedal is pressed so that for push-button start versions of the Forester, it will let you start the car. This sensor failed and checking the forums, it has failed on almost ever push-button start 2014-2015 Forester in the world. 
Dec 2017

37820 mi
Radio and amplifier died. Took 3 trips to sort and fix. Battery died after just 2 years and 9 months. Subaru tried to say it was a custom turn signal relay I had installed, but no. It was just a crap OEM battery. Replaced the glass (hit by a rock) with OEM but not from Subaru dealership. Subaru refused to recalibrate the EyeSight because I didn't purchase it from them. 
May 2018

42160 mi

C $200
Needed new brake pads 
Sep 2021

84320 mi

C $700
Compressor failed. Condenser was also weeping oil. 
Oct 2021

85560 mi

C $100
Rough idling. Check engine light kept coming on then off. Sometimes several safety systems would fail then go back online. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Sep 2014 - Jun 2019
Dec 2015

18000 mi
Radio failed. Dealer replaced "audio module".One trip for diagnosis and one trip for repair. Took about 10 days to get parts.No $$ amounts on service order. 
Dec 2016

29000 mi
Pan was leaking CVT fluid around seal.A fresh silicone seal was implemented and leak is gone for now. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Dec 2014 - Jun 2018
Mar 2018

22940 mi

C $100
Reset engine light 
Jun 2018

27900 mi
Alternator Abnormal output 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jan 2015 - Jun 2022
Mar 2017

6200 mi
Sometimes power liftgate cannot be opened by the button at the liftgate. Power reset was done. 
Jan 2018

8680 mi
Oxygen Sensor failing. 
Oct 2021

17360 mi

C $20
Remote was not working even though after changing battery on the key fob. But it works sometimes. Not sure the root cause. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jul 2014 - Mar 2018
Oct 2015

19000 mi
Dealer noticed cracked exhaust hanger bracket. Replaced under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Oct 2014 - Feb 2017
Nov 2016

24700 mi
Brake switch malfunction - would not illuminate rear brake lights and caused difficulty starting. Brake switch was replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Apr 2015 - Dec 2017
May 2015

2000 mi
The left rear view mirror came from the factory with a distortion resulting in an unclear image. The reflection in the mirror looked like a camera out of focus. 
Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Aug 2014 - Jun 2022
Feb 2017

34000 mi
Infotainment Bluetooth issues. Performed 16 software updates. Low outside temperatures caused a squeaking fan belt 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Sep 2014 - Jun 2022
Sep 2017

29760 mi

C $287
Low battery charge caused the computer/electronics to turn on the 'Check Engine' and 'Hill Assist' lights. Prior to that I had the battery/car jump started, because I had left the interior map light on for 2 weeks causing the battery to drain. I had the battery replaced - out of warranty, so I paid for it myself. 
Subaru Forester in Arizona, United States
Jan 2015 - Jun 2022
Feb 2016

23300 mi
transmission torque converter seal leak 
Mar 2016

25000 mi
Axle seal leak 
Jun 2016

30000 mi
Noticed oil seepage around spark plug cover. 
Feb 2018

51000 mi
Transmission was leaking, replaced entire transmission with a new one 
May 2022

95000 mi
Transmission leaking. They said it was a residual leak from a previous repair, so no repair. I’m still monitoring the issue. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Apr 2015 - Dec 2017
Nov 2017

49000 mi
wheel hub replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Nov 2014 - Feb 2017
Sep 2016

41000 mi
Dealer that did Wqw57 in April failed to tighten turbo hoses, hoses cane loose and car stalled. 
Feb 2017

49000 mi
Po420 code, replaced front cat Po420 code, dealer reflashed ECU 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Oct 2016 - Jun 2018
Nov 2016

17000 mi
Fan would only operate on highest setting (4). On setting 1-3, fan did not blow at all. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2014 - Dec 2017
Feb 2015

2760 mi
numerous instances of engine light coming on, Dynamic stability, eye-sight, all disabled. several trips to get sorted. reset it, but broke the next day. Reset and waited for part, charcoal canister in fuel line.broke again, replaced sensor After the garage called Subaru tech, they finally fixed the problem. Had to do with two sensors and resetting computer. Frustrating. Don't know why safety systems (Dynamic control, eyesight) go off when sensor in fuel line does. 
Jun 2015

7440 mi
Check engine light still coming on frequently. Have now replaced 2 filters, valves on both sides of engine, and most recently, after consulting with Subaru tech: wiring connectors. Very frustrating. Another trip for the engine warning system. Again it had to be reset. 
Jul 2015

8440 mi
again engine light came on. Also purge valve on tank failed, almost impossible to fill up. Had flat tire just after getting off expressway. engine light was on, so dynamic stability program off. had the tire blown on highway, cld have skid. again, engine light, also purge valve fixed, and engine light system rechecked. Apparently connectors failed. This on going problem finally cleared. NO RESPONSE from Subie customer service after twice contacting them. Not happy at all! 
Apr 2017

37820 mi

C $10
Burned out tail lights. The dealership I took it to changed it in about 15 minutes and didn't charge me for it. They said they could do it under warranty. 
Oct 2017

44640 mi

C $750
70k service, but they also said I needed totally new brakes (pads and rotors). Since car comes off lease in month and a half, I just did pads. they said I was down to 2mm. I changed pads. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Aug 2015 - Oct 2020
Dec 2016

18000 mi
Head unit displayed a service error and lost bluetooth connection intermittently. Dealer replaced head unit under warranty. 
Jun 2017

25000 mi
Bluetooth unit died for the second time. Dealer replaced unit for the second time. Known issue. 
Sep 2017

29000 mi
Bluetooth connection drops multiple times each day. Known issue. Dealer unable to repair. 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Jul 2014 - Jun 2018
Mar 2016

17980 mi
Turbo engine recall Software repair spark plug mis Fire 
Jun 2016

19220 mi
Engine shake excessive vibration, cleaned carbon buildup from intake valves. Shake came back within three days. 
Jul 2016

19620 mi
Engine shake appears again -carbon buildup in cylinder 1&3. Removed air intake to perform more cleaning. Still intermittent shake. 
Jan 2018

34100 mi
Excessive roadway noise into cabin Leak in crank case which leaked onto the exhaust and into cabin Also leak from transmission pan plug 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Oct 2015 - Nov 2015
Oct 2015

1000 mi
Problem: check engine, VDC, traction control, hill start assist, cruise control lights all came on dash. Stuck in [s] mode. Dealership replaced a solenoid associated with the emissions system (returned to dealer later w/ same issue). Dash lights came back on within a couple days of first repair. Dealer replaced MAP sensor (repair unsuccessful, lights came back a couple days after). 
Nov 2015

1000 mi
Dash lights returned following 2nd repair. This time dealer replaced ECM computer. Solution is so far successful after 1 week. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Jun 2014 - Oct 2015
Jul 2015

9500 mi
2 spots of dirt found trapped in between the front windshield glass. 
Oct 2015

12000 mi
Had the windshield replaced then had to return for horrible dash rattle. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
May 2021 - Jun 2022
Jun 2021

98000 mi
CVT transmission was replaced by dealer under warranty. All the dash lights went off, signaling the problem. Fortunately, this was a problem known to Subaru, which extended the warranty for the transmission to 100,000 miles, and this failure occurred before the car reached that mile marker. The transmission was jerky before. After the replacement, my MPG went up by 2 mpg. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Dec 2015 - Mar 2016
Dec 2015

18000 mi
rear hatch auto open was not working properly 
Subaru Forester in Kentucky, United States
Jan 2015 - Jun 2022
Jun 2021

106000 mi

US $1000
Multiple [transmission] leaks 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Oct 2020 - Oct 2021
Mar 2020

107 mi

US $597
Wheel bearing needed replaced. 
Sep 2020

110000 mi
Rear coil springs were replaced under warranty, subject of a recall. Replaced sensor harness under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Mar 2014 - Feb 2017
Jan 2017

18300 mi
Audio system failure and battery died. Both replaced. Audio would freeze and then crash when pairing Bluetooth device 

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2015 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 237hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Jul 2015 - Sep 2018
May 2017

10731 mi
pinging at times - may have gotten bad gas 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Jun 2014 - Sep 2020
Dec 2015

26040 mi
When the oil change was done at 40,000KM a small oil leak was found on the transmission cover and housing at the gasket joint. 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Apr 2014 - Dec 2016
Dec 2015

9300 mi
Very slight oil seepage. 
Nov 2016

16000 mi
Rear gate opener switch 

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2015 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 145hp 2.0L H4 Diesel 6-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Ireland
Mar 2014 - Jul 2016
Nov 2014

9540 mi
Rattle from area of B Pillar when turning. Dealer found loose screw inside plastic trim and refitted. Problem persists and return trip will be required. 
Jul 2015

21160 mi
Loose fitting (screw) found inside B Post and removed.  Also Driver's side head restraint would not tilt. Found to be a problem with leather fitting too tightly. Dealer fixed. 
Feb 2016

32060 mi
Front doors continually moving against seals when shut, causing alot of noise. Requested investigation and adjustment to rectify. 
Jun 2016

37820 mi
Raucous rattle developed from engine when idling. Rattle lessened as engine speed increased. Loose turbo heatshield identifed as root cause. Heatshield tightened and problem fixed. 
Subaru Forester in Queensland, Australia
May 2015 - Jun 2018
Jun 2016

16120 mi
Rear door malfunction 
Dec 2016

24180 mi
Rattle in heat shield. Still present and will return car after Christmas holiday 
Feb 2017

24180 mi
Exhaust system had split which was causing harsh noises in acceleration. Replacement of defective portion of exhaust has repaired identified problem 

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2015 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Oct 2014 - May 2015
Apr 2015

7000 mi
Air coming from vents smelled like manure, and A/C eventually stopped blowing cold air. Dealer sprayed cleaner, manure smell has faded a week later. Waited several days for compressor to come in. Compressor replaced, so far so good. 
May 2015

7000 mi
Smell returned, air was still not cold. Tech used cleaning kit for A/C, checked charge in system--needed O-rings not installed when compressor installed. Put in aftermarket rings, which seem to have failed. Taking it back soon. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Sep 2014 - Jun 2022
Sep 2016

52000 mi
Air bag sensor light came on. Dealer checked system, no problem found. Reset light 
Mar 2017

69000 mi
Lug bolt replaced 
Sep 2017

88000 mi
Bluetooth quit working. Radio unit was replaced 
Subaru Forester in Denmark
Jun 2015 - Aug 2015
Aug 2015

4960 mi
A hose in the right side between the turbo and the engine was disconnected. In two occations errors in tracktion, emision and high engine temperature systems was reported and the engine runs at higher speed than normal. No indications on computer. Battery terminal disconnected for 5 minuttes and problem solved. Emission partikelfilter light was flashing after 7500 km. No indication in computer. New software was installed and problem solved. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Jun 2015 - Jun 2018
Jun 2016

23000 mi
Diode for heater/AC fan went out. Repaired under warranty. 
Feb 2018

62000 mi

US $1400
Front strut tops worn or damaged. New struts installed. 
Apr 2018

64000 mi

US $1400
Rt front axle, CV joint clicking 
May 2018

68000 mi

US $800
New brakes 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Aug 2015 - Jun 2022
Mar 2016

7000 mi
There's a loud chirp sound from the front of car when transmission goes into reverse and brakes still applied. Dealer far away. I will visit Dealer when more things go wrong to make that trip more worthwhile. 
Jun 2016

9000 mi
USB port in center storage comartment does not work. 
Nov 2017

21000 mi
ABS, Traction and Stability Control lights illuminated on dash after starting. Drove home, shut engine off. Engine wouldn't start with normal brake pedal pressure for green light on starter button to illuminate. Had to press extremely hard on brake pedal to allow starting. Warnings lights stayed off. No reoccurrence. Front Drive-line still chirps when put into reverse on first start on the day using OEM tires. Does not do this when winter studded tires are installed on a seasonal basis. Go back to OEM tires in spring, chirp returns. 
Feb 2018

22000 mi
No start condition. Had to put system in 'acc' mode (press start button once with foot off brake). Once in 'acc' status, foot on brake, press/hold start button for up to 15 seconds and engine finally started per owners manual. This no start condition happens randomly. 
Jun 2018

25484 mi
Brake Switch was bad causing ABS, Traction Control and Hill Assist lights to be on. Also caused no start situations with start button and could not shift trans out of Park. 
Jun 2022

63000 mi
Air cold but never comes out of vents very well even with fan on high since brand new. Electronic gremlins. Sometimes the hatch button works, sometimes not. This is both on hatchback switch and button on instrument cluster. Key fob always works to lift hatch. Another gremlin is door doesn't always unlock when you touch door handle (keyless entry). Nothing wrong with fob battery and fob in pocket. Have to use fob to unlock door and shouldn't be that way. USB never worked since new so never use it! Bluetooth works great with Android phone, but sound cuts in and out using an iPhone. Electronics in general on this Subaru is garbage. Last Subaru we'll buy. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jun 2015 - Apr 2018
Oct 2016

16500 mi
TPMS light wouldn't go out. Bad sensor 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Apr 2014 - Jun 2018
Oct 2016

36500 mi
Rips on side of leather seat (driver side) 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
May 2014 - Jan 2019
Nov 2015

16400 mi
ABS, Traction Control and Stability Control warning lights on dash. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Jun 2014 - Feb 2019
Jan 2016

33200 mi
Had the radio head unit replaced due to ongoing issues related to bluetooth and phone performance. The system frequently dropped calls, no incoming or outgoing voice during the call and locked up occasionally. 
Aug 2018

70000 mi

US $95
HID low beam bulb replacement 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Apr 2014 - Dec 2019
Dec 2015

45000 mi
The last time the dealer rotated my tires the kid doing the rotation cross threaded three lugs on one rotor. When I bought new tires, the tire dealer couldn't get the lugs off without breaking the studs. Dealer had to replace studs & lugs. 
Jan 2017

59000 mi

US $135
The battery would discharge when I sat listening to the radio for less than 30 minutes on the ACC mode. It also would discharge when we parked it in an air port storage lost for a two week trip. My service provider thought it might be the battery or a "vampire draw" on the electrical system. He checked the battery, it had a bad cell. I had him order a deep cycle battery for this car. It cost $135 and the shop's policy is that maintenance items are installed for free! If you live in the Holland Michigan Area go to the Christian Brothers Shop for great service. 
Subaru Forester in Utah, United States
May 2014 - Nov 2019
Mar 2016

41000 mi
Fuel sensor read as having 70 miles left but vehicle ran out of gas with no low fuel warning. Subaru roadside service determined tank was completely empty. Dealer was unable to find a repairable problem with the sensor or fuel system. 
Mar 2017

61000 mi

US $55
Brake sensor malfunctioned and would not reliably allow the vehicle to be shifted out of park because it didn't detect your foot pushing on the pedal. Replaced by dealer, cost partially covered under warranty. 
Sep 2017

71000 mi

US $50
A/C selector switch failed to route air through dash vents and required replacement. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
May 2014 - May 2017
Jun 2016

19000 mi
Car developed intermittent starting issues. Diagnosis was faulty brake light switch, which prohibited the keyless start button from receiving the "brakes on" signal it needed to engage and allow the car to be started. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
May 2014 - Jun 2022
Feb 2015

6000 mi
No audio, amp was blown. Dealer ordered new amp and installed. 
May 2017

26000 mi
Vehicle wouldn't start (would go into accessory mode only). Replaced Faulty Brake Light Sensor and battery. 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Jul 2014 - Jun 2022
May 2016

15700 mi
bluetooth disconnects repeadly 
Sep 2016

20000 mi
Bluetooth disconnection problem. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Aug 2014 - Feb 2017
Jan 2016

16800 mi
Replaced brake fluid due to sponginess on brake pedal. Loose rear view mirror causing squeaky noise. Dealer tightened screws to fix. 
Subaru Forester in District of Columbia, United States
Oct 2014 - Nov 2016
Nov 2016

32000 mi
Entire transmission replaced under warranty due to a failing bearing. 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Jan 2015 - Mar 2018
Mar 2016

17000 mi
Cover over center info screen rattles like crazy. They heard it on a test drive but couldn't find the cause. They finally ordered a new cover to see if that is the cause. At present, it is still not corrected. 
Sep 2016

22000 mi
Vibration rattle coming from the info message area of the dash. Dealer replaced part, but rattle still continues. Goes away in warm weather. 
Nov 2016

27000 mi
rattle in dash. still not fixed. only happens when it is cold outside 
Oct 2017

40000 mi
Apple did an update to the iPhone and now the bluetooth is working! 
Feb 2018

44000 mi
Very loud vibrating noise when moving. It stopped when I got to the dealership. 
Mar 2018

44000 mi
Rear deck would not open with touch pad. Dealership reprogrammed the lift gate 
Subaru Forester in Kansas, United States
Aug 2014 - Sep 2018
Sep 2016

37000 mi
Trans went into "neutral" while on hwy. Coasted to stop, engine wouldn't start. Shop foreman said, "probably a leaf got into intake and messed with mas flow sensor. They have seen this happen before."!!! Unbelievable. 
Feb 2018

59000 mi

US $69
Suddenly started using oil. Dealer replaced PCV valve, problem cured. 
Subaru Forester in Arizona, United States
Aug 2014 - Jun 2022
Mar 2015

12000 mi
rattling/fluttering noise coming from dash. Related to speed of car. Suggested to dealer that it may be related to speedometer cable. They could not reproduce the noise. We still have it. 
Jun 2017

36000 mi
Struts for rear hatch were replaced under warranty. They were becoming very noisy and were about to fail. 
Nov 2019

72000 mi

US $500
Wheel bearing failing, left rear 
Oct 2020

83000 mi

US $25
replaced brake light burnt out bulb 
Nov 2021

97000 mi

US $500
wheel bearing replaced, right rear 
Mar 2022

102000 mi

US $1000
Transmission overhaul 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Aug 2014 - Jan 2022
Jun 2016

24000 mi
Hatch release not working - hatch couldn't be opened 
Aug 2017

41000 mi
Alternator mounting bracket caused alternator to briefly run backwards when starting engine causing traction control to turn off and warning light to stay on. Dealer immediately replaced the entire assembly including the alternator under extended warranty. 
Oct 2017

42000 mi
Rear wheel bearing failing - dealer replaced under warranty 
Subaru Forester in Delaware, United States
Jan 2015 - Jul 2018
Jan 2017

49800 mi
This vehicle is currently experiencing the high oil consumption common with previous years. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Jan 2017 - Feb 2018
Feb 2017

25000 mi
Warning lights would come on even though nothing triggered it (ie aggressive driving, etc). Bad [wheel speed] sensors. Replaced under warranty 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
May 2014 - Oct 2021
Mar 2021

27900 mi

C $4000
Total failure of the transmission. Replacement cost with labour was $13,000, I opted for a used transmission with labor for $4000. 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Sep 2016 - Jun 2022
Feb 2018

22500 mi
At 35,000km- factory battery failed load test. Subaru honoured warranty & replaced battery.  
Jul 2021

52700 mi

C $1200
I went to the Coquitlam Subaru dealership 2 days before for an oil change & asked them to o check the brakes since I heard a slight squealing noise; was told they were fine. Enroute to the ferry terminal my brakes started smoking - immediately after taking the ferry to Vancouver island I had an emergency brake replacement at the Nanimo BC dealership since I had another 2 hour drive North to go sea kayaking in a remote are. Couldn’t risk the chance of loosing my brakes completely. I’m still upset that the Coquitlam SubRu dealership didn’t take any responsibility for a false diagnosis. 
Subaru Forester in Georgia, United States
Apr 2015 - Jun 2022
Mar 2018

82000 mi

US $300
Left rear wheel bearing worn and making noise. It was replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
May 2015 - Jul 2018
Jan 2018

24000 mi
Some electrical malfunction that was causing brake lights to turn on intermittently when the brake was pressed. This caused the eyesight system to disable while driving. It was something like a capacitor or a fuse that needed to be replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Jul 2014 - Jun 2022
Dec 2017

34000 mi

US $20
Brake light switch under pedal was intermittently failing. This caused ABS, stability control, and hill assist lights to come on. More insidiously, the car would not shift out of park while these lights were on. 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Dec 2017 - Jul 2022
Jul 2022

71111 mi

US $62
Cleaned out debris blocking AC condensate drain hose. Symptom was water dripping into passenger foot well when AC was running on hot days. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
May 2015 - Jun 2022
Nov 2017

19000 mi
Key fob to open door was working intermittently. Dealer replaced core of key fob. After I left the dealer, the fob was still only working intermittently. Subsequent to that, I needed to replace my battery. That's a whole other story, because I would think a battery on a 2015 model that was put on the road in December 2014 should last past 2017. Nevertheless, I replaced the battery and it seems that the key fob performance is a little more consistent. Perhaps the key fob problem was related to a poor flow of power to the receiver unit. But I can't say that the fob works 100 percent of the time. 
Jan 2021

42964 mi

US $100
Several clamps on the exhaust system heat shields rusted out and were rattling. Dealer replaced with new ones. 
Jun 2022

54000 mi

US $450
Both rear wheel bearing/hub assemblies needed to be replaced. Car was vibrating and making a humming noise at highway speeds Replaced rear rotors and pads 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Mar 2014 - Jun 2018
Feb 2018

71000 mi

US $65
Routine battery replacement 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Jun 2014 - Mar 2018
Jan 2018

119000 mi
Transmission fluid was overheating at speeds as 77MPH. Had been going on for some time. One day a lot of lights came on. Fix was to replace a valve body on the transmission. Apparently the torque converter wasn't getting enough fluid to fully lock which caused overheating. 
Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States
Jan 2015 - Dec 2020
Jun 2019

59970 mi

US $1200
Replaced rear pads and rotors 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jan 2015 - Aug 2021
Feb 2020

88000 mi

US $672
replaced rear brakes 
Jun 2020

90000 mi

US $350
Noise and driving issues [axle] 
Aug 2021

135000 mi

US $450
Valve body replacement, still not enough to be road worthy. Car traded in 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Jul 2015 - Mar 2022
Jan 2022

103000 mi

US $1800
Overhaul, including valve, fluid 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jan 2015 - Feb 2022
Jul 2019

44000 mi
Recall on brake light switch 
Subaru Forester in Alabama, United States
Nov 2014 - Jun 2022
Jul 2018

46000 mi

US $125
Rear brake pads worn down to metal. Replaced pads and rotors. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Jan 2021 - Jun 2022
Oct 2021

130000 mi
rear springs were broken, replaced under recall 
Jun 2022

134000 mi

US $60
sway bar bushings and end links 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jun 2017 - Feb 2022
Jun 2018

17000 mi

US $150
Brake sensor malfunction locking the transmission in Park. Dealer replaced the Brake sensor under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Jan 2017 - Jun 2018
Oct 2017

30000 mi
Squeak - tailgate latch - greased 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Oct 2020 - Jul 2022
Apr 2022

119000 mi

US $599
replaced rear wheel bearing No hi beams. Bulbs replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Jul 2014 - Jun 2018
Apr 2017

5000 mi

US $135
Replaced the battery. 
Jul 2017

17000 mi
Replaced alternator and tensioner; under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Sep 2015 - Apr 2017
Sep 2016

20000 mi
brake light replacement 
Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States
Jan 2016 - Jun 2016
Jan 2016

12000 mi
Oil Leak 
Apr 2016

17000 mi
Faulty Brake Switch essentially shut down the computer system. Had to use a screwdriver to override the interlock. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Mar 2014 - Jan 2022
Apr 2017

27 mi

C $272
Went in for scheduled service. Was tod less than 1mm left on rear pads. Decided to replace both. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Aug 2016 - Jun 2022
Dec 2016

7000 mi
Defective battery replaced under warranty 
Mar 2019

9700 mi

US $800
Replace power rear gate motor 
Jun 2022

13000 mi

US $275
Repair leak in windshield washer hose underneath cowl 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Jul 2015 - Mar 2017
Feb 2017

8700 mi
Battery died within 18 months of purchase. Replaced under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Apr 2016 - Apr 2016
Apr 2016

17000 mi
Bluetooth sync problems. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
May 2016 - Jul 2018
Jun 2016

23000 mi

US $120
Radio ordered, needs to be replaced, Bluetooth does not work 
Apr 2017

34775 mi

US $250
Brake rotor(s) resurfaced Brakes checked Rear brakes replaced 
Sep 2017

39985 mi

US $80
Battery Replaced 
Subaru Forester in Idaho, United States
Mar 2014 - Mar 2019
May 2017

36000 mi
oil/water sensor defective, leading to CEL. Replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Missouri, United States
Jan 2015 - Sep 2023
Nov 2022

92000 mi

US $1000
Front axles 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Jul 2014 - Jun 2018
May 2017

41500 mi

US $550
Both rear wheel bearings replaced Replaced rear brake pads and rotors 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Apr 2014 - Jun 2022
Aug 2017

31000 mi
Brake light switch replaced. 
Jan 2020

50000 mi

US $216
Rear passenger coil spring broke 
Subaru Forester in Montana, United States
Oct 2014 - Jun 2022
Oct 2017

18000 mi
A pillar trim loose and rattles, display cowl rattle, instrument panel trim rattle 
Nov 2017

19000 mi
Bluetooth intermittent failures required replacement of audio system 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Mar 2015 - Dec 2021
Jun 2017

24000 mi
Suspected leak of the sun roof was investigated. Nothing was found but the water channels were cleaned 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Apr 2016 - Jun 2022
Jun 2017

76260 mi

C $900
All brake pad and rotors replaced due to wear 
Sep 2017

83080 mi

C $65
Replace rear wiper arm 
Sep 2018

103540 mi

C $570
Changed left rear wheel bearing 

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2015 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Apr 2014 - Jan 2022
May 2015

11000 mi
Excessive oil consumption, 1 qt every 1800 miles. Had the oil consumption test performed, Subaru determined consumption WAS excessive, and will try to repair. Taking the Forester in today for repairs. Will report results when I have details. 
Jun 2015

11000 mi
Subaru confirmed the "oil consumption problem". Had piston rings and stack replaced. Will go back in to check oil consumption after 1200 miles to see if problem corrected. After repair, my gas mileage IMPROVED 5mpg . 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Apr 2014 - Jun 2022
Apr 2022

68000 mi

US $200
Both rear wheel bearings became loud - replaced both rear wheel wheel/hub assemblies. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Dec 2020 - Jun 2022
Jul 2020

93000 mi

C $450
Clutch pedal went to the floor. Needed new master and secondary cylinders and hoses. Clutch pedal went to the floor. Needed new master and secondary cylinders and hoses. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Jan 2021 - Jul 2023
Apr 2021

81000 mi

US $15
Neutral switch wire was chewed in half by a rat. Wire would occasionally short against the transmission and cause the engine to die at idle. Cruise control stopped working. Spliced wire to repair. 
Jun 2022

121000 mi

US $250
Clockspring broke resulting in no horn when button pressed on steering wheel. Worked when alarm activated. All other steering wheel buttons functional. 
Sep 2022

128000 mi

US $62
HVAC blower motor beginning to fail. Erratic fan speed output (surging) especially when hot outside and on high fan speed setting. Replaced blower motor. Ordered blower motor resistor but did not replace. Blower motor replacement fixed the issue. 
May 2023

137000 mi

US $20
A/C recharged. Very slow leak. Keeping an eye on it. 
Subaru Forester in Arizona, United States
Sep 2014 - Oct 2017
Nov 2016

23400 mi
ABS, traction control, and hill descent control lights were on. Dealer pulled codes and replaced bare light switch under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Apr 2015 - Apr 2017
Sep 2016

27000 mi
Bluetooth connectivity trouble. BT would intermittently disconnect from my phone during the middle of a phone call, and say BT Not Available on screen. Dealer replaced radio under warranty 
Oct 2016

28200 mi
SRS Sensor. Passenger Airbag would be off when sensor came on, despite adult in seat. At first was intermittent, and code was not stored. Drove to dealership with it on, and they diagnosed it as faulty sensor in seat. Replacing seat/sensor 
Jan 2017

34800 mi
Power cuts to engine intermittently when fuel gauge reads 1/4 or less. Suspect bad fuel sending unit, despite there still being fuel in tank. Towed to dealership and replaced under warranty 
Mar 2017

38000 mi
Vehicle died again while driving down the highway. Gas tank had just under 1/4 left (2 bars). Would not restart. Towed to local dealer. Vehicle started for them when they went to bring it into shop next business day. Conducted extended road tests, and diagnostic tests were inconclusive. This has happened several times now. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Aug 2014 - May 2020
Oct 2014

3000 mi

US $80
"Low oil level" warning light came on three times while odometer was still under 2000 miles. Took the car in for an oil change in order to more precisely monitor oil use over the next 1200 miles. 
Jan 2016

27300 mi
The car light indicating low oil levels began at 2,000 miles. It has continued intermittently since. The car (currently at the dealership). Oil use tests indicate it will need a new engine block, sensor, and have the computer re-set. Unreal 
Sep 2017

38500 mi

US $125
Replaced dysfunctional brake light switch. It didn’t effect the drivability of the car at all. I only knew there was a problem because it tripped three different warning lights. 
Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States
Jun 2015 - Jan 2022
Oct 2016

19700 mi
Driver side window regulator 

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2015 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

148-horsepower 2.0L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Luxembourg
Jan 2015 - Jun 2018
Feb 2017

31000 mi
replace the turbo which was operating well but abnormally noisy 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Sep 2016 - Jan 2019
Apr 2018

40300 mi
C Service destroyed fuel/air (F/A) sensor. Has been on backorder from Japan for over a month. Waiting... 

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2015 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Feb 2015 - Oct 2020
Aug 2017

33000 mi

US $1
Blower replaced Window motor replaced 

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2014 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru Forester in California, United States
Dec 2014 - Dec 2014
Dec 2014

12000 mi
Right front tire wearing badly - dealer said rt front strut was bad - took two days - had to order pat - now I have to replace all 4 tires because of the wear on that one due to the strut being bad. AT 13500 miles. Not good. 

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2014 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Jul 2017 - Aug 2021
Mar 2018

84000 mi

US $100
Bolt holding shock on right front was rattling and was replaced 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Oct 2013 - Aug 2014
Jun 2014

13000 mi
Lagging throttle response. Hesitancy during acceleration (from a stop and during passing). ECU reflashed. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Oct 2014 - Jan 2018
Jan 2018

44000 mi

US $60
Multiple Dashboard lights on. ABS, AT oil temp, Hill descent, and Eye Sight on. Had Brake Lever Switch replaced because of information obtained on Web. After one week the lights came back on. Still researching issue. Not fixed. 
Subaru Forester in Iowa, United States
Dec 2014 - Dec 2015
Jul 2015

28000 mi
Catalytic Convertor Went Bad 
Subaru Forester in Arizona, United States
Jul 2013 - Nov 2013
Sep 2013

3000 mi
Forester 2.0L Turbo having an extended start of 3-5 seconds every few days. Dealer has no updates for the engine computer and did not observe any problems while it was in for an oil change. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Feb 2014 - Feb 2022
Jan 2016

20700 mi
Car started beeping erratically after being locked with remote, along with interior/exterior lights flickering and relays clicking rapidly all over car. Would not start/remain running. Dealer replaced Body Integrated Unit. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Nov 2013 - Dec 2015
Sep 2014

10000 mi
a clip was broken in the dashboard 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Nov 2013 - Jan 2021
Mar 2014

3000 mi
CEL thrown during a hard start. ECU was reprogrammed with a fix for the issue 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Aug 2016 - Apr 2017
Dec 2016

63000 mi

US $385
Headlights continually going out even after new build. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jan 2014 - Feb 2014
Feb 2014 scratch on leather seat and steering column cover. swirl mark all over the paint. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Aug 2016 - Jan 2017
Jan 2017 Backup camera and tail light bulb outage. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Aug 2015 - Jun 2018
Oct 2016

36300 mi

US $20
Stop light switch 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
May 2016 - Jun 2016
Jun 2016

35000 mi
AC compressor clutch was bad. Replaced ax compressor 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Sep 2013 - Mar 2016
Mar 2016

55000 mi
Recall notice: Ignition computer was reflashed to solve a pre-ignition problem under hard acceleration 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
May 2016 - Sep 2016
Sep 2016

27280 mi
oil leakage 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Dec 2013 - May 2017
Feb 2014 2014 Forester XT - Camshaft position sensor o-ring improperly installed from factory. Caused significant oil leak on drivers side of the engine. - Burning oil smell inside the cab alerted me to the problem. Had to take car back after this because appeared to be leaking oil again. Found nothing, apparently they just didn't clean up after fixing the leak well enough earlier. 
Jan 2015

22288 mi
Same camshaft position sensor was leaking oil. Saw a spot of oil.  
Mar 2015

27000 mi
P000B VVT oil control Valve LT. Side R&R Camshaft position slow to respond bank 1 exhaust. Swapped sensor bank 1 to bank 2. (They do this to see if the problem follows the sensor) 
May 2015

30000 mi
There is a ripple in the panel above the rear passenger door frame. It's obvious that the panel was incorrectly attached to the car causing a stress field that warped the panel over time. -Its basically impossible to fix. The claimed it was external and did nothing. The regional service manager for Subau was involved in the decision. There is no official record of subaru having my car for this period of time (I was unaware that they did not create a warranty ticket for the trip until much later. I had left the car with them while I went on vacation.) 
Aug 2015

37000 mi
Rear passenger speaker had an internal problem. Replaced under warranty. (less than 36k at the time) Also, right turn signal made intermittent chirp or squeal. Observed and noted by dealer. Seems to have gone away for now. 
Jul 2016

50200 mi
Tossed a code... The dealer was so busy I didn't wait around for the info sheet. -Car abruptly threw a code on flat ground on criuse control. The Ecu was flashed, and I was told it wouldn't happen again. Expect it's a flaw in recall update. 
Oct 2016

56000 mi
Code: P0420. Catalytic converter replaced under warranty. Looks like it would have cost around 700 if warranty hadn't covered it. (Code had reappeared several times over the life of the car) 
Feb 2017

59157 mi
P0420 - O2 Sensors replaced (Front and Rear). Noticed the oil consistency is off and smells like gas around this time. Also reported to Subaru before the car went out of warranty. 
Mar 2017

60265 mi
P0420 - Center Exhaust pipe replaced. (I think is is between the manifold and turbo - also has some kind of inbuilt cat) 
Apr 2017

60731 mi
P0420 - Replaced 02 Sensor and they reran the Recall test wqw58 - Car was data logged info sent to Japan. They had my car for ~17 days for this one. 
May 2017

61000 mi
In total this car has been into the shop at least 15 times. Most trips have been for P0420. The car has an underlying problem, but I was not able to determine the root cause. My last oil change the oil smelled like gas. The dealer was told and has notes on it. I traded the car back to the original dealer today. As of Friday I should be the owner of a new Crosstrek. I will post a final summary with the VIN when the title on the new car is clear and free of the Subaru dealer. I would stay away from used Forester XTs 2014 to current . Go look in the forums "gas in oil" Some of the cars are also starting to have transmission issues "CVT Control Valve". Overall, the dependability of my 2014 forester XT touring was the worst car I have ever owned. Subaru has around 4k into warranty work on mine and I don't think they are even close to done yet. If you need to track me down I run Kizashi Club. I can provide input on the car. My dealer knows about the problems I expect they will try to dealer trade it. 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Feb 2013 - Aug 2016
Apr 2013

2000 mi
left rear seat belt guide broken. engine occasionally difficult to start after not being used for a day or so. 
May 2013

2300 mi
rear seatbelt trim replaced. engine occasionally stumbles/misfires during startup. Mechanics ran diagnostic tests (first time they ran this test for 2014 vehicles), but found no problems. 
Aug 2013

4000 mi

US $90
rubber hood boot seal between turbo intercooler housing and air ductwork is warped, fits poorly. 
Sep 2013

4000 mi
Replaced rubber boot seal between hood and intercooler, and several fasteners which broke during replacement process. 
Mar 2014

7000 mi
interior right rear weatherstrip proved to be bubbled/deformed. right rear door had defective inner weatherstrip (bubbled/misshapen). 
Aug 2014

8300 mi
Reprogrammed ECU per TSB to improve engine start-up. 
May 2015

12000 mi
trim on rear hatch misaligned. dealer realigned trim. 
Sep 2015

15000 mi
replaced hood-mounted intercooler air diverter (rubber seals had become torn). 2nd time this part has been replaced 
Dec 2015

16000 mi
Engine was intermittently missing. Technician flashed ECU with new software update that addressed the problem. 
Feb 2016

17000 mi
Subaru recall to correct engine misfiring. driver seat cushion beginning to collapse. was replaced. 
Mar 2016

18000 mi
left side valves rattle/ping due to defective rockers. Subaru TSB estimates 10 hour repair time to replace/custom machine new valve rockers. 
Apr 2016

18200 mi
left side of engine valves, cam and rockers were badly worn. Required removal of engine, all its accessories and cylinder head to do repairs. 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Oct 2014 - Jul 2015
Oct 2014

13020 mi
Shaking at idle, intermittent. Many functions do not work. Rattle dashboard 
Feb 2015

16060 mi
Wrong info on screen, false signal. 
Jul 2015

20460 mi
Infotainment system : many functions do not work, unreliable, often too complicated to be used 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Jul 2013 - Jun 2022
Sep 2021

120000 mi

US $2500
Replace DVT valve body (one failed solenoid) Driver side control arm (bushing fail) 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Sep 2014 - Aug 2016
Jan 2016

23000 mi
Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) fluid leaking. Found during routine maintenance. Replaced seal on pan. 
Subaru Forester in Tennessee, United States
Oct 2014 - Jun 2022
Sep 2015

21000 mi
Software reset for check engine lignt 
Feb 2021

122000 mi

US $800
rear wheel bearings failed 
Jun 2021

113000 mi

US $460
replace pads, cut rotors replace control arms 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Sep 2017 - Jan 2022
May 2018

85560 mi

C $1000
Drive axle replaced Ball joint replaced 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Oct 2015 - Oct 2016
Oct 2016

20000 mi
Battery was suddenly dead at 20k miles. Dealer replaced for free saying it was a defective part. Was given a loaner for the duration of repair (one day) 
Subaru Forester in Arizona, United States
Jul 2013 - Mar 2017
Jan 2014

15700 mi
navigation recall for problems. sd card replacement and software update. 
Jul 2016

37000 mi

US $100
Censer on brake pedal failed that tells the car the brake is depressed so it will start with push button starter 

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2014 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 237hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Great Britain
Dec 2020 - Aug 2022
Mar 2021

44000 mi

£400
Front offside (right hand side) drive shaft failed. 
Mar 2022

50000 mi

£580
Rear offside (UK) spring broke near to the base. Subaru springs/ dampers not available so fitted Pedders combined spring/damper to both sides. These do not have self levelling but they have improved the ride quality and even when we’ll loaded the cars posture on the road is still fine. 
Subaru Forester in Taiwan
Mar 2013 - Dec 2014
Apr 2014

7020 mi
Some light on the panel turned on. The dealer connected their computer to the car and cleared the code. Everything is good since then. 

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2014 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Tennessee, United States
Feb 2014 - Mar 2016
May 2015

14000 mi
Power lift gate stopped working. Dealer did a"capacitor discharge" (removed the battery cable), left the terminal cover on top of the motor and didn't reset the clock. The lift gate worked for a short time but has sense quit working. 
Oct 2015

19500 mi
Motor was shaking at idle when AC was on and car was in gear. Problem was diagnosed as a bad compressor and it was ordered. Two weeks later it finally came in. It was installed and the problem seems to be fixed. Lift gate quit working again. Was told parts were replaced, but they didn't show up on the ticket. It works again for now. 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Jan 2014 - Apr 2019
Apr 2015

26500 mi
Tire pressure sensor failed,left rear tire. Replaced sensor, reset system all ok 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Apr 2014 - Mar 2017
Jun 2014

17000 mi
During my second scheduled oil change at the Dealership the service rep said that the right front axle had to be replaced because the car had been in a flood. I went to see the dealer principle to take the vehicle back. He denied it had been flooded. 
Oct 2014

29000 mi
Changed engine due to oil consumption problem. Used two quarts of oil in 2,800 miles. 
Jun 2015

40000 mi

US $302
A large piece of the floor pan deadner came off and wrapped around the drive shaft. The car had to be towed to dealer.Dealer did not have parts. Claimed this was a first time problem; but when they found out that it had happened so often... Replacement engine burns one quart of oil every 3,000 miles. Update 10-16: Now using 2-2.5 quarts between oil changes (every 5k). 
Oct 2016

85000 mi

US $500
Both front Rotors and pads and one RF caliper 
Dec 2016

88000 mi

US $200
Second engine was using 2 quarts of oil between oil changes and the engine had to be replaced again 
Feb 2017

90000 mi
They claimed they found and repaired a damaged seal which the mechanic said was damaged during the first attempt to repair the oil consumption problem (when they changed the short block the first time).  
Mar 2017

95000 mi
Had to replace the short block for a third time (oil consumption). Now the engine consumes more gasoline (mpg went from 27 mpg highway to 21.5 mpg highway) and they refused to do the oil consumption test again.  
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jun 2014 - Nov 2014
Jul 2014

12000 mi
I was driving about 70 mph on busy highway when suddenly engine turned off! I was able to steer car off road, turned car off. When I turned on ignition car started up and I drove away. Dealer could not find any codes to indicate problem. The clock in my care loses time. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jan 2014 - Sep 2015
Jun 2015

10000 mi
Timing Belt tensioner needed adjusted. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Apr 2014 - Jul 2022
Sep 2015

17000 mi
All dynamic warning lights came on and stayed on. Part was ordered and replaced 
Jun 2016

20000 mi
All warning lights came on: check engine, hill start, traction control, eye sight. Took it in to be checked and got ambiguous reading. Dealer checked with Subaru and determined the problem was failing alternator beatings. replaced alternator 
Jan 2018

27000 mi
Brake warning light came on for low fluid. Took it to dealer and they determined that there was a rusted screw that was allowing fluid to leak. They didn't have either the screw or the caliper in stock so had to order it. They gave me a ride home and the car was fixed the following day. No charge. 
Subaru Forester in South Carolina, United States
Apr 2014 - May 2014
May 2014

6000 mi
Rear reflector cracked. Replaced under warranty 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Mar 2013 - Jul 2018
Jun 2013

3000 mi
Moon roof rattle. Gentle, but pretty persistent, right near my head as I drive. Other than that, the car seems very solid. Dealer is working with Subaru to find solution. 
Sep 2014

31000 mi
Previously reported (last year) sunroof rattle. Car is making a distinct rapping noise from outs the tail of the vehicle. Best heard at 15mph to 40mph, with foot off the gas. Sounds like a jackhammer off in the distance. Replaced rear, outer seatbelt mech. (in roof of car.) Didn't fix. 
Oct 2014

32000 mi
Related to prev. problem where attempted repair didn't fix noise issue. This time, I drove w/tech & he confirmed noise. He put on lift & discovered sound attenuator in central exhaust pipe had prematurely broken up. Replacing pipe solved it. 
Jul 2015

49000 mi
Has begun burning oil bet. oil changes, ~1 quart in 4000 miles. According to the manual this is acceptable, having a oil light go on between oil changes is too much for me. Note there are 2 class action suits abt this engine & oil burning. 
Jan 2016

40200 mi
Interior: Driver's seat had hole forming along the stitching. Contacted Subaru who instructed me to bring to dealer. Dealer replaced lower seat cover (Car is out of warranty - but Subaru covered it - no pun intended.) 
Apr 2017

71000 mi
Brought car in for an oil consumption test - the result of Subaru's settling a class-action law suit about this issue. They have extended to warranty to 100,000 miles for oil consumption. Was told there is an oil leak around the valve covers- which is not covered by oil consumption warranty. A visit to another shop confirmed the condition. That said, the dealer's service manager has opted to schedule a visit to fix it for free. Next visit at the end if next week. Oil leak found in Forward Cam Shaft Gasket - required pulling the engine out, disassembling it to get to leaking gasket, replacing it and putting engine back in. 
May 2017

72500 mi
This was the conclusion of the oil consumption test after ~1,200 miles. The dealer reported no major oil consumption and closed the oil consumption case. (I forget to check the oil myself before it was brought in.) 
Sep 2017

75000 mi
Cam carrier shafts were found to be leaking again. The same repair had been done back in the spring - but a re-do of the repair was necessary. Requires pulling the engine out again. 
Oct 2017

75000 mi

US $400
Wheel bearings making droning noise - passenger side rear assembly replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Apr 2013 - Mar 2018
Jun 2015

34000 mi

US $32
Drain for heater / air conditioner clogged. Dealer cleaned the drain. 
Oct 2016

57500 mi

US $1400
Bad air conditioner clutch. Dealer replaced compressor and clutch mechanism. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
May 2013 - Jan 2018
Dec 2016

17360 mi
Amplifier shorted out due to moisture; radio inoperative 
Jun 2017

19492 mi
replace pads and rotors 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Jun 2013 - Dec 2015
Feb 2015

14000 mi

US $26
Front passenger door seal came out of groove Fuel cap left loose by attendant causing check engine light to come on. Would not reset after fuel cap was tightened 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Jul 2013 - May 2020
Dec 2014

16000 mi
Wheel bearing replaced 
Dec 2017

44000 mi

US $150
The head unit can't delete the blue tooth devices. They asked me to replace the head unit but it's like 1000$ so I declined. 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Apr 2013 - Jun 2022
Sep 2013

4000 mi
Very jerky acceleration from a stop to cruising speed esp. if acceleration was light. This would occur always with cold engine and intermittent w/ warm engine. The dealer re-set the CVT and put it in re-learn mode. Not sure if prob is fixed. 
Mar 2014

9000 mi
Navigation system SD Card update. Two visible circular white blemishes under the gelcoat of the car hood. Hood was re-painted, very nice job. Dealer provided loaner vehicle. 
Sep 2017

36000 mi

US $125
Battery end of life. Replaced battery. 
Subaru Forester in Oklahoma, United States
Feb 2013 - Nov 2017
Apr 2015

35000 mi
Radio face display loose. Still worked satisfactory. 
Subaru Forester in Utah, United States
Mar 2013 - Feb 2015
Jun 2014

14000 mi
Courtesy update for navigation system offered to forester owners who purchased before a certain date. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Feb 2013 - Feb 2016
Feb 2015

27600 mi
Excessive oil consumption (1 qt every ~2k miles). Dealer performed consumption test over 1200 miles, consumption deemed within Subaru spec. Continues to consume oil. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Mar 2013 - Dec 2017
May 2016

42000 mi

US $420
Radio died, dealer put in remanufactured oem radio 
Sep 2016

48000 mi

US $270
Lost high beam and running lights, bulbs replaced at dealership. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Aug 2013 - Jan 2022
May 2016

30400 mi
30k service at local dealer failed to reinstall oil drain plug properly, requiring emergency visit to distant dealer to diagnose and fix. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jul 2013 - Jun 2018
Feb 2016

15900 mi
Rattle coming from roof area when sunroof open. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Nov 2013 - Jun 2018
Jun 2014

8000 mi
Faulty bluetooth module 
Nov 2017

36000 mi
Low oil light came on. Car is currently conducting an oil consumption test. 
Mar 2018

39000 mi
Oil level checked for oil consumption check. Oil loss deemed acceptable for now, test still in progress. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Dec 2013 - Jun 2022
Sep 2014

5000 mi
A/V/Nav unit could not turn on. Replaced A/V/Nav unit. 
Subaru Forester in Georgia, United States
Jan 2014 - Jun 2017
May 2015

14400 mi
hand brake needed tightening 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Aug 2013 - Mar 2017
Oct 2013

1020 mi
Center console display dead, needed replacement. 
Nov 2013

2220 mi
Rear hatch no longer opened, ECU was reflashed. 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Nov 2013 - Sep 2015
Oct 2014

9500 mi
Rear hatch auto open/close mechanism stopped working. System had to be reset by dealer. 
Apr 2015

14300 mi
Noticed dash lights were not lit at night. Turns out neither were the tail lights and others along that circuit. Since no tail lights is a safety issue, dealer insisted on keeping the car until corrected. Culprit was A/C connector switch. 
Subaru Forester in Montana, United States
Oct 2013 - Jun 2018
Dec 2014

15000 mi
Key fob would not function when cold (below about 35). Dealer replaced fob internals and reprogrammed car to work with new fob. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Oct 2013 - May 2019
Jan 2016

32000 mi
Starting issues occured 5 different times. This was the second trip to dealer. After 2 years and 2.months, the replaced the battery under warranty as the serial number was in a service bulletin. 
Jul 2017

55000 mi

US $400
Also flushing brake fluid since it is near 60k miles 
Sep 2017

57000 mi
Replaced right rear wheel bearing. Was making a humming noise. Was covered by warranty. 
Jun 2018

63000 mi

US $140
With days into the 90's in June, A/C woukd be ice cold, then pumping out warm air (cycling). Son states he added 1 pound of freon. Issue persisted, took it to shop where they said that with Subaru's, one needs to drain system, then refill to precise amount, ottherwise cying occurs. After refilling, it cycled one more time and now works fine. Wife had it set to Auto, max A/C and lowest temp without rolling down windows and driving a few yards to clear the cabin of hot air. Now we set manually down to 70F MAX. Then if we want it colder, we set it lower after the inside has cooled off some. No more issues encoutered. 
Aug 2018

68000 mi

US $100
Replaced compressor (tested electrical issue) and clutch assembly. 
May 2019

82000 mi

US $145
Wind noise from the drivers side door. Dealer adjusted door hinges. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Apr 2013 - Dec 2018
Dec 2013

8000 mi
Persistent chemical odor > 6 months owned. Eyes irrit'd. Per dealer: No problem found: Door gaskets? Some coolant vapor escaping into cabin intake air vent, as designed? (Coolant tank opens/closes regularly, releasing chemical vapor.) 
Dec 2015

32000 mi

US $50
Defective lamp switch under brake pedal triggering ABS, Hill, & Traction error lamps, also m/b causing intermittent brake light failure. Subaru refused to pay unless it happened during inspection. Paid out of pocket for this safety repair. 
Dec 2018

56000 mi

US $500
LEAKING CAM CARRIERS 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Dec 2013 - Jun 2022
Mar 2014

1860 mi
Driver door rubber edge seal attached by friction in a channel around the door. Easily dislodged by putting a hand on the top edge of the door. Takes about 30 minutes to get it back in, must entirely remove then start at one end. 2021 Update: edge seal continues to need regular reinstall. 
Jan 2018

16120 mi

C $100
Rear Windshield wiper blade broke. Wiper blade assembly had to be replaced with Subaru brand part. Battery failed stress test, replaced battery 
Jan 2020

22940 mi

C $850
Front tires worn down on edges. All 4 tires replaced. 
Aug 2020

24180 mi
Recall letter received. Rear suspension springs become brittle and can catastrophically fail. Dealer replaced compete rear suspension system. 
Subaru Forester in Nova Scotia, Canada
Nov 2013 - Jun 2016
Oct 2014

23440 mi
my check oil light came on saying low oil but it was fine 
Nov 2014

26040 mi
heated passenger seat wouldn't get very warm 
Jun 2016

49600 mi
Car started going thru oil and the dealer installed a new engine( now thats service) 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Mar 2017 - Jun 2018
Mar 2018

41000 mi

US $350
Had the injection system cleaned & top throttle body cleaned . $350.00 it took 2 hours, would need to do every 10.000 miles? ? 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
May 2017 - Aug 2019
Feb 2018

80000 mi

US $50
Accelerator pedal becomes sporadically non-responsive. Mechanic believes its related to a known issue in similar year Outbacks. He thinks the sensor is sensitive to condensation. He blasted it with some kind of protective spray to keep condensation from forming and advised not to put the floor warmer on full blast until the car has warmed up. Has not reoccurred since this servicing / behavior change. 
Jun 2018

88000 mi

US $300
rear CV repaired 
Subaru Forester in New Mexico, United States
Dec 2013 - Nov 2021
May 2018

69000 mi
Horn stopped working. 
Aug 2018

72000 mi
CVT went out. This has apparently been a problem for Subaru in the last few years. The dealer replaced it under the Subaru warranty, which the company extended to 100,000 mi for this issue. 
Subaru Forester in Louisiana, United States
Apr 2013 - Jun 2018
Jan 2018

54000 mi
Whirring or humming noise from car noted. Traced to faulty bearing in rear left wheel, which was replaced free of charge under the powertrain warranty. The car had always had a clicking noise, kind of like a grasshopper chirp, that I could hear when coasting with the window rolled down. Now it no longer has this, so apparently this bearing was faulty from brand new. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Jan 2014 - Jun 2018
Aug 2017

59000 mi

US $50
Rear-Driver Side Strut needed to be replaced as it was creeking. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Feb 2017 - Jun 2022
Jun 2017

11800 mi

US $180
Battery would not hold a charge overnight. Battery was 14 months old and warranty on vehicle had expired. They did an electrical system check and did not find any other problems. 
Mar 2021

19000 mi

US $160
Rear pads were worn from a sticking caliper. Cause was lack of driving. 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Nov 2014 - Jan 2018
Dec 2017

38000 mi
Faulty brake light switch that caused Traction Control, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) lights to come on intermittently. Would also prevent gear selector from being moved out of Parking (P). Was repaired outside of warranty for free by dealership. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Aug 2016 - Jan 2021
Jan 2018

43000 mi

US $235
Microphone for Bluetooth was making a loud buzzing sound during phone calls, Head unit replaced. 
Mar 2019

57000 mi

US $500
New front brakes and rotors 
Sep 2019

62000 mi

US $2300
Worn front brakes and damaged rotors. My fault!! 
Dec 2020

76000 mi

US $450
rear brakes and rotors replaced 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Feb 2018 - Jun 2022
Jun 2018

61000 mi
Replace two TPMS sensors. 
Aug 2018

62000 mi
An event happened whereby the key could not be turned to the lock position even though the shifter was in the Park position. There is a TSB for this. The dealer replaced the park switch and the shift solenoid. 
Feb 2021

79000 mi

US $12
replace cracked plastic windshield washer Y pipe under cowl. 
Aug 2021

82586 mi

US $568
replace right front cv axle with torn boot 
Nov 2021

84742 mi

US $199
replace TPMS sensor 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jun 2016 - Jun 2022
Jun 2018

59700 mi
Replace right rear wheel bearing. 
Jul 2021

75341 mi

US $16
replace cracked plastic windshield washer Y pipe under cowl. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Sep 2014 - Mar 2023
Jul 2018

62000 mi

US $850
Replaced both rear shock absorbers. The left rear driver side was shot. 
May 2022

82000 mi

US $380
windshield washer plastic Y broke and crumbled in pieces. Front suspension bushings were loose. Replaced all suspension bushings. 
Jun 2022

98000 mi

US $350
Wobbling sound from the rear passenger side. Worn hun bearing. Rear passenger side hub bearing replacement 
Subaru Forester in Western Australia, Australia
Dec 2020 - Jul 2022
Jun 2022

68200 mi

A $220
Wheel stud jammed on, needed replacement 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Oct 2013 - Jun 2022
Jan 2022

108000 mi
Relay failure that caused CVT malfunction. Dealer misdiagnosed which resulted in unnecessary torque converter replacement. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Dec 2015 - Jan 2022
Jul 2021

90000 mi

US $700
Replace suspension parts in the rear wheels. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Dec 2013 - Feb 2021
Oct 2020

51000 mi

US $2900
Replaced air compressor Replaced suspension bushings Replaced plate guide 
Subaru Forester in Beijing, China
Sep 2013 - Jun 2018
Jun 2018

27900 mi

$600
leftback spring shock absorber oil leak 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Feb 2014 - Jun 2018
Jun 2018

51000 mi

US $1100
replaced rotors and pads 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Sep 2017 - Mar 2018
May 2017

70000 mi

US $500
Wheel bearing replaced Replaced wheel bearing 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
May 2013 - Feb 2022
Feb 2022

56767 mi

US $90
Tire Pressure Monitor System was replaced; it had been in a "failed" mode for about 2 months. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jul 2015 - Jan 2020
Jun 2016

56000 mi

US $640
Blower defaulted to high - replaced blower motor resistor pack - only worked on 2 and 4(high). Inspected wiring to in-dash HVAC controller, found burned/melted connector on back. Replaced in-dash HVAC controller, problem solved. 
May 2018

77300 mi

US $200
strut on rear hatch broke due to corrosion - replaced both struts 
Jun 2018

77750 mi

US $1000
bad rear wheel bearing - replaced both rear wheel bearings and installed new pads & rotors as there would be no additional charge for the labor. 
Subaru Forester in Utah, United States
Sep 2013 - Dec 2014
Feb 2014

17900 mi
wind defector for sun roof wasn't poping up. Replaced a few clips and sent me on my way 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Dec 2013 - Mar 2016
Dec 2014

13000 mi
Oil low. Dealer refilled with oil and told to monitor the oil level for the next 1,200 miles to see if the car is using oil. 
May 2015

17700 mi
Return for oil consumption test. Results, car not consuming any oil over a 1,200 mile test. 
Nov 2015

24000 mi
Serpentine belt came off. New belt put on 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Feb 2016 - Mar 2017
Mar 2016

31000 mi
Strong vibration and shutter @ low rpm and low speed. Caused by ice build up inside wheel rims. Went away. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Nov 2013 - Jun 2018
Apr 2017

56000 mi

US $288
1 st brake job. Not bad 
Subaru Forester in Nebraska, United States
Sep 2015 - Mar 2018
Sep 2016

32000 mi
Cruise control sensor went bad 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Nov 2015 - Mar 2016
Mar 2016

26000 mi

US $50
Engine loses oil at more than 1 qt per 2000 miles. It is difficult to correctly read oil level. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Feb 2015 - Jan 2017
Sep 2015

22000 mi
Faulty sensor caused the ABS, Hill Control and Stability Control lights to come on. 
Mar 2016

25000 mi
Tire Pressure sensor was faulty. 
Jan 2017 Blue exhaust on start up. Car was returned later that month off lease. 
Subaru Forester in Kentucky, United States
Aug 2016 - Aug 2016
Aug 2016

11000 mi
Noise from left rear, strut ordered and replaced under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Peru
Sep 2013 - Jun 2018
Mar 2017

17360 mi

$250
Car stopped during two months. After one week with some problems related to battery, I had to change it. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jun 2016 - Sep 2018
Jun 2017

53000 mi

US $350
Rear brakes replaced 
Sep 2018

82000 mi

US $500
Right rear wheel bearing replaced 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Nov 2014 - Jan 2015
Nov 2014

18000 mi

US $30
during a long distance driving, engine oil light on when drove at middle of nowhere. (Oil Level Gauge shows oil leaking) had to drive another 30 miles bought and added 1qt 0w20. light's off. before the engine oil leaking,found coolant lower minimum mark, sent to dealer, was told it's not a problem and refuse to add coolant. I spent 25 bucks and filled by myself. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Dec 2016 - Jun 2022
May 2017

48500 mi
Rear brake pads replaced due to wear 
Mar 2018

53000 mi

US $60
Battery died fully. Replaced with new. 
May 2022

84000 mi

US $900
New rotors and pads 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
May 2013 - Jun 2022
Feb 2017

105000 mi

US $75
Brake pad on rear drivers side was worn to metal. Replaced pad and refurbished caliper due to caliper sticking. 
Nov 2017

118000 mi

US $900
Front control arm bushings were worn out so these were replaced and an alignment was done 
Feb 2018

125000 mi

US $1300
Transmission Solenoid was replaced under warranty by dealer 
Aug 2018

137000 mi

US $1000
Replaced rear wheel bearings 
Jan 2020

185000 mi

US $2000
Catalytic converter needed to be replaced due to carbon buildup 
Jan 2022

198000 mi

US $1000
Replaced tie rods, control arm bushings and wheel bearing in front end 
May 2022

202000 mi

US $175
Replaced fittings on AC condenser due to leak 

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2014 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Dec 2013 - Feb 2016
May 2015

18900 mi
The AC condenser drain tube was plugged and causing water to spill over on the passenger side inside the car. Compressed air blown into the tube where it exits under the car fixed the problem. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Nov 2016 - Nov 2018
Nov 2017

56000 mi

US $85
Battery was getting weak, replaced with Interstate Battery 
Jun 2018

67000 mi
A/C not generating sufficient cold air, dealer performed TSB, replacing the A/C compressor/clutch assembly. Car was out of warranty, but was work covered by dealer or SOA (unclear which) as a good will gesture. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Jan 2014 - Jun 2022
Jan 2018

34000 mi

US $180
Original battery died at 4 years old. Jumped car, drove to AutoZone, and installed new battery. 
Mar 2022

68845 mi
Front timing cover gasket was leaking. Subaru repaired it at no cost on a goodwill basis, noting that I am the original owner and the car has an impeccable, dealer-based service history. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
May 2013 - Jul 2017
Sep 2014

18000 mi
Burning oil. Started oil consumption test, replaced PCV valve 
Dec 2014

22000 mi
burning oil-replaced short block 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Apr 2014 - Sep 2018
Jun 2017

39680 mi
Mass air flow meter failed causing check engine light. Repair was covered under extended warranty. 
Mar 2018

48980 mi
Oil consumption test started again. Third time I have done this. New standard is one litre of oil or more per 6000 kms can indicate possible short block replacement. 
Jul 2018

51460 mi
Vehicle failed oil consumption test, now waiting on new short block. Not really a repair to report but I thought that I would update the consumption test. 
Subaru Forester in Montana, United States
May 2013 - Feb 2023
Jun 2015

23000 mi
Oil consumption analysis. Results were 24 ounces per 1200 miles. Parts (short block plus) are being ordered. When parts arrive they will call and I will make appointment for repair. 
Jul 2015

23300 mi
Excessive oil usage. Complete short block change by dealer. No charge and rental car furnished free of charge. As of 10/14/15 oil usage seems OK. 
Jun 2018

60000 mi
Took vehicle in for normal scheduled maintenance. Noise in rear. Mechanic found rear wheel bearings failing. Replaced both bearings at no cost. Comment concerning previous oil consumption problem, oil usage is excellent. No adding of oil between changes, just like previous Subarus that we owned. Subaru/dealer did good job fixing oil problem. 
Oct 2022

100000 mi

US $2386
TPMS light on dash came on and could not reset. Checked air in tires. All tires were up to proper pressure. Thought that sensor was bad. Could not shift manual transmission. Clutch pedal had no pressure. Clutch pedal stayed depressed and would not return. Throw out bearing failed. Replaced bearing, disk clutch, lever clutch, release lever, flywheel, spring release lever, clutch cover. Added gear oil. 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
May 2013 - Nov 2018
Apr 2015

14880 mi

C $250
Oil consumption Replace tie rod 
May 2015

15680 mi
oil consumption test 
Jun 2015

16740 mi
oil consumption test 
May 2017

36580 mi

C $105
Stuck lugnuts 
Dec 2017

39680 mi

C $130
Stuck lugnut bolts 
Apr 2018

43400 mi
Rattling noise over bumps unless brakes are applied. Retorqued caliper bolts and serviced brake pads, but problem still persists. 
Sep 2018

45725 mi
Replace short block due to oil consumption. After shortblock replacement, car made loud rattling noise. Diagnosed dirty manifolds; cleaned, machined heads replace head gaskets. 

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2014 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

148-horsepower 2.0L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Philippines
May 2013 - Jan 2022
May 2015

9400 mi
knocking sound on each side during steering turn ( U-turn malice ball bearing replaced; shock mounting replaced 
Nov 2021

19840 mi

$1050
slight noise during PM test on hub bearing, replaced both RH & LH rear hub bearing. Replaced lower arm bushing (big and small LH & RH). Replaced RH & LH brake light bulb; replaced spring and pads set;  replaced one (1) spark plug 
Subaru Forester in Finland
May 2017 - Mar 2018
Sep 2017

69440 mi
Brakepad had diseapeared, only the metal was left, so on the warranty was the disk and pads changed 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Apr 2017 - Jun 2018
Mar 2018

108500 mi
Excessive oil consumption. I noticed adding 1 L oil between changes and they measured 1.3 L in 6,000 KMs. They installed a new "short block" which I think is the cylinder head and cylinders. 

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2014 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Apr 2013 - Sep 2015
Jun 2014

14880 mi
Radio problem - bluetooth system malfunction 
Nov 2014

21260 mi
Shifting was from park to reverse to forwards was slow. Computer needed to get reprogrammed. 

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2013.5 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in South Australia, Australia
Dec 2015 - Mar 2019
Nov 2017

45260 mi
Engine Light P0171 came on day after long trip. Took it to Subaru Workshop in Campbelltown NSW. They said it was unusual for this model, a known fault earlier. They offered to check it over as I was 2,000 km from home and spent a good half hour looking at all the sensors and eventually did a reset. Problem not seen since despite some very long hot drives through same country. Possible fuel contamination in outback town... Very friendly service and no charge despite being out of warranty... 

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2013 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru Forester in Newfoundland / Lab., Canada
Jun 2015 - Oct 2015
Oct 2015

32240 mi

C $125
Caliper pin was stuck, had to take out and loosen it. Also had rear light out and needed be air filter 
Subaru Forester in Western Australia, Australia
Jun 2014 - Jun 2015
Feb 2015

9260 mi
Air con system flooding the cabin with poisonous fumes. 

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2013 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Arkansas, United States
Nov 2012 - Nov 2019
May 2017

56957 mi
Because of excessive oil consumption, Subaru replaced the short block and all associated gaskets. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Nov 2013 - Jul 2022
Oct 2021

97000 mi

US $2450
My complaint was a tough (manual) shift from 2nd gear into 3rd. They rebuilt the transmission. It's still not great. Rear wheel bearing was wearing fast (no failure yet) 

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2013 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Feb 2013 - Apr 2015
Jan 2015

24700 mi
Leak on Passenger side cam-carrier. Had to drop the entire engine to get to it. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Aug 2013 - Jul 2022
Oct 2013

2980 mi
ECU and PCM reset 
Aug 2014

11780 mi
Bluetooth drops occasionally, sometimes dials by itself 
Sep 2014

12400 mi
Transmission fluid was over FULL level (from factory). Dealer adjusted it. 
Apr 2015

18900 mi
A few times engine took long to crank in normal weather. Dealer diagnosed low noise threshold at ignition and performed a ECU reprogramming. 
Dec 2015

26660 mi

C $1000
Had to replace rotors and brake pads on all wheels as they had been stuck (calipers were not moving freely) and worn out the rotors. 
Jan 2016

18320 mi
Engine burns oil. Dealer started oil consumption test. 
Aug 2016

32860 mi
Engine short block replaced after undergoing oil consumption test. 
Aug 2017

40920 mi

C $187
AC compressor had failed and it was replaced. 
Mar 2018

45880 mi
start oil consumption test 
May 2019

55800 mi
new front & rear brake discs & pads 
Apr 2021

67580 mi
new front & rear brake rotors & rear pads 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Jan 2013 - Dec 2016
Feb 2014

10000 mi
Rearview mirror shaking when driving. Some mounting assembly was replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Tennessee, United States
Dec 2012 - Sep 2016
Feb 2013 tailgate rattle 
Subaru Forester in Saskatchewan, Canada
Oct 2012 - May 2014
Feb 2014

18600 mi
Engine lite, traction control and cruise light came on. Dealer cleared codes. Moisture in evap system after 45 miles in 5-inch-deep snow. Dealer never saw before. Light returned after repair. Replaced canister. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jan 2013 - Jan 2015
Jan 2015 rear view mirror fell off 
Subaru Forester in Maine, United States
Mar 2013 - Aug 2021
Jan 2019

103000 mi

US $660
Had to replace two mufflers due to corrosion and rust damage 
Jan 2020

114100 mi

US $450
Had to replace rear pads and rotors, needed for safety inspaection 
Nov 2020

116000 mi

US $400
needed front brakes replaced for state inspection 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Feb 2015 - Jun 2022
Jul 2021

2 mi

US $996
Replaced oxygen sensor, EGR valve, and mass air flow sensor. 
Apr 2022

99500 mi

US $2200
Catalytic converter replaced.  EGR valve replaced. Wiper blades replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Feb 2021 - Jun 2022
Jul 2021

81200 mi
Replaced gas cap after tether broke. 
Sep 2021

82000 mi

US $400
Missing trim parts 
Nov 2021

82000 mi

US $250
molded pieces needed to be refitted 
Jun 2022

100000 mi

US $25
Gas tank cap. Replaced earlier with non-OEM when tether broke. Non-OEM cap faulty. 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Oct 2015 - Mar 2018
Mar 2018

97332 mi

US $550
One headlight bulb 1 rear wheel bearing ( buzzing sound from rear at speed) 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Jul 2015 - Jun 2018
Jul 2015

69000 mi
The front axle was bad, it was making a clunking noise when turning. They replaced the axle and then that one was defective so they had to replace it again. The dealer was not at fault the original issue was just a bad axle from 60000 miles 
Jun 2017

91000 mi

US $390
axle seal was leaking, I also had a recall hard starts changed spark plugs and cleaned throttle body 
Dec 2017

99000 mi
Engine failed the oil consumption test need a short block basically got a rebuild 

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2013 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

Subaru Forester in Slovak Republic
Oct 2016 - Nov 2018
May 2017

40300 mi

€800
Engine died - main bearings gone, during fast highway driving. Known issue on Subaru 2.0DiT engine - petrol gets into oil during short winter trips (direct injection ONLY engine..., what a foolish idea Subaru) making it too thin to protect bearings under heavy load. Engine changed under extended warranty, but it took 40 working days (!!!) and I had to pay something. 
Sep 2017

41540 mi

€500
New engine died again after 2.000km - rod bearing gone, during cruising. Engine changed under extended warranty for the second time, but it took way over 40 working days (!!!) and I had to pay something again. 

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2012 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Jun 2013 - Jan 2014
Sep 2013

10000 mi

US $100
Engine burning too much oil Car hard to start, need to try several times. Check engine light and traction watning light flashes while driving 
Jan 2014 Burning too much oil, approx 2.5 quarts every 1500 miles. TSB, dealer began process of resolution. I did not want to deal with going back and forth to the dealer, and so early. Replaced car. 

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2012 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Nov 2013 - Mar 2015
Apr 2014

12800 mi
crack in windshield due to defective rear view mirror installation. 
Jun 2014

17000 mi
crack due to rear view mirror fixed with the installation of a new windshield; earlier repair not successful. 
Mar 2015

23000 mi
persistent leak at rear view mirror and resultant replacement of front wind shield.hopefully,this resealing of front windshield will end problem!! 

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2012 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Apr 2012 - May 2018
Feb 2015

24700 mi
Engine is consuming excessive oil. Dealer started oil consumption test. Consumed .5 quarts of oil in 600 miles. Dealer topped off the oil and will recheck at 1000 miles. 
Mar 2015

26000 mi
High oil consumption continues. Dealer did not accurately measure oil consumption in 1000 miles. Restarted test and will return to dealer in 1000 miles. 
May 2015

27400 mi
Dealer determined oil consumption of 1.25 quarts in 800 miles is excessive. Subaru replaced the short block (crank case, pistons, crankshaft) under warranty. Also given an extended warranty for 8 years, 80k miles at no cost. 
Subaru Forester in Tennessee, United States
Oct 2014 - Mar 2015
Oct 2014

72000 mi

US $60
Took car to dealer for oil consumption test. Burns 1 qt. of 0-20 every 2000 miles. Dealer over filled it with a thicker oil. No surprise, it burns less, about 1 qt. In 3000 miles. Subaru says 1 qt per 1000 miles is ok in their owners manual 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Aug 2012 - Jun 2018
Jan 2016

48800 mi

US $262
Worn right front wheel bearing, starting to make noise and vibrate during left turns. Replaced wheel bearing and hub. 
Apr 2016

68000 mi

US $1200
A/C Compressor seized over the winter. Replaced. 
Jun 2016

75000 mi
Over the last 2 oil change intervals, my Forester has started burning oil at a rate of >1 QT/3,000 miles. None prior. Brought to dealer for an oil consumption test, performed over 1200 miles. Dealer overfilled >1/2 Quart at start of test. 
Dec 2016

82000 mi
Engine continues to burn oil at a rate of ~0.5 qts/1,000 miles. 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Mar 2017 - Jan 2019
Jul 2017

132060 mi
Car went into limp mode with check engine , cruise and traction control light on or flashing. 
Oct 2017

137020 mi
Oil consumption test recall from Subaru Canada. More than 1 liter per 2500km Engine will be changed under warranty in January 2018. 
Jan 2018

138880 mi

C $300
Engine changed under recall from Subaru Canada for excessive oil consumption. 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Apr 2012 - Jun 2017
Jul 2014

14140 mi
Excessive oil consumption; 1 litre / 1200 km on one trip. Dealer recommended oil consumption test which is in progress. No repairs performed as of yet. 
Jan 2015

11840 mi
Oil Consumption Test Completed: 1 litre 0W20 synthetic oil used in 4,000km. Dealer sitting on fence as to whether this is "excessive". Looking into whether or not Subaru will allow use of 5W30 synthetic instead. 
Mar 2015

18600 mi
5W30 Synthetic now in car. Aprox. 1000K since oil change. Oil consumption appears improved. 
Sep 2015

25420 mi
Fuel cap tether broken 
Feb 2016

27900 mi
Short block replaced under warranty due to excessive oil consumption. Engine was consuming 1 litre of oil every 2000 - 3000 km despite switching to 5W30 from 0W20 synthetic oil. Dealer was very reasonable and helpful. 
Subaru Forester in Maine, United States
May 2012 - Jun 2018
Jan 2017

20000 mi

US $500
Battery needed replacing. Extream cold weather would not crank 
Dec 2017

46521 mi
Loud clacking noise from engine compartment and significant oil loss with no external signs. Diagnosed at sticking PCV valve which was replaced under oil system warrantee. Currently in the midst of 1,500 mile oil consumption test. This happened once before. 
Jan 2018

47000 mi
Vehicle failed oil consumption test with rate of 43.760Z per 1,200 miles. Engine removed and new short block installed. 

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2012 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
May 2012 - Jun 2017
Aug 2014

21000 mi
gas cap tether broke. gas cap replaced. 
Mar 2016

31000 mi
starting problem. often doesn't start first time. usually good, second try. brought in... told a temp gauge at fault. repaired. same problem next day. going back. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Sep 2012 - Jun 2013
Oct 2012

US $400
Wheels were shaking whole car at speeds over 60mphand car is extremely swaying on curves at freeway speeds. (swaying has not been fixed - waiting for suggestion from Subaru of America - they don't care to much if you crash or kill someone) 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Nov 2012 - Dec 2012
Dec 2012

29000 mi
rear headrest not locking 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Nov 2011 - Jul 2014
Nov 2013

40000 mi

US $200
Rearview mirror was loose. has been a problem since the car was less than a year old. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Dec 2011 - Nov 2015
Oct 2012

3200 mi
Rattle in rear roof area. Dealer removed head liner and secured the sunroof rails. The repair did not work and I will be taking the vehicle back. 
Apr 2015

14200 mi
Check engine light. Codes read misfires in #1 and #2 cylinders. Has occurred twice when under acceleration,computer was flashed for upgrade,and told to use only premium fuel. Interior rear view mirror kept falling off. 
Nov 2015

16000 mi
Burning oil. Dealer states normal a qt.every 1,000 miles. 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Dec 2011 - Dec 2013
Oct 2012

14800 mi
Backup camera and audio system would not work at times. The dealer claimed that if it did not show this at the dealership they were not allowed to replace the audio unit until if failed completely. 
Dec 2013

33000 mi
Backup camera and audio system would not work at times. 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Oct 2011 - Mar 2022
Aug 2012

10080 mi
Check engine light and traction light on, then off within 15second on itself. Called dealer, said not to worry because lights are off. Wo waited two weeks for service. Tech said system parameters setting wrong. Flashed system with new memory 
Jan 2022

91760 mi
Valve cover leak observed, inspection only, only to monitor. 
Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Jan 2012 - Jun 2017
Sep 2013

20000 mi
Faulty fuel cap, took 3 visits to diagnose & fix. Technician left clamp on line during 2nd visit causing 3rd visit 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Dec 2011 - Oct 2014
Jun 2013

13000 mi
While accelerating up a large hill, cruise light, service engine light and traction control light came in making cruise and traction control inoperable. Read on net 26 pages of this issue. Needed an ECM flash. all good and better mileage 
May 2014

26000 mi
Driver side rear gas strut that holds opened the rear cargo door failed loosing oil and making the door unable to stay open on its own. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
May 2012 - Mar 2014
May 2013

14400 mi
Check engine went on, and the traction control sensor showed the system was defective, also the cruise control stopped working. It was the oxygen sensor causing the check engine to be on and other dfisplay irregularities 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Mar 2012 - Jun 2017
Jan 2014

6300 mi
Inside rear view mirror was loose since I purchased the car. It became looser so a friend tried to repair it, but could not. The whole mirror fell which was better than if I had been driving. Dealer was great and even washed my car. 
Mar 2017

36500 mi
Passenger airbag had to be replaced. 
Subaru Forester in South Carolina, United States
Jun 2012 - Sep 2017
Sep 2012

3000 mi
CEL, Traction Control, and Cruise Control lights blinking on dash. Dealer tech stated that the control module recorded two engine misfires. The module was re-flashed in compliance with a TSB. 
Aug 2013

13000 mi
CEL, Cruise & Traction control lights blinking. Dealer reset ECU. 
Nov 2016

51000 mi

US $385
Engine was repaired under Subaru's high oil consumption TSB. 
Subaru Forester in New South Wales, Australia
Nov 2014 - Jan 2022
Nov 2021

125860 mi

A $6800
Engine replaced due to main bearing failure 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Oct 2015 - Aug 2017
May 2017

29000 mi
Air bag recall 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Mar 2016 - Jun 2018
Mar 2017

76238 mi

US $250
Replacement of all rotors and pads, labor only cost, parts purchased seperately 
Dec 2017

82500 mi

US $100
Engine would turn over many times before starting, corrected with ECM reflash Rattle from under vehicle, clamp on heat shield replaced 
Apr 2018

84000 mi
AC not working (blows warm air). Replaced AC Compressor under extended warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Sep 2012 - Jun 2022
Oct 2017

54000 mi

US $1200
Struts reached end of life and damaged tie rods. 
Apr 2022

91000 mi

US $600
Replace serpentine belt. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jun 2018 - Mar 2023
Jul 2018

41540 mi
Plugs and coil to correct check engine light 
Sep 2018

42780 mi

C $1000
Replaced LF AND RF wheel bearings. RR was done 3000km ago. 
Nov 2021

58280 mi

C $3000
Multiple steering and suspension components replaced 
Jan 2023

71920 mi

C $234
left lower ball joint 
Mar 2023

72540 mi

C $1807
Front and rear pads and rotors, LF caliper, drive belt 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Apr 2013 - Mar 2017
Aug 2013

31100 mi
The lower part of the engine was replaced as a courtesy. My insurance, factory warranty (under 30,000 miles) did not apply, the extended warranty did not apply(under 30,000 miles) and my insurance policy did not cover the repair. 30,000 mile check-up. oil change and repairs as needed. 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Apr 2012 - Jul 2022
Jun 2018

68000 mi
High oil consumption. Dealer did oil change at no charge and re-checked oil consumption after 1200 miles. Within acceptable consumption rate. 
Feb 2022

100000 mi

US $300
Sensor replaced for cruise control/traction/check engine, replace some bolts,  a headlight Driver side sway bar end link was broken 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Aug 2015 - Sep 2023
Mar 2017

59000 mi
CEL, flashing cruise, traction control lit. Cruise in. Code indicated loose gas cap. 
Jul 2017

65000 mi

US $15
One headlight out, replaced both. 
Aug 2017

71000 mi

US $200
Replaced sticking caliper and worn rotor. New pads on all wheels. 
Jul 2021

131000 mi

US $250
CEL was on, which on a Subaru means cruise and traction control disabled. Scanned the codes which indicated the Bank 1 sensor was not responding correctly to lean and rich commands. Oxygen sensor replaced, codes reset, no further issues. $250 part at Autozone!!! 
Nov 2022

144000 mi

US $2800
Reseal engine to resolve multiple oil leaks. Replace water pump. Replace one wheel bearing. Replace stabilizer links. 
Mar 2023

148000 mi

US $1700
Catalytic converter replaced. O2 sensor damaged due to overheating. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Oct 2011 - Feb 2018
Nov 2017

87000 mi

US $800
Front half axle replacement 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Oct 2013 - Dec 2014
Jan 2014 Engine at 18,000 miles was 2.5 quarts low on oil. It now has long cold start until key is recycled and serve piston slap. Has blown blue smoke, low coolant, blown fused, and cracked windshield. Our second Subaru to crack a windshield. 
Dec 2014

24000 mi
Motor oil consumption, misfires, coolant consumption. Blows fuses and the windows go up slowly when they go up at the same time. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Jul 2014 - Jun 2022
Feb 2015

42000 mi

US $120
Had transmission oil replaced. Car came from lease so maintenance intervals are maintained, but the gears (1st and second) are hard to shift in 40-50s or below weather even after 3-4 minute startup. Not a prob on 97 honda in same weather Fuel mileage at 17-18 in cold weather city drving. Dealership couldn't solve problem. Also, for the first time in life, the washer fluid lines froze though at least they didn't burst like other cars. 
Feb 2018

78000 mi

US $684
wheel bearing rubber bushing was going bad so I had to pay $550 there to allow the alignment to be done. Alignment was way out of line instead of close to zero for camber and caster. Dealer didn't fix it under warranty so for the last 3 years, I was so close to selling this car. It was a hazard to drive in winter with the car slip sideways. ABS would start it clacking but I would have to pump the brakes to stop the car. The car stopped using ABS in the the last snow that we had. I'll probably find out how much of a difference was made next winter. 
Subaru Forester in Utah, United States
Oct 2016 - Dec 2016
Dec 2016

78000 mi

US $2500
Head gasket failure resulting in coolant leaking along with a crack in another small part. 
Subaru Forester in Hawaii, United States
Dec 2013 - Jun 2022
Dec 2014

13000 mi
Reloaded engine software but still have intermitant starting problems. Seal for timing belt cover leaking. 
Jun 2018

26000 mi

US $2200
AC would get very warm after 1/2 hour of operation. After AC shut down for 15 minutes, it would cool down again for another 1/2 hour. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jul 2015 - Mar 2019
Sep 2015

45000 mi
Vehicle would occasionally take unusually long time to start, not related to temperature or time since last drive. Dealer said there was a bulletin for the issue and applied a software update. Am waiting to see if the update fixes the issue. 
Dec 2015

47000 mi
Long/Slow start issue persisted after software flash. Took vehicle to different dealer, they indicated the flash was not done and performed the flash as well, this time it worked. Not sure if the first dealer actually flashed or not 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Jan 2014 - Jun 2014
Jan 2014

8000 mi
The chrome strip had fallen off on of the HVAC grilles. Entire unit to be replaced. Carpet pulling loose and gapping at sill plate. 
Feb 2014

8200 mi
Part came in for piece that fell off the dash, they repaired it. 

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2012 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

148-horsepower 2.0L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Dec 2011 - Dec 2014
Aug 2014

44100 mi
Noticed buzz from right side. Turned out to be a bad right wheel bearing. replaced under warranty 

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2011.5 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in New Zealand
Jan 2016 - Feb 2022
Dec 2017

41540 mi

$20
headlight bulb replacement. 
Feb 2021

91760 mi

$500
service + oil change and headlight bulb 

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2011 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Mar 2016 - Mar 2017
Jun 2016

103000 mi

US $100
Cam shaft cover was leakng 

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2011 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Dec 2010 - Apr 2013
Aug 2011

4700 mi
A/C button on control panel popped out and would not fully re-seat. System actually worked okay, just a bad button Exterior window trim on passenger's side front of rear cargo compartment window - horizontal cracks. Entire piece of glass to be replaced. Known issue - learned about it on forums. Paint damaged by fix, small area repainted by paint shop 
Aug 2012

16800 mi
TSB for rerouting wiring harness in area of rear seats. 
Jan 2013

10500 mi
Drivers side visor return spring failed. Dealer ordered and replaced visor. 
Subaru Forester in Iowa, United States
Mar 2011 - Dec 2011
Dec 2011

7000 mi
Back of power driver's seat does not hold its position, seat back declines on own when car is powered off. No issues while vehicle is running. 

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2011 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 145hp 2.0L H4 Diesel 6-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Spain
Mar 2017 - Oct 2023
Sep 2023

166160 mi

€800
catalysts change after >250k Km 

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2011 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Nov 2012 - Mar 2015
Dec 2012

12000 mi
excessive oil burning, 2 qts every 3k, backfire when AC is on, loud vibration when traction control kicks on in snowy conditions 
Apr 2014

49000 mi
Having new small block installed to fix oil consumption. This is covered under warranty. 
Dec 2014

60000 mi
Head gasket leak. Covered from small block replacement Car now, after 60000 miles finally runs great Better than ever Finally love my car 
Feb 2015

62000 mi

US $900
Clutch needed replacing after throw-out bearing failed. Subaru did discount the job 500.00 as I had other car issues in the past. 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Sep 2013 - Apr 2014
May 2013

30000 mi
Leaking cam seal. Dealer replaced cam seal. 5 days in shop - at least there's no more oil leak... 
Dec 2013

41000 mi
High oil consumption - finished oil consumption test, clocked around 1200 miles/quart. Also in for loud engine noises, which were put off until after oil consumption test completed. Repairs to start next week 
Feb 2014

41000 mi
Engine block was replaced to fix the oil consumption issues. Still consumes oil (just not as much). Timing chain tensioner was replaced to fix the startup noises. After letting the car warm up, it is still very loud at 3K RPM, so that has not been fixed. Back to dealer... Engine block was replaced to fix the oil consumption issues. Timing chain tensioner was replaced to fix the startup noises. After letting the car warm up, it is still very loud at 3K RPM, so that has not been fixed. Back to dealer... 
Mar 2014

41000 mi
Oil leaking from passenger side cam carrier again. Also oil seepage from timing chain cover. Dealer replaced the driver's side cam intake sprocket to fix startup noise. Noise overall improved, oil leaks appear to be fixed. 
Apr 2014

41000 mi
After 500 miles, the engine is leaking oil from the cam carrier again. Subaru has agreed to repurchase due to car continuing to have problems and having been in shop for more than 30 business days in the last year. 
Subaru Forester in New Brunswick, Canada
Sep 2017 - Jan 2022
Sep 2017

86800 mi
Short block replacement due to high oil consumption. Cost totally covered by Subaru. 
Jun 2018

95480 mi

C $950
new A/C compressor and dryer 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Jan 2013 - Dec 2016
Feb 2013

15700 mi
Fuel gauge reads incorrectly. Fuel gauge shows 3/4 tank after filling. A restart or 2 will correct this. But then gauge drop very quickly,dropping from full to 3/4 of a tank after 20 miles 
Jul 2013

19700 mi
fuel tank sending unit replaced fuel level sensor replaced 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Sep 2012 - May 2015
Sep 2014

22320 mi
Minor oil leak on right side cylinder head needed to be re-sealed. Required and overnight stay. Covered under power train warranty. 
May 2015

24800 mi
Engine oil leak at right side cam cradle. Requires pulling engine and replacing gaskets and or resealing. 

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2011 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Aug 2011 - Nov 2014
May 2012

10700 mi

US $25
I tried to change the oil myself. I could not get the oil drain plug off. It was on very tight. Since I was afraid of destroying the plug I took it to my normal mechanic who was able to get the plug off using an impact driver. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Sep 2011 - Jan 2012
Jan 2012

4000 mi
Engine was making noise like a sewing machine. The vehicle was admitted for TSB 02-117-11 Left side cylinder head, intake camshaft, intake valves and rocker arm pivots needed to be replaced. Vehicle replaced, due to manufacture defect. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Dec 2011 - Mar 2013
Jan 2012

19000 mi

US $80
Going thru a 1/2 to 3/4 of oil every 1000 miles.... 
Mar 2013

30000 mi
oil consumption test. Dealing w /subaru of america directly on resolution of problem. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Oct 2010 - Sep 2016
Jun 2012

28000 mi
Faulty tire sensor, replaced under warranty 
Sep 2016

103000 mi
Compete Engine replacement under warranty due to excessive oil consumption. 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Aug 2011 - Oct 2016
May 2015

42500 mi
During routine maintenance, the rear differential was not properly filled. Failed several thousand miles later and was replaced under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Iowa, United States
Sep 2014 - Mar 2016
Oct 2015

35200 mi
Car occasionally fails to start or takes extended time to turn over. Slight clunking noise when car is put into reverse then driven forward. 
Nov 2015

36900 mi
Gaskets were leaking. 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Dec 2011 - Mar 2012
Nov 2011

1800 mi
ECM reflashed. Oil consumption test started as no sign of oil leaking/burning could be detected. 
Dec 2011

3500 mi
Replaced relay. Oil consumption check + oil change. 
Jan 2012 Rattle from the spare tire area of the vehicle. Moon roof (and driver side door) leaks. Oil consumption check. Developed engine knocking. It was explained to me that the knocking is typical of the boxer engine; some louder than others. 
Feb 2012

3900 mi
Oil consumption check plus oil change. Dealer says the fresh oil change should resolve the oil consumption now that the engine has been broken in. No start. Towed to dealer. Very rough idling at start up after the no-start repair. Smell of raw fuel. Occasional stall. Oil consumption issue not resolved. Dealership says contact Subaru of America as they cannot fix the issue. 
Mar 2012

5000 mi
Very rough idle; vehicle would not stay running. Smell of raw fuel, enough to cause eyes to burn. 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Mar 2011 - Jun 2018
Apr 2011

5000 mi
Rear seat recliner button came off, plastic component damaged, had to be replaced 
Oct 2011

16700 mi
Evaporator core developed a leak and had to be replaced. It took a recharge with leak detector and 2 trips to the dealer to find the problem. 
Mar 2012

22000 mi
Started oil consumption test with dealer. Oil consumption is higher than expected, using approx. 1 qt. for every 3000 miles. 
Aug 2012

37000 mi
A/C has been leaking inside vehicle since replacement of evaporator. They found pinched seal in evap housing - parts not assembled correctly in previous repair. 
Apr 2014

68500 mi
Start test to determine how much oil is leaking at valve covers. Oil is dripping on exhaust, burning and creating smoke. When car is stopped it enters the cab through a/c. Have to keep a/c on recirc. 
Oct 2015

91700 mi
Check engine light on. Dealer said sensor needed replacement but estimate was ridiculously high. Will attempt repair on my own. 
Nov 2015

94000 mi

US $110
Replaced Air/Fuel ratio sensor 
Apr 2016

99000 mi
Took car in to start Subaru-sanctioned oil consumption test, but was not eligible to start due to oil leaks from o-rings. 
Jun 2016

101000 mi

US $1150
Replace o-rings and seals to stop bsd oil leaks. 
Jul 2016

102000 mi
Problem with a/c, cooling sporadically; works fine some times, other times not at all; dealer suspected low freon - added freon and dye Oil consumption test found excessive consumption. Replaced short block and seals; replacement covered by Subaru under class-action agreement 
Aug 2016

102700 mi
A/C still not functioning properly; works intermittantly; dealer could not find freon leak, suggests replacing expansion valve and evaporator 
Oct 2016

107000 mi
Replace evaporator and expansion valve in effort to fix intermittent cooling 
Nov 2016

107000 mi
Replace evaporator temp sensor. Finally found the problem behind the intermittent cooling. Previous replacement of evaporator and expansion valve probably not necessary. 
Apr 2017

114311 mi
Replace cam seals and O-rings again. Warranty work from short block replacement (Jul 2016). 
May 2017

116419 mi
After short block replacement, A/C compressor was very noisy. Turns out the mechanic failed to add oil back into the A/C system when reassembling. Oil was added and noise was reduced significantly, but still there (compressor undoubtedly damaged at this point). 
Jul 2017

118595 mi
Returned for noisy air compressor - dealer said, despite the noise, system working as designed. In order to prove the compressor is damaged, they say we will have to just wait to see if it fails. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Apr 2011 - Nov 2014
Nov 2013

21000 mi
Leaking Cam seals and head gaskets. leaky cam seals 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Mar 2011 - May 2018
Aug 2011

6000 mi
Electric moonroof would not close. Moonroof stuck open. Had to be realigned in order to close fully. 
Nov 2012

28200 mi
cam engine seals leaking resulting in oil leak and low oil levels 
Feb 2013

32000 mi
car is still leaking oil, has to go back to shop 
Apr 2013

34500 mi
Car leaks oil. Dealer repeated major repair of cam gasket seals. Hopefully this fixes the problem once and for all 
Aug 2013

39600 mi
Moonroof would not close. Dealer had to reset moonroof control in order to allow it to close 
Nov 2013

45000 mi
Oil level read below minimum level, suspecting oil is burning off. Dealer has started an oil consumption test. Vehicle seems to burn off all oil in between oil changes. 
Jun 2017

103400 mi

US $700
drive belts wore out and needed to be replaced 
Jan 2018

112000 mi

US $2000
Engine leaking oil again, cam gaskets leaking. This is the third time the engine had to be pulled for this vehicle. Repair cost aprox $2000 and I had to work very hard to get subaru to pay for this. Fortunately, subaru stood behind their defective engine 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jan 2011 - Apr 2015
Oct 2011

13700 mi
Left side timing chain tensioner replaced with revised part per TSB. Caused a loud knocking sound on cold start up since new. Issue resolved. 
Nov 2011

16000 mi
Previous replacement of timing chain tensioner. Dealer did not seal timing cover properly so it was leaking oil on to the exhaust. Brought back to dealer and they removed and resealed the timing cover. Seems to be fixed for now. 
Sep 2012

32000 mi
Engine and/or transmission hesitation when turning corners and accelerating. Doesn't respond for a couple seconds, then usually... 
Aug 2013

45000 mi
Oil leak on driver side cylinder head area. Dealer found leaking valve cover gasket. Replaced gasket. They found there was still an oil leak. Found cam "cap" was was cracked. Replaced cam cap. Brought car home and found it still leaking. Returned car to dealer due to continuing oil leak. Dealer took apart valve cover and cam cap and resealed everything. Seems to be fixed now. 
May 2014

55700 mi
Oil leak from timing cover. Removed timing cover and installed a new one. Car still leaking oil from left cylinder head area. Also repaired previously. Has been to the dealer for both leaks multiple times. 
Oct 2014

60700 mi
Back for oil leak. Pulled motor out of vehicle and removed cam cap/cover, timing cover again, reseal everything. A few months later, still no leaks. Seems to finally be repaired. 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Dec 2010 - Feb 2019
Jan 2011

620 mi
CEL on, took to dealer, code said fuel recovery system. Dealer discovered condensation froze in the fuel vapour recovery line from the gas tank-figured it happened while sitting on lot through freeze-thaw weather-dried out line, now fixed. 
Mar 2011

1860 mi
CEL on, same as last visit. Dealer discovered condensate in the fuel vapour recovery line from the gas tank - dealer thinks either faulty installation or bad design as there is a low spot in line before the drain. Dried out, CEL off now. 
Dec 2012

19840 mi
Engine sometimes made noise on cold-starts; determined was covered by TSB for timing chain tensioner. Replaced tensioner, does not make noise anymore. 
Sep 2013

29140 mi
Car smelled mildly of burning fluid after op'n of >20 minutes - had been happening since replacement of timing chain idler pulley in May. Found minor weep of oil from bottom of oil dipstick, landing on exhaust system. Replaced seal 
Jun 2017

56420 mi

C $20
Rattling sound from muffler area below passenger cabin. Shop said common issue with Subaru's and it comes from the heat shield getting loose. No real way to tighten it, so we had them remove it. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
May 2011 - Mar 2014
Jun 2012

22000 mi

US $1
Needed a new bolt for the rear view mirror assembly. The mirror assembly kept on getting lose when driving over bumps. Had to replace the hex socket bolt.  
Subaru Forester in Arkansas, United States
Jun 2011 - Jan 2018
Nov 2011

4000 mi
Rattles and squeaks from the cargo hold. Dealer shop removed right trim and headliner. Two of the noises were lessened. One rattle still needs to be chased down. 
Jan 2012

32200 mi
Rattle in cargo hold. The technician took down passenger side trim and installed wedges between parts of the roof metal. I think that it worked this time. 
May 2012

9700 mi
Rear side drivers window working intermittently. 
Sep 2012

14000 mi
Rear drivers side window not working. Dealership lubricated track and pronounced it repaired. We shall see. 
Apr 2013

18800 mi
Rear power window out again. Fourth time in shop. Window motor to be replaced this time. Of course the part has to be ordered so a fifth time will be needed. 
May 2013

20000 mi
Replaced drivers side rear window motor. Fifth time in shop. We will see. 
Sep 2013

24000 mi
Rear driver's side window working intermittently. Now the front passenger window not working from the driver's door switch. Sixth time in shop for this problem. As normal' part must be ordered resulting in seventh trip. Power window master switch replaced. 
Apr 2014

28700 mi
Top windshield gasket came loose and flapped in wind. Re-attached. I will reglue with silicone if it comes loose again. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Jul 2011 - Aug 2016
Sep 2013

38000 mi
Check engine light on. Dealer tightened cap. Light came on again. Replaced canister vent valve. Check engine light back on. Found evap hose not seated properly. Dealer had car until 9/16/13. Dealer repaired evap hose. 
Oct 2013

38800 mi
Check engine light on. Found purge hose not properly connected. check engine light on. Found evap canister leaking. Dealer replaced evap canister. Check engine light on. Found vaccum line leaking and gas cap not sealing properly. Dealer replaced line and gas cap. After six trips, light finally stayed off. 
Jun 2015

68000 mi
replaced both valve cover gaskets 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jun 2011 - Jul 2015
Dec 2013

35340 mi
Replaced battery under warrenty 
Feb 2015

49580 mi

C $350
horn alarm would not shut off had to replace some connection in steering column which had shorted out. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Jul 2011 - Jan 2014
Jan 2014

1000 mi
Reprogrammed transmission to correct rough shifting during extreme cold. 
Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Aug 2011 - Oct 2011
Sep 2011

1000 mi
Check Engine Light on, Cruise control light flashing, traction control light on. Started at 1201 miles. Dealer flashed the ecu and reset the codes. Problem came back 2 times since then. Car is back in the shop for 2 days now. no updates 2nd time in the shop. dealer could not determine cause and reset the codes. 
Oct 2011

1000 mi
Car is still in the shop without an update. Been 5 days nows. Dealer is calling Subaru engineers to assist. They gave the car back to me. Apparently a fix is out now, but it is not signed off by the government. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
May 2013 - Jul 2022
Sep 2014

52000 mi
The sunroof malfunctioned and was repaired under warranty. The glass part somehow hopped over the cloth part (underside) and thereafter was unable to close.  
Feb 2016

79000 mi

US $65
One of the wheel stud bolts was stripped so the tire nut would not come off, which prevented having the tires on the driver's from being rotated. 
May 2016

84000 mi

US $2100
Both cam carriers (or cages) were leaking oil and needed to be resealed. This required removing the engine, 
Sep 2016

85000 mi

US $60
This was the 3rd time that a wheel stud (where lug nuts screw on) failed, requiring replacement. Either I have a really bad dealer service (AutoNation) or Discount Tire shop or the metal in the studs is poor quality. Wish I knew which. 
Oct 2017

105000 mi

US $75
Replace rear view mirror mounting kit. Apparently, one of the screws got stripped somehow, possibly when the windshield was replaced. Don’t know that I can say this was caused by normal use. But what really made me angry is for the lack of the screw, the whole mount had to be replaced. Really, Subaru didn’t have a replacement screw?!? 
Jun 2018

108000 mi

US $470
Once again one of the wheel studs broke off in the lug nut when my tires were rotated at Discount Tire. Then when Subaru mechanic was taking that wheel off, another one broke! This is at least the 5th stud to break. Subaru aluminum alloy wheels from 2011 are junk. Front break rotors were resurfaced. The idle pulleys and belt tensioner needed replacement. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
May 2017 - Mar 2018
Sep 2017

125000 mi

US $3500
replaced short block due to oil consumption 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
May 2016 - Jun 2022
Jun 2017

91000 mi

US $135
flushed brake fluid.. also oil and filter ghange 
Jul 2017

91000 mi

US $65
replaced rear pads 
Subaru Forester in Alabama, United States
Apr 2016 - May 2017
Jun 2016

46500 mi
short block replaced due to oil consumption problem 
Jan 2017

52600 mi
engine front cover leaking. replaced all necessary o rings and seals. replaced dipstick tube seal 
Subaru Forester in Manitoba, Canada
Apr 2015 - Jun 2022
Jan 2018

C $45
Rear lift supports both crashed same day at -40 in Jan 2018. Bought replacements online for $45/ instead of $179 at dealer. 
Feb 2018

96100 mi

C $1300
Engine seal and oil sensor. Starting position required to commence official oil use monitoring process. Subaru had sent letter advising that some excessive oil consumption noticed in years including my car. Anything over 1 litre per 6000 km. My car's engine related warranty to be extended to 160k from 100k!!! My number came at about 2.4 ltr/6000 km I have a loaner 2018 Forester today while Subaru installs a new (rebuilt) short block, for free.  I have a rt. tie rod with alignment being done at same time $400.  
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Jan 2016 - Jun 2022
Jul 2018

78000 mi

US $470
fuel/induction service power steering service 
Aug 2021

104000 mi

US $2700
replaced steering rack driver's window switch replaced 
Subaru Forester in Kentucky, United States
Oct 2012 - Jun 2017
Nov 2012

41300 mi
Check engine light, ABS light, Traction control light all illuminated. 
May 2013

59000 mi
Timing chain tensioner was leaking down overnight. 
Jun 2017

134000 mi

US $400
Factory replacement short block for oil consumption issue. Also had routine maintenance to rest of car. New hoses plugs differential fluid change. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Dec 2015 - Jun 2022
Apr 2022

96000 mi

US $450
A/F sensor bad 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Oct 2015 - Oct 2016
Sep 2016

98000 mi
Published oil consumption problem with 2011 Subaru Forester. Dealer replaced engine short block. 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Dec 2010 - Jul 2022
Jul 2018

49000 mi

US $600
replace faulty oxygen sensor 
Jul 2022

64000 mi

US $540
Several gaskets replaced for oil leak, also one sensor repaired Replace broken glove box, reinsert mirror controls 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Nov 2012 - Dec 2012
Oct 2012

12700 mi
oil leaking from valve cover gasket. 
Nov 2012

13000 mi
valve cover gasket replaced (warranty) 
Dec 2012

13000 mi
valve cover gasket leaking engine still leaking oil 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Jun 2013 - Mar 2015
Sep 2014

41000 mi

US $94
radio stopped playing ipod connected via USB port. It recognized the ipod, but would not play... 
Jan 2015 Replaced transmission with remanufactured transmission 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Jan 2014 - Mar 2014
Mar 2014

45000 mi
Early on it started having oil consumption issues; engine replaced at 32,000 miles; 10,000 miles later same problems again. Received $3,500 customer loyalty incentive, traded the car. 
Subaru Forester in Maine, United States
Jun 2014 - Oct 2014
Jun 2014

43000 mi
Vehicle started making a horrendous clapping noise. Upon towing to dealer it was determined that the engine block failed. Suspect oil consumption problem that has been reported. They never did tell me why it happened. Yay extended warranty! 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Jul 2014 - Sep 2015
Sep 2015

140000 mi
threw a rod and blew the engine 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Nov 2012 - Mar 2016
Jan 2013

16000 mi

US $300
Engine started tapping sound and then lost power while driving on highway. Was towed to a dealer. It took 5 days for them to get it fixed. Have not pick it up yet since the dealer is 2 hours drive away from my home. 
Feb 2013

23000 mi
Check engine light is on. It camplained about bank 1. Dealer said upgraded software and reset check engine light. 
Mar 2013

27000 mi
Engine light is on again. Dealer said changed both down pipes. I was told there was a leak in intake. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Dec 2014 - Jun 2022
Sep 2016

123000 mi

US $17
Blown low beam headlamp bulb 
May 2018

151000 mi

US $150
AC not cooling. Recharged system Check engine light, O2 sensor 
Jun 2022

205000 mi

US $120
P0420, catalytic converter not optimal 

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2011 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

148-horsepower 2.0L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Victoria, Australia
Jan 2014 - Jan 2021
May 2014

38260 mi
Replacement of small engine due to unusual oil consumption 
Sep 2015

54560 mi
Loose tweeter on door 
Mar 2017

79360 mi

A $900
Worn components covered under extended warranty 
Jun 2017

83080 mi

A $6
Front low beam light 

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2011 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

148-horsepower 2.0L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in New Brunswick, Canada
Apr 2016 - Oct 2021
Sep 2017

71572 mi

C $396
Motor vehicle inspection identified worn brake pads that did not pass. 
Apr 2018

75700 mi

C $65
check engine light on. Code P0456, evap small leak. Cleared code, cleaned around rim of gas tank filler neck 

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2011 Subaru Forester 4-door

turbocharged 4-cylinder automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Botswana
Nov 2014 - Jan 2017
Nov 2016

46580 mi
Blown head gaskets. Replaced radiator, water pump, all hoses and timing belt with this repair at my own cost. 

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2010 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Oct 2010 - Jun 2017
Sep 2011

21080 mi
Malfunction with oil control valve. The dealer had to order the part - kept over weekend and fixed on 2nd business day. 
May 2012

27060 mi
Computer had to be reset as instruments were either wrong or not functioning - cause unknown. 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Jun 2017 - Oct 2018
Oct 2017

89000 mi
90,000 mile service performed, transmission drain plug was over tightened and cracked the transmission case...transmission was then replaced by dealer. Newly installed transmission had leaky axle plug seals, dealer replaced those as well. 
Apr 2018

98000 mi

US $400
Wheel bearing was making whining noise, only left front, easy replacement. 
Oct 2018

105000 mi

US $1400
Sway bar links and bushings were bad, replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Belgium
Sep 2009 - Dec 2017
Nov 2017

69440 mi
rear central mirror oxydised all around , starting to go to the center. mirror replaced at no cost by dealer, on warranty (lifetime for such items) 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Sep 2010 - Apr 2018
Oct 2011

26700 mi

US $225
Key fob ceased working due to faulty button. Not covered by CPO warranty. 
Jun 2014

60000 mi

US $296
Drive belts dry and cracking. Discovered during course of scheduled maintenance. Belts replaced. 
Apr 2018

80000 mi

US $504
Radiator cracked. Shop described failure as premature given mileage. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jun 2009 - Feb 2014
Apr 2013

68000 mi

US $189
Intercooler Hose connecting to the Turbo engine 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Sep 2010 - Sep 2013
Nov 2011

22000 mi
OEM TPMS light on in cold weather while tire pressure was to OEM specs (known problem my Subaru); solved by increasing tire pressure. 

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2010 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in West Virginia, United States
Dec 2016 - Jun 2018
Jan 2017

70000 mi
OCV stuck code thrown for bank 2. Dealer first replaced OCV solenoid and it did not fix. OCV switch corrected problem. 
Feb 2017

73000 mi

US $150
Shudder in steering. Stuck brake caliper piston upon inspection. 
Aug 2017

81000 mi

US $285
Caliper pistons stuck again. 
Mar 2018

85000 mi

US $450
Both driver side calipers had pistons sticking. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Dec 2014 - Dec 2015
Nov 2015

56600 mi
Rattling heat shields. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Apr 2016 - Sep 2019
Oct 2016

48300 mi

US $180
Replaced Battery 
Mar 2018

52960 mi

US $120
Replace fan belts 
Subaru Forester in Maine, United States
Feb 2016 - Nov 2016
Nov 2016

71000 mi

US $35
Headlight replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Oct 2014 - Apr 2015
Nov 2014

116200 mi

US $1300
Clutch replacement, high pitched whine, likely throw out bearing. 
Jan 2015

119500 mi

US $155
Check oil leak...currently minor. Diagnosis is a leaking head gasket. 
Apr 2015

122000 mi
Oil leak from head gasket. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Feb 2010 - Jul 2011
Feb 2011

11000 mi
Replacement of fuel tank pressure sensor after diagnostic for reason why check engine light came on. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jul 2015 - Jan 2022
Jul 2017

89000 mi

US $150
Replaced left front wheel bearing due to continuous rumbling at specific speeds 
Aug 2017

98000 mi

US $240
Right front wheel bearings replaced. 
Dec 2017

102000 mi

US $430
Throwout bearing howling and replaced. 
Jun 2018

110000 mi

US $40
Rear pads rplaced 
Jan 2022

158500 mi

US $50
Failed exhaust connection at muffler 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Dec 2009 - Sep 2016
Jul 2011

41000 mi

US $60
Gas cap was loose, tripped Check Engine Light. Cost $60 at the dealer to diagnose and reset. Next time, I'm bringing it to my local guy. Only reason I brought it to the dealer was in case it was covered by a warranty, which it wasn't. 
Dec 2012

77000 mi
Battery went dead, just short of 3 years old. They don't make them like they used to. 
May 2013

89800 mi

US $175
Had car in to get all four brake pads and rotors replaced, also needed one brake caliper replaced. Brake stuck on the ride home, so I had to bring it back. 
Mar 2014

113000 mi

US $1500
Replaced clutch bearing, pressure plate, and flywheel. 
Jul 2014

120300 mi

US $640
Clunking sound when going over small bumps. Sway bars bad. 
Dec 2014

134000 mi

US $698
Replaced right front caliper, old one was sticking. Cost about $220, parts and labor. 
Jul 2015

151000 mi

US $500
Stuck caliper, replaced that, plus pads and rotors. 
Jun 2016

175000 mi

US $450
Stuck right front caliper, replaced that, plus discs and pads 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Dec 2009 - Jun 2018
Dec 2015

72540 mi

C $50
Complained about excessive oil consumption. PCV valve replaced. 
Sep 2017

99200 mi

C $350
Ignition coil, had to go back one month later because a distribution cable unpluged. Missinstalled. Ignition coil. 
Subaru Forester in New Mexico, United States
Mar 2011 - Jun 2012
Dec 2011

20000 mi
Dome light was not functioning properly, and was replaced by dealership under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Mar 2014 - Sep 2014
Apr 2014

54000 mi
Creaking coming from front of vehicle, especially at low speeds. Only seemed to occur warm, sunny days. Front sway bar bushings were dried out and rubbing. A little silicon grease in the bushings fixed the problem. 
Aug 2014

62000 mi

US $360
Electrical system for rear latch shorted out and hatchback would not close. Entire assembly was replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Missouri, United States
Jun 2014 - Jul 2016
Jun 2014

117000 mi

US $1000
Clutch Pressure plate and release bearing worn out. 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Jun 2021 - Jul 2022
Jun 2022

162440 mi

C $300
O2 sensor was faulty 
Subaru Forester in Iowa, United States
Apr 2018 - Jan 2022
Dec 2021

207000 mi

US $1000
Brakes worn. Replaced pads and rotors. 

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2010 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Apr 2010 - Jun 2018
Sep 2013

40000 mi

US $500
bad tie rod end and alignment. 
Jun 2015

59000 mi

US $100
Rattle when driving, dealer tightened exhaust heat shields. Started rattling again. Car will be going back to the dealer. 
Feb 2018

96000 mi

US $500
whistling noise at speed. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
May 2010 - Mar 2013
May 2012

14200 mi
Transmission temperature light kept coming on; transmission would not shift properly. Dealer had to order in, and replace a module. The transmission actually was not overheating. 
Nov 2012

15900 mi
The shift lever became hard to move. Parts were ordered in and replaced. 
Mar 2013

18000 mi

US $86
Right front seized caliper. Dealer serviced brakes, said they need yearly preventive service (dealer never told us that before). Infrared thermometer showed right front still running hot. Back to dealer, dealer had no explanation. Sold car. 
Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States
Apr 2010 - Sep 2020
Dec 2011

13000 mi
Check engine light came on with flashing cruise indicator. Computer code indicated faulty fuel pressure sensor. Dealer replaced and repaired. Total shop time about 1.5 hr. Problem seems to be resolved. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Apr 2010 - Sep 2011
Jun 2010

1000 mi
rear hatch seemed to rattle a lot, but it turned out that the spare tire was not properly installed (should have been caught at PDI) and the jack was loose in the carrier in the trunk. 
Oct 2010

7000 mi
all four doors had hideous rattles, like they were made of loose change and tin cans. All were fixed by dealer under warranty. Additionally, the roof bars were replaced because they noticed a screw missing, and all were stripped. WOW. 
Nov 2010

8000 mi
Hatchback rattle/shudder constantly, TSB fix made it worse. Fixed by owner with foam insulation. Subaru dealer seems to be totally clueless on this one. So far, this car (and it's dealers) does not live up to it's reputation. 
Dec 2010

10000 mi
dash rattle, a-pillar trim rattle, rear-view mirror rattle, headliner rattle... this car seems to be made of the cheapest plastic of all time. They were "unable to isolate" rattles. Will be trying new dealer. 
Feb 2011

12000 mi
STILL they cannot find the source of the rattles in the dash. Seriously, this car had to be assembled on a Monday after way too much sake in Japan! 
Mar 2011

14000 mi
Started carrying foam tape, attacking rattles myself as they come. The dash rattle was finally discovered to be the cowling panel on the exterior of windshield. Self repair, since the dealers are clueless. Forum members helped diagnose. 
Aug 2011

24000 mi
TSB software update 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Jun 2010 - Aug 2015
Mar 2015

72000 mi

US $85
Battery stopped holding charge 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Apr 2010 - Mar 2012
Apr 2011

16000 mi
replaced brake light bulbs 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Aug 2010 - Aug 2012
Sep 2011

13000 mi
Rattle in drivers side rear door and rear hatch area. Repaired under warranty by dealer. Good repair, no more rattle. 
Dec 2011

15000 mi
Rattle returned in driver side passenger door and passenger side around rear hatch. Not taking it back. 
Aug 2012

25000 mi
Rattle in driver side passenger door and passenger side around rear hatch. Had gotten worse. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Sep 2013 - Sep 2020
Jun 2019

88000 mi

US $600
Replace rear brake pads and rotors 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2010 - Jun 2018
May 2013

30340 mi
30 month old car has rust along the bottom lip of tailgate. Trim around rear side windows cracked and probably letting water in. I have now waited over 2 MONTHS for Subaru Canada to get back to me on warranty claim. First and LAST Subaru! 
Sep 2013

33480 mi

C $60
Brake calipers sticking, even though servied at Subaru recommended intervals by the dealer. Front wheel bearing started making noise at 50,000km. This is the second time this has happened with this vehicle. Rusted tailgate lip and cracked rear side window trims finally being repaired under "goodwill" warranty from Subaru Canada. They will NOT accept fault for rusting on a barely 2 and a half year old car still under full warranty. 
Feb 2014

38440 mi
Smelled burning oil and some smoke coming from the engine after a recent trip. No oil loss noted on dipstick. Diagnosed as a leaking front crankshaft seal. Replaced under major component warranty along with oil contaminated timing belt. 
Jun 2014

43400 mi
Began to smell burning oil, similar to 4 months ago. ANOTHER oil leak, this time oil pump and gasket had to be replaced...covered under powertrain warranty. 70,000km and this lemon is just falling apart. I don't trust it for long trips. SAD! 
Mar 2015

52700 mi
Clunking coming from front passenger side. Diagnosed as worn stabilizer bushings (at 85,000km?? I just did them on my 1996 BMW with 400,000km on it!). Repaired under major component 5yr/100k warranty. 
Jun 2015

57040 mi

C $350
Ignition coil pack and plug wires were replaced under warranty at 52,000km. Now only 40,000km later they BOTH needed replacement again, this time at my cost. This Subaru is a POS and a lemon. I would dump it if I could afford to. Do not buy! 
Sep 2015

58900 mi

C $350
After requiring new rear calipers last year, dealer service found that the front calipers were seized and now also needed replacing. These crappy factory parts corrode immediately, and regular brake service and lubrication does not help! 
Oct 2016

76880 mi

C $1100
Ticking from brakes at low speeds was reported for a second time. Dealer could not duplicate so did nothing. I suspect that rear rotors are shot...again. They corrode badly and then eat the pads. I spend $800/yr for brake work on this car! Dealer completely missed TWO sticking calipers when we had it inspected by them in early October. My local mechanic found the problem in minutes, sticking calipers ate pads and rotors, needed full brake parts all around. 
Mar 2017

83700 mi

C $1200
Second time the same wheel bearing has required replacement. The entire exhaust system had rusted so badly at all weld points that everything needed to be replaced from the catalytic back. Yet more badly designed metal parts on this car. 
Oct 2017

91140 mi

C $300
Car started to make a ticking sound when making sharp right turns at low speed. This become worse and vibration at highway speeds started under acceleration. My mechanic diagnosed this a bad inner CV. Cost to repair and reboot the front half-shaft is more money than the difference in parts cost to replace the entire half-shaft so I went that route. Mechanic suggested an aftermarket half-shaft which are known to cause vibration issues. This one was no different and I am now waiting on the Subaru OEM part which is on back order. Not impressed that Subaru Canada does not keep a known failure part like this in stock at all times. It's common to many different models and years of Subaru! 
Feb 2018

94240 mi

C $35
Exhaust rattle again...this is a yearly event! Maybe Subaru should investigate solving this issue that their cars have had for over a decade. 
Jun 2018

99200 mi

C $135
Heat shield rattle repaired with clamps. Vibration diagnosis revealed possible issue with recently replace front half-shaft. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Sep 2010 - Jul 2011
Mar 2011

6000 mi
Rattle/buzz occurs behind headliner, near dome light. Dealer tightened light frame, which actually made issue worse. Taking back shortly for repair. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
May 2020 - Jun 2022
Jun 2020

91000 mi

US $350
power steering pump and pulleys and belt were replaced 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Aug 2010 - Mar 2014
Apr 2012

35340 mi

C $60
Front linkage and bushing repaired under warranty. Blown fuse for center console power socket. 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Aug 2010 - Jun 2022
Oct 2016

44641 mi

C $200
Head lights had to be replaced 
Jun 2017

47120 mi

C $1500
Rotors, drums, pads. Jan/17 had reg. maint. done & Subaru (Edm.)said brakes, etc.were good. Jun/17 after problems with having new summer tires put on (at a local company), bolts kept loosening & front tire was almost falling off - extreme vibrating. The local tire company had to torque the bolts 3 times! There was loud screeching sound after all this & tire co. said its because of aluminum rims and its brakes, etc. 
Sep 2017

48980 mi

C $1023
rear pads, discs, rotors (nearly metal on metal) told about in June replaced in September. 
Nov 2021

64480 mi

C $1000
We were informed that the 'timing belt' required replacement 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Mar 2010 - May 2014
Jun 2010

9920 mi
Switch in overhead passsenger dome light was intermitent.  
Jul 2010

10720 mi
Rattle inside driver door. The sound baffle inside the door was removed and two sided tape was inserted to prevent the rattle.  
Feb 2011

19840 mi
A service bulletin was issued since the last repair dealing with door rattle. This different dealer corrected the problem according to service bulletin. Had previously serviced driver door rattles fixed. A service bulletin was issued since the last repair dealing with door rattle. This different dealer corrected the problem according to service bulletin. 
May 2011

22480 mi
Driver heated car seat not working. Only the part that you sit on. Back part of seat still working. 
Aug 2011

29140 mi
Driver heated seat element no longer working. Part replaced on warantee. The windshield washer spray nozzle was cracked. Dealer advised that this was on warranty. To be ordered and fixed on next trip. 
Mar 2012

35960 mi

C $60
Brake inspection revealed that the brakes were sticking. Brake lubrication due at 64,000km. Dealer advised that insufficient amount of lubrication used by other dealer. 
Sep 2012

45880 mi

C $300
Leak in line from condenser to evaporator 
Nov 2012

47400 mi

C $600
Air conditioning hose replaced due leak and system recharged Front brakes sticking. Insufficient or ineffective lubrication. Brakes were not due for service for another 12,000KM. Brakes were cleaned and lubricated. 
Sep 2013

61380 mi
Clunking began in Late August. In the dealer shop mid Sep. Estimate front and rear passenger sway link will require replacement soon. 
Oct 2013

61880 mi

C $300
Driver front wheel bearing making loud hum. Diagnosed and replaced with OEM. Also fixed sway bar links. 
May 2014

67580 mi
Rear hanger bearing noisy. Diagnosed as needing replacement. Shaft and bearing one assembly piece replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Feb 2010 - Jun 2015
Sep 2014

48000 mi

US $110
previous tire rotation crossthreaded lug bolt so I needed a new one installed. 
May 2015

51000 mi

US $425
Carrier/center bearing, upon which the driveshaft is supported, failed. Part is only replaced as full driveshaft unit. 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Jul 2009 - Mar 2016
Jan 2012

53800 mi
Driver seat heat pad went bad, delear replaced under warranty at 35,850 miles ;) 
Apr 2012

38700 mi
Seat came apart after seat heater was repaird, outside of warranty. 
Apr 2015

70000 mi

US $1000
Exhaust Cross pipe cracked needed replacement. 
Mar 2016

85000 mi
Head Gasket developed a leak. Car was traded in for a new one. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Jul 2009 - Nov 2017
Sep 2011

25000 mi
Power steering rack was leaking and was replaced. 
Mar 2016

83000 mi

US $138
Check engine light came on. Dealer replaced the gas cap with a new gas cap. That fixed the problem. 
Nov 2017

110000 mi

US $2100
Blown head gasket 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
May 2009 - Oct 2011
Apr 2010

9920 mi
Check engine and traction control lights on. Also cruise control light flashing. They replaced the ignition wiring to correct the problem. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
May 2009 - Jul 2016
Nov 2009

9920 mi
Fogging occurring in the rear right tail light assembly. Looking closer, turns out to have cracks around the edges, letting moisture in. Found on forums to be a common defect, brought it in for warranty replacement. 
May 2010

19780 mi
Front windows were shifting left/right when moved up and down half way. Subaru adjusted the window regulators, problem solved. 
Jun 2010

21700 mi
Cat heat shield was rattling at 2000RPM with the engine running with a load. Insulation between cat and shield wasn't covering properly, causing contact thus the rattle. Subaru has ordered a replacement shield. 
Sep 2011

44640 mi

C $950
Driver seat front edge would not raise evenly. Dealer reports the seat frame needs replacement - $720 part. Not under warranty. 
Jan 2015

114700 mi

C $1000
Both rear control arms were noisy, the ball joints were wearing out. 
May 2016

131720 mi
Seat Heater on the driver side malfunctioning - sporadically turning on, even when the switch is off, and the seat heater worked at random. The lumbar heater always worked. Code P0420 - Cat Efficiency Low. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
May 2009 - Jan 2022
Jan 2015

102500 mi

US $120
Steering was squeaky. Belt was frayed. Replaced. 
Oct 2015

101500 mi

US $370
Drive belt 
Jan 2017

107700 mi

US $600
rear struts were leaking 
Mar 2017

125000 mi

US $120
Faulty wire from battery causing misfires Car was hesitating 
Dec 2017

130000 mi

US $400
Rotors replaced. Causing vibrations when braking. 
Subaru Forester in Iowa, United States
Oct 2009 - Dec 2014
Nov 2010

6500 mi
Sunroof, and rear hatch had very obnoxious rattles.  Sunroof, and rear hatch had very obnoxious rattles.  
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Oct 2009 - Oct 2011
Dec 2010

32000 mi
interior drivers door release lever 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Dec 2009 - Dec 2016
Oct 2016

43000 mi

US $40
heat shield under car vibration/rattling 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Feb 2010 - Jan 2020
Nov 2010

11700 mi
In Oct. 2010 noticed a crack in pass. rear side stationary glass plastic trim. Turns out the trim cannot be replaced alone the entire glass panel must be which includes the little edge trim. Dealer replaced under warranty in Nov. 2010. 
Jun 2012

33000 mi
To correct warning lights on my dash from lighting up, it was determined that the Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor was faulty. It was replaced but the lights lit up again after leaving the dealer a few hours after. When the lights on the dash lit up again the car was returned to the dealer. They determined the problem to be a faulty "Fuel Tank Pressure Control Solenoid" Part had to be ordered. Returned on the third day to have it installed. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Nov 2022 - Nov 2022
Jul 2022

152000 mi

US $250
Rusted exhaust manifold with exhaust leaks 
Subaru Forester in Saskatchewan, Canada
Nov 2009 - Jul 2019
Jan 2012

15500 mi
door lock on rear driver's side door came unhooked. problem fixed under warrantee. 
Jun 2013

23560 mi
Coolant leak detected. Dealer found the power steering return line was leaking fluid. It was replaced under warrantee. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Nov 2009 - Jun 2022
Mar 2010

4000 mi
Trim below door came loose after putting foot on it. 
Apr 2015

76500 mi
Seat back release lever had come unscrewed. 
Apr 2016

90500 mi

US $30
a high beam and a running light were out. no labor charge. 
Feb 2022

160783 mi

US $57
One normal headlight out and one bright headlight out. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Feb 2011 - Feb 2020
Mar 2014

21080 mi

C $70
recommended throttle maintenance as pedal a bit sticky - detected during inspection when in for 6 month maintenance 
Apr 2015

27280 mi

C $80
loose heat shield 
Jul 2015

28620 mi

C $100
cracked fan belt required replacement 
Dec 2016

37820 mi
overhead rear seat dome light not working - shop looked at and recommended not repairing as not worth the money to track down the electrical problem. 
Apr 2017

40300 mi

C $200
Battery required replacement. 
Jan 2020

49600 mi

C $500
brake repairs completed, however discovered leaking gaskets cost to repair around 4000 to 5000 so traded in car for a 2020 Outback 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jul 2009 - Jan 2022
Jul 2018

68000 mi
Head Gasket replacement done on warranty due to low mileage and less than 10 years old. 
Subaru Forester in Chile
Dec 2011 - Dec 2012
Oct 2012

19400 mi
Rattles on the roof, over the driver's head and in the back all over the cargo area. I had filled the space between metal sheet of roof and inner roof with pieces of cloth. 
Subaru Forester in Nova Scotia, Canada
Sep 2014 - Jun 2020
Jun 2017

73160 mi

C $600
replace ac compressor 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Oct 2015 - Sep 2021
Jul 2017

61500 mi

US $360
Replace serpentine belt 
May 2018

70000 mi

US $300
move/replace spark plug wires 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
May 2015 - Jun 2017
Sep 2016

83000 mi

US $150
Alternator belt snapped, causing the battery to lose power. Replaced alternator belt and battery. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Aug 2009 - Jul 2018
Nov 2017

206000 mi

US $270
Power steering pump replaced. 
Subaru Forester in South Carolina, United States
Apr 2014 - Sep 2021
Jun 2015

53000 mi

US $250
Replaced tie rods 
Sep 2016

64000 mi

US $400
Due to squeaking, replaced driver side strut and strut mount. 
Aug 2021

115000 mi

US $2400
Head gasket repair and timing belt 
Subaru Forester in Nebraska, United States
Nov 2016 - Jun 2022
Feb 2017

61300 mi

US $4200
Replaced with rebuilt transmission 
Apr 2017

62000 mi

US $395
Replaced sway bar on front axle. Dealer that sold me the car did not take care of it. 
Jun 2017

63000 mi

US $1340
AC Air Compressor had a seal leak and had to replace entire compressor to make AC functional again. May have been results of collission car was in as this was purchased salvage title. 
Jan 2022

87000 mi

US $2000
Head gasket replacement 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Jan 2017 - Feb 2017
Feb 2017

98000 mi

US $350
Head gasket needs replacing. Front wheel bearing went bad. Right front CV Axel went bad 
Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Mar 2015 - Oct 2017
Apr 2017

111000 mi

US $90
Steering Pump Pully Tensioner wasn't keeping enough tension on the accessory belt 
Oct 2017

117000 mi

US $830
Both front wheel bearings loud and needed to be replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Oct 2010 - Jul 2022
May 2017

74000 mi

US $70
2300 miles after oil change at dealer, was told that oil dipstick was dry. Low Oil light did not illuminate. Added nearly about 1-1/2 quarts of oil. Subaru started an oil consumption test. They emptied the good oil and started over with synthetic oil. Charged me $70 for an oil change that I didn't need for about 5 months. Told to come back if the oil level is down to the add line, or after 1200 miles. I returned when the level was half way between full and add. They checked the oil and told me that it is completely up to the full line. The vehicle and oil was hot from driving 15 miles to get to the dealer. When I checked the oil level, the car was cool, and parked on a level garage surface. They are looking to see if the oil is consumed at or above a rate of 1 quart per 1200 miles. The car is definitely using oil at above that rate. But it will not register if they only check the car when it is hot. Useless. 
Aug 2017

80000 mi
Oil consumption test - checked oil level when car was cool. The oil level was not registering on the dipstick after 4000 miles since test began in April. I received a call that the oil consumption is deemed excessive, and Subaru is going to replace the engine. Then I get a call back an hour later to tell me that my model year is not included in the recall and that running out of oil after 2000 or 3000 miles is normal for a 2010 Forester, but excessive for a 2011 or 2012 Forester. It would have been nice to know that when the test was started and I was charged $70 for an oil change that my car was not even due to have changed. 
Sep 2017

80000 mi

US $400
Two welds on the power driver's seat broke around 74,000 miles with no accidents, no heavy occupants, nothing out of the ordinary. The seat would shift from side to side and not feel stable. The power seat controls were missing some options; felt like sitting a lot lower in the car, did not feel safe. Instead of re-welding the two front seat welds, or giving me the option of doing that, the power seat was replaced and an upholsterer hired to replace the cushion on the new power seat. The dealer and myself shared the cost equally. 
Jun 2018

89000 mi
Leaks after re-sealing windshield from interior. Glass company Should have just replaced windshield right away as dealer advised Glass company had replaced windshield April 2015. Leaking near gas pedal and passenger side. Glass sealed from interior. 2 days later rain infiltrating car in more places. Into gear shifter, passenger headliner near side window and onto passenger seat. Windshield being replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Jan 2016 - Aug 2023
Jun 2017

123000 mi

US $1400
Catalytic converter rusting out, creating loud exhaust noise and causing fumes to enter car. Catalytic converter replaced. 
Jul 2018

127000 mi

US $300
Bent tie rod replaced 
Feb 2019

133000 mi

US $40
Replaced failed PCV valve. Found accessory belt starting to fail, replaced that as well. 
Mar 2021

164000 mi

US $360
Front-left wheel bearing replacement. 
Aug 2022

175000 mi

US $165
Transmission cooler lines rusted out, causing severe transmission fluid leak. Replaced hard lines, and two rubber lines connecting to the radiator. 
Dec 2022

178000 mi

US $50
Exhaust manifold gaskets leaking. 
Jun 2023

180000 mi

US $230
Exhaust flanges rotted out. Mechanic cut pipes around flanges and welded new pipe in place. 
Aug 2023

181000 mi

US $880
Previous exhaust repairs re-done by another shop due to poor workmanship. Mid pipe and flex pipes replaced, plus another couple leaks sealed up. One exhaust hanger replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Kansas, United States
Apr 2017 - Jun 2017
Jun 2017

109500 mi

US $7
Check engine light came on and car would idle very low. After running diagnostic and searching online found that the MAF may become dirty. When inspected the MAF has what looked like a tiny hair touching the sensor element. After removal and cleaning with MAF cleaner car ran fine and symptoms have been gone for close to 1,000 miles now. 
Subaru Forester in Iowa, United States
May 2014 - Apr 2019
Mar 2017

62000 mi

US $50
Weld on the exhaust pipe between converter and muffler failed, allowing pipe to drop away from the muffler. Shop welded it back into place. 
Jul 2017

67000 mi

US $325
Replace master cylinder, oil change ar same time 
Feb 2018

74000 mi

US $35
Passenger side headlight keeps burning out -- on the third one in three months 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Apr 2011 - Jul 2022
Jun 2017

60000 mi

US $520
gas tank vapor filter, diagnosed and replaced. 
Jul 2022

102000 mi

US $4300
Replaced head gaskets, timing belt, radiator and alternator. 
Subaru Forester in South Carolina, United States
Dec 2017 - Mar 2018
Jun 2017

39000 mi

US $900
Ac sys down Ac evaporator leaking another 1900 hundered! 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Mar 2016 - Jun 2017
Jun 2016

92000 mi

US $200
Gasket failed around rear hatch. The new gasket was installed incorrectly the first time. On the second trip to the shop, the gasket was installed correctly. Failure of multiple Schraeder valves in the A/C system. The repair has yet to be successful. I will take the car to another shop after winter. 
May 2017

103000 mi

US $2900
Brakes replaced Condenser replaced Tie-rods replaced 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Nov 2012 - Mar 2016
Jan 2016

38000 mi

US $40
Noise in exhaust system. Loose heat shield. Tightened. Cost $40 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Nov 2017 - Aug 2019
Jun 2018

63813 mi

US $11
Passenger airbag replaced due to Takata recall Replaced alternator drive belt due to premature wear. 
Jul 2019

77809 mi

US $400
Replaced all 4 rotors and pads and both front calipers. Bleed fluid. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Apr 2012 - Jun 2018
Jun 2012

35000 mi
engine light came on need to replace oil flow control valve. 
May 2017

83000 mi

US $100
Replace rear brake pads. 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Oct 2011 - Jun 2016
Nov 2013

89560 mi

C $400
Engine flooded badly had to change plugs, cables and air filter. 
Mar 2014

94240 mi

C $650
Had to replace the thing that attaches the rear sway bar. 
May 2014

96940 mi

C $950
Oil leak in the timing belt cover. Had to replace timing belt before the planned replacement at 168 000 km 
Apr 2015

112000 mi

C $1200
The typical Subaru 2.5 l engine gasket change. There were oil and coolant leaks 
Jul 2015

115280 mi
Driveshaft bearing was grinding whole driveshaft replaced The parking brake was too tightly adjusted which resulted in overheating and warping of the rear brake disk. 
Nov 2015

123320 mi

C $1700
Head gaskets 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Jul 2012 - Oct 2020
Jan 2016

74000 mi

US $50
Headlight burned out. 
Nov 2016

87700 mi

US $20
Frequent burnout of headlight. 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
May 2013 - Sep 2017
Apr 2016

85000 mi

US $108
replace worn power steering belt replace ground straps 
Apr 2017

95000 mi

US $500
rattle on bumpy road, replaced 4 struts and strut mounts 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jun 2010 - Jun 2022
Oct 2017

46000 mi

US $37
changed front headlight 
Apr 2018

64000 mi

US $78
power steering belt was frayed. replaced belt 
Sep 2021

89000 mi

US $9
replaced the front headlight 
Apr 2022

98000 mi

US $1500
replaced al exhaust and catalytic convertor 
Subaru Forester in Iowa, United States
Jan 2014 - Jun 2018
Oct 2016

103000 mi

US $3000
Scheduled timing belt replacement, brakes,leaky head gasket seal 
Jul 2017

113000 mi

US $65
Shield over muffler needed reattaching 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Jan 2012 - Mar 2014
Aug 2013

75000 mi
Catalytic converter needed to be replaced 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Sep 2011 - Mar 2018
Mar 2018

109000 mi

US $20
Head Gasket leak diagnosed but not fixed. Put a stop-leak product into the oil. Waiting to see if that does it. Update: stopped drip, but will probably have to replace gasket eventually. 

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2010 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

148-horsepower 2.0L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Sep 2016 - Jan 2017
Oct 2016

105280 mi

C $3800
Heard a slight knocking noise on front passenger side for 6+ mo. Noise got slightly louder. Took it to Subaru dealership out of town; estimated replacing front CV or U joint. Home dealer recommended replacing entire transmission-so did it 

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2009 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru Forester in Georgia (nation)
Dec 2012 - Jan 2013
Jan 2013

$328
left rear door actuator replaced 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Feb 2016 - Feb 2016
Feb 2016

144460 mi

C $1400
Wheel bearings 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2015 - Oct 2015
Oct 2015

143220 mi
Head gaskets starting to leak. Temperature gage on dash doesn't work. 

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2009 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Romania
Oct 2012 - Dec 2017
Apr 2013

42560 mi

$600
Front left brake caliper replaced (one piston blocked). 
Jan 2014

42300 mi

$330
All silent blocks (front and rear) were replaced. 
Aug 2014

55800 mi

$1500
Replace the viscous center differential 
Dec 2014

60140 mi
Replace the self leveling system for xenon headlights 
May 2015

62000 mi
Capital repair of the engine. 
Jun 2015

63240 mi
Replace the bumpers (shock absorbers) front and rear 
Nov 2015

67580 mi

$625
Radiator replacement 

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2009 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Nebraska, United States
Sep 2013 - Sep 2014
Dec 2013

104000 mi
had the head gaskets changed, also the belts and fuel filter 
Jun 2014

108000 mi
had front shocks changed 
Subaru Forester in Georgia, United States
May 2009 - Sep 2017
Dec 2009

24000 mi
Excessive rock chips on paint just in front of rear tires caused by too small of a protector installed at factory. Repainted sides of car and installed new 3M protection to match those used in current production. 
Oct 2016

132500 mi

US $450
Replaced lower control arm bushings as suggested by dealer. Normal wear item. 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
- May 2009
Jan 2009

5518 mi
Blown engine and damaged turbo. 
Feb 2009

5549 mi
Repainted due to rust. 
Mar 2009

8060 mi
Secondary air pump failure. 
Apr 2009

7502 mi
CEL, ABS, Cruise light malfunctions. 
May 2009

8060 mi
Stereo malfunction and replacement. 
Subaru Forester in Hawaii, United States
Apr 2009 - Jun 2011
Dec 2009

10000 mi
Replaced CD changer (error, wouldn't play) 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Mar 2008 - Mar 2013
Apr 2008

1000 mi

US $10
Overhead light assembly wires squeaked against housing. Added separators and silicon lubricant to reduce noise. 
Aug 2008

4000 mi
HVAC blower motor generated clicking noise after warmup. 
Sep 2008

4000 mi
Clicking HVAC fan motor. This was replaced per warranty. 
Dec 2008

6000 mi
Rebuilt upper light console with silicon components, and added silicon seal between headliner fasten point, holding snap, and metal roof assembly, to get rid of creaking due to temperature changes. 
Jan 2009

6000 mi
Dealer added additional door insulation to stop rattles but damaged driver door tweeter in process. Followup appointment was scheduled. Tweeter successfully remounted, door insulation properly fitted. Rear fender paint gravel shields too small. TSB authorized larger ones as replacements. Technician damaged new parts on installation. Service writer scheduled 2nd install with body shop (covered by warranty). Loaner vehicle to be provided. Larger paint gravel shields successfully fitted and installed. 
Feb 2009

7000 mi
Paint has worn off inside of drivers armrest. Service provider took picture, is requesting feedback from service manager as to whether paint is warranty item. 
Mar 2009

7000 mi
Paint had worn off inside of door arm rest. Arm rest was replaced. 
Jul 2010

21700 mi
Side airbag brackets causing clunks/rattles in rear of vehicle. Dealer performed TSB to correct problem. 
Oct 2010

25000 mi
Gas cap broke and no longer sealed tank, causing check engine light to come on. Was replaced under warranty - no further problems with fuel system. rattles under rear seat. bolts tightened, rear seat realigned. 
Feb 2011

29000 mi
Left front visor was not staying in position. Visor was replaced with improved model. Rough shifting transmission. Was told Forester transmissions often become rough with wear and that the shifting fell within factory specifications. 
May 2011

30000 mi
Transmission shifts had become excessively rough. Reset transmission controller to default state so it could relearn shifting. Transmission shifting reverted to what it was when car was new - relatively smooth. 
Jan 2012

20800 mi
brake light in rear replaced 
Mar 2013

52000 mi
rattles from rear interior of vehicle, mainly when rear of vehicle went over bumps. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Dec 2009 - Apr 2011
Jan 2010

60000 mi
Slight coolant leak from radiator cap. Cap was replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Dec 2011 - Dec 2013
Mar 2012

55000 mi

US $850
Turbo failure due to oil blockage in banjo bolts. Car burning oil. Required turbo replacement. 
Feb 2013

78200 mi

US $700
Lower control arms were cracked and replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Sep 2011 - Jul 2013
May 2012

43000 mi

US $200
Check engine light on-replaced the EGR/came back on 
Subaru Forester in Northwest Territory, Canada
Apr 2011 - Jun 2011
Jun 2011

39680 mi

C $6800
Connecting Rod broken. Catastrophic engine failure. Known problem with 09 Subarus. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jan 2010 - Feb 2017
Nov 2014

77000 mi
Diff was squeeling. 
Jan 2017

48000 mi

US $500
Cracked radiator. No blown heads, thankfully 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Oct 2011 - Sep 2012
Aug 2012

45200 mi
noise in engine has to be torn down to find problem dealer giving run around if it should be by the drive train warranty 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Oct 2009 - Jun 2013
Jun 2012

26000 mi

US $250
Front sway bar end links rusted out and replaced 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Jan 2012 - Feb 2016
Sep 2012

66000 mi

US $30
Went to dealer to have differential oil changed. They would only do rear diff as the front diff dipstick was stuck in filler tube and would not come out. I bought a new one and with much effort removed the stuck one. The original was corroded. 
Dec 2014

118000 mi
Took my Forester in to have differential axle seals replaced. 4 days after I noticed a strong smell of diff fluid. Took it back to dealer after Christmas and they found that tech had not tightend seal cover properly. Found loose axle nut After last repair and ensuing return to tighten seal. I heard a loud grinding noise at right front,same one previous return for loose seal. Tech had not tightened axle nut causing wheel bearing to be destroyed. Dealer replaced. Seems good. 
Apr 2015

124500 mi
Previously replaced right axle seal leaking,when removed found it had been torn on install.Replaced under warrenty. 
Sep 2015

131000 mi

US $350
Bushing on lower control arms worn badly. I replaced both control arms and had a alignment performed. 
Feb 2016

142000 mi

US $300
INNER TIE ROD REPLACED 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Dec 2010 - Apr 2012
Sep 2011

27000 mi
The cosmetic hard plastic piece on the outside of the wheel well came off. The dealership knows this is a problem and Subaru is trying to get a long term fix. 
Apr 2012

37000 mi
Another cosmetic hard plastic piece on the outside of the wheel well came off. The dealership knows this is a problem and Subaru is trying to get a long term fix...no solution yet 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Apr 2008 - Mar 2016
Jan 2010

43580 mi
CD changer wouldn't work. Otherwise the audio system functions normally. The system was replaced and so far so good. 
Mar 2011

24180 mi
Stabilizer bar was replaced. 
Jul 2012

33260 mi
drive shaft noise due to loose part digital thermometer 
Feb 2013

37800 mi

C $74
sun visor cracked and broke on the driver side. 
Jun 2014

48360 mi
O2 sensor broke. $500 to replace. Some belt need to be replaced. Another $200. All brakes rusted. Need $700. 
Aug 2014

48460 mi

C $400
windshield washer tubes kinked and couldn`t spray 
Mar 2015

52080 mi
car won`t start without noise and electricity available. Car started without repair after 30 mins. Brought to the mechanic for check up. Recall from the dealer on the brake line. 
Jul 2015

52900 mi

C $500
Appliance bushing 

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2009 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 145hp 2.0L H4 Diesel 6-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Romania
Jun 2013 - Nov 2017
Jun 2013

43400 mi

$400
A/C radiator had a small hole and was replaced and the installation was recharced 
Jun 2014

62000 mi

$650
Center differential was broken. It was not replaced but repaired 
Nov 2014

66340 mi

$450
Check engine warning light was light-on. Mass air flow sensor was changed but the problem was not solved. Then a mechanic problem was discovered. A tube for air which come from the turbine was broken. Tube was replaced and problem solved 
Jul 2016

82540 mi

$50
Headlight senzor broken arm. The arm was repaired, Senzor was good. 
Sep 2016

85560 mi

$100
A rubber tube was broken. Tube was replaced 
Nov 2016

86280 mi

$300
Check engine was light on EGR valve was cleaned Then DPF Management problem occured DPF was dismounted, manually cleaned and mounted back After driving 500 Km, EGR valve causes problems again 
Dec 2016

86800 mi

$400
EGR valve was replaced 
Oct 2017

86800 mi

$3000
Short block was dismounted, examined. Because it was cracked the short block was replaced with a second hand short block. Unfortunately my mechanic cheated me and replaced the short block with a defect short block. I had to take the car and I went to a Subaru service finally where they discovered that the short block replaced was damaged too. I don't want to spend any other money for this car anymore. I sold it finally. 

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2009 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in North Dakota, United States
Feb 2010 - Jun 2022
Mar 2010

29000 mi
Power steering hose replaced. Power steering hose replaced 
Dec 2016

127000 mi

US $4000
Replace Transmission Replace clutch 
Jun 2018

160000 mi

US $500
Front break pads, rotors, calipers replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Vermont, United States
Feb 2010 - Jun 2015
Jul 2010

22000 mi
Gas cap line snapped, was replaced.  Dealer visit was due to ecu flash though. 
Aug 2014

76700 mi

US $350
Rear rotor and pads corroded due to leaking rear brake lines. Later found to be a recall. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Sep 2011 - Jun 2015
Nov 2012

27900 mi
My wife had a tire monitor sensor replaced at Wal-Mart. It caused of an air leak that existed since the car was purchased, the dealer service department ignored it. She also bought a new tire. Now we need 3 more, because of AWD system. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Apr 2012 - Mar 2014
May 2012

28000 mi

US $1980
Engine stopped without warning (engine light came on as it shuddered to a stop); towed to nearest dealer; diagnosed 1 & 2 misfire (no explanation) - replaced engine coil and spark plugs. Engine stopped without warning (engine light came on as it shuddered to a stop); towed to nearest dealer; diagnosed 1 & 2 misfire (no explanation) - replaced engine coil and spark plugs. Had to apply for warranty reimbursement - not granted. 
Apr 2013

37000 mi

US $5250
Discovered transmission case was cracked after brakes were replaced, apparently due to getting a flat tire on the highway a couple of weeks earlier. Covered by warranty. 
Sep 2013

42000 mi
Catalytic converter replaced - initially damaged when the engine failed in May, 2012. Repair was covered by warranty (unlike the engine repair). 
Mar 2014

44000 mi

US $150
Fuse for heated seats, power mirrors One thing I never reported because there was never a diagnosis was the car continually lost oil and had as long as I owned it. I was told it wasn't burning and there was no evidence of a leak, but the oil was consistently low every 3-4K miles. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jul 2008 - Jun 2018
Dec 2015

68000 mi
Worn bushings and end-links replaced. 
Dec 2016

77000 mi

US $1800
Exhaust , heat shield , and header repair. 
Jul 2017

88000 mi

US $1750
Worn shocks; replaced with KYB aftermarket performance shocks and at same time installed aftermarket Swift springs. 
Sep 2017

91000 mi

US $740
Replaced spark plugs due to misfire.(and.check engine light).  Also replaced leaking driveshaft seal. Total includes.other fluid and filter annual maintenance. 
Jan 2018

94000 mi

US $1700
Replaced clutch due to wear 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Aug 2008 - Jun 2018
Nov 2010

34400 mi
chirping noise, maybe from a pulley or belt-driven accessory (power steering pump, alternator, etc) 
Sep 2011

47000 mi

US $500
A/C Compressor clutch failed, as in disintegrated. Dealer replaced compressor, belts, recharged system, a couple o-rings, etc. Manufacturer (SOA) offered $300 in "goodwill" on an $800 repair bill. Disappointing repair on a 3-year-old car 
Oct 2012

58300 mi

US $300
Small oil leak from valve cover gasket and spark plug seals Driver's-side caliper sticking, causing abnormal pad wear. Replaced caliper, front brake rotors, front brake pads. Replaced brake fluid & bled system. 
Mar 2014

78000 mi

US $200
F/R End links worn, replaced. 
Apr 2014

78300 mi

US $250
Torn Driver's side CV boot. Replaced. Shop did alignment as well. 
Sep 2015

89000 mi

US $150
Car would intermittently not start--no cranking, no sound whatsoever. No ECM codes. Diagnosed (guessed) that I had a bad solenoid. Replaced starter/solenoid with reman unit from NAPA. Car starts every time. 
Mar 2016

95000 mi

US $200
Ball joints shot. R&R. 4-wheel Alignment by Goodyear. 
Nov 2016

100000 mi

US $2000
Cardone remanufactured steering pump leaked all over front of engine & exhaust. Less than one year old. Mechanic replaced it with OEM Subaru pump. Lower control arm bushings replaced. 
Jan 2017

79800 mi

US $3000
Clutch R&R. The lining wore out. My replacement may have been somewhat premature, it probably would have lasted another 5,000 miles or so. New struts/shocks Front & rear 
Feb 2017

103000 mi
New EGR valve; check engine light indicated problem 
Dec 2017

110000 mi

US $700
R&R 2 motor mounts and transmission mount. Valve Cover gaskets R&R 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Aug 2008 - Jun 2011
Dec 2008

7000 mi
Went in to have the ipod jack fixed, it had never worked since the day the car was purchased, apparently a wire had not been correctly connected so they fixed it for free and it works fine now 
Dec 2009

28000 mi
The stick shift frequently sticks and refuses to go into reverse. Dealership says that it's just the nature of the transmission and there's nothing they can do. 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Jul 2008 - Aug 2014
Apr 2009

12000 mi
Car would turn over but would not start. Towed to dealer, where it promptly started up. Dealer checked charging system, but made no repair. Problem has not occurred since. 
Jul 2012

60000 mi
Repaired loose exhaust heat shield 
Mar 2013

67000 mi

US $28
Sway bar links were worn, replaced. 
Jun 2014

89000 mi

US $24
Valve cover gasket leak - oil leaking into spark plug well caused ignition failure. 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Nov 2008 - Nov 2011
Sep 2010

33480 mi
Sway bar bushings. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Jan 2017 - Jun 2018
May 2017

45136 mi
Tire Pressure Sensor failed. Chose not to replace. 
Apr 2018

53576 mi
Wheel lug bolts cross threaded. Had to break bolts to remove wheel. 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
May 2008 - Sep 2015
Mar 2009

7440 mi
Sometimes a crackle noise when in cold conditions, but cannot be replicated very easy. Will see what happens next winter. 
Aug 2010

21700 mi
Factory CD player sometimes lost track of cd's (what song it was at before I turned vehicle off) then would go back to the start of cd when vehicle turned on. Very random when it happened but annoying. CD player replaced. 
Sep 2014

52700 mi

C $100
sway bar links broken 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Oct 2014 - Mar 2018
Mar 2016

99200 mi

C $1200
Replaced oil pressure switch (leak), removed oil pump to change leaking o-ring and redo RTV gasket. 
Feb 2017

109120 mi

C $100
Passenger side rear oil pressure sensor leaking. 
Subaru Forester in New South Wales, Australia
Mar 2016 - Mar 2016
Mar 2016

58280 mi

A $280
Replaced fuel injectors as the engine was running relatively rough and rich. Injector change reduced the severity of the roughness and made the car run less rich, but not fully rectified. No trouble codes were displayed at any time Further to changing fuel injectors to prevent engine roughness, changed air/fuel ratio sensor to rectify potential misreading of air/fuel ratio. rear oxygen sensor reading appropriately. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Dec 2014 - Dec 2015
Jul 2015

90800 mi

US $2300
3 Trips to correctly repair catalytic converter.  Also had to replace Oxygen sensors, valve gaskets and coil. 

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2009 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2008 - Dec 2014
Jun 2013

117800 mi

C $355
Heat Shield replaced on Exhaust system 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Dec 2008 - Mar 2018
Feb 2009

1000 mi
Drivers side door lock stopped functioning. Froze in either locked or unlocked position and was unable to either open door, or lock it once closed. Dealer determined the linkage between lock control and door lock became disconnected. Drivers side-view mirror is significantly distorted. After dealer ordered replacement mirror, it was determined that the factory producing the mirrors is having an issue and no good glass is available. Will replace when good part is available. 
Dec 2010

20000 mi
external temperature sensor failed. Was replaced under warranty. List price was $150. 
May 2015

55700 mi

US $150
Replace wheel hub unit include wheel bearing. Significant corrosion required removing knuckle from vehicle to press out wheel hub. Had to replace ball joint as well. 
Sep 2016

66000 mi

US $1550
Both head gaskets were externally leaking significant oil. 2 transmission lines between tranny and cooler behind radiator were corroded and leaking, both were replaced. 
Jan 2017

66000 mi

US $1500
Subaru comped half the cost of head gasket replacement, both sides. Also replaced timing belt, associated gaskets, transmission cooler line. 
Feb 2017

69000 mi

US $40
Replaced propeller shaft (driveshaft) due to worn center carrier bearing. Replaced driver side sway bar end link 
Jan 2018

72000 mi
Car had flashing “at oil temp” light after a rough 1-2 upshift under normal acceleration. Dealer diagnosed an at temp sensor failure which required an internal wiring harness replacement. Dealer upon disassembly realized that the valve body required replacement as an electronic component there had failed. Was covered under enhanced emissions warranty and was no charge. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Nov 2008 - Mar 2010
Jun 2009

8000 mi
Squeak in passenger side door. 
Jan 2010

20500 mi
Engine disengages when attempting to pass and then re-accelerating. Will have car in for at least 3 days to overhaul tranny and ? 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Jan 2009 - Jul 2017
May 2010

17000 mi
Gas cap strap broke in half for no reason. 
Aug 2010

20000 mi
Rug coming out from under passenger door sill 
Sep 2013

52000 mi
Strap to gas cap broke for the second time. Part replaced under extended warranty. 
Feb 2016

70900 mi
Leak in rear brake light causing moisture in light assembly 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Nov 2008 - Jun 2018
Nov 2010

26100 mi
passenger door rattle fixed 
May 2018

115000 mi

US $3000
Head gasket leak. Needed full replacement plus water pump, heads resurfaced. 
Subaru Forester in Bulgaria
Jan 2009 - Jun 2015
Nov 2011

26660 mi

$500
Changed both rear shock absorbers 
Feb 2012

27280 mi

$200
Shock absorbers failed again 
May 2014

38320 mi

$500
Replaced failing rear shock absorbers 
Jul 2014

38640 mi

$200
replaced front shock absorbers 
May 2015

43400 mi
One of the bolts holding the A/C compressor was lose, causing the belt to squeak in despair. Heat shields were lose, causing loud rattling. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Apr 2009 - Feb 2022
Jul 2016

91500 mi

US $600
Replacement of sensor system Head gasket 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Apr 2009 - Mar 2015
Aug 2014

80000 mi

US $100
AC compressor noise. Replaced under extended warranty. Paid $100 deductible. 
Subaru Forester in Missouri, United States
Feb 2009 - Dec 2016
Jun 2010

28000 mi

US $400
rattling sound in the central part of the exhaust pipe 
Jun 2013

91000 mi

US $30
Ac did not work. Leak in the system 
May 2014

112000 mi

US $150
exhaust heat shield bolts were loose 
Dec 2015

150000 mi

US $1300
transmission stopped working. Installed a used transmission. 
Feb 2016

150000 mi

US $2000
The head gaskets were blown and the car was leaking oil. It is a common problem with the engine that is in the 2009 Subaru 
Dec 2016

172000 mi

US $460
replace two wheel bearings 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Feb 2009 - Jun 2022
Sep 2011

35000 mi

US $210
outside temperature sensor stopped working, replaced under warranty 
Oct 2021

109000 mi

US $2000
leaking steering rack, bad bushings replace head gaskets 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Jun 2008 - Mar 2010
Oct 2009

12000 mi
Pin point hole in cv boot. Boot replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Oct 2008 - Jun 2013
Nov 2008

9300 mi
Rattle in passenger door. 
Dec 2008

9300 mi
Rattle in driver's door, rattle around the middle rear safety belt device. 
Jan 2009

9300 mi
Replacement of the Bumper Rear step pad (stainless steel)that was not glue well. They also scratch the bumper paint when they try to take off the bumper step pad and had to paint the bumper. 
Sep 2009

19840 mi
Engine lost power. erase memory of TCM and ECM, idle learn AT transmission learning. Runs much better now. Even better than new. Rattle in the dashboard near radio and ventilation exit under radio. 
Jul 2010

29760 mi
Rattle in the dash. Same problem occur in the last part of 2009. Even now, I have to go again tomorrow.The rattle still exist. 
Sep 2010

33480 mi
Rattle in the dash: attach correctly the loose part 
Dec 2010

37200 mi
Rattle in the driver's door 
Apr 2011

42780 mi
Bushing stabilizor bars (warranty TSB), crack in the windshield, crack in the fog light,  
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Oct 2008 - Mar 2014
Mar 2009

3000 mi
Front doors were rattling madly. Dash making noises. Car clanks and creaks loudly when turned off. Clicking in steering wheel when running rear wipers. Voices on radio sound buzzy. 
Mar 2010

16000 mi

US $200
Driver manual door lock stopped functioning. It would lock with the electric switch but not the manual. Determined that it was detached. Puddle lights were stuck on all the time rattle near glove box that comes and goes Rear wiper was repeatedly and predictably going into full speed when various electrical things were used and when car was turned off and on while they were on. Shop couldn't replicate and problem has stopped. 
Apr 2010

16000 mi
Central control unit was replaced after puddle lights staying on all the time and 1 not lighting. All keys were replaced to work with new control unit. 
Jun 2010

18000 mi
center armrest fell apart. I took it to dealer and they snapped it back together. Nice side effect was that one of the mysterious rattles went away with the re-assembly. 
Sep 2010

20000 mi

US $43
musty smell out of air vents 
Sep 2011

32000 mi
puddle light was replaced as it was out speakers cutting our or playing at VERY reduced volume. new radio head unit has been ordered Auto dim mirror compass no longer working. New mirror has been ordered. 
Oct 2011

34000 mi
Compass was not working. Mirror replaced. radio speakers were cutting out or playing at very reduced volume 
Aug 2013

58200 mi

US $400
running rough, flashing engine light, traction control off light was on. Found nothing. Going home from the shop the check engine, cruise control, and traction control lights on. Went back in and the catalytic converter was replaced. Replaced spark plug wires and ignition coil 
Sep 2013

56000 mi
Puddle lights out AGAIN. This time there was a recall on the car and they were replaced AGAIN 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Apr 2008 - Sep 2009
Aug 2009

24000 mi
New ball joints. Extreme loud clunking when the car was making turns and when driving over uneven pavement. The Subaru Dealership Service Department drove the car for 5 minutes and confirmed the ball joints were completely shot. New axles. 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
May 2008 - Aug 2012
Jun 2009

11000 mi
Tire Pressure warning light came on a couple of times and went off shortly after coming on. Dealer could not replicate. 
Subaru Forester in Arkansas, United States
Oct 2015 - Jun 2016
Jan 2016

US $120
Headlight and daytime running light not working. Oil change, air filters. 
Feb 2016

107700 mi

US $670
Driver headlight flickering/not staying on. Headlight wiring harness was melted and required replacement. Rear passenger window not working. Diagnosed by dealer as window regulator, parts ordered. Upon repair dealer stated regulator Okay but window was broken and bad switch. Initial Dealer diagnosis error and suspect dealer broke window. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Mar 2008 - Jul 2017
Oct 2014

86500 mi

US $44
Heat shield on bottom of car came loose. 
Jul 2015

94700 mi

US $350
Lines to transmission were leaking, had to be replaced. 
Dec 2016

111000 mi

US $1300
Head gasket replacement 
Jun 2017

114000 mi

US $800
Front control arms replaced 
Jul 2017

114500 mi

US $583
Hoses failed. Thermostat replaced 
Subaru Forester in South Carolina, United States
Feb 2018 - Jun 2018
Mar 2018

185000 mi

US $1200
The rack needed to be replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
May 2008 - Jun 2018
Mar 2009

4000 mi
Tire pressure sensor light on despite tires correctly inflated; shop reset sensor system computer and light went out. 
Feb 2011

22000 mi
Leaking seal on front axle at transmission - seal ordered. Chrome peeling from badge on rear of car - replacement ordered. Badge replaced - replacement looks fine. Transmission seal on front axle replaced and leak was eliminated. CD player in audio unit not working. New unit ordered and will be installed when it arrives. 
Jun 2016

65000 mi

US $120
Head gasket is weeping on one side. Mechanic installed stop-leak fluid and told us to come back in a month or two to check to see if that fixed the problem. Update: When the car went in for its next oil change two months later the leak had stopped. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Jun 2008 - Mar 2010
Aug 2008

1000 mi
Rear Speakers inoperative. Speakers still not operating when radio in enhanced surround sound mode. Will be contacting manufacturer. 
Sep 2008

2000 mi
Radio replaced, rear speakers work, but sound is unsatisfactory. Spoke to manufacturer and they stated "that's the way the radio workss". nothing they can do right now. Subaru is going to try to get a better answer from Panasonic, the radio manufacturer. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jun 2015 - Jun 2016
Oct 2015

69200 mi

US $675
Front drivers side wheel bearing replaced 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Sep 2008 - Jun 2018
Aug 2009

11000 mi
Noise heard accelerating and turning wheel; power steering fluid leaked into bellows from pinched seal during assembly 
Oct 2015

62200 mi
Problem found at 60k service checkup Lower control arm bushings are worn Drive belt shows wear and cracks 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Aug 2008 - Mar 2016
Mar 2016

119040 mi
Both heads gaskets weeping externally, no sign of internal leaks. 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Jul 2008 - Jan 2018
Feb 2010

12700 mi
rattle near passenger sun visor. determined cause, no time to fix. will fix at next service interval. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jun 2008 - Feb 2014
Jun 2010

20000 mi
Stone chips on fenders in front of rear wheels. Not big enough protective clear coating. Fixed stone chips, repainted back doors, replaced protective clear coating with larger ones. 
May 2013

38900 mi
evap coil leaking 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
May 2009 - Mar 2018
Feb 2016

106640 mi

C $200
Front end-link was broken. Both Front links were replaced. 
Jul 2016

108900 mi

C $250
Crankshaft boot leaking so was replaced 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Mar 2008 - Aug 2011
Apr 2009

12000 mi
squeaks and rattles 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
May 2012 - Apr 2018
Mar 2014

58900 mi

C $200
Hatch door lock failed. Only way into the hatch is by the automatic door unlock button (no key access). Made accessing the hatch impossible, as there is no manual lock/handle override. 
Jun 2015

80600 mi

C $900
Oil leaked into combustion chamber because of leaky gasket. 
Jun 2016

91760 mi

C $300
Sway bar, rear, caused excess rebound. 
Sep 2017

105400 mi

C $30
loose heat shields 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
May 2012 - Jun 2018
Aug 2013

52000 mi

US $500
A small hole was found in the condenser which had to be replaced, after that a worn out connector/gasket had to be replaced. 
Sep 2015

79000 mi

US $600
Rear brakes were stuck on and completely worn down, had to replace brake pads and shoes, re-work and lubricate the joint that applies the brakes. 
Mar 2017

93000 mi

US $250
brake calipers on front wheel was stuck on, had to be removed, cleaned and oiled and new brakes and rotors put on. 
Jun 2017

100000 mi

US $2000
Warped head gaskets Sway bar links broken Timing belt 
Dec 2017

108000 mi

US $800
brake calipers were stuck on, had to replace as well as new brake pads, rotors etc. 
Apr 2018

108000 mi

US $1100
brake line leak tire pressure sensors needed to be replaced due to low battery, 3/4 sensors low gas mileage noted, needed new spark plugs and a fuel system cleaning 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Apr 2012 - Apr 2019
Jan 2013

42000 mi

US $468
exhaust flex pipe connector, corroded and not flexing. 
Jan 2014

68700 mi

US $325
Replaced both sway bar links. Replaced warn drive belts, they were cracking and making squealing noise when attempting to exit parking spaces. 
Mar 2015

65000 mi

US $6
Needed use 3 stainless steel worm gear clamps on exhaust heat shield. The bolts and nuts rotting off. 
May 2015

65900 mi

US $779
Front Control arm bushings needed replacement. 
Jan 2017

79000 mi

US $1104
pads & rotors front, pads rear and right front caliper. replaced coil, spark plugs and wires 
Jul 2017

84000 mi

US $650
Exhaust pipe broke off cat converter. They replaced the catalytic converter and twin exhausts with non-oem parts. 
Jan 2018

84500 mi

US $509
Replaced 4 tires and front and rear alignment. 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Feb 2012 - Jul 2018
Apr 2012

48000 mi

US $750
Bad Evaporator core Slipping in transmission. Transmission flushed. 
Oct 2013

70500 mi

US $177
Replaced front sway bar bushings and fixed rattle in heat shield. 
Feb 2014

78000 mi
Inner fender panel and shield came loose. Installed a new push pin. Panel still loose, however. Push pins for inner body panel shields are loose. Poor design on the part of Subaru. 
May 2014

84000 mi
Body clips or push pins holding together various shields and from bumper are loose, very poor design. There is no way to tighten them up. I have put in new pins, and they will not tighten up. 
Dec 2014

92000 mi
Synthetic transmission flush. Note: Car hasn't shifted right since this was done. Throttle body service Left side muffler going out Clicking in front brakes Car shifts really rough going into 3ed gear (automatic). Transmission can't seem to find correct ratio and shifts up too soon. 
Sep 2015

104000 mi
Head gaskets 
Aug 2017

139000 mi

US $150
Control arm bushings bad, along with tie rod ends and sway bar links.  Car has a rattle in front end that no one has been able to fix. 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Mar 2009 - Feb 2018
Apr 2017

47683 mi

C $453
Brakes were pulsing and making grinding noise. 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Oct 2012 - Oct 2017
Nov 2013

55000 mi
tightened accessory belt for power steering / alternator; was squealing on cold starts and squeaking a bit when warm. Sound is gone, belt still looks good. 
Mar 2014

58000 mi

US $150
battery up and died 
Jun 2017

82000 mi

US $1500
AC CLUTCH AND COMPRESSOR TOTALLY BURNT OUT, COMPLETE REPLACEMENT REQ'D 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Apr 2008 - Jun 2018
May 2017

71000 mi

US $270
Replaced pads rotors and one front right brake caliper 
Sep 2017

78000 mi

US $150
iNSTALL NEW STRUTS AND END LINKS TO GET RID OF FROND END CLUNKNG 
Apr 2018

85500 mi

US $80
had exhaust leak at rear left muffler welded up 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Feb 2015 - Jan 2017
Nov 2016

76400 mi

US $3600
Head gasket leaked. Had to be replaced. During replacement, several other ~100k mile maintenance conducted, such as replacing a water pump. 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Aug 2009 - Dec 2017
Apr 2010

10300 mi
1 of 4 LED "puddle-lamps" ceased to function due to "open circuit." Entire lamp assembly replaced. No charge. 
Jan 2012

10800 mi
Puddle lamp LED replaced 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Apr 2014 - Jun 2018
Aug 2014

105100 mi

US $25
Replaced both low beam headlight bulbs because one was out of commission. 
Mar 2015

110000 mi

US $6
One of the license plate light bulbs and one of the parking light bulbs were both not working. Replaced both license plate bulbs and both parking light bulbs with new bulbs. 
May 2015

113400 mi

US $50
Replaced the front sway bar bushings with the new improved OEM bushings from Subaru. Also replaced both front sway bar end links due to one visibly damaged. 
Aug 2015

121000 mi

US $15
Replaced both front brake calipers. Flushed brake system with new brake fluid. Driver side rear brake stuck (outside pad not moving) and once car was driven for about 20 minutes, made loud squeal noise and smelled like hot burning brake pads. Disassembled, cleaned, and lubed everything then reassembled. 
Dec 2015

125000 mi

US $15
Low beam headlight on passenger side was not working. Replaced the bulb. 
May 2016

135000 mi

US $15
The left rear brake was making noise and smelling like brake pad was rubbing on the disc. Disassembled and discovered the pad was sticking. removed all parts and cleaned, lubed everything then reassembled. Test drive was satisfactory. 
Dec 2017

171000 mi

US $60
Engine fault code showed probable leaking gas cap, car running a little rough. Replaced gas cap and fault code was cleared. Replaced the spark plugs and spark plug wires. Spark plugs showed signs of oil so I replaced the spark plug tube seals. I also replaced the valve cover gaskets due to an oil leak on the passenger side. Performed idle reset learn procedure. Car now running great again. 
Feb 2018

175000 mi
TPMS light is lit constantly. Tire pressures verified correct with high quality gauge. Brought to tire shop and they reset TPMS system and said the light would go out within 15 minutes of driving, but it has not. Problem is still there. Believe it to be a bad TPMS sensor and probably time to replace all four of the TPMS sensors due to the age of the car. Will call around for estimates. 
Apr 2018

177500 mi

US $140
TPMS light was lit constantly. Bought new TPMS sensors for all 4 tires. Had local tire shop repalce the sensors in the tires and TPMS light is now off. 
May 2018

178000 mi

US $75
CEL was on for the oil switching pressure solenoid and oil pressure switch for Bank 1. Code was P0026. Replaced both the VVT oil pressure solenoid and the associated oil pressure switch for Bank #1. 
Subaru Forester in Maine, United States
Oct 2013 - Mar 2014
Dec 2013

121000 mi

US $275
Wire from main wiring harness to transmission speed sensor was broken. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Nov 2012 - Dec 2013
Nov 2013

58000 mi

US $90
Faulty safety neutral switch. After driving two hours to reach the dealer, they didn't have a required special tool. I bought the part from them and will have it installed by a dealer that has the tool. 
Dec 2013

58000 mi
Problem with starter engaging. Neutral safety switch replaced. Problem now fixed. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jul 2011 - Mar 2014
Mar 2014

65000 mi

US $500
Chipped paint along the hood. 
Subaru Forester in Kansas, United States
Jan 2013 - Sep 2017
Jun 2014

76000 mi

US $160
Sway bar linkage was squeaking and was replaced. 
Jun 2017

112000 mi

US $400
Replaced catalytic converter 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
- Aug 2010
Aug 2010

28000 mi
Window fluid for back window did not work correctly. Manufacturing problem - hose was leading to spray was bent. 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Jan 2011 - Jun 2014
Feb 2014

99000 mi

US $110
error code: Misfire cylinder #3. A friend/mechanic pulled #3 spark plug & found oil pooled and also on plug boot. Oil was cleaned up,code cancelled, then car driven to dealer who initially said nothing wrong,then replaced coil. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Jan 2010 - Apr 2022
Jul 2016

107000 mi

US $325
Replace HVAC fan motor. 
Aug 2016

108300 mi

US $1200
A/C compressor went out. 
Feb 2018

134000 mi

US $22
Replaced burned out headlight. 
Oct 2021

150000 mi

US $800
Radiator replacement, had leak. Power steering pump replacement. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Nov 2010 - Jun 2021
Jul 2012

44800 mi
AC would not blow cold air, compressor replaced under extended Subaru warranty (6yr/60000 miles) 
Oct 2013

60000 mi
Catalytic converter failed. Check engine light came on which simultaneously caused VDC and cruise to shut off. repaired under extended warranty. Failed catalytic converter, replaced under extended dealer warranty for no cost. Dealer attempted to clean converter but engine warning light returned. One week later dealer replaced converter which fixed problem. 
Apr 2014

66300 mi

US $185
Continued problem with car suddenly shutting off that was supposedly repaired in Oct 2013 with replacement of cat converter. spark plugs and wires replaced. 
Jul 2016

86500 mi
water leakage from front windshield due to blocked water drain. 
Dec 2017

100000 mi

US $50
Door handle front passenger stopped opening door. Repaired cable 
Jun 2018

104000 mi

US $100
Ignition Key would stick in place when turning car off, could not remove key. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Nov 2009 - Jan 2016
Jan 2014

92700 mi

US $25
repair of the rattling heat shield. 
Dec 2015

98000 mi

US $60
replaced AC compressor clutch spring 
Subaru Forester in Tennessee, United States
Aug 2010 - Dec 2019
Mar 2011

53000 mi
Vehicle had a whine from about 5 to 50mph or so, after which it was drowned out by wind/road noise. The noise changed pitch with speed. The dealer dx the problem as faulty transfer gear and tailshaft bearings and replaced under warranty. 
Mar 2017

173000 mi

US $75
Plugs and wires 
Subaru Forester in Alaska, United States
Nov 2010 - Jan 2022
Mar 2016

43000 mi
R & R Valve cover gasket 
Subaru Forester in Idaho, United States
Jan 2011 - Sep 2015
Nov 2011

54000 mi
Headlight replaced. 
Nov 2012

68300 mi

US $340
Drivers side headlight replaced. Cracked windshield replaced 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
May 2011 - Sep 2015
Oct 2014

57540 mi

C $600
Car noise. Had to replace joining racket part of exhaust system. Noise underground thé engineering due to Heat Dover basket underground thé engine 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Jun 2011 - Jun 2021
Feb 2013

37700 mi

C $300
Check engine light came on. Was running rough and misfiring. Injector flush, and a full service which includes plugs etc. Fan stopped working in speeds 1, 2, and 3. Worked in 4 
Apr 2014

47520 mi

C $900
Engine is misfiring on 2 cylinders 
Sep 2015

68820 mi

C $2500
Stumbling, hesitating, check engine light coming on. Replaced spark plugs, wire, and ignition system. This was caused by the Subaru dealer when they did a major service and replaced these same parts. 
May 2016

81700 mi

C $600
Engine was misfiring, running on 2 of 4 cylinders. Replaced coil packs and wires again. 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Jun 2011 - Jul 2012
Jun 2012

44000 mi

US $100
It was not cooling. Dealer had to order parts 
Jul 2012

44000 mi
Traded car without repairing A/C. 
Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States
Mar 2011 - Jul 2012
Sep 2011

60000 mi

US $950
Freon was leaking into ventilation system with a strong odor. Evaporator core had to be replaced which required removing the dash. $500 part and $400 labor.  

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2009 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

148-horsepower 2.0L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Norway
Dec 2015 - Jan 2017
Jan 2017 Lambda probe in front of catalyzer needed replacement. cost was $250 approx. common problem on Forester.. 

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2009 Subaru Forester 4-door

turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Yugoslavia
Jan 2012 - Feb 2012
Feb 2012

49600 mi

$2450
I had crankshaft broken! They exchanged so called down half of a motor The fuel turbine was broken. 

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2008 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru Forester in Iceland
Jul 2013 - Oct 2015
Mar 2014

65720 mi

$333
CV Joint 
Feb 2015

86800 mi

$1000
Outer CV joint 

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2008 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Jun 2013 - Jul 2013
Jul 2013

141000 mi

US $150
Rear wheel bearing 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Jun 2011 - Nov 2016
Aug 2013

85180 mi

C $1200
Clutch 
Jul 2015

108500 mi

C $500
Link broke 

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2008 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Alaska, United States
Mar 2012 - Jun 2018
May 2014

57900 mi

US $600
The Trailing arm link bushings were worn and replaced. Same for the Crossmember bushings. 
Dec 2014

62000 mi

US $500
Secondary air valves were sticking and were causing cel codes. Check engine light, Stability control light, and Cruise control light were all illuminated in instrument cluster panel. Because of the this my Cruise control was deactivated. 
Apr 2015

64000 mi

US $1279
Replaced oem struts with a new set. 
Nov 2015

69600 mi

US $75
Replaced Rear Cross-Member Bushings. 
Oct 2017

81000 mi

US $1115
Noise coming from the rear of car turned out to be a wheel bearing on the driver side. I had both driver and passenger side done. Two front swayer end links were rusted and replaced. Upper radiator hose was worn. Worn A/C and alternator belt. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Apr 2011 - Nov 2013
Jul 2012

72700 mi

US $150
The wheel bearing on the rear drivers side. 
Oct 2012

76000 mi

US $35
Loose belt on the power steering making loud screech noise 
Jun 2013

83000 mi

US $500
Two warning lights came on - traction control disabled and something else, don't remember. Checked the error code suggesting emmission system problems. The dealer replaced some kind of emissions exhaust valve 
Subaru Forester in Georgia, United States
Jan 2021 - May 2022
Jan 2022

147000 mi

US $136
After a week of no use we noticed oil on driveway. The heads are leaking as well as main seal. 
Apr 2022

150000 mi

US $130
rear end needs replaced or major rebuild 

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2008 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

173-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Jul 2012 - Jun 2022
Jul 2013

96300 mi

US $300
Car shaking & stalling (stopped 3 days, fine before). CEL On, code was misfire in all 4 cyl. Shop replace valves gasket, spark plugs and wires. Also tried coil, but wasn't it. Issue was not resolved. Car still stalling and jerking. After shop was unsuccessful, owner dove into it and tried to repair it himself. Change several parts according to internet forum and was finally successful. EGR valve was the culprit. CAM & CAP also changed. 
Dec 2013

107000 mi

US $120
Strange noise when car starts or idle. Shop found some steel plates within the emissions system were loose and soldered them. Owner was concerned was an issue with the catalytic converter. 
Feb 2014

110400 mi

US $1600
Clutch needed replacement. 
Jan 2016

113200 mi

US $350
Tie end boot needed replacement. Leaking motor oil. Shop did it, but it failed soon after. Shop was out of business by then. 
Oct 2016

150000 mi

US $850
Steering fluid leaking. Rack needed replacement. 
Nov 2017

158000 mi

US $200
TPS light on. Sensor was replaced on 2 of the tires Airbag light is on in dashboard. Not code has been found. Car is being driven with light on. 
Apr 2022

220000 mi

US $125
Issues with the exhaust. Part of the duct was replaced(the middle part after the manifold, before the muffler. 
Subaru Forester in Newfoundland / Lab., Canada
Mar 2012 - Apr 2013
Apr 2012

39060 mi

C $533
Install sway bar bushings, front control arm bushing, right front link kit, right rear link kit. 
Apr 2013

56420 mi

C $120
Rear wiper motor failed. Replaced with used part. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Feb 2013 - Jan 2015
Oct 2014

211000 mi

US $189
Replaced both rear strut assemblies with used assemblies from a auto recycler. 
Dec 2014

215000 mi

US $275
Car had a miss on number 2 cyl. Replaced plies and wires but found the coil to be cracked and corroded causing the misfire. 
Subaru Forester in Tasmania, Australia
Apr 2008 - Jun 2017
Apr 2008

3100 mi
Starter motor failed. Replaced on warranty by dealer. Down time 24h. 
Dec 2011

36580 mi
Head gasket found to be leaking, needs full replacement next 12 months. 
Subaru Forester in Alaska, United States
Apr 2011 - Jan 2017
Jan 2017

95000 mi

US $3300
Head gasket replacement 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
May 2011 - Jun 2015
Jul 2011

78000 mi

US $200
CV joint needed replacing 
Jun 2015

143000 mi
Head gasket, repaired that, then it was the drive belt I believe 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Jun 2015 - Jun 2015
Jun 2015

174000 mi

US $20
AC belt broke 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Apr 2011 - Feb 2019
May 2011

30380 mi

C $10
High beam headlight not working. Bulb replaced. 
Feb 2012

35840 mi

C $11
RHS Low Beam Headlight bulb replaced 
Jul 2012

37400 mi

C $120
A/C not cooling, was recharged, system tested for leaks but none found 
Nov 2012

38740 mi

C $437
Serviced rear caliper pistons and pin sliders, cleaned and serviced brake pads Anti Sway Bar Link broken, replaced 
Jul 2013

41420 mi

C $175
Was not cooling properly. System recharged. Dye installed for monitoring 
Sep 2013

42780 mi

C $283
A/C not cooling.A/C Condensor replaced and system recharged 
Nov 2013

44020 mi

C $175
Squealing on start-up. Drive belts replaced. 
Feb 2014

44640 mi

C $34
Exterior trim loose and weatherstripping loose, both on driver's door 
Dec 2014

46500 mi
weatherstripping was loose on both front doors. Estimate provided. Repair declined due to unreasonable cost. Purchased clips and spouse repaired weatherstripping. 
Apr 2015

47320 mi

C $197
Right sway bar link broken, left had play 
Dec 2015

50220 mi

C $691
Check engine light on solid, then flashing. Code P0302 misfire from #2 cylinder, compression good. Coil shorted and wire weak. Replaced coil and ignition wire. 
Jun 2017

55180 mi

C $627
Vapour coming from under hood, strange smell, leak near dipstick. Replaced valve cover gasket and O-rings. Replaced front oil pressure switch. 
Sep 2017

57040 mi

C $897
Noisy exhaust. Exhaust was leaking through midpipe and muffler. Midpipe and muffler were replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Nov 2014 - May 2017
Oct 2015

101000 mi

US $150
Check engine light with flashing cruise control light; no other symptoms. Diagnostic code for bad air/fuel ratio sensor. Replaced sensor, solving problem. 
Mar 2016

108000 mi

US $260
Oil leaking from engine onto exhaust, producing minor smoke. Replaced valve cover gaskets and oil pressure sensor, which were both leaking. VCGs were previously replaced by dealer; suspect bad job at that time. Seems ok now. 
Sep 2016

115000 mi

US $380
Occasional misfire under acceleration triggered check engine light. Factory spark plugs replaced at 115k miles. Oil leaking from engine onto oil filter and exhaust system, producing smoke. Suspect external head gasket leak, previously misdiagnosed. Mechanic cleaned oil residue, then added dye to oil in order to locate leak at a future repair trip. 
Jan 2017

108700 mi

US $4000
External head gasket leak (producing worsening smoke) and damaged cylinder guide. Engine block machined/resurfaced. Other parts replaced preventatively. Runs smoothly now. 
Apr 2017

121000 mi

US $300
Dead in the driveway, 4K miles after head gasket repair. Could have seized due to increased oil consumption after engine block remachining. Starter made noise but car wouldn't start. Local mechanic removed timing cover for diagnosis and suspected broken camshaft due to timing slip. Subaru dealership mechanic also suspected timing issues. Quoted $7-9k for engine repair, or $6-7k to buy and install a remanufactured engine. I scrapped the car. 

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2008 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

173-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Kentucky, United States
Apr 2011 - Jun 2022
Sep 2016

53000 mi

US $3500
Shop found two exhaust valve guides on one head had dropped a little, so since the heads were off, they did a valve job on both heads (remanufactured heads). 
Dec 2016

55000 mi

US $100
Replace one faulty tire pressure sensor. 
Subaru Forester in Maine, United States
Apr 2008 - Jan 2014
May 2008

15000 mi
Replace door panel window was jamming 
Jun 2008

17000 mi
Replaced Radio 
Apr 2010

65600 mi

US $68
Replaced tires for second time and alignment replaced idler arm right 
Mar 2011

85973 mi

US $250
replaced valve cover gaskets and gromets flushed radiater and replaced plugs. 
Apr 2011

88269 mi

US $76
Replaced idler arm left  
Jan 2014

147000 mi

US $325
rear u-joint on drive shaft 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Aug 2011 - Sep 2012
Sep 2012

143000 mi

US $450
replaced a/c compressor 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Apr 2011 - Jun 2013
Apr 2011

43400 mi

C $395
O2 SENSOR 
Jan 2013

59520 mi

C $96
Oil pressure switch allowing oil to leak onto engine 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Apr 2011 - Jun 2022
Feb 2014

61860 mi
Sudden burning smell and screeching noise from engine (pulling away from intersection) - turned out to be A/C belt, pulley mechanism. A/C belt was worn and replaced at recent maintenance. Status of compressor unknown. 
Apr 2014

62400 mi
Further to Feb 2014 report. Not done but confirmed the A/C unit needs to be replaced. Toughing it out this summer and might replace ourselves. 
Mar 2019

111290 mi

C $2500
Leaking head gasket - observed during routine maintenance and not yet repaired - the price reported (in CAD) is an estimate based on not needing to machine the heads, if this is added, could be as high as 4000. We're shopping around to see what our options are. We hope to drive this Forester for another 100k-150k and do intend to make the repair. 
Jun 2022

134230 mi

C $1400
Replace leaking hose, replace condenser and other components 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Oct 2012 - Feb 2017
Jan 2014

107000 mi

US $1500
Rack and Pinion seal went bad. Replaced entire system. 
Nov 2016

160300 mi

US $3500
Master cylinder leaking 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Sep 2011 - Jun 2016
Sep 2013

63000 mi

US $50
Blower power connector broken. Connector was replaced 
Oct 2015

83300 mi

US $260
rear wheel bearing 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Apr 2011 - Jun 2022
May 2018

56000 mi

US $1200
Engine suddenly running badly. Replaced coil pack, spark plugs, spark plug wires. Replaced valve cover gaskets. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Jun 2017 - Jun 2018
May 2018

74000 mi

US $575
Needed new brakes and rotors. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Apr 2018 - Jun 2022
Jun 2021

201000 mi

US $10
A/C pulley adjuster 
Jul 2021

201000 mi

US $300
Rear resonator, muffler. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Sep 2014 - Feb 2022
Nov 2015

45500 mi

US $300
Stabilizer links 
Mar 2016

48000 mi
Retighten. 
Aug 2017

75000 mi

US $150
Replaced pads and turned rotors 
Feb 2018

83000 mi

US $200
Replace link 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
- Mar 2010
May 2008

2050 mi
The "Forester" emblem was seperating from the rear hatch. Northpark Subaru of San Antonio, made the repairs. New decal covered under the 3/36k. 
Mar 2010

27500 mi
The center console cushion developed a crease. Dealer replaced the cushion under warranty.  
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jun 2013 - Sep 2014
Mar 2013

42427 mi
change coolant sensor & relay. Each winter would fail to start if temp below -10 C and car had been driven ~ 2 km or less. 1st dealer poor response. wrote newspaper column. 2nd dealer under goodwill warranty did job. Problem again in 2014. 
Jun 2014

55800 mi

C $30
auto, shift linkage became stiff in May 2013. Had lubed and subsequently replaced pivot points, cleaned and lubed -- cable was ok. Became stiff again in June 2014.had cleaned and lubed, including cable. rear hatch latch handle became stiff. would not spring back into normal position. hatch would not latch. I used silicone spray to get it functional. Dealer lubed this during visit at no cost. Had exactly same problem in 2013 spring. Annual? 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Oct 2012 - Mar 2014
Oct 2013

166000 mi
Warranty repair for catalytic converter 
Mar 2014

177000 mi

US $400
Wheel hub replacement 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Jun 2012 - Jan 2013
Jan 2013

45000 mi

US $2500
Head gasket needed replacement. Also changed timing belt. 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Sep 2012 - Jun 2018
Mar 2012

48980 mi

C $70
Replaced oil pressure switch 
Jan 2013

58280 mi

C $1900
Major parts: Machined engine block Changed valve/guide Changed spark plugs/wires Changed drive belt 
Oct 2013

66620 mi

C $250
Changed both link kit - front 
May 2014

75920 mi

C $125
Oil pressure switch (back order from the dealer) 
Feb 2015

85340 mi

C $165
Cam seal pushed out 1/4. Total loss of engine oil on highway. 
Apr 2017

94240 mi

C $335
Replace rear wiper motor Replaced front sway bar links 

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2007.5 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Great Britain
Dec 2014 - Jan 2015
Jan 2015

55000 mi

£1100
Air pump failure 

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2007 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Feb 2016 - Mar 2018
Apr 2016

99700 mi

US $1000
Power steering pump needs to be replaced Radiator burst 
Sep 2016

106000 mi

US $500
All 4 links had to be replaced. Front struts were replaced 
Dec 2016

108000 mi
Fuels leaking over intake manifold. Estimate $500 
Mar 2017

112000 mi

US $200
fuel injector needed to be replaced. - misfire in the cylinder Shifter bushing were replaced 
May 2017

113000 mi

US $1500
Working on Heads. Replaced valves Clutch seized Timing belt wore off. Original repair done by Northeast Motors in New Hampshire. They replaced timing belt and overtightened a guide. It chew through the belt. 
Jul 2017

113000 mi

US $400
Rear sway bar rusted through 
Dec 2017

117000 mi
Fuel is leaking under the intake manifold 
Feb 2018

118000 mi

US $550
Replaced all the fuel hoses. They were still leaking 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Jun 2010 - Jun 2012
Jul 2010

36500 mi
Dashboard noise. It is intermittant and when I bring it to the dealer they can't hear it. I have been trying to fix it myself. It's better but not completely gone. Fixed dashboard squeak and replaced a headlight bulb 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Dec 2008 - Oct 2017
Dec 2010

38000 mi

US $730
Two cracked plastic "roll-over" vent valves on top of fuel tank were replaced. 
Jul 2012

60000 mi

US $600
A rubber transmission mount was collapsed causing misalignment between the engine and transmission. 
Feb 2014

79000 mi

US $65
The auto dimming mirror was very wobbly/loose on its mount to windshield. Dealer said mirror mount was stripped and replaced the mount that attaches the mirror to the base glued to the windshield. 
Sep 2015

99000 mi

US $113
A washer limiting the motion of the parking brake was improperly seated after having rear brakes replaced 3 months ago. Washer shifted causing parking brake to engage and I was unable to release with lever. 
Apr 2016

107300 mi

US $250
Engine misfiring caused by valves out of adjustment. Dealer recommends valve job (valves require parts replacement to adjust, not simple mechanical screw adjustment) at cost of $4700. Car has manual transmission with Hill Holder feature on clutch. Intermittent unable to move car, forward or backward. Dealer said e-brake too tight and loosened brake cable. Repair unsuccessful. Car back in shop in April, bad master cyl? Engine misfiring. Dealer did fuel injection and throttle body cleaning and replaced spark plugs to correct. Help some, but still some misfire. Said valves needed adjustment or valve job. Hill holder valve intermittent sticking causing brakes to lock up after stopping. Hill holder valve replaced. Credit was given for e-brake adjustment charge on previous visit. E-brake also PROPERLY adjusted. 
May 2016

108400 mi

US $500
Check Engine light on/reset by owner/Check Engine light again activated 200 miles later. OBDII indicated "Bank 1 Lean". Dealer wanted to adjust valves at cost of $4500.00. Declined. 
Jul 2016

109700 mi

US $111
I replaced Mass Airflow Sensor yesterday (7/6/2016) after researching problem on internet. Replacement took two minutes. Initial drive OK. Have 600 mile trip this weekend to verify if problem corrected. 
Sep 2016

112000 mi

US $350
Replace radiator due to leak between plastic tank and aluminum core. Also replaced both cooling system pressure caps and upper and lower radiator hoses. 
Nov 2016

113700 mi

US $350
Check Engine lite came on. OBDII kept setting Misfire cyl #4 code. Car would randomly have mild to severe misfire and then return to normal after setting code. Replaced coil and spark plug for cyl #4. 

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2007 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Mar 2012 - Jun 2013
Feb 2013

133000 mi
Bad wheel bearing. Replaced front struts. Check Engine light for Secondary Air Injector valve stuck closed. Front CV joint noise. 
Jun 2013

143000 mi

US $580
Bad alternator and battery. Battery would not hold charge and alternator was not providing current. 
Subaru Forester in Great Britain
May 2017 - Dec 2020
Aug 2017

66000 mi

£300
Rear self levelling shock absorbers sagging and leaking oil (MOT advisory). Replaced with Pedders EZ fit kit. 

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2007 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

173-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Dec 2008 - Nov 2015
Jun 2009

30000 mi

US $50
oil leak, missing crush ring, owner changed oil and did not replace. noticed leak and smoke at a rest stop. little oil actually lost 
Nov 2015

86000 mi
Took car in for timing belt replacement, and mechanic reported blown head gasket 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
- Sep 2007
Sep 2007

21700 mi

C $14
Oil Change. Adjust hill holder. Complaint of jerking at light load light throttle condition. Probably just a trait of this vehicle. 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Apr 2011 - Nov 2017
Dec 2011

90000 mi

US $232
Valve cover gaskets replace due to oil leak. 
Dec 2013

104000 mi
Front sway bar end links replaced 
Subaru Forester in New Mexico, United States
Dec 2007 - Jun 2014
Oct 2007

12000 mi
Defective radiator cap allowed pressure to escape and caused car to drive too hot. Dealer says this is a problem w/ the new caps. 
May 2008

18600 mi
Same repair as previously. Defective radiator cap cause car to drive too hot. Again replaced cap. Car still under warranty. 
Jan 2009

29000 mi
Radiator cap: antifreeze accumulates under it & causes system to overheat. 3rd radiator cap on this car. 
Jun 2009

35000 mi
Window screech while being put up or down. Dealer says problem is stabilizer bars. Parts ordered. 
Aug 2009

36000 mi
Windows screeched going up or down. Dealer replaced stabilizer bars under warranty. 
Feb 2011

71000 mi

US $81
Same old problem: for the 4th time the radiator cap malfunctioned, coolant was lost & the car started to heat up. 
Sep 2012

109000 mi

US $1800
Master bearing of clutch went out; clutch replaced. Timing belt replaced, $1200 of total. Battery replaced. 
Mar 2013

117000 mi
Catalytic convertor needs replacing. Cost would be $1100. Did not do this repair. 
Nov 2013

131000 mi

US $800
Replaced left wheel bearing, did brakes & re-aligned. Catalytic convertors replaced. 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
May 2009 - Mar 2016
Jul 2009

30944 mi

C $326
burning smell in car -burnt and melted blower fan motor connector. Connector replaced, melted again and required new motor and wiring. Subaru Canada refused any compensation or aid. totally PO'D with them. Right front strut was leaking - replaced. also, good deal on new tires. no cost- warrenty. 
May 2014

102920 mi
originally, #2 cylinder misfiring - diagnosis - spark plugs and leads replaced. timing belt badly cracked and replaced. After this we took it to a Subaru dealer for a 168,000 Km checkover - head gasket replaced,$2,500.00 rear wheel brgs. 
Oct 2014

107660 mi

C $1138
regular 6000Km service,plus all 4 brake pads/rotors,2 front brake discs, rear cylinder leaking, brake fluid flush. 10% off parts and labour. 
Jan 2015

110440 mi

C $1160
Clutch seized - throw bearing fried, clutch totally worn (first clutch replacement @176Km) 
May 2015

114080 mi

C $180
first warm day, a/c not working - discharged coolant, couldn't find leak- recharged coolant with a dye. Next time they will know where the leak is. 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Sep 2013 - Apr 2014
Apr 2014

88000 mi

US $98
Oil sensor leaks and velve cover gaskets leaks 
Subaru Forester in Arizona, United States
Mar 2011 - Oct 2015
Feb 2014

124300 mi

US $3000
Headgasket failure. 
May 2015

167000 mi

US $65
Driver window switch became balky. 
Oct 2015

177000 mi

US $2100
The high beams would not shut off when switched from the stalk while moving. Required a shut down of the car to turn them off. Replaced high beam relay. Catastrophic transmission failure. Required replacement in full. 
Subaru Forester in Maine, United States
Apr 2011 - Jan 2015
Jun 2011

73000 mi

US $61
Rear stabilizer bushings are going to be replaced 
Jul 2011

73000 mi

US $65
Rear stabilizer bushing were worn and were replaced. Two exhaust hangers were also repaired at the same time. 
Dec 2012

82000 mi
Replaced the variable valve lift oil pressure switch on the right bank of the engine. When the part failed it triggered the check engine light and caused an oil leak. Replaced the left front ball joint. 

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2007 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

173-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Sep 2010 - Jun 2011
Oct 2010

50000 mi
replaced ecm and fuel pump 
Subaru Forester in Nebraska, United States
Nov 2010 - Jul 2013
Oct 2011

69000 mi
Check engine light came on. Mechanic cleared codes at no charge. Problem has not recurred. 
Feb 2013

77100 mi

US $450
O2 sensor replaced 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2010 - Sep 2013
Nov 2010

48360 mi
head light bulb and front light on the left side 
Aug 2011

57020 mi

C $1000
needed higher quality engine oil< triggered sensor to show low presssure 
Sep 2013

70060 mi

C $759
Alternator failed to charge, replaced Battery too 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Dec 2008 - Jun 2009
Jan 2009

38440 mi
Transmission replaced in August. This was for a trans oil leak from the job. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Mar 2009 - Jun 2013
Jul 2009

38000 mi
Lock on driver's door stopped responding to remote. It could be locked manually. Actuator was replaced in driver's door. 
Sep 2011

73000 mi

US $100
Car would not shift out of park. Brake light sensor was replaced. 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Dec 2008 - Oct 2014
Apr 2012

31000 mi

US $80
Replaced leaking rear brake cylinder. 
Subaru Forester in Victoria, Australia
Feb 2016 - Sep 2018
Feb 2017

93000 mi

A $280
Broken driveshaft replaced 
Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Mar 2011 - Apr 2017
Jan 2012

66000 mi

US $15
Both low beams failed one after the other. We keep low beams on at all times so this factors in. Both high beams usable till low beams repaired. Repaired withing two days. 
Sep 2015

127000 mi

US $4000
crack in head and broken valve guide all in area of cylinder #4. Car broke down on highway with no warning. Car never overheated and never run without oil changes and scheduled maintenance etc. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Dec 2008 - Jun 2015
Apr 2011

60000 mi

US $214
automatic transmission shift cable replaced 
Sep 2012

76000 mi

US $400
wife's car. Complained about muffler noise and smell of something heating up. Local shop found braces attached to muffler system worn out and small oil leak causing the smell of overheating 
May 2013

88000 mi

US $325
replace front wheel bearing; loud grinding noise from front end identified problem 
Jul 2013

90700 mi

US $458
check engine lite on; car shaking when driven; ignition coil misfired and damaged; replaced; wires replaced; valve cover gasket leaking; soaked ignition wires; replace wires and change plugs and valve cover gaskets 
Apr 2014

102300 mi

US $2721
replace both cylinder head gaskets left cylinder head oil sending unit  plus new battery, replace read window wiper motor, front window switch assorted parts 
Jan 2015

101000 mi

US $400
front caliper seized up; front pads down to nothing; dangerous to drive; fix problem, new pads etc. rear pads OK 
Jun 2015

106000 mi

US $200
car being given to step-daughter who is moving to Arizona; car was basically checked out to insure safety etc for trip across country; nothing significant in the way of repairs; tires are almost new; brake pads replaced; signs of rust note. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Jan 2009 - Sep 2012
Dec 2009

37000 mi
cracked hose on fuel vapor recovery system was cause of check engine light. Dealer had suggested replacing gas cap first. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jan 2010 - Jul 2018
Mar 2013

120000 mi

US $55
Break light switch went intermittent, which prevented transmission from shifting out of park. 
Oct 2013

126500 mi

US $60
Replace leaking valve cover gaskets, adjusted valve clearance 
Jan 2014

129000 mi

US $150
Replaced leaking steering rack with new unit Leaking Radiator replaced 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Dec 2009 - Mar 2011
Dec 2010

67000 mi
Check engine light with cruise light flashing. Diagnosed as cat converter fault. Replaced under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Nevada, United States
Apr 2009 - Jul 2010
Sep 2009

30000 mi
Moonroof not closing properly. Had to order more parts. 
Oct 2009

31000 mi
Moonroof malfunction 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Apr 2010 - Jul 2022
Jun 2012

59000 mi

US $100
Three rattles were repaired. One was in the moonroof track, the second was a loose suspension bracket, and the other was in the rear folding seat latch. 
Sep 2012

64000 mi

US $724
Evap emissions system fault (check engine light). Gas tank vent valve replaced. 
Dec 2014

81000 mi

US $840
Both rear wheel bearings were beginning to make noise and were replaced prior to failure as preventive maintenance. 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Aug 2017 - Jul 2018
Sep 2017

121520 mi

C $200
Fuel pump and filter 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Apr 2014 - Jul 2018
Apr 2014

90000 mi
Cadalydic converter 
Jun 2014

90000 mi
Cadalydic converter 
Jan 2015

200000 mi

US $1400
The over head cam was repaired. At that time we also replaced all belts, water pump, spark plugs because it seamed like a good idea . Wheel bearing and a ball joint. Both front control arms 
May 2016

256000 mi

US $150
Exhaust , muffler 
Oct 2016

140000 mi
Cadalydic converter 
Jun 2017

230000 mi

US $600
I’m not sure 
May 2018

256000 mi

US $1000
Cadalydic converter 
Jul 2018

260000 mi

US $175
Pulsing in the steering wheel. Vibration in the pedal. 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Oct 2016 - Dec 2017
Nov 2017

115000 mi

US $650
Small evaporative leak - diagnosed but would not be able to access leak without removing fuel tank. Declined repair. Fell victim to the dreaded Subaru Head Gasket Leak! Estimate for repair plus timing belt and water pump came to ~$3100. Coupled with other high labor cost repairs that I would need to make within the year, I decided to trade the car in and get a newer vehicle. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Feb 2014 - Aug 2017
Nov 2014

45000 mi

US $300
The muffler and pipe are replaced 
Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States
Mar 2017 - Jul 2018
Dec 2017

145000 mi

US $400
Solunoid Oil Leak 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Apr 2016 - Jan 2022
Jan 2022

182000 mi

US $1700
Replaced both headlamp assemblies due to moisture and broken bulb clip. Replaced both fog lamp assemblies due to broken lenses. Replace upper and lower radiator hoses due to age. Replaced battery under warranty due to failure to hold charge. Flush brake system. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Apr 2011 - Sep 2012
Jun 2011

61000 mi

US $300
Two rear self-leveling struts needed replacement. Replaced with Monroe regular struts. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Jun 2021 - Jun 2022
Mar 2022

89000 mi

US $130
Removed and cleaned the buildup of carbon . 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
- May 2011
May 2011

69782 mi
Computer / tranny 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Sep 2014 - Jun 2022
Oct 2017

212000 mi

US $250
muffler and tail pipe replaced 
Dec 2017

213000 mi

US $100
Replace drivers side window gusset 
Jun 2018

225000 mi

US $900
left front axle Drive shaft replaced because of worn universal joint 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Feb 2013 - Sep 2018
Feb 2014

29200 mi

US $705
Check engine light came on and cruise control light flashed at same time while driving.Replaced Evaporative Emissions Canister. BG fuel induction service. Smoke Test found crack in canister. Adaptive relearn procedure. 
Apr 2016

33000 mi
This trip was to shut off the engine light and reset the cruise control, which keeps tripping, for an unknown reason. 
Jun 2016

33000 mi

US $700
Cracked roll valves. All replaced. 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Mar 2016 - Jun 2018
May 2016

64900 mi
RF outer axle boot damaged/leaking at pre-purchase inspection. Dealer replaced ABS light on. No codes found. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Feb 2012 - Dec 2013
Oct 2013

66000 mi

US $477
Catalytic converter failed and car begin throwing codes. Subaru wants TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS for a replacement catalytic converter! On recommendation of mechanic went with 3rd party cat and car just not driving well now. F'in great. 
Subaru Forester in Manitoba, Canada
Aug 2014 - Jun 2022
Nov 2014

89900 mi
Front struts and rear shocks had to be replaced. All four tires replaced due to cupping from worn shocks. 
Aug 2016

99100 mi

C $400
Driver's side rear fender rust repair and paint. 
Jul 2017

120900 mi

C $586
Replaced both front cv boots, oil change, filter and inspection of brakes. Rotate tires 
Nov 2021

172360 mi

C $600
Battery replaced, tires rotated, side-marker bulb replaced, oil change (synthetic) an oil filter, engine air filter replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Nova Scotia, Canada
Apr 2011 - Nov 2018
Jan 2012

78340 mi

C $600
misfire on 4th cylinder, replaced wires and ignition module 
Feb 2014

66340 mi

C $380
replaced driver window motor. dirty/seized. all exhaust heat shield bolts loose. two shields had fallen off a month ago. rattle solved by removing other four shields 
Mar 2016

87420 mi

C $450
front pipe and gaskets 
Dec 2017

108871 mi

C $4179
head gaskets leaking coolant into engine and onto ground also front brake pads and rotors 
Jan 2018

109740 mi

C $260
new muffler 
Jun 2018

114700 mi

C $380
Right rear wheel bearing changed without removing hub from vehicle 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Sep 2015 - Jun 2016
Sep 2015

161000 mi
Transmission cooling line failed 
Jun 2016

179000 mi
Oil pressure sensors leaking 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Nov 2015 - Jan 2020
Dec 2015

129000 mi

US $119
Hard starting lead to death of battery. Replaced with larger capacity NAPA Legend. Lots of CCAs. 
Sep 2016

136000 mi

US $809
Pass. side caliper stuck, causing brake pad to wear out quickly. Both calipers, rotors and pads replaced in the front. 
Apr 2017

141262 mi

US $28
Leaking spark plug seals and valve cover gasket. Replaced affected seals 
Feb 2018

148500 mi

US $685
Leaking front camshaft seals, seals were replaced, timing belt and associated parts + neighboring seals inspected. 
Jan 2019

155869 mi

US $225
Alternator stopped generating sufficient voltage. 

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2006 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru Forester in India
Feb 2010 - Oct 2011
Oct 2011

80600 mi
Suspension, noise, power windows 

Return to top

2006 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 230hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Oct 2012 - Mar 2016
Dec 2012

122000 mi
Valve cover gasket found to be leaking Extension housing of transmission is leaking slightly. 
Feb 2013

124200 mi

US $20
replaced belt for alternator/power steering pump 
Mar 2014

133000 mi

US $800
radiator leaking at the seams, overheating. required immediate replacement, although I got it to the shop using a couple of tricks. 
Oct 2014

138800 mi

US $20
wheel well plastic guard came off and the tires rubbed through it. required replacement - about $20 part online and 30 minute self-repair 
Nov 2015

151100 mi

US $35
Cv joint boot torn, joint about to fail 
Mar 2016

154000 mi

US $1200
full reseal job - leaking everywhere. Will need new clutch in 10K. Sold. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Oct 2012 - Oct 2015
Nov 2012

63000 mi

C $900
OBD error running rich and secondary injection system failed. replace MAF sensor and Smog air pump 
May 2015

80600 mi
replace front calipers. Replace all rotors and pad 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Apr 2011 - Jul 2018
May 2011

89000 mi
Throwout bearing failure 
Jul 2018

161000 mi

US $1600
Head gasket 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Jul 2009 - May 2016
May 2010

98580 mi
Heated seat repaired. 
Jan 2012

164300 mi

C $700
Turbo oil line leak - 8 hours of labour to change a $74.00 pipe 
Sep 2013

183520 mi

C $6000
head gasket - rebuilt engine 
Jul 2014

196100 mi

C $900
Secondary air pump valves crapped out 
Jun 2015

213900 mi

C $500
AC pulley bearing seized, damaged timing belt cover 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Oct 2010 - Aug 2015
Jan 2011

48980 mi

C $250
Driver-side HID Headlight ballast no longer. Repaired under extended Manufacturer's Warranty. The HID light on the other is not flickering. 
Dec 2011

57660 mi

C $1937
Overhaul / Replace Clutch, Pressure Plate, Throw-out bearing, flush clutch hydrologics and Gear box 
Feb 2013

68700 mi

C $500
Secondary Air Valve (RH) 
Aug 2013

71920 mi

C $130
The HID bulb on the Driver side failed 
Feb 2014

75020 mi

C $645
Suspension: Left Front End Link seized. Engine: Fan belts. 

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2006 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 230hp 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in California, United States
May 2014 - Jan 2015
May 2014

58000 mi

US $176
Secondary emission control problem . Check engine light on. 
Jun 2014

59000 mi

US $2200
Check engine light on. Replacement of pump and associated air valves. 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Nov 2015 - Mar 2018
Feb 2016

135780 mi

C $550
Radiator seam cracked at top, was able to limp to shop. 
Dec 2016

153140 mi

C $180
Misfiring on cylinder 2, bad coil pack. 
Mar 2018

172360 mi

C $350
Alternator replaced 
Subaru Forester in South Africa
Apr 2011 - Jan 2014
Jan 2013

89900 mi

R 4000
Replaced pistons and rebored cylinders 
Subaru Forester in Singapore
Mar 2016 - Sep 2017
Sep 2016

91760 mi

$500
Replaced cam cover gasket 

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2006 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

173-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Feb 2007 - Jun 2011
Nov 2007

30000 mi
Engine goes in 'safe mode' (results in loss of power) apparently due to a disagreement of the throttle and gas pedal encoders in the drive-by-wire system. Same exact symptoms as 2 years ago; back then the CPU board was changed but apparently did not reso 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Feb 2013 - Apr 2014
Mar 2013

98000 mi

US $1550
Throw out bearing wore out. Grinding noise and gripping problem, no evident problem the day before. Repair shop recommended new clutch as well as bearing due to mileage. 
Jun 2013

102000 mi

US $180
Nice cold air when turned on but cooling decreases over 20 minutes until only warm air. Required AC recharge with dye so future leaks (if there are any) can be located. Poor cooling continues and car is on its way back to repair shop. 
Sep 2013

106000 mi

US $25
We need a new headlight every few months. No one can figure out why. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Jun 2011 - May 2012
May 2012

195000 mi

US $100
Bad MAF sensor 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Mar 2014 - Apr 2014
Apr 2014

65000 mi

US $2500
transmission had to be replaced 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Oct 2014 - Oct 2015
Oct 2015

91000 mi
Continual P420 Low catalytic efficiency code. 

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2006 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

173-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in South Carolina, United States
Feb 2017 - Aug 2021
May 2017

154000 mi
Diagnosed oil leak from engine to be leaking oil drain plug. Replaced with Fumoto F-105N Engine Oil Drain Valve which has resolved that leak. Additional oil leak from the valve covers not resolved due to amount of work needed to repair that on this type of engine. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jun 2016 - Jun 2017
Jun 2017

71000 mi

US $3500
headgaskets. 
Subaru Forester in Rhode Island, United States
Mar 2017 - Apr 2017
Apr 2017

157000 mi

US $1000
Check engine light with Cylinder 4misfire. Could be rings or head gasket (again). Mechanic suggested new engine or sell it. I have already put 2 head gaskets in it. Decided to sell it currently shopping for a new vehicle. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Aug 2010 - May 2013
Oct 2010

98000 mi

US $25
Check engine light and flashing cruise control light 
Mar 2012

130000 mi

US $60
poor gas mileage. clean the fuel injectors and changed motor oil and filters. 
Nov 2012

143100 mi
New Battery 
Subaru Forester in West Virginia, United States
Oct 2019 - Nov 2021
Sep 2019

174765 mi

US $6656
Exhaust hangers broke, pipes, muffler, converter replaced Replaces broken sway bar Replaced head gaskets, milled warped heads Replaced water pump 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2009 - Dec 2021
May 2012

53700 mi
Droning sound from passenger side, peaking at 30 mph and again at 50 mph. Dealer replaced right-rear wheel bearing. 
Feb 2013

61660 mi
Hard 3-4 shifts in cold weather immediately after first start after overnight cold soak. Dealer diagnosed leaking seal in transmission and replaced unit under extended warranty. 
Nov 2017

102300 mi

C $300
rear pads & rotors; Strong Automotive broke the ABS sensor ring on RR wheel & replaced it @ no charge 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jul 2009 - Dec 2017
Dec 2014

56000 mi

US $600
Replaced failing power steering pump. 
Sep 2015

57000 mi
Completed repair of an earlier power steering pump failure. Multiple flushings of fluid and second replacement of pump. 
May 2017

61000 mi
Not exactly a repair, more like a diagnosis + wait and see. Slight leakage of oil AND coolant from one cylinder head. Engine has leaked coolant from new. Amount varies with season. Subaru dealer(s) always denied any problem. My independent guy says it's quite common with (older?) Subarus. Keep an eye on it! 
Subaru Forester in New Zealand
Aug 2009 - Jul 2022
Sep 2009

65720 mi
LR Wheel bearing went noisy - rusty at investigation 
Mar 2010

71300 mi

$35
exterior air temp sensor reading low 
Nov 2014

125280 mi

$250
Drivers winder motor died. 
Mar 2018

171740 mi

$380
Rocker cover gaskets 
Apr 2022

189720 mi

$150
Faulty Catalytic sensor fixed by spacing outside exhaust stream. 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Apr 2010 - Jun 2011
Jun 2010

66000 mi

US $350
Air/fuel ratio sensor went bad. Replaced and reflashed ECU by dealer. Problem solved. 
Oct 2010

78000 mi

US $100
Outside temperature sensor not reading correctly 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Jan 2010 - Mar 2016
Feb 2010

56000 mi

US $250
I noticed no problems with the car myself, but the check engine light came on. The shop diagnosed a problem with the air intake temperature sensor. 
Aug 2011

70000 mi

US $650
A/C system developed a leak and lost all coolant. Put in a leak detector to isolate the source, repaired leaky seals, recharged. 
Jan 2013

US $2650
Smelled burning oil, turned out the gasket was leaking. The dealer replaced the timing belt, too, as it was getting worn and it has to be removed for the gasket job anyhow. 
Oct 2015

113500 mi
Car was overheating, turned out to require major transmission work. 
Dec 2015

116000 mi

US $2000
Not sure what the exact problem was but check engine light was flashing. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Apr 2014 - Sep 2015
Jul 2014

139300 mi

US $2200
valve job, head replaced with refurbished one cold air not lasting; recharging did not fix it hard to steer after valve job done; caused by need to move the power steering lines for the valve job; they haven't fixed it yet (probably will have to bleed it) 
Aug 2014

140100 mi
valves needed to be readjusted needed replacement steering pump (for the one they had just put in) 
Sep 2014

141000 mi

US $300
pump was overheating; still not very cold replaced AC compressor 
Sep 2015

143000 mi

US $84
battery died low voltage to oxygen sensor 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Sep 2016 - Nov 2017
Nov 2016

135700 mi

US $1500
Head gasket replacement 9/2016, didn't tighten screw for timing belt. Belt came loose and had to replace valves with new ones. 
Sep 2017

147000 mi

US $130
New thermostat, probably unnecessary. Need a new head gasket just over a year after replacing it. 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Nov 2014 - Jun 2018
Dec 2014

86000 mi

US $1200
Worn power steering pump and rack and pinion. Fixed issue. 
May 2015

93400 mi

US $100
Minor vapor leak. Re-set fault. Happened again. New has cap installed in January. Still problematic. 
Oct 2015

97000 mi

US $1477
105 month timing belt change and small oil leak from head gasket repaired. Price is misleading as it is a 10 hr job for the oil leak and timing belt change was preventative/scheduled maintenance and comes off for the repair anyway. 
Jan 2017

114000 mi

US $520
New tires from misalignment, adjusted alignment, and brake adjustment. 
Mar 2017

118000 mi

US $150
Brake adjustment required after faulty maintenance at previous repair visit. 
Jun 2017

122000 mi

US $975
The car has had a minor vapor leak for some time and finally got it diagnosed and repaired - required dropping the fuel tank to access the part that was bad (I don't recall what it was). Radiator replaced because of crack found during pressure check after replacing part for vapor leak. 
Subaru Forester in Kansas, United States
Jul 2011 - Jun 2018
Apr 2012

68200 mi

US $500
Replaced oxygen sensor 
May 2018

101000 mi

US $40
A weld on the exhaust system had separated. Car was loud. A new weld was made and car sounds normal again. No functional issues with the repair. I also don't believe it was damage from driving, just from rust. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Mar 2013 - Nov 2018
Dec 2013

69000 mi

US $150
Air/fuel ratio sensor 
Apr 2014

73800 mi

US $103
Upper radiator hose replaced 
Jun 2014

78000 mi

US $20
My rear hatch wouldn't unlock. First mechanic said needed a new hatch assembly, $350. Took it to the dealer, which found something loose that was jamming it. Unjammed it for $20. 
Aug 2016

107700 mi
I needed a new alternator. 
Nov 2016

130300 mi

US $195
there was a leak. there was a repair at oil filter/cooler housing. + new o-ring-s and clamp-n 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Dec 2014 - Mar 2016
Mar 2016

25000 mi
Flush & replace transmission fluid. Car was making a noise such as riding on a rumble strip when it shifted into 3rd & 4th gear. Seems to have stopped. 
Subaru Forester in New South Wales, Australia
Dec 2011 - Jun 2016
Nov 2014

103200 mi

A $650
Drivers side window failure, window motor and switch assembly was replaced. 
Nov 2015

109600 mi

A $500
Rear shock absorber leaking, needed replacement. 
Subaru Forester in Iowa, United States
- Jul 2007
Jan 2007

10000 mi
Faulty fuel pump replaced under warranty. The pump was making excessive whine. Dealer determined pump should be replaced. I still think the new pump is a little noisy. 
Jul 2007

15000 mi
Stock radio (single-CD player) replaced after it completely died. Replaced under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Jun 2013 - Oct 2015
Jul 2014

98800 mi

US $155
rear wheel bearing 
Jul 2015

117800 mi
OIL LEAK! This car has used inordinate amounts of oil from the beginning of my ownership. I have spent many hundreds of dollars having it checked and tuned up, at two different dealers (Napleton in Rockford IL and Dahl's in La Crosse WI). 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jan 2013 - Mar 2015
Aug 2014

82120 mi

C $100
Replace worn sway bar end links . 

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2006 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder manual 4WD

Subaru Forester in Spain
Feb 2010 - Jun 2022
Dec 2010

43400 mi

€633
The speedometer pinion crashed and I had to change it 
Jun 2022

190759 mi

€598
The ramp start system does not work properly. 

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2005 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Sep 2011 - Dec 2011
Dec 2011

103000 mi
condenser replaced 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Sep 2011 - Oct 2011
Oct 2011

71000 mi
Check Engine Light was coming on, suspected O2 sensor 

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2005 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 210hp 2.5L I4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Alabama, United States
Jul 2009 - Jun 2018
Jun 2012

105000 mi
Cracked radiator was discovered during oil change. Took it to my go-to mechanic and had them make repairs and give it an overall tuneup as it had just hit 100,000 miles. (Car had been running fine,no overheating despite 90 degree weather). 
Jul 2012

105300 mi

US $53
A rear window switch needed replacing. Driver could roll window up and down but passenger in rear couldn't roll window up. Mechanic replaced it in under ten minutes so he didn't even bother to charge me for labor. (Part ordered prior) 
Apr 2014

117300 mi
Oil gasket leaking; gasket replaced 
Feb 2015

125000 mi

US $3200
replaced front and rear struts as front struts were shot and rear had enough wear to need replacing in future. difficult to find first and reverse gears. Flywheel was removed and retooled as it was damaged. replaced clutch. Clutch was worn out and beginning to slip. 
Dec 2015

130000 mi

US $115
Broken turbo intake hose cause engine stalling. Engine warning light never came on. Shop replaced hose, but due to holidays, shipping from supplier took 3 days. 
Mar 2016

131000 mi

US $1500
Front left brake pad locked down. Shop said it was rusty calipers and replaced front calipers, rotors, lines, pads, everything. Said it wasn't related to prior repair nor hillholder. Wrong. 3 days after complete front brake system replacement, back right rear brake locked down. I took it to diff. repair shop.replaced entire back brake system but brakes remained locked. They suspected ABS but I towed it back to Subaru to complan Dealer shop finally found faulty hill holder was problem-it was locking down the brakes.That was it the whole time. Had to fight dealer to make them cover repairs. They had it on record that I had thought it the hill holder in DEC. 
May 2017

136000 mi

US $400
Cracked boot replaced and another boot that was about to go replaced 
Feb 2018

144000 mi

US $900
A/C not cooling. Recharging revealed a leak in a/c compressor which was replaced, freon added There was a squeak while running. It was a drive belt that needed replacing. It was replaced 
Jun 2018

147000 mi

US $100
I could smell a strong coolant odor and a/c didn't seem as cool. Even on max, fan seemed weak. Shop said that O rings that had been previously replaced were loose. The clamps were tightened and system recharged. I shouldn't have been charged for this as the shop warranties its work for a year but the owner was on vacation and acting manager didn't pass info on to front counter. I'm going to return to shop to get payment back and show them the problem hasn't been resolved completely as I still smell coolant but now only sporadically and fan power is still reduced by half when I turn on a/c. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Oct 2010 - Jun 2013
Dec 2010

73000 mi

US $1000
Replaced springs and struts, struts still functional but showing signs of looming failure, springs replaced to improve handling. 
Jul 2011

80500 mi

US $1500
Cylinder number 4 misfire and rough idle. Cylinder #4 exhaust valve was stuck open. Repair involved removing head, replacing valve bucket, lifters, seats, and readjusting valves. 
Mar 2013

95000 mi

US $2500
Front O2 sensor and mass air flow sensor were replaced. Valve cover gaskets replaced to repair oil leak Thermostat was leaking coolant. Thermostat replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2009 - Feb 2022
Sep 2009

41540 mi
Motor for the moonroof had to be replaced. 
Dec 2009

45260 mi

C $400
Ball joint was found to be damaged due to wear during a brake replacement job. This was replaced during the brake service 
Sep 2011

71300 mi

C $4000
End link failure. Upgraded parts as replacement. 
Jul 2012

81840 mi

C $10
Intermittent failure of AC. Due to AC compressor clutch wear. Solution was obtained through searching in forums. 
Jan 2017

69120 mi

C $163
Idler pulley was worn at the bearing. I was hearing a faint fluctuating squealing sound. It was replaced. 
Feb 2017

115940 mi

C $7
Torn rear windshield wiper fluid line. Torn at the rubber boot that transitions the line from the body to the rear door. Symptoms included leaking fluid at rear wheel well, stains. Fixed by installing a hose connector between the torn piece 
Nov 2017

122760 mi

C $900
leaking rear strut. had to replace both rear struts 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Oct 2010 - Apr 2015
Aug 2013

93000 mi

US $250
Radiator cracked by top main hose outlet. Oil seal on one camshaft seeping into cam belt area. Replaced Crankshaft Seal, 3 of 4 Camshaft Seals. Both accessory belts cracking and worn, due for replacement. 
Sep 2013

93000 mi

US $170
Misfire on one cylinder, followed fuel injector - fuel injector replacement. Not entirely fixed, need to continue investigating. Seems like just doesn't like idling at the afr that it is set to stock, or that for some reason the O2 sensor reading wrong. 
Nov 2014

100000 mi

US $70
Sway Bar Endlink was clunking. replaced both with MOOG joints. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Oct 2012 - Apr 2016
Feb 2013

111480 mi

C $700
Radiator cracked and evap leak. 
Jun 2013

114080 mi

C $700
Blown turbo, installed a used turbo. 
Feb 2014

117800 mi

C $500
PCV valve replaced, AC belt replaced 

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2005 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 210hp 2.5L I4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Alabama, United States
Feb 2015 - Feb 2015
Feb 2015

123000 mi
Diagnostic done: needs: new ball joints, new tires, new steering pump, new transmission. Door latch doesn't work anymore either. No repairs done. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Oct 2009 - Jun 2011
Jul 2010

94000 mi

US $89
LED light switch for fog light repair was $89.00 p/l 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Sep 2010 - Jun 2018
Mar 2010

34237 mi
Replaced failed turbocharger 
Mar 2011

38984 mi

US $1691
Replaced failed turbocharger (2nd time @ only 38K miles) 
Mar 2015

66000 mi

US $1000
Turbo failure 
Aug 2016

87000 mi

US $500
Radiator developed a crack. 
Apr 2017

95000 mi

US $800
Turbo failure. The 4th turbo failed on the car! 
Jun 2017

97500 mi

US $100
Valve leak which caused engine light to come ON. 
Dec 2017

106500 mi

US $55
Check oil burned smell. Tighten valve cover gasket. Issue not solved. Will need to take car back to mechanic for cover gasket replacement. 
Feb 2018

106500 mi

US $1300
Turbo replacement. Gasket valve. Timing belt 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Sep 2010 - Dec 2012
Nov 2011

66000 mi

US $700
Radiator leaking badly--sudden onset Deteriorated handling over last 5000 miles. Went to aftermarket upgraded struts and mounts 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Jun 2010 - Jan 2012
Apr 2011

79300 mi

US $189
Slight rattle in front suspension so had the sway bar link ends replaced, problem solved. 
Nov 2011

83300 mi

US $750
Replaced timing belt & idler pulleys because the bearings in the idlers were starting to make noise 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Feb 2012 - Feb 2012
Feb 2012 Local dealer suggested to my wife the cleaning of the oil system with a solvent. Turbo went out. Complained to Subaru national, supplied service records and they pick up repairs and "dinged" the local shop. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Jun 2011 - Jul 2018
Jul 2012

91000 mi

US $800
Radiator 
Jun 2013

102000 mi

US $450
Drivers side front-window motor replacement. 
Jan 2018

113000 mi

US $700
MAF sensor 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Jul 2011 - Jan 2013
Aug 2011

45500 mi
Turbo failing intermittently - most recent "code" was camshaft overadvanced. Following smoke streaming from tailpipe, brought to the dealer. Out of warranty - waiting for good will from Subaru of America. estimate: $2400 Turbo failing intermittently - most recent "code" was camshaft overadvanced. Following smoke streaming from tailpipe, brought to the dealer. Out of warranty - waiting for good will from Subaru of America. estimate: $2400 
Sep 2011

47000 mi

US $1400
$1000 from Subaru of America, after I escalated it from the first offer of $750. Had to do a lot of fighting for the money. Turbo had to be completely replaced: $2400, $1400 out of pocket. Engine still burns oil. 
Oct 2011

48000 mi
Sunroof cables have broken. Estimate is $1200-$1500. Will not repair this until next spring. 
Mar 2012

57000 mi

US $1000
o2 sensors on engine 
Jan 2013

52000 mi
We just discovered the seat heaters are not working. Trying to diagnose ourselves:switch vs. element before visit to the dealership 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Dec 2014 - Dec 2017
Sep 2017

132000 mi

US $400
One faulty fuel injector was diagnosed. I replaced the faulty one and the other three as preventative maintenance. 
Subaru Forester in Kansas, United States
Jul 2009 - Aug 2014
Sep 2009

59000 mi

US $5
Engine misses while under load at highway speeds. MPG is half of normal. Drove car with service writer and mechanic. "Yes there is a problem. We dont know what it is and we cant just throw parts at a car. Drive it till the CEL comes on." I brought the car home from dealer and after consulting the internet for 3-4hrs, I pulled the ground loops and cleaned them on the wiring harness. (there are 6 grounds on this car) The ground wire for the MAF was corroded. Fixed problem.  
Sep 2013

117000 mi

US $800
Windshield area was rusting out requiring replacement of metal to stop leaks of water. 

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2005 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Oct 2012 - Apr 2013
Nov 2012

73800 mi

US $1100
Transmission seal damaged during head gasket repair that occurred just before I bought the car. Seller paid half. Total was $1,100. 
Apr 2013

78000 mi
Now, according to a dealer, pistons two and four need to be replaced. They sound dry upon start-up. Only 75,000 miles! 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Jan 2014 - Oct 2014
Oct 2014

82000 mi

US $500
Engine idled extremely low and would stall during turns. Cleaned dirty throttle body and replaced battery. Engine running rough and misfiring. Tune up with spark plug replacement. 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Mar 2013 - Nov 2016
Aug 2013

48900 mi

US $284
drivers side window motor replaced 
Jan 2014

US $128
Coolant leak at thermostat 
Dec 2014

55000 mi
Gear shift stuck and wheels locked-mysteriously fixed after towed to mechanic. 
Jul 2015

59200 mi

US $130
Replaced failed drivers window regulator 
Nov 2015

60000 mi

US $190
Fog light brackets totally rusted out and had to be replaced with Subaru parts. I live near the ocean. 
Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Sep 2005 - Jun 2011
Dec 2005

12000 mi
Squeak in dashboard, fixed under warranty 
Feb 2007

28000 mi
driver seat became loose, fixed under warranty 
Subaru Forester in Finland
- Jan 2007
Oct 2006

18786 mi

€80
20000mls service (oil change, oil filter, spark plugs, air filter, compartment air filter) 
Jan 2007

23250 mi

€30
25000mls / oil and filter change 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Sep 2015 - Aug 2018
Jun 2017

83000 mi

US $100
Rust build up behind rotor backing plate. Replaced rear pads and rotors and heard a metallic rubbing noise when turning. Backing plate expanded from rust and rubbing inside of rotor. Per research on subaru forums, needed to grind backing plate down on bottom, under the parking brake to prevent rubbing. Had to disassemble, grind, and reassemble 3 times until I got it right. $100 for rear brakes, 6-8 hours of my time to fix this issue. 
Apr 2018

88000 mi

US $100
Left rear caliper seized an was dragging. Replaced both rear calipers and bled the brakes. Might need new rotors again from the dragging before I noticed and stopped driving. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Mar 2013 - Apr 2015
Jul 2013

107500 mi
Air sensor and air intake path. 
Aug 2013

109000 mi
Window failed to create a seal due to bad gusset. 
Mar 2015

117000 mi

US $740
Dealership cannot stop the throttle from opening unexpectedly, especially when the heat is on and the engine is warm. 
Apr 2015

117000 mi

US $500
Accelerator pedal assembly replaced to stop unexpected throttle. 
Subaru Forester in Nova Scotia, Canada
Dec 2009 - Apr 2014
Oct 2011

91120 mi

C $300
Replaced faulty sensor 
Sep 2013

119660 mi

C $800
Replaced fuel filler neck as it was rusted through. Replaced oil pan 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
May 2012 - Aug 2013
May 2012

120000 mi
Temperature rose rapidly after driving 1.5 hours, coolant leak. Diagnosed as head gasket by out of town shop. Towed home, local shop unable to duplicate. Short trips ok but still overheats on long trips. Head gaskets replaced 6 months ago. 
Jul 2012

122300 mi
Independent shop replaced water pump and timing belt tensioner under warranty to correct overheating problem. Conducted 5 hour test drive to verify fix. 
Jan 2013

US $289
Suspension noise, front stabilizer links were bad 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Apr 2010 - Apr 2011
Jun 2010

90000 mi

US $470
ac condensor leak 

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2005 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2011 - Jun 2018
Sep 2011

75020 mi
Power seat assembly was changed Transmission shifting hard 
Feb 2014

75640 mi
car battery was chenged 
Oct 2017

76880 mi

C $200
After years of low driving milage car battery become week and cannot start the engine 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Aug 2009 - Jun 2016
Dec 2009

92000 mi
Coolant was being pushed out of surge tank. Suspected blown head gasket. Further investigation showed no blown head gasket and it is surmised an air bubble in coolant system might have been problem. 90,000 mile service included flush. 
Apr 2010

97000 mi

US $120
A/C had loss of refrigerant. System was topped off. No leak found this time. Probably very small leak. 
Feb 2013

153000 mi

US $175
Ambient temperature sensor inoperative. Not only did I not have a reading of outside temperature, but it also affected the control of the level of heat (or lack thereof) in the car. 
Jul 2013

163800 mi

US $220
Problem: A/C not making cold air. Solution: Recharge refrigerant. Check for leaks. No leaks found. 
Dec 2013

172000 mi

US $200
Engine was running warmer than normal according to the temp gauge. Gauge never reached the "red" zone. Replaced thermostat and problem was solved. 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Jul 2009 - Feb 2017
Oct 2013

97940 mi

C $2200
Head gasket had leak and was replaced. 
Aug 2014

109120 mi

C $600
Oil was leaking and a burning smell was coming from the engine. There was a small crack in an enclosure where oil was coming from. A sealant was applied to prevent leaking. 
Dec 2014

112220 mi

C $20
Replaced fog light and two marker lights. It took about 30 minutes to change all the lights. Getting access to the bulbs required removing quite a few parts. 
Apr 2015

115300 mi

C $550
Replaced brake pads. Machined rotors. Replaced leaking cylinders. 
Dec 2016

135780 mi
The engine was still running, but the accelerator was not responding. I pulled over and turned off the car. I was able to restart it and drive to a parking lot. It was towed to a shop. Noting was found to be wrong with the accelerator. 
Jan 2017

112220 mi

C $340
Computer detected a misfire condition. Mechanic did a tune up to replace plugs and wiring. 
Feb 2017

135780 mi
The parking brake light sometimes stayed on while driving. It would turn off by itself after driving several kms. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Nov 2009 - Dec 2010
Jan 2010

90000 mi

US $250
Trim - well in door loose Light bulb in clock - cost $175, includes time to remove dashboard to replace -- did not repair Light bulb in gear shift - cost $250, includes time to replace -- did not repair  Exhaust pipe leaking - welder fixed it  
Apr 2010

95500 mi
Faulty fuel tank sensor - internal failure. check engine light came on the next week, but just needed to be cleared out. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Jul 2009 - Apr 2014
Sep 2009

70000 mi

US $100
Sunroof would not close. It was due to the inside screen being off of the track. 
Feb 2010

75000 mi

US $400
CD changer in radio unit would not eject CDs. Unit required replacement for CD function to continue to work. 
Mar 2011

88000 mi

US $3700
both rear struts replaced 
Jun 2013

115000 mi

US $129
Refrigerant recharge. 
Oct 2013

116500 mi

US $475
Starter motor failed and was replaced. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Oct 2009 - Jun 2011
Nov 2009

67000 mi

US $550
Wheel Bearings on Driver rear side failed 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Aug 2010 - Jun 2018
May 2010

59975 mi
Replaced transmission. Cracked gears. Warranty replacement. 
Sep 2010

73500 mi

US $435
Right rear wheel bearing replaced.  Right rear wheel bearing replaced. 
Oct 2012

100534 mi

US $2551
Head gaskets leaked at both heads. Changed all the seals I could. Replaced with STI head gaskets to prevent future need to replace (multi-layer gasket). 
Aug 2014

153075 mi

US $3887
Solenoids in the transmission went bad during high speed freeway travel. Resulted in CEL and lack of gears at operating temperature. As a result, had to replace the solenoids, the torque converter, and all the fluid. 3rd transmission now... Solenoids in the transmission went bad during high speed freeway travel. Resulted in CEL and lack of gears at operating temperature. As a result, had to replace the solenoids, the torque converter, and all the fluid. 3rd transmission now... 
Subaru Forester in Alabama, United States
Mar 2011 - Mar 2012
Feb 2012

85000 mi

US $278
Could smell gas fumes coming from the rear left wheel well. Repair shop removed back seat and tested various items using 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Mar 2011 - Jun 2022
Apr 2011

50000 mi

US $250
replaced head gaskets, timing belts, water pump, spark plugs...mechanic noticed my head gaskets were failing during routine oil change...called Subaru, they got the dealer to repair under a "goodwill repair" paid only $200 for repair 
Nov 2013

69000 mi

US $360
Boot was broken, changed driver side front axle 
Nov 2015

79600 mi

US $150
Rough idle when rainy. Changed the plug wires. 
Aug 2016

85000 mi

US $110
Hood latch would not close, needed to replace 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Jul 2007 - Dec 2012
Mar 2007

28500 mi
Replaced spark plug wires. Car idled rough, sputtered, misfired. Check engine light illuminated 
Sep 2007

34000 mi
Warranty repair. Catalytic Converter. Clutch fork was damaged. Both replaced under warranty. 
Jan 2008

46500 mi

US $100
Replaced ignition coil. Car idled very rough until completely warmed up--check engine light illuminated. 
Feb 2010

76000 mi

US $100
Oxygen sensor. Warranty covered. Head gasket beginning to leak. Warranty replaced. 
Aug 2010

80800 mi

US $450
Freon leak. Repaired, parts replaced, system recharged. 
Mar 2011

86000 mi

US $8000
Car engine sputtered and ran rough. The ignition coils, spark plugs, and spark plug wires were replaced.  
Jul 2012

95300 mi

US $600
A/C did not blow cold air. No leak discovered, recharge of a/c suggested. water pump seized as belt harmonizer cracked and stopped working. 
Dec 2012

97000 mi
Catalytic converter failing Exhaust shield rusted through, began to come loose, and rattle. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Dec 2015 - Mar 2017
Dec 2015

86000 mi

US $450
Car wouldn't start. Battery did not hold a charge and alternator wasn't charging well. Battery and alternator were replaced. Car starts and runs well now. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Sep 2015 - Jul 2016
Sep 2015

129000 mi

US $90
Power steering pump and belt replaced with used pump. 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Aug 2015 - Oct 2015
Sep 2015

156860 mi

C $320
Oxygen sensors failed, replaced both 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Mar 2015 - Jun 2015
Jun 2015

93620 mi
Burning oil one liter + between oil changes 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Apr 2016 - Jun 2016
Apr 2016

140000 mi

US $75
Oil change + replacee radiator hose clamps 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Jul 2016 - Dec 2016
Jul 2016

78000 mi

US $800
rear wheel bearings 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Sep 2011 - Jan 2022
May 2014

37000 mi

US $485
Muffler, catalytic converter, flange and assorted parts rusted and replaced. valve covers leaking 
Mar 2016

59000 mi
Every driving rain storm now causes the "check engine" and "cruse control" lights to illuminate. Goes away by itself in a day or two. Each time the analyzer indicates a different problem. Usually a faulty ignition harness, spark plug or lose gas cap. It also pops on when driving down a straight dry road at speed when the gas pedal is depressed slightly to pass another vehicle. Now I just carry a wrench in the glove box to remove the battery ground for a 10min , replace it and start the car to see if the lights are out. If so it wasn't a real problem so I reset the clock and radio channels and wait for the next inconvenient event. Replacing catalytic converter and sensors fixed it. The drivers side window regulator failed so now I get to push the glass down or pull it up by hand while the motor whirls away uselessly. 
Jun 2016

62000 mi

US $325
Replaced motor and regulator for driver's side window 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jun 2014 - Mar 2018
Jan 2018

141 mi

US $10
replaced downstream o2 sensor - took 20 minutes 
Subaru Forester in Missouri, United States
Oct 2016 - Jun 2022
Apr 2017

135000 mi

US $900
Replaced LL Bean Model load-leveling shocks (expensive only available from Subaru $$$) and had a 4-wheel alignment. 
Oct 2017

140000 mi

US $230
AWD clutch was binding when turning left or right. Shop drained and flushed the transmission to resolve the problem. Tires grab when turning sharply in either direction. I suspected the sealed silicone awd clutch but mechanic flushed trans fluid and freed up internal clutches to resolve the problem. 
Oct 2018

152000 mi

US $93
Check over car complete: brakes, suspension, transmission, engine ... 
Oct 2019

163000 mi

US $281
Rpl Right rear wheel bearing 
Jun 2020

164000 mi

US $10
Replaced left headlight with no low beam. 
Jun 2022

160000 mi

US $120
AC weak 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Aug 2007 - Jun 2012
Jan 2007

17000 mi

US $24000
sunroof 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Sep 2014 - Aug 2019
Jun 2016

114000 mi

US $110
Replace transmission cooling tube because of a pinhole leak. 
May 2017

155000 mi

US $1500
Head gasket repair 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Aug 2009 - Oct 2010
Aug 2009

41000 mi
Vehicle needed rubber mirror/glass junction covering replaced. Due to an error at dealership from the rotor issue, got them to cover the part for free. 
Subaru Forester in Alaska, United States
Oct 2013 - Dec 2013
Dec 2013

113000 mi

US $100
Dead battery 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2012 - Jan 2017
Dec 2012

74400 mi

C $4200
Head gasket replacement and engine overhaul 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Oct 2011 - Dec 2011
Dec 2011

85000 mi

US $20
noise from belts / pulleys / generator 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Mar 2014 - Jun 2014
Jun 2014

183000 mi

US $3700
Internal engine damage. Rebuild required. 
Subaru Forester in Nebraska, United States
Jan 2013 - Jul 2017
Mar 2013

67000 mi

US $2050
Replaced driver's side rear wheel bearing. Both head gaskets where leaking, car was overheating. Replaced both head gaskets, and timing belt/timing components. 
Jan 2014

74500 mi

US $470
Driver's side spark plug tube seals and valve cover gasket leaking. Replaced spark plug tube seals and valve cover gaskets on both sides. 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Apr 2014 - Aug 2015
Aug 2015

68000 mi
failing rear transaxle 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jan 2016 - Jan 2017
Mar 2016

87420 mi

C $430
rusted brake line 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Sep 2014 - Jul 2016
Oct 2014

131700 mi

US $100
Both end links broken. Replaced with no name brand. 
Apr 2016

152200 mi
Catalytic Converter 
Jul 2016

158000 mi

US $60
freon 

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2005 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder manual 4WD

Subaru Forester in India
Jan 2010 - Feb 2012
Jun 2010

55180 mi

$50000
Car was burning too much engine oil. Engine opened to replace piston rings and cylinder damage was discovered. New oversize pistons and rings were ordered and installed. Clutch was also replaced. Clutch disc was found slightly damaged when the car was in the repair shop for new pistons and rings. It was replaced. The timing belt was damaged by mistake during the engine rebuild. This belt had been installed only 15k kilometeres earlier in April 2009. The original belt that had been replaced then (preventive maintenance) was put back in. The thermo valve was found to be not functioning properly. It has been taken out for now and bypassed. When the part becomes available, it will be installed. 
Sep 2010

56420 mi
The exhaust system had a leak and was also rattling. 
May 2011

61880 mi

$1800
Front wheel bearings replaced 
Jun 2011

62000 mi
Front ball joints replaced 
Sep 2011

63240 mi
Error code showing one bank of air fuel sensor malfunctioning. The sensor was replaced. 

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2005 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Finland
Jul 2011 - Apr 2012
Sep 2011

86800 mi

€330
sec. airflow pump and valves replaced. Errorcodes 2441, 1440 

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2005 Subaru Forester 4-door

2-cylinder automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Oct 2013 - Apr 2014
Apr 2014

85000 mi

US $500
Suspension was off and the stabilizer sway bar link was broken on the right side. Suspension still a little off - seems to drag something when I go over a speed bump or small incline. Mechanic said its likely due to suspension - pot holes 

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2004 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 210hp 2.5L I4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Nov 2009 - Mar 2012
Dec 2009

81000 mi
Air Bag light lit. Contact cleaner on yellow wire connection under drivers seat. Problem went away. 
Mar 2011

104000 mi

US $600
Turbo died, made horrible noises, very little power. Replaced turbo with another used one (from a friends WRX) 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
- Nov 2006
Nov 2006

90000 mi
Driver's side rear wheel bearing failed. Sourced entire replacement hub from local salvage and performed the repair myself. Dealer quoted $375 to replace the bearing. 
Subaru Forester in Alaska, United States
Feb 2011 - Jun 2017
Sep 2016

129000 mi

US $1200
Clutch replacement 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Aug 2011 - Sep 2014
Nov 2013

84600 mi

US $300
Crack in plastic radiator cap leaked coolant. Replaced with fully welded alum radiator 
Feb 2014

86300 mi

US $350
Blown turbo was replaced with used unit 
Jul 2014

87000 mi

US $150
Front CV axles Ball joints and one tie rod replaced 
Subaru Forester in Arizona, United States
Dec 2010 - Jun 2011
Jan 2011

105000 mi

US $380
Radiator leaked and was replaced. 
Jun 2011

107000 mi
High oil consumption, e.g. 2 quarts every fill up. The mechanics suspect engine cylinder problem or PCV valve problem. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Dec 2007 - Jun 2018
Oct 2012

86000 mi

US $150
Rear brakes and rotors 
Aug 2014

97600 mi

US $1980
blown turbo 
Apr 2017

103000 mi

US $150
Bad alternator and belt 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Sep 2011 - Apr 2012
Nov 2011

103000 mi
moonroof motor not working, roof wouldn't close all the way = leaking into interior 

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2004 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 210hp 2.5L I4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Wyoming, United States
Jul 2010 - Jun 2011
Sep 2010

121000 mi
"clicking" in engine - repair shop could not locate source of "click" without dissasembling the engine block. Told me to take it to dealer for repair. Decided to purchase another car and accept trade-in loss. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Nov 2010 - Mar 2011
Dec 2010

89000 mi

US $270
2 of 4 cylinders suddenly misfired. Dealer diagnosed carbon-choked rods. Rebuilt engine. Did not fix problem. Replaced clogged oil control solenoid valve controlling cylinders 1, 3. Radiator leaking after return from dealer. Replaced radiator at 3rd party shop. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Dec 2007 - Jul 2013
Mar 2011

86000 mi

US $100
Fuel lines leaked under the intake manifold. Gas smell was noticed inside the car when weather was very cold (30F or below). This only happened when A/C was turned on (with the Recirculate function turned Off). 
Jun 2012

97000 mi

US $400
Radiator leaking 
Sep 2012

97000 mi

US $370
Rear wheel bearing was noisy. Replaced wheel bearing. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Dec 2009 - Aug 2012
Jan 2011

93900 mi

US $50
Airbag light on- wire got snagged under passenger seat 
May 2011

92900 mi

US $70
Car wouldn't start 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Dec 2007 - Aug 2016
May 2008

58000 mi

US $210
Air bag warning light. Problem is in the passenger side impact air bag. There's a TSB on the problem. The recommended solution is to replace a connector in the air bag wiring Replaced connector as recommended in the TSB. Repair did not solve the problem 
Nov 2011

100000 mi

US $50
Slow coolant leak at the fitting at the base of the radiator 
Apr 2014

120300 mi

US $56
check engine light came on due to a piece of foam caught in camshaft angle sensor. Repair was accomplished by removing the foam. 
Nov 2014

125000 mi

US $525
Variable Valve timing solenoid had was stuck in the fully advanced position by a small piece of something. 
Jun 2016

136000 mi

US $500
AC condenser damaged by road debris. Replaced condenser. No other damage, no idea how long ago the damage occurred. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Oct 2009 - Nov 2012
Apr 2010

74000 mi
Rear windshield wiper motor is noisy. Dealer's estimated cost of repair is $300. Decided to wait until next service appointment for the repair because the dealer did not have the part (windshield wiper motor) in stock. 
Jul 2011

88000 mi

US $305
Rear windshield wiper motor noisy (noted on previous visit to this dealer). Replacement performed at Subaru dealer, noisy wiper motor replaced with new rear windshield wiper motor. Noise problem totally solved.  
Nov 2011

91800 mi

US $152
During preventive maintenance replacement of head light bulbs (still working but old) by Dealer, mechanic found melted l/f head light bulb socket. New wiring and l/f head light socket installed. 
Subaru Forester in Alabama, United States
Sep 2008 - Jun 2015
Mar 2008

46000 mi

US $700
A/C belt pulley tensioner replaced recharged system done at dealer under extended warranty gold plan 
Mar 2009

63800 mi
Front left wheel bearing, covered by extended warranty. 
Dec 2009

85000 mi

US $500
Very serious problem. In temps below 0 deg. F fuel lines start leaking. Smoke coming from under hood, initially thought it was water. Had to remove manifold and tighten fuel lines. Extended warranty denied coverage. 
Dec 2011

123000 mi
ongoing clunk from either transmission or differential, diff fluid clean & fairly new as is trans fluid, clunk is sporadic and goes away, normally only happens once per every few weeks, will try changing fluids, probable long term issue 
Oct 2013

143800 mi

US $200
right front inner cv joint boot split, typical problem with this vehicles due to boot location near engine exhaust manifold. Not really bad I guess, it lasted 130k + miles. OEM new part as best replacement is expensive. inner front tires are wearing out faster than proper, likely worn out suspension part problem? need to investigate fully, will report situation investigation results next quarter, not bad for vehicle with 130k+ miles hood latch doesn't shut fully-push down aftr opening hood y it will not close fully-slamming hood no help, pushing down by sitting on hood edge worked 2x-removed/cleaned/reinstall, will probably last 10k, repeat issue from about 10k ago air conditioning air sometimes has moldy smell, known issue with many vehicles from 200-2007, ac condenser too small is general consensus, not bad this year, very dry year, previous repair by spraying borax infused water in2 vents kills mold 
Jan 2014

148000 mi
inner right cv boot (the one near heat location near exhaust) totally failed on trip to cold weather state for holiday, not many tools as locations, had to use too big split boot type for temp repair, worked ok too awhile, good temp fix 
May 2014

156000 mi

US $9
rear left brake caliper piston stuck, removed caliper, cleaned piston and caliper rust, purchased caliper seal repair kit (had to order not stocked) replaced seals, caliper working good, lots of work, suggestion is 2buy reman caliper 
Dec 2014

161000 mi
replaced both front sway bar links, for ease of replacement buy units with wrench flats or use a thin vice grip wrench to hold shaft from turning while tightening the fastener nuts, steering felt tighter after replacement replaced front right cv axle, extreme wheel wobble felt thru steering wheel on uneven roads, inner cv joint had failed with 2 of 3 bearing races entirely worn out allowing axle to move in the race, up and down movement on axle right valve cover has slow leak of oil, drips onto exhaust and turbo exhaust piping causing smoke, just starting leaking enough for drips overnight, due to mileage and exhaust heat, expected repair after 150k miles, check "half moons" also 
Feb 2015

162100 mi
right valve cover now leaking excessively, cannot drive vehicle with that much oil leak, car taken out of service until problem is fixed, might end up fixing both sides and half moons all at once if half moons rear seal pieces are accessible 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Dec 2008 - Jul 2019
Sep 2009

134000 mi

US $108
Cam position sensor failed and caused rough idle and stalling. 
Apr 2010

144000 mi

US $630
Rear wheel bearings started getting noisy around 141k miles. Both rear bearings were replaced. 
Oct 2010

152000 mi

US $260
Original radiator sprung a leak about a mile from home. Noticed steam coming from under the hood as I pulled into driveway. Top plastic end tank split where it meets the radiator core. Replacement Koyorad ordered and installed. 
Jan 2014

191000 mi

US $484
Left rear wheel bearing was beginning to make noise. Shop installed new wheel bearing, bearing seals, and axle nut. 
Nov 2015

194600 mi

US $393
Steering feel became loose and wobbly over time. Took vehicle to Subaru specialist for replacement of worn inner and outer tie rods, boots and ball joints. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Nov 2009 - Apr 2013
Apr 2013

70000 mi

US $700
sunroof would not open 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Jun 2007 - Mar 2014
Feb 2009

65100 mi
Catalytic converter replaced under orig warranty. 
Jun 2009

73160 mi
clips holding front/rear fascia rotted out, replaced 
Sep 2010

80600 mi

C $400
breather fallen off cat converter trip cel 
Aug 2011

93000 mi

C $300
a/c interrmittant 
Jul 2012

108500 mi
clutch problem, new compressor needed 
Aug 2012

109500 mi

C $1200
compressor dead. re and re 
Mar 2013

114700 mi

C $50
Clogged cam oiling valve caused check engine 
Jul 2013

118300 mi

C $500
drivers window motor replacement 
Mar 2014

121520 mi

C $165
blew the turbo after getting a p0011 code. filter in the banjo clogged, starved turbo and we lost it. sold the car as is to a kid to play with, as replacement turbo was too much for 10 years old 
Subaru Forester in Georgia, United States
Dec 2008 - Jun 2011
Feb 2009

56000 mi

US $200
Front sway bar bushing was bad. 
Jun 2009

59000 mi

US $330
small ac coolant leak.  
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Nov 2008 - Mar 2010
Dec 2008

121000 mi

US $180
Worn suspension link. 
Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States
May 2012 - May 2016
Apr 2012

145000 mi

US $850
A/C Compressor Replace, A/C evacuate and recharge 
May 2012

146000 mi

US $202
Engine Sludge caused CEL. Full engine flush and detergent cleaning followed by dealer oil change 
Mar 2013

152000 mi

US $1323
Turbo Rebuild and replacement. Replacement of gaskets and banjo joints. Antifreeze leak also fixed. 
Apr 2013

152500 mi

US $611
RH Oil Control Valve, Hoses, and Gaskets Replacement 
May 2013

154000 mi

US $413
All engine coil packs and spark plugs replaced due to dead cylinders. 
Nov 2013

165000 mi

US $15
Replaced both headlights for the first time since owning the car 
Feb 2014

168000 mi

US $389
Replaced idler pully Replacement of Fuel line under turbo and hoses and clamps associated with the line 1.5qts low on oil. triggered code P0021. Oil was changed and refilled. Seized caliper and new pads all around. New rotors on the front axle 
Jan 2016

171700 mi
Camshaft position sensor had degraded over the life of the car, causing stalls during acceleration. 
Apr 2016

195000 mi

US $3500
Complete turbo rebuild and engine flush. 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Feb 2014 - Jun 2014
Feb 2014

112000 mi

US $400
Turbo broke while normal driving at 65 mph. Turbo replaced, along with gaskets. New turbo worked perfectly for 950 miles, broke while normal driving at 65 mph. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Dec 2013 - Apr 2014
Dec 2013

160000 mi

US $200
Overheated and subsequently damaged turbo. Likely caused by neglected oil changes. Replaced turbo with used part from junkyard. 
Subaru Forester in Georgia, United States
Jun 2013 - Jan 2015
Jul 2013

130800 mi

US $3000
Timing belt skipped 7 teeth within 10,000 miles of being replaced. Had to replace timing belt pullies,and get top end rebuilt due to bent rods. 
Jan 2015

155000 mi

US $10
Mass Air Flow Sensor needed to be cleaned again. Every six months or so I get a code PO171. Cleaning the mas air flow sensor seems to fix it. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jan 2015 - Apr 2015
Jan 2015

273000 mi

US $500
Replaced front boots and axel. 
Feb 2015

273800 mi

US $1900
The turbo blew. 
Apr 2015

278000 mi

US $5600
Heads and block had cracks. Replaced valves, heads, all hoses, steering fluid pump. I turned it over to the technician to keep as his own per his request. He paid the bill for me. 

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2004 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Oct 2014 - Oct 2014
Oct 2014

162000 mi

US $500
Cracked head 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Aug 2011 - Mar 2019
Nov 2011

83500 mi

US $1120
Throwout bearing failed. Replace clutch and throwout bearing. Refill with synthetic fluid. Throwout bearing failed and buzzing loudly. Clutch shuddering. Replace clutch and throwout bearing. Refill with synthetic fluid. 
Aug 2017

115000 mi

US $311
Replace transmission neutral switch to correct severe shuddering while driving. Remove buzzing heat shield. Remove rust from rear rotor to prevent parking brake from grinding on rotor when making turns. 
Nov 2017

118000 mi

US $587
Engine surging/stumbling. Starved for fuel. Replaced faulty idle air control valve and, as precaution, evap canister purge valve. 
Jun 2018

126000 mi

US $160
Replaced clutch master cylinder, clutch slave cylinder, and hydraulic hose. Clutch master cylinder was leaking and not holding pressure. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Dec 2007 - Jun 2018
Feb 2013

124000 mi

US $1612
Center Differential replaced 
Nov 2013

135200 mi

US $80
Replaced cv axel because right front inner boot failed Replace rear wheel bearing 
Apr 2015

158300 mi
Ball Joint replacement 
Apr 2016

170800 mi

US $340
Leaking Muffler 
Jan 2017

180000 mi

US $400
Replaced Head Gaskets Machine Ship 250 dollars Parts about 150 
Mar 2017

183000 mi

US $20
FOG LIGHT REPLACEMENT bulbs 
Mar 2018

195000 mi

US $270
leaking rear wheel brake cylinders 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Jun 2010 - Jan 2013
Jul 2010

100000 mi
threw code P0519 cleaned IACV  
Nov 2010

107000 mi

US $580
Timing Belt and idler assembly replaced. Tensioner was squealing like a pig and book says to do it at 105k. Also while I had things apart did the water pump, thermostat, cam/crank seals, and accessory belts. Rear Wheel Bearing replaced. was grinding pretty badly 
Jan 2012

137000 mi

US $50
Front ball joint replacement 
Aug 2012

145300 mi

US $150
Driveshaft u joints started to squeak, replaced driveshaft with one from junkyard with <100k on it for 150 bucks. Easy fix. 
Jan 2013

135000 mi
Vapor canister clogged resulting in not being able to fill with gas, did not affect driveability. Took 10 min to repair. 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Apr 2017 - Jan 2018
May 2017

148890 mi

US $220
My car was skipping when I accelerated, and it got progressively worse over the course of 3 days. I took it in fearing the worst, headgasket, but they replaced the Plugs and Wires and it's running fine now. Not perfect, but good enough 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Nov 2009 - Mar 2010
Dec 2009

51000 mi

US $400
reported loss of power  
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Nov 2008 - Mar 2010
Nov 2008

118420 mi

C $550
Suspension bushing rear stabilizer Rear Right bearing Suspension end links 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Aug 2008 - Feb 2010
Feb 2010

108000 mi
Needed a new head gasket within the next few months. Traded. 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Aug 2009 - Sep 2016
Sep 2009

63240 mi

C $340
oxygen sensor 
Dec 2009

75020 mi

C $500
leaking coolant from head gasget 
Mar 2010

77500 mi

C $50
slight coolant leak from head gasket 
Jun 2010

79980 mi
Air Bag light on 
Jul 2010

80600 mi

C $300
rear wheel bearing 
Feb 2012

86160 mi

C $450
Driver's power window motor was seized, therefore replaced 
Apr 2012

88040 mi

C $160
Air bag light on. Faulty wiring detected under driver's seat. 
Jul 2013

104140 mi

C $950
Replaced timing belt and water pump, cam and crank seals, re: minor oil leaks. 
May 2014

116560 mi

C $2120
Valve cover gasket and spark plug tube seals 
Apr 2015

128100 mi

C $700
Left front brake calliper seized. Replaces calliper plus rotors and pads. 80k since last serviced for front brakes. 
Oct 2015

136060 mi

C $100
Oil seepage 
Jan 2016

138960 mi

C $300
Left front brake caliper seized 
Apr 2016

141740 mi

C $430
Rear wheel bearing 
Aug 2016

146940 mi

C $20
Exhaust system, bolts to manifold came loose 
Sep 2016

148800 mi

C $400
Leaking oil, valve cover gadgets replaced 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Nov 2014 - Nov 2014
Nov 2014

60000 mi

US $3000
intake injector rails leaked gas, serpentine belt replaced, window howled due to poor seals, rotors replaced at only 40k 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Jan 2017 - Apr 2017
Feb 2017

157000 mi

US $1500
Engine issues related to car losing power and stalling. Full clutch replacement. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Aug 2008 - Aug 2012
Sep 2008

87000 mi

US $25
Engine temp was fluctuating. Dealer replaced radiator cap, No problem seen since.  
Jul 2012

124000 mi

US $1600
CEL lit, dealer replaced valves of evaporative emissions system. CEL lit again, so a second trip- dealer replaced charcoal canister, which had ruptured. CEL lit again, so a third visit. Dealer cleaned tank and replaced fuel pump. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jun 2011 - Jul 2011
Jul 2011

73000 mi

US $800
The rattling noise was in the back of the car. Mechanic cut off the heat shield, it did help but the problem did not go away. 
Subaru Forester in Vermont, United States
Sep 2011 - Jun 2018
Oct 2011

106000 mi

US $830
One bad drive belt pulley. 
Sep 2012

118000 mi

US $850
One of the timing belt pulleys failed, so had to have the entire timing belt, pulleys, water pump replaced, with Subaru parts. Previous replacement of above mentioned parts (only 6,000 miles ago) was with non-Subaru parts, but "good" parts. 
Dec 2012

122000 mi

US $932
One of the pulleys in the timing belt assembly started to come appart after only 4,000 miles since timing bely , etc.replacement. Since I was on the road when this happened, I had the timing belt and all pulleys plus water pump replaced. 
Jan 2015

151000 mi
rear strut, rear brake pad set, rear rotor, rear sway bar links, air filter, trans/dif. gear oil. 
Jul 2017

168300 mi

US $300
A/C repair 
Aug 2017

169000 mi

US $268
The alternator needed replacement. 
Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Jan 2012 - Feb 2013
Feb 2012

174400 mi
After purchasing car, I noticed a large crack in the windshield under the wipers. The dealership replaced this at no cost to me. 
May 2012

177000 mi

US $250
A/C Compressor clutch quit functioning properly. Replaced with used A/C compressor. 
Feb 2013

184000 mi
Issues developing with the transmission/AWD system. Time to trade it in. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jul 2011 - Jun 2018
Nov 2015

70000 mi
Keep getting "Check Engine" light, it's a code 5301 which turns out to be the neutral switch on the Transmission. Resets itself eventually and light goes off so no fix for now. Belt squealing - had been replaced recently, shop believes it just needed adjusting and did so no charge. 
Jan 2016

43200 mi

US $12000
Clutch was slipping and was replaced 
Feb 2016

74000 mi
Trim on passenger side door came off Wind noise bad on driver's side, moderate on passenger side. Check engine light comes on, generally after driving down a (steepish) hill. code reads 5301 Appears to be not uncommon and is the Neutral switch on the transmission. Doesn't seem to require a repair, engine light resets itself within a couple of trips. 
Apr 2017

84000 mi

US $100
Stuttering/hesitating when gas given, esp. going up hills. Spark plugs and cables replaced 
May 2017

84000 mi

US $250
Right rear bearing was noisy, normal repair 
Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Dec 2011 - Jun 2015
Dec 2014

99000 mi

US $900
Wheel bearing wore out 

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2004 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Sep 2013 - Dec 2013
Oct 2013

89280 mi

C $340
Muffler pipe had hole next to forward hanger & cracks on mid pipe next to hangar replaced with OEM style parts at 144000 km 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Dec 2007 - Jul 2011
Oct 2010

93000 mi

US $42
vent control solenoid malfunction. Reset CE light; tested solenoid, working ok 
Feb 2011

98700 mi
Owner observed coolant leakage and burning smell. Leak not definitively located; thermostat housing may be leaking; recommend replacement of thermostat and all hoses; waiting until timing belt replacement. Did not recur. 
Apr 2011

102000 mi

US $10
oil leak observed front of engine, added oil stop leak 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Jun 2008 - Mar 2010
Jul 2008

75000 mi

US $2000
Turbo went out. Air bag sensors in the front seats malfunctioned. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Mar 2010 - Jun 2016
Mar 2014

96000 mi

US $42
Had a CEL for emission system 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Feb 2013 - Apr 2018
Apr 2018

83000 mi
Oxygen sensor 
Subaru Forester in Vermont, United States
Oct 2010 - Feb 2012
Feb 2011

109000 mi

US $102
Exhaust flange and gasket needed replacing. Part of exhaust pipe needed welding. 
Feb 2012

120000 mi

US $230
Rusted fuel neck filler pipe and corresponding components replaced 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Sep 2011 - Apr 2018
Jun 2011

132000 mi

US $800
Replaced catalytic converter with bolt-on replacement in order to pass inspection (CEL on since purchase, but no driveability issues) 
Jul 2011

138000 mi

US $600
Front oxygen sensor replaced. 
Aug 2012

142000 mi

US $12
gap between a/c clutch and ac pulley out of spec. I removed the ac clutch and took out two spacers and re-installed. 
Jun 2015

169000 mi

US $110
Belt/pulley tensioner for the A/C belt broke and had to be replaced. Ran OK with broken tensioner, but couldn't adjust or replace the belt 
Jan 2018

188000 mi

US $600
Replaced rear wheel cylinders (drum brakes) due to leaking and front rotors and pads (disc brakes). One of the rotors was damaged, but there was no damage to the caliper. 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Dec 2011 - Feb 2015
Jan 2015

179000 mi

US $300
Starter failed, replaced within a day, required towing cost $300 since it was remote area ... 
Feb 2015

258000 mi
Axle $600 to repair, estim. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Apr 2018 - Jun 2018
May 2018

160200 mi

US $300
Replaced sway bar ends. Also, full pre-buy type inspection and a/c recharge. 
Subaru Forester in Arizona, United States
Oct 2012 - Nov 2012
Nov 2012

176000 mi

US $230
idler pulley for A/C bearing failed. Replaced that, and the belts. 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Feb 2012 - Mar 2012
Mar 2012

132000 mi

US $585
main exhaust pipe cracked 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
May 2008 - Jun 2011
Dec 2008

60000 mi
Head gasket replaced 
Apr 2010

72000 mi
head gasket replaced second time by dealer 
Jun 2011

95000 mi

US $800
AC compressor replaced AC compressor replaced 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Oct 2009 - May 2018
Jun 2009

59936 mi

US $300
Transmission pan leaking transmission fluid. Re-seal pan. 
Oct 2009

65228 mi

US $500
Front crank seal leaking oil. Replace seal. Charge is almost all labor. Had timing belt replaced at the same time but deducted $112 cost of belt from the $500 repair figure. Total cost for visit with timing belt and oil change was $640.52. 
Dec 2009

67000 mi

US $107
Heat shields vibrating under car. Still not right. Will return for re-repair at next oil change. 
Apr 2010

70000 mi
Heat shields around catalytic converter refastened 
Oct 2011

90000 mi

US $400
Replace Valve Cover Gaskets and Tube Seals. Oil dripping on spark plugs. 
Dec 2012

105000 mi
Tighten exhaust heat shields which were vibrating during acceleration. 
Jan 2013

107000 mi

US $387
Replaced bushings and end links on front sway bar to eliminate clunking over bumps. Tech noted on invoice that he recommends drivers side and passenger side head gaskets. Not happy. Keeping an eye on oil and anti-freeze levels. 
May 2013

110700 mi

US $225
Replace head gaskets. Replace timing belt, accessory belt and A/C belt. Subaru, to their credit, have offered me a goodwill check of $500 towards the repair, offsetting some of the $2066 cost. Rear wheel cylinders leaking. Would not pass inspection. Replace cylinders, new shoes and cut drums. Replace pads up front and cut rotors. Flush brake fluid. Total was $500. Estimated $225 for wheel cylinders. 
Jan 2014

107500 mi
replace lower radiator hose and thermostat to stop coolant leak. this is a follow-up to the June 2013 head gasket replacement. Due to coolant loss I thought there was an issue with that repair. It took 3 trips for the dealership to fix. N/C. 
Mar 2015

136000 mi

US $40
Replace oil cooler gasket to stop oil drip. Exhaust System heat shield vibrating. Found loose heat shield. Drilled hole and inserted screw to wedge against exhaust pipe. Fastened 3" clamp around heat shield. Noise fixed. $1.56. 
Jun 2015

140000 mi

US $360
Replaced evaporator core and expansion valve behind dashboard.Core had leak. Added compressor oil and dye. Ran vacuum pump for one hour. Waited one hour to be sure vacuum held. Recharged system. Price includes gauges, pump and tools. 
Mar 2017

160000 mi

US $30
Upper radiator hose ballooned. Was about to let go. Glad I caught it as it looked normal when the engine was cool. Bought Dayco cut-to-fit hose first. Bad fit at radiator due to excessive bend. Found Subaru OEM hose and clamps at dealer number 7. First 6 no go.Perfect fit of course. 
Jan 2018

166000 mi

US $136
Wire, plug and blower fan receptacle damaged due to overheating at one contact. Remove contact from plug, cleanup and use epoxy glue to hold in place along with new wire. Resolder wires to main harness wiring. Install new blower fan. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Dec 2011 - Aug 2019
Nov 2013

68080 mi

C $75
These older Subarus have an issue with rattles in the exhaust system - specifically, the heat shields placed around the exhaust. I had to have the dealer fix a rattle in this area. 
Jan 2014

68920 mi

C $500
Passenger side front sway bar link broken; sway bar links on both sides replaced. The steering had been feeling heavy, and I was told this was due to 'binding' of the transfer clutches. The transmission system was drained, flushed, refilled, and an additive used to prevent further binding. The airbag sensor under the front seats in these older Subarus has a history of failure due to moving the seat back and forth. I had been noticing the airbag light coming on occasionally. Both front seat sensor harnesses were replaced. 
Jul 2014

70060 mi

C $500
Part 1: The transmission shifter (automatic) was sticky/heavy to shift. This required a cleaning of the shifter area. Part 2: It was also difficult to get the transmission into Park in order to remove the key. This required a new bushing The infamous heat shield rattle. This dealership had attempted to fix it once before; I chose to have the shields removed. 
Nov 2014

71300 mi

C $100
This is a third trip back for the sticky transmission issue from earlier this year. This time, it was the seat heaters not working. During the previous repair, the harness for the seat heaters was not properly re-plugged. 
Subaru Forester in Kansas, United States
Dec 2010 - Feb 2018
Jan 2011

54000 mi

US $200
Both head gaskets started leaking! Discovered during routine oil/filter change at 54,000 miles. 5yr/60k factory warranty on my Forester was 2 yrs beyond time limit but 6k within miles so Subaru of America covered it, less a $200 deductible. 
Nov 2016

105300 mi

US $471
L-rear wheel bearing failing. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Jan 2010 - May 2013
Jan 2010

90501 mi

US $500
Replaced clock bulb ($6+labor). Replaced valve cover gasket for internal engine oil leak ($98 + labor). Replaced oil soaked ignition wires and coil pack due to coil burnt/rusted #1 cylinder (~$310 total). 
Feb 2010

91000 mi

US $48
Check engine light diagnostics report a "Vent Control System Malfunction." Shop thoroughly examined each component and was unable to find a problem. 
Mar 2010

92000 mi
Return of check engine light with same diagnostic error code. Dealer service checked entire vent control system and could not find a problem. They have contacted Subaru for solution. 
Subaru Forester in Missouri, United States
Mar 2009 - Dec 2011
Jun 2010

60000 mi

US $30
AWD system chattered when turning sharply at low speeds. Corrected by replacing transmission/transfer case lubricant. 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Apr 2013 - Jan 2016
Jan 2014

111140 mi

C $250
Changed starter and battery, car stoped to start when minus 30 celcius in quebec 
Jan 2016

130200 mi

C $200
Coil pack damaged, had to change Transmission was lazy, result of Fluid Leak, had to seal pipe. Wiper linkages where slack, had to change linkage 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Dec 2012 - Jan 2022
May 2013

179000 mi

US $95
exhaust resonator replaced, full piece from catalytic converter to muffler. $92 shipped and $3 back gasket. 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Feb 2009 - Oct 2021
Mar 2015

74400 mi
Replace door lock actuator. Replaced head light wiring harness. The drivers side headlight was burnt out. Upon inspection the wiring harness was melted. Replaced head light wiring harness 
Nov 2015

85560 mi

C $2500
Replaced head gaskets Replaced fuel pump 
Nov 2017

88660 mi

C $400
Rear hatch lock replaced 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Jan 2010 - Jun 2018
Feb 2015

52000 mi

US $200
Replace 5-year old battery and corroded cables 
Dec 2015

54000 mi
First reported slow cranking and failure to start in July; dealer svc dept. said all systems were up to spec after quick recharge. Failed to start again in late Dec. Initial test still showed no trouble, but next day found bad cell in batt. 

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2003 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru Forester in Great Britain
Nov 2014 - Feb 2016
Apr 2015

86000 mi
Drive shaft sheared. Repairs still in progress, seeking a good used part. 
Dec 2015

87000 mi

£3000
Rear diff disintegrating 
Feb 2016

87000 mi
Rear diff disintegrating 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Sep 2010 - Jun 2011
Oct 2010

140000 mi

US $500
airbag light on. Replaced clockspring. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Aug 2016 - Dec 2016
Sep 2016

192000 mi
Head gasket replacement, also replaced timing belt. Catalytic converter replaced 
Dec 2016

193000 mi

US $50
Vacuum leak 
Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States
Jul 2016 - Dec 2016
Dec 2016

88000 mi
Head gasket issue. Got an estimate 3500. 

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2003 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Oct 2008 - Aug 2015
Apr 2010

71000 mi

US $1000
Catalytic Converter 
Dec 2014

104000 mi

US $800
EGR Problem 
Subaru Forester in Kentucky, United States
Mar 2015 - Mar 2016
Mar 2016

149000 mi

US $1800
head gasket. second for the car 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Aug 2011 - Oct 2016
Jul 2016

109200 mi

US $300
Bad driver's side rear wheel bearing. Replaced bearing and bearing seals. 
Subaru Forester in Georgia, United States
May 2008 - Sep 2017
Jun 2008

58000 mi

US $50
Check engine light came on because fuel filler vacuum misread. 
Feb 2010

73400 mi
Strong fuel odor in cold weather. 
Oct 2010

81000 mi
Catalytic converter failure detected at 80,800 miles. Federal warranty for catalytic converters is for 80,000 miles, but because of a lawsuit settlement over misleading odometer readings, Subaru has extended coverage to 84,000 miles. 
Jan 2011

84000 mi

US $280
Rear break cylinder seals leaking. Were replaced. Replaced bulb in clock light, which had not operated for several years. Cost $5 -- previous shop had quoted $150. 
Aug 2011

90000 mi

US $170
Check engine light came on. Code indicated fuel vapor pressure leak. Smoke test conducted, no problem found. Updated computer codes. 
Mar 2012

96000 mi

US $25
Exterior trim piece adjacent to lower right of left rear door had come loose and the attachment toggle was damaged, so it couldn't be secured. Six Star Service ordered a replacement piece and installed it. Took five minutes. 
Jan 2013

103000 mi

US $500
Replaced leaking head gaskets and a bad spark plug wire. Work done at same time I had timing belt, belt tensioner and water pump replaced, all routine maintenance. 
Nov 2014

121000 mi

US $1000
Replaced failing rear bearings. Also got new front brakes. Replaced worn-out shifter knuckle 
Feb 2015

124000 mi

US $38
Replaced burned-out driver-side headlight bulb. 
Mar 2016

132000 mi

US $36
Headlight burned out. Had it replaced. Not an easy job on the Forester... 
Sep 2016

137000 mi

US $237
Windshield wiper transmission needed replacement. Wiper motor was unaffected. 
Jan 2017

83800 mi

US $1200
Radiator shot. Replaced. Steering rack worn out. Replaced. 
May 2017

143000 mi

US $320
Leaking AC line replaced. AC recharged. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Jun 2008 - Feb 2011
Nov 2008

149000 mi

US $200
Front Tie rods replaced, 1 broke, 1 worn 
Jun 2009

166000 mi
Sporatic ck engine light still - Code from computer (light off when got there) showed only a possible air filter issue, dirt blown off it by dealer, but did not recommend replacement. 
Jul 2009

169000 mi

US $300
REAR driver shock leaking & no longer any bounce. Rear passenger side replaced as well.  Occasional flashing check engine light, with misfiring. Light not on at visit, not likely to give a code. Dealer recommended ignition wires & coil due to crack in 3rd? coil. Will replace something in Aug. to fix. Multiple vs only 1 coil questions exist replaced both rear struts to be even, drivers side totally leaked out with no bounce left. Ck engine light flashing, Misfiring read, options to replace plug wires or engine coil. Titanium plugs installed Feb 09 - repair pending reviews 
Aug 2009

173000 mi

US $223
Major Misfiring - cracked engine coil, replaced coil & plug wires. still drivable because standard trans, automatic probably would have broken down. 
Feb 2010

187000 mi

US $360
I live in emissions county. It requires new catalytic converter to pass yearly emissions since ck engine light was on. Original one much quieter then after market. 
Jun 2010

196000 mi

US $50
idle control valve possibly not functioning properly. after using AC engine idles very high when no drag on engine. they tried cleaning several items but problem returned. 
Jul 2010

198000 mi

US $318
Idle Air Control valve replaced. Fixed the vacuum leak that caused driving problems under a load, but not the excessive 5000rpm revving when clutch engaged after using AC. Originally thought related. 
Aug 2010

200000 mi
excessive idle speed issue back, can go up to 5000 rpms on hot days if use AC, while clutch is pushed in. upon release of clutch & putting a load on engine it goes back to normal & sometimes stays there.  
Nov 2010

207000 mi

US $284
rear driver wheel bearing bad, making very loud noise. replacement 7 hrs long.  
Dec 2010

209000 mi

US $350
anti lock break sensor was not positioned right during the replacement of the wheel bearing and tire, caused pulsing in breaks when coming to complete stop. took off tire, repositioned sensor and replaced tire car seemingly lurching forward while driving, odometer and tachometer did not fluctuate, stutter on up-hills and later flat roads. testing showed 5# pressure, needs ~ 45# per garage. replaced fuel pump  
Feb 2011

209000 mi
Winter, so not running A/C and so not clear if idle speed problem remained when sold. But CEL going off and on. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Jul 2011 - Jul 2013
May 2012

313300 mi

US $930
rear wheel bearings + belt tensioner 
Jun 2012

316000 mi

US $1100
Rear struts replaced Drive shaft replaced 
Jun 2013

346000 mi

US $865
exhaust pipe corrosion and failure 
Subaru Forester in New Mexico, United States
Oct 2010 - Jun 2011
Dec 2010

158000 mi
Oil leak: complete head gasket replacement, new clutch. 
Subaru Forester in New South Wales, Australia
Feb 2013 - Mar 2013
Mar 2013

78120 mi

A $400
Battery 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Aug 2009 - Jan 2013
Jan 2012

110000 mi

US $500
emissions problem. Won't pass smog. Mechanic is checking catalytic converter Passed smog, check engine light continues to light up. mechanic suspects catalytic converter needs replacement despite passing smog certification 
Sep 2012

116000 mi

US $700
Unable to pass California Smog test. I had replaced the battery and it reset the computers. The shop finaally drove the car constantly to reset computers. It passed, then check engine light came on, needs catalytic converter. 
Subaru Forester in New Zealand
Mar 2013 - May 2016
Oct 2013

114580 mi

$321
Driver door electric window motor replaced 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Nov 2003 - Mar 2017
Oct 2003

15620 mi
Clutch chatter when cold. Replaced clutch assembly under warranty 
Jul 2011

126000 mi

US $2900
head gaskets replaced -- car leaking oil 
Nov 2013

152000 mi

US $1000
replace both front-end sway bar end links, replace ball joint cylinder 
Dec 2014

162000 mi

US $218
replaced A/C idler and A/C belt 
Nov 2015

169900 mi

US $200
replaced cracked radiator 
Apr 2016

172200 mi
Hill holder (manual transmission) not properly disengaging -- had system disabled. 
Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Oct 2010 - Sep 2012
Nov 2010

85000 mi

US $130
Driver's door window motor failed. Replaced window motor. 
Sep 2012

106000 mi
Cracked moon roof. Engineered incorrectly? Too big. Eventually cracked in the direct heat of the sun. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
May 2008 - Dec 2009
Jun 2008

144000 mi

US $1600
replaced both rear wheel bearings, rear struts and strut mounts 
Oct 2008

152000 mi

US $220
Check Engine light back on, replaced ignition coil (old one cracked) Light came back on once after coil replaced, then went off on its own. Hoping that's the last of it! 
Jun 2009

173000 mi

US $450
Replaced stabilizer bars, old ones worn, causing suspension to make a knocking noise when going over bumps.  Replaced fog lamp. 
Dec 2009

177000 mi
Car caught on fire, repairs would have been too entensive. Insurance company totalled the car. 
Subaru Forester in New South Wales, Australia
May 2008 - Jun 2018
Apr 2009

83700 mi

A $650
Starter motor intermittently failed to engage on ring gear. Starter motor replaced by workshop. 
May 2009

84320 mi

A $2200
Clutch pressure plate broke into 3 pieces while driving resulting in partial loss of drive. New clutch kit fitted. Original dual-mass flywheel also replaced with a solid flywheel. New clutch and flywheel kit from Exedy (not Subaru). 
Feb 2011

102300 mi

A $600
Check engine light increasingly regular. Code P0030 for front 02 (it's actually an air/fuel) sensor heater. Replaced sensor with genuine part ($600 from dealer) myself. 
Mar 2012

120280 mi

A $15
Grinding noise from power steering pump. Drained and replaced power steering fluid. 
Jul 2012

122760 mi

A $900
Steering rack was leaking fluid. Rack was replaced with a reconditioned one. 
Oct 2012

125940 mi

A $150
Engine oil has for some time been leaking out from between the spark plug tubes and the rocker covers. The tube seals were replaced, along with the gaskets and washers for the rocker covers. 
Sep 2013

137640 mi

A $160
Engine running rough under load due to failing fuel pump. Replaced fuel pump. 
May 2014

146320 mi
Initially a slight coolant leak from between plastic top of radiator and radiator core. Needed occasional top-up. Leak has now worsened such that car cannot be driven more than a few minutes at a time. In process of sourcing new radiator. 
Jun 2014

146320 mi

A $400
New radiator fitted (as old one was leaking between core and plastic top). Also replaced top and bottom hoses and thermostat as a precaution. 
Aug 2014

146320 mi
Left-rear wheel bearing had been noisy for some time. Shop replaced it with a new one, but since the driveshaft had seized into the old one, a replacement driveshaft (second hand) was required also. 
Nov 2014

148180 mi

A $1700
Left rear wheel bearing that was replaced in August had become noisy again. Shop determined that it, as well as the (original) right bearing had failed and the hubs were also heat damaged. Bearings, hub as well as seals etc were replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Jan 2010 - Jan 2013
Dec 2010

129000 mi

US $900
Replaced Transmission and clutch 
Jan 2011

132000 mi

US $900
head gasket replacement with water pump and timing belt done at same time 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Apr 2009 - Jun 2011
Nov 2010

118000 mi

US $500
The Dual catalytic converters were clogged, leading to low power and trouble code 0420. They were replaced, and the problems were solved. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Jun 2006 - Oct 2009
Jul 2006

33000 mi
Clutch assembly needed replacement. A few 2002/2003 Foresters developed "cold clutch shudder": Clutch would shudder when engine was cold, fine once warm. Subie recognized this as defective parts they replaced entire clutch system under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Kentucky, United States
Jun 2015 - Mar 2018
Jul 2015

150500 mi

US $500
Replaced front calipers and rear wheel cylinders as well as pads/shoes and front rotors 
Aug 2015

151700 mi

US $25
P0507 OBD II code with check engine light. Replaced Neutral Switch and cleared code (manual transmission) 
Oct 2015

153500 mi

US $250
Replaced front struts and mounts 
May 2016

162000 mi

US $500
Head gaskets 
Jul 2016

169300 mi

US $100
Replaced Clutch Slave Cylinder 
Sep 2016

171000 mi

US $35
Rough idle, random misfires. Replaced ignition coil with Subaru part 
May 2017

179000 mi

US $800
Rod bearings worn (knocking). Replaced engine 
Jun 2017

180000 mi

US $50
Both rear wheel bearings needed replacement one for noise and one for loose tracking when driving. Replaced both knuckles, wheel bearings, hubs and seals. Lateral link bolts needed to be cut (rust) so had to replace them and the lower Lateral Link bushings Right front wheel bearing making "growling" noises above 30mph. Most noticeable at 40mph. Replaced bearing, seals and hub. Air Bag Light ON. Replaced Air Bag controller due to fault code 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Feb 2017 - May 2017
Feb 2017

97000 mi

US $100
Control arms need replaced 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
May 2007 - May 2009
May 2007

58000 mi
Left rear wheel bearing replacement. Covered under warranty. 

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2003 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Jul 2009 - Aug 2012
Jan 2010

US $3000
Suspension arm broken Piston Slap on two cylinders 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Feb 2010 - Feb 2015
Apr 2010

86000 mi
The moonroof refused to close more than halfway. 
Jul 2011

97500 mi

US $300
Valve Cover Gasket was leaking oil, which dripped into the spark plugs and fouled them. Valve cover gaskets were replaced, along with plugs and wires. 
Jun 2012

106000 mi
Head gaskets were leaking, mild on one side, moderate on the other. 
Jan 2013

110000 mi

US $210
engine oil cooler was leaking due to a bad o-ring 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Mar 2010 - Mar 2012
Apr 2010

145000 mi

US $307
Defective gusset in side mirrors caused extensive wind noise. Problem is manufacturer's defect which was adjusted numerous times but never corrected. Subaru finally provided a new part to permanenty (I hope) correct the problem at my expense. 
Apr 2011

164000 mi

US $130
Seat belt warning light stayed on. Dealer said a sensor had become disconnected. They replaced it but two days later it came on and has been on ever since. Needs to go back to the dealer again. 
Jul 2011

170000 mi

US $50
Seatbelt light would come on and stay on. Dealer ordered a replacement air bag but it hasn't yet been installed. Air bag has a life-time warranty so no charge - just another trip to the dealer. 
Aug 2011

171300 mi
Repair appeared to be successful but a couple of weeks later the seat belt light came on again and stayed on. Will be takin it back to the dealer next week. 
Mar 2012

178000 mi
Head gasket leaking, sold car. I've driven Subaru's for over 30 years because of their reliability but this time I bought a Honda. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Mar 2010 - Jun 2011
Apr 2010

42500 mi

US $1817
Replaced pinion bearing support. Replaced pinion bearing support. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Jul 2010 - Mar 2018
Jun 2011

180000 mi

US $1000
Long overdue repairs to AC system. Ball joint in front axle replaced. O2 sensor replaced 
Nov 2011

189100 mi

US $400
Exhaust replaced-everything but the cat converter. 
Aug 2012

199400 mi

US $600
AC belts and fan needed to be replaced. 
Jan 2013

204000 mi

US $1500
Head gaskets replaced because they were leaking. Alternator replaced. 
Jul 2013

210000 mi

US $500
Replace gaskets 
May 2015

231400 mi

US $580
Timing belt tensioner broke. Puff of smoke and car died. Thought valves were goners. Remarkably, repair done and car still running! 
Jun 2016

245000 mi

US $1600
front axle seal replacement 
Jun 2017

247000 mi

US $1700
Engine overheating so coolant system maintenance, hoses replaced, engine block and heads cleaned because of oil burn-off. 
Oct 2017

250000 mi

US $2197
Engine replacement 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
May 2008 - Dec 2009
Aug 2008

37000 mi
Engine knocking. Was diagnosed as carbon build-up. Was advised to run fuel system cleaner through it and "stomp on it" occasionaly to prevent excessive carbon build-up. 
Jun 2009

49000 mi

US $400
Front Oxygen Sensor replaced. 
Subaru Forester in New Hampshire, United States
Aug 2008 - Apr 2011
Jun 2008

87000 mi

US $43
Moonroof will not open/close. cleaned and lubricated 
Dec 2009

115000 mi

US $1500
Headgaskets leaking. This appears to be a problem with the 2003 Forester. While recalls were done for prior years, there is no recall for 2003. Subaru agreed to pay a portion of the bill. 
Feb 2010

116000 mi

US $650
replace lightbulbs etc... 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
May 2008 - Sep 2013
May 2009

58000 mi

US $450
engine leaking oil - various valve gaskets. loud noise from engine - turned out to be engine bay heat shield misalignment. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
May 2008 - Jan 2016
Aug 2008

63000 mi

US $75
Periodic high idle, suspected to be need to clean throttle body. Problem seems to have reappeared, may need to be looked at by dealer. 
Jun 2009

73000 mi

US $63
Removal of rattling exhaust shield Power steering belt loose Stabilizer linkage loose 
Sep 2009

75000 mi

US $245
Sway bar linkage replaced Sway bar linkage replaced 
Nov 2009

75900 mi

US $822
Grinding/chirping/singing noise from rear of car. Diagnosed by dealership as "parking brake mechanism broken during aftermarket brake install." Replaced PB, rear rotors and pads. Dealership repaired parking brake hardware along with rear rotors and pads. Damage to parking brake mechanism alleged to be the result of third-party brake job. 
Apr 2011

89000 mi

US $1023
Driver's window switch and motor failed Y-pipe heat shield rattling Intermittent high idle with higher ambient temperatures. Previous throttle body cleanings no help. Loosened throttle cable. 
Sep 2011

95000 mi
Driver's side rear caliper sticking (recurring problem) causing scraping. Cleaned and returned. Problem came back within a week, but have not returned for further assessment. 
Dec 2011

98000 mi

US $618
Exhaust pipe broke aft of rear catalytic converter. Muffler OK, but exhaust pipe replaced. 
Jan 2012

133000 mi

US $888
Replacement of serpentine belt 
Nov 2012

113000 mi

US $350
O2 sensor replacement Rack beginning to fail; needs replacement 
Jan 2014

127000 mi

US $940
Replacement of steering rack 
Apr 2014

129200 mi

US $498
Replaced rear passenger wheel bearing and hub 
Jan 2016

126000 mi
Needed new calipers 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
May 2008 - Jul 2009
Apr 2009

100000 mi

US $2500
Check engine light -- misfire, computer errors, caused flooding and car would not keep running. Eventually "fixed itself" after revving high idle for a while. Leaking struts replaced 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Sep 2008 - Jun 2011
Sep 2009

98000 mi

US $212
Both headlights failed within a week. Tried to repair headlight myself, unable to do so. Dealer took 1.5 hours. 
Mar 2010

105000 mi

US $3400
Cracked piston. Entire engine had to be replaced. Used engine with 70,000miles cost $3,400 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Oct 2008 - Jan 2012
Sep 2011

78000 mi

US $159
O2 sensor 
Nov 2011

78000 mi

US $400
Exhaust rusted out 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Mar 2009 - Feb 2010
Apr 2009

96720 mi

C $4200
timing belt slipped and damaged valves, camshaft etc. Had to remachine or replace all, including new waterpump. 
Nov 2009

99200 mi

C $593
radiator was leaking anti freeze. Radiator replaced 
Jan 2010

99820 mi
Engine making banging noise - some problem with cam shaft - bent - repaired under warranty from job done in April 2009. Shop should have caught this problem then. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Dec 2008 - Sep 2009
Jan 2009

172360 mi

C $350
Leaking transmission filter, may have hit something, thus low tranmission fluid and dash warning light. 
Sep 2009

182280 mi

C $200
We decided to trade it in rather than repair it as the cost of needed repairs was expected to exceed $3000. Leaking head gaskets. Rear rotors corroded and parking brake not functioning. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Nov 2008 - May 2011
Jun 2010

62000 mi

US $180
Suspension issue. I don't recall what the part that was replaced is called. 
Feb 2011

64000 mi

US $1302
Head gasket had to be replaced, also did valve adjustment. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Aug 2009 - Apr 2014
Oct 2011

94000 mi

US $1850
2 head gaskets leaking coolant. Had the gaskets replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States
Jun 2016 - Mar 2017
Oct 2016

76000 mi

US $65
exhaust system loose 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Feb 2015 - Apr 2017
Nov 2016

150000 mi

US $1400
Exhaust manifold had crack, rust spots in exhaust pipes. Muffler, catalytic converter, and manifolds replaced. 
Jan 2017

US $350
Front right brake caliper in stuck position 
Mar 2017

149000 mi

US $1600
The car was making a strange almost-scraping noise from the front end. Both front wheel bearings were replaced, however, the noise still remained. 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Jul 2015 - Dec 2016
Oct 2015

126000 mi

US $3200
Head gasket replacement. 
Dec 2015

127000 mi

US $300
Replace one front caliper; required doing both plus pads. 
Mar 2016

130000 mi

US $225
Security system malfunctioned, draining and depleting battery. Engine would not start due to security system. Dealer diagnosed it, replaced battery, and reset security system. 
Jun 2016

133000 mi

US $364
Cracked radiator was replace. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Jan 2015 - Sep 2017
Jul 2015

160200 mi

US $450
A/C Compressor failed. A/C system had various leaks. Plastic upper radiator outlet cracked causing radiator hose to pop off. Car lost all of its coolant and stranded me on interstate. Rear strut has developed thumps and rattle. Strut piston rod is binding inside strut body. This is a common Subaru problem with no permanent resolution. 
Oct 2015

161000 mi

US $630
Noticed steering rack was leaking fluid when car went in for state inspection. Entire steering rack and tie-rod assembly had to be replaced. 
Jun 2016

171000 mi

US $5
Brake calipers front and rear were heavily corroded from road salt applied during winter in Chicago. Caliper pistons were partially frozen and rotors were heavily corroded and out of true. Calipers, rotors, and pads were replaced front F&R 
May 2017

177000 mi

US $100
Gear selector froze in Park while I was in line at a fast food outlet. I was able to force the shifter into drive after exerting a tremendous amount of force. The car was repaired by replacing the entire shifter mechanism with a used one. The problem ended up being a failed solenoid on the old shifter. We were not able to simply replace that part because I partially destroyed the shifter when forcing into gear. 
Jun 2017

178000 mi

US $45
The drivers side rear wheel bearing began to make a whining/growling noise at various speeds. I dropped the car at a local repair shop. They were unable to remove the suspension bolts needed to provide clearance so that the drive axle could be removed from the rear hub that carries the bearing assembly . After a couple of days of soaking the bolts and trying heat etc. they told me that to do the repair would require cutting parts of the rear suspension apart and that I might want to reconsider dropping the amount of money needed to do the job into this car. I took the car back and have been driving it with the bearing un-repaired. Apparently frozen suspension bolts on this car are a common problem and so are frequent wheel bearing failures. A heat shield attached to and part of the exhaust system began to rattle very loudly at certain engine rpm levels. The repair shop was able to weld the shield back to the exhaust pipe at the failed attachment point. The repair eliminated the noise. 
Jul 2017

177500 mi

US $480
Drivers side Rear wheel bearing was replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Dec 2013 - Mar 2016
Nov 2014

124300 mi
Needed valve seals and valve cover gasket.  Replaced exhaust manifold gasket. Also new thermostat. CHECK ENGINE light came on about 50 miles after leaving shop reading a problem with catalytic converter. Car running fine but cannot get warning light to turn off. 
Mar 2016

143000 mi
Blown head gasket. Car developed a hole in radiator and despite all precautionary efforts on my part and a new radiator, the car would overheat after 7-8 miles of driving. Heating/Cooling system. After tryng to fix head gasket with 2 additives , attempted repairs did not work and the manufacturer honored warranty & gave me my money back. Sold car to mechanic and bought a 2006 Hyundai Azera with 86545 mi. 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Jul 2014 - Jan 2015
Oct 2014

104500 mi

US $25
Four wheel alignment and replace one front, left tie rod, prior to buying and having four new tires installed. Tie rod was replaced Free of charge coverage by an auto body repair lifetime warranty from a winter driving accident in 2013. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Nov 2003 - Apr 2010
May 2003

5000 mi
troubleshoot - rough idle at start 
Jul 2003

9000 mi
failed catalytic converter replaced 
Oct 2004

14000 mi

US $150
dead battery - internal light socket shorted 
Jan 2005

16000 mi
another dead battery - internal electrical short 
Jul 2007

41000 mi
troubleshoot - transmission whine. no problem found 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Mar 2015 - Jan 2022
Apr 2017

194000 mi

US $350
Replace ball joints 
Feb 2018

189569 mi

US $850
Noisey idler/pulley on A/C compressor drive belt replaced. Replaced rear struts. 
Jan 2020

200000 mi

US $500
Replace cracked original radiator. 
Subaru Forester in Wisconsin, United States
Jan 2017 - Aug 2017
Feb 2017

137800 mi

US $968
Head gaskets replaced($1900), replaced intake and exhaust valves, and springs, seals and guides ($800), as well as oil change and coolant flush. Reason for new valve job was low compression in 2 cylinders. both rear wheel bearings ($900) Radiator replaced, radiator cap, thermostat, fan clutch and hoses  
Apr 2017

138700 mi

US $200
Rear differential replaced 
May 2017

139100 mi

US $983
Front subframes replaced. One of the sub frames had a small rust bubble which turned out to be the whole bottom rusted out after some poking with a screw driver. The other one was mostly rust free but was going to need replacement soon so I did them as a pair. 
Jun 2017

142000 mi

US $564
Rear differential cradle replaced. The rear differential mount was literally cracked almost in half and this may have caused some damage to the differential from the excess moving under acceleration and deceleration.  
Jul 2017

142000 mi

US $406
exhaust manifold replaced, oxygen sensors, gaskets/ hardware 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
May 2008 - Apr 2012
Sep 2008

93000 mi

C $43
Burned out headlight (both headlights replaced at the same time) & one driving light (both driving lights replaced at the same time). Other routine maintenance done at the same time at the dealer.  
Oct 2009

108180 mi
Transmission bushings replaced - car was starting to get difficult to shift. Also did a full tune up & had the winter tire change over done. 
Oct 2011

135760 mi

C $150
Headlight bulbs replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Norway
Feb 2017 - Mar 2018
Mar 2017

110360 mi

$3000
Not only suspension. Several faults. Nothing repaired. Former owner have to give proper information about the car during sales process. Former owner has been accused of holding back information - which is illegal to do in this country. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Feb 2017 - Jun 2017
Apr 2017

131000 mi

US $400
worn brakes 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Dec 2016 - Mar 2018
Jun 2017

179000 mi

US $80
Drivers side window regulator was replaced. Need to remove the clutch from the compressor although it is not going well. 
Sep 2017

179000 mi

US $370
Replaced alternator with used/rebuilt $35. New A/C compressor $285 and charge $50 
Subaru Forester in Norway
Jul 2014 - Jun 2018
Aug 2016

103540 mi

$250
The Malfunctioning Indicator Light appeared on the instrument cluster. The problem was identified by an OBD-II scan tool. Trouble code P0031 showed up. The repair manual identified the upstream oxygen sensor had low input, and was replaced. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Mar 2013 - Apr 2013
Apr 2013

160000 mi

US $800
air flow sensor failed 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Jun 2012 - Jul 2012
Jul 2012

101000 mi

US $97
slipping belts 
Subaru Forester in Iowa, United States
Apr 2012 - Jun 2018
Mar 2013

116000 mi

US $970
Leaky head gasket allowed antifreeze to get into cylinders. Replaced gasket. Also ground valves while engine was taken apart. 
Oct 2013

124200 mi

US $260
ABS warning light came on continually. Sensor needed to be replaced. 
Jul 2015

133200 mi

US $30
LEVEL OF R134 FREON WAS CORRECTED. 
Mar 2016

137000 mi

US $150
Exhaust pipe corrosion caused noise 
Apr 2017

146000 mi

US $500
Brake pads front & rear, rotors Front, drums rear, cylinder rear, calipers front 
Aug 2017

148000 mi

US $150
Repaired leak in AC system and recharged with refrigerant 
Dec 2017

151000 mi
Leaking water pump and leaking head gasket 
Jun 2018

156000 mi

US $200
Replaced and repaired portions of the exhaust system. 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Feb 2012 - Dec 2012
Mar 2012

120000 mi

US $500
fuel smell, vapor of gasoline Fuel smell was caused by the fuel tank ventilation vents and carbon canister. Changed these parts plus the fuel tank cap. This fixed the problem so far. 
Oct 2012

128000 mi

US $90
Fuel lines leaked gas 
Subaru Forester in Maine, United States
May 2011 - Oct 2011
Oct 2011

68000 mi

US $2000
Bent valve die to to worn exhaust guides. Passenger side drive link and frame rusted through. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Aug 2012 - Sep 2016
Sep 2012

139000 mi

US $370
valve cover gaskets were leaking badly along with gasket on the oil filler line. 
Jan 2013

142700 mi

US $120
Car overheated at the end of a 10 hour trip. We slowed & the car cooled off. The car through out 18 ounces from radiator. After filling up with fluid we s noticed some overheating above 60. I replaced radiator cap, OEM thermostat & Fluid. 
Aug 2013

151300 mi

US $600
Replaced driver side head gasket,  driver side axle shaft& general maintenance 
Apr 2014

159500 mi

US $150
Replaced all struts & then paid for a 4 wheel alignment replacement of the belt tensioner while at shop for slignment 
Mar 2016

185000 mi

US $150
Radiator top separated. I purchased a new one plus hoses. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Nov 2010 - Oct 2011
Dec 2010

88000 mi

US $530
Check Engine light came on due to bad O2 sensor. Sensor replaced. This was the 2nd non maintenance repair in 88K miles. Owned car since new. First issue was driver window track needed greasing at 45K miles 
Jun 2011

90000 mi

US $500
O2 sensor caused check engine light 
Oct 2011

91000 mi
Headed for a head gasket problem in about 10K miles. Leaking a little, some coolant in the oil. My mechanic was monitoring it. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Dec 2012 - Jan 2022
Mar 2014

173000 mi

US $96
P0030 o2 sensor and changed front and rear diff fluid and ATF drain and fill. 
Feb 2015

173000 mi

US $75
Drivers window motor seized in up/closed position for close to 8 months, just now fixed. 
Apr 2015

173200 mi

US $100
Leaking front drivers strut. Failed inspection. Brought it home, ordered the strut, fixed it 04/04. 
Sep 2015

174000 mi

US $35
removed used rear struts from a junkyard, replaced both rears but only one was leaky. Now I have one spare (inspector said both were wet but passable- trusted his word - only one was wet) 
Nov 2021

190300 mi

US $5
Late last year I DIY changed drivers door mirror / window / lock switch as the old one was acting up. Used to get parts from pick n save so it was basically free. 
Jan 2022

191000 mi

US $250
Exhaust muffler to pass inspection  
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Dec 2012 - Feb 2018
Oct 2013

101500 mi

US $500
The ignition switch locked in the off position, so the key could not be rotated, and the car could not be started. We called for a tow but the driver fiddled with the key and the steering wheel and finally got it started.  
Aug 2016

132100 mi

US $500
The radiator overheated so the air conditioner was dropped off the line. When we went to get the A/C fixed our mechanic found the radiator problem. The radiator was replaced 
Feb 2017

135000 mi

US $600
In the course of performing regular maintenance, the mechanic found what appeared to be a leak in the head gasket. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Oct 2012 - Apr 2016
May 2014

99600 mi

US $650
Needed new Power steering pump Steering pump belt needed replacement 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Sep 2012 - Jun 2018
Nov 2015

86100 mi

US $2000
Minor head gasket leak as well as a few oil leaks from around the pump. 
Feb 2017

98000 mi

US $281
Bearings in idler pulley were wearing down, resulting in a whine. Idler pulley replaced. 
Dec 2017

106000 mi

US $253
Replaced pads, which were thinning. Warped rotors were found at the time of inspection. 
Feb 2018

108000 mi

US $250
Original radiator developed a leak. Radiator was replaced with aftermarket unit. The original upper and lower radiator hoses were felt to be a bit soft and were prophylactically replaced as well. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Dec 2010 - Sep 2011
Jan 2011

120000 mi

US $3284
Noticeable engine oil leaks due to worn head gaskets. Coincided with 120k major service, so all major gaskets replaced along with timing belt and tensioner, plus all filters, plugs and leads. 
May 2011

123000 mi

US $38
AT Oil Temp and Check Engine light came on after having the car washed. Transmission solenoid replaced under warranty (second time in 9 months). Lights both came back on 30 minutes after picking up car, in a rainstorm. 
Jun 2011

124000 mi

US $580
Replaced transmission wiring harness which was worn and causing transmission warning light to come on. 
Aug 2011

114742 mi

US $617
Replace transmission pressure line solenoid. Replace transmission pressure line solenoid 
Sep 2011

114742 mi
Car jerking when changing from 2 to 3rd. No clear diagnosis and advised that repair would cost $1650+. Not worth it for this lemon of a car. 

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2003 Subaru Forester 4-door

Engine not specified

Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Nov 2009 - Feb 2010
Dec 2009

111000 mi

US $955
Replaced timing belt, water pump at suggestion of Service Mgr. Car had over 110,000 miles. Advised that catalytic converter will need to be replaced. Chose to not undertake repair due to cost, at this time. Discovered small leak in head gasket. No need to repair at this time.  
Feb 2010

112000 mi
Catalytic converter needed to be replaced when sold. Small head gasket leak when sold. 

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2003 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Alaska, United States
Apr 2010 - Jun 2011
Sep 2010

52000 mi

US $2000
2 pistons replaced to solve 'piston slap' 

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2002 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru Forester in New Zealand
Dec 2012 - Jan 2013
Jan 2013

$200
Replaced RHS front strut linkage due to clunking noise over bumps and some 'looseness' in steering (LHS replaced about 10,000km earlier). 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Dec 2015 - Dec 2016
Jun 2016

84000 mi

US $570
Replace both drive axles and boots 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Jun 2014 - Oct 2014
Sep 2014

128000 mi

US $145
muffler replaced 
Oct 2014

128000 mi

US $300
left front axle minor vacuum leak, would throw a code once every few months couldn't find it. suspected evap canister in rear under bumper. 

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2002 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Alaska, United States
Mar 2012 - Jun 2016
Apr 2013

138700 mi

US $1857
CLUTCH, 1457. Replaced Starter, 300. Replaced CV boot, 100. 
Jun 2016

210000 mi

US $1200
Replaced non-charging Alternator Repaced 1 cv boot that was cracked 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Aug 2011 - Jun 2022
Jun 2012

138000 mi

US $850
replace valve cover gasket, spark plugs, wires and tune up replace brake pads and calipers 
Feb 2013

143700 mi

US $300
replace failed head gasket Replaced radiator due to leaking seal at top (plastic) portion of radiator. Issue became evident after head gasket repair. 
Mar 2014

155000 mi

US $420
Replaced right front wheel bearing 
Nov 2015

172600 mi

US $500
Right front wheel bearing needed replacement 
Jun 2022

226000 mi
engine blew hole in block - needs to be completely replaced or car scrapped 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Aug 2011 - Nov 2018
Jan 2012

143000 mi

US $40
Exhaust leak - welded 
Aug 2013

165000 mi

US $496
Replace knock sensor and coil pack 
Dec 2013

170000 mi

US $1416
Replace clutch, throwout bearing, etc. Replace exhaust system (except cat) 
Mar 2014

174000 mi
Reset Check Engine Light (showed code for evap system). Code has not reoccurred after additional 600 miles. 
Sep 2014

179000 mi

US $175
Replace rear wheel bearings, rear ABS sensors, also rotors and pads Rear suspension link replaced CEL indicated leak in evap system. Replaced solenoid purge valve at rear of car Previously replaced rear ABS sensor failed. Resulted in additional damage to tone ring. Also had to replace springs for brakes as a result 
Feb 2016

192100 mi

US $1100
Replace converters and related sensors 
Aug 2016

196400 mi

US $3300
Top end rebuild (valves and guides), new piston rings, 
Jun 2018

218000 mi

US $50
Rear Differential grabbing in tight maneuvers after warm. Changed differential fluid and added an additive. Need to drive for a few months to see if problem resolves or differential needs to be replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Apr 2015 - Apr 2021
Jul 2015

144200 mi

US $135
left rear strut spring perch had partially collapsed, apparently in part due to rust. I replaced the strut. I also replace other parts that had not failed, but only listed the cost for the strut, which was the only failed part. rear oxygen sensor needed to be replaced 
Jun 2016

149000 mi
Front CV joints were noisy, sounding worn out - making clunking noises on startup and on sharp turns. Replaced front axles with reman units prior to failure as a precaution. The joint at the back of the catalytic converter was leaking, and there was a small crack in the mid-pipe. The shop welded in a new flex joint and replaced a section of the mid-pipe 
Aug 2016

149600 mi

US $2600
Problems with propshaft bearing and rear differential. Was cheaper to put in whole replacement(used)transmission, propshaft, and rear differential than just replace the bad parts. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Aug 2005 - Apr 2017
Sep 2005

62760 mi

US $80
Replaced battery 
Oct 2005

65000 mi
Catalytic converter replaced on warrantee 
Dec 2011

131000 mi

US $100
Main drive shaft U-joint failed. Replacement shaft cost $650 (discounted). Installed myself as a bolt-up. Passenger side front CV boot broke and exposed bearing. Pulled old shaft and replaced with remanufactured non-dealer replacement part. Removing outer wheeler bearing knuckle was very difficult. 
Oct 2013

138000 mi

US $20
Cooling system Rubber bushing became old & brittle and broke off. Replaced rubber rubber bushing and bolt. $30. 

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2002 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Kentucky, United States
Nov 2011 - Dec 2016
Mar 2016

119000 mi

US $4500
center differential 
Subaru Forester in New Zealand
Jan 2012 - Jun 2022
Jan 2014

66540 mi
Water in the nearside fog light 
Feb 2016

79220 mi

$600
O2 Sensor died 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Jun 2012 - May 2016
May 2016

236000 mi
Replaced steering gear. Cracked head gasket. It just stopped with no warning. Donated the car to the kidney foundation. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Aug 2011 - Oct 2015
Oct 2015

125000 mi
The car had the head gasket leak that the line is infamous for. It just got to the point that it was so bad, you could barely breathe around the car even after it was stopped. It was a $2500 repair I chose not to do. 
Subaru Forester in Tennessee, United States
Aug 2011 - Jun 2013
Sep 2011

140000 mi

US $340
New battery replaced. Also piece of metal dragging on front fender well removed. 
Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States
Aug 2011 - Feb 2013
Nov 2011

98100 mi

US $350
Inner CV boot on front driver side ripped open and needed replacement. 
Nov 2012

106900 mi

US $600
Front driver side leaking clear odorless grease, needs replacement. The tech at the dealership suggested that I leave it alone for now.  
Feb 2013

109000 mi
Front driver side leaking clear odorless grease. Almost certainly a control arm bushing. Forum thread suggests it's a common problem: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2247387 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Aug 2011 - Jun 2014
Oct 2011

253000 mi

US $230
Car refused to start. Replaced battery (maintenance item as battery was 6+ yrs old). Problem not solved. Cleaned grounds and contact points and replaced starter. Found starter solenoid inoperative. 
Dec 2011

256000 mi

US $25
Car stumbling badly; not yet due for tuneup. CEL code not thrown. Replaced plugs, wires, coil pack, upstream 02 sensor in that order. Problem solved with new upstream 02 sensor. Exhaust flanges from muffler to midpipe rusted through. Cut flanges, brazed, and clamped. 
Apr 2013

263000 mi

US $150
Replaced 02 sensor. Exhaust badly corroded. 
Aug 2013

265100 mi

US $250
Engine overheated. 
Nov 2013

267700 mi

US $450
Replaced entire cooling system including radiator, hoses, thermostat, and expansion tank. 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Apr 2012 - Jul 2015
Nov 2012

200700 mi

US $97
The downstream O2 sensor was sending a faulty code which indicated it needed to be replaced. The car was stalling when idling and ran rough at time. 
Sep 2014

222000 mi

US $500
The engine threw a rod. Disassembled and rebuilt all new gaskets 1 rod, new timing belt, timing belt cover and about 20 hours. 
Feb 2015

225700 mi

US $125
Rear Wheel bearings replaced 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
May 2014 - May 2015
Nov 2014

133100 mi

US $450
Install new battery 
Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States
Sep 2016 - Dec 2016
Sep 2016

303000 mi

US $675
Struts shot 
Subaru Forester in Hawaii, United States
- Dec 2007
Apr 2005

90000 mi

US $500
Replace electronic distributor 
Sep 2006

110000 mi

US $1000
Replace air conditioner condenser - corroded out. 
Dec 2007

125000 mi

US $400
Replace both front axles; boots/CV joints went out. 
Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States
- Dec 2009
May 2007

81000 mi

US $1000
Catalytic converter failure required replacement. 
Dec 2009

96000 mi

US $2000
External headgasket leak on both sides required headgasket replacement on both sides. 
Subaru Forester in Alaska, United States
Apr 2014 - Jun 2016
May 2015

172000 mi

US $125
seat belts replaced cabin air filter replaced door seals reattached 
Jun 2016

191000 mi

US $179
Head gasket 
Subaru Forester in Utah, United States
Jun 2015 - Apr 2016
Sep 2015

175000 mi

US $40
The washer fluid pumps went out so I replaced them. 
Subaru Forester in South Carolina, United States
Oct 2013 - Jun 2018
Feb 2014

207100 mi

US $150
Replaced upstream and downstream o2 sensors 
Jul 2014

210500 mi

US $145
Replaced Radiator 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
Feb 2013 - Oct 2019
Mar 2016

87000 mi
Evap system leak w check engine code. 
Jul 2016

90500 mi

US $200
Replaced passenger rear wheel bearing 
Mar 2017

95000 mi

US $2800
Head gasket replacement, w machining. Both sides had been seeping, common for this generation of 2.2 engines. Passenger front cv axle replaced 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Sep 2012 - Mar 2013
Nov 2012

111100 mi

US $3400
leaking headgaskets 
Subaru Forester in Florida, United States
Jul 2013 - Oct 2015
Oct 2015

124000 mi
Second blown head gasket. Repaired at 68k miles, and leaking again at 120k. 

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2001 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
May 2011 - Jul 2011
Jun 2011

111000 mi

US $1900
Leaky Head Gasket: Replaced gaskets, machined heads, and cleaned valves. 
Subaru Forester in Ontario, Canada
Mar 2013 - Apr 2013
Apr 2013

124000 mi

C $872
Brake fluid leaking, repaired and brake parts replaced 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Apr 2009 - Nov 2009
May 2009

107880 mi

C $5000
Burning all the oil in the engine within a few months. 
Aug 2009

108500 mi

C $150
Stitching on leather seat split open. No cuts or tears just sewing up stitching that came loose. 
Oct 2009

108500 mi
Burning oil. All 4 struts were leaked out. CV boot torn on passenger outer. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Sep 2008 - Mar 2010
Subaru Forester in California, United States
May 2014 - Jun 2014
Jun 2014

175000 mi

US $200
Head gasket failure 
Subaru Forester in South Dakota, United States
Jul 2009 - Mar 2010
Aug 2009

108000 mi

US $2000
Engine rebuild. I took very good care of this car, in fact I saved all maint. records. Repaired car and sold. I didn't want to put any more $$ into car. Since the car was too good to salvage, I decided to repair and sell since it was running great. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Jan 2010 - Jun 2011
Feb 2010

90000 mi

US $1600
blown head gasket 

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2001 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Dec 2009 - May 2013
Jan 2010

78120 mi

C $1200
oil pan changed (was rusted)  wiper linkage changed (were slack) clock changed (didn't work) crank sensor changed (during extreme cold weather car refused to start, after a short drive) 
Jan 2011

81220 mi

C $300
code P1443: vent valve malfunction. replace evap vent valve rear window windshield "wash" not working; tube cut and reinstalled 
Mar 2012

83080 mi

C $750
Rotten middle/rear exhaust pipe, plus muffler 
Feb 2013

84940 mi

C $580
dead battery and dead alternator 
Apr 2013

84940 mi
dead battery and dead alternator were replaced 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
May 2009 - Nov 2013
Jun 2009

99000 mi

US $200
CV joint boot. 
Dec 2009

102000 mi

US $550
Faulty head gasket replaced, along with thermostat. List price =$2,400. Subaru paid all but $550. Also got NEW loaner car! 
Oct 2010

108000 mi

US $187
Sunroof motor burned out in August (in closed position). Problem diagnosed in October. Decided to repair in the spring. 
Apr 2011

110000 mi

US $1100
Sunroof motor failed in October 2010, and was replaced in April 2011. Auto-dimming mirror stopped auto-dimming in summer 2009. Replaced in April 2011. 
Oct 2011

112000 mi

US $235
Needed an a/c pulley system. It was making noise and they replaced it. 
Dec 2012

121000 mi

US $225
replaced 10 instrument panel bulbs - 1 had burned out, and it is cheaper to do them all at once. 
Nov 2013

126000 mi
Timing belt broke only 35,000 miles after replacement, ruining the engine. Also needed original clutch replaced. Total repair costs = $4,800, and it was not worth it to me to spend that much on a 13-year old car with that many miles on it 
Subaru Forester in Alberta, Canada
Sep 2014 - May 2022
Apr 2017

76315 mi

C $425
Pads and Rotor worn beyond limits 
Oct 2017

78120 mi

C $100
Car had to be boosted once to start. Replaced battery. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jan 2010 - Apr 2013
Mar 2010

169000 mi

US $25
Blown head gasket temporarily fixed with stop leak. 
Jun 2010

173000 mi

US $50
Leaking clutch hose. 
Nov 2010

180000 mi
Radiator started leaking but after a few days it fixed itself due to the K-Seal that was put into the radiator in March. 
Jan 2011

177000 mi

US $600
Replaced left rear wheel bearing  and front drive shaft. 
Jan 2012

185500 mi
Head gaskets leaking internally and externally, will need clutch as it's original, brakes, timing belt and struts...time to trade it in. 
Apr 2013

212000 mi
Needs front suspension parts, struts and shocks,  timing belt, brakes, head gaskets, clutch, and the trans makes noise when it's cold. Time to sell! 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jul 2010 - Jun 2011
Aug 2010

74000 mi
Problem with moonroof. Not opening or closing properly and finally cranked shut March 2010. Can't find info to fix and dealership left town. Mechanic said could fix and only made worse. He even cracked roof window in half! Mad as hell!!! 
Subaru Forester in New South Wales, Australia
Feb 2010 - Aug 2017
Jun 2013

114700 mi

A $400
Rubber boot on CV shaft split due to age. 
Aug 2013

115320 mi

A $100
Both headlight sockets replaced as headlights have been blosing out every 4-6 months. 
Sep 2015

131440 mi

A $400
Leaking fuel line. 
Oct 2015

131840 mi
Loose earth cable. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Jun 2010 - Oct 2010
Jul 2010

155000 mi

US $1100
O2 sensors and exhaust from cat back. 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Mar 2010 - Aug 2012
Jun 2010

97000 mi

US $486
Front axle inner CV joint boots both failed. Opted for new axles given high mileage. 
Mar 2011

105000 mi

US $500
Secondary oxygen sensor malfunction. Replacement solved problem. 
Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Jan 2012 - Feb 2019
Feb 2012

138300 mi

US $800
wiring harness failure, causing short to fuel pump. Cam leaking oil. Window wiper in rear needed fluid tubing replaced. Had all done at dealer 800.00. 
Apr 2012

139200 mi

US $358
Slave cylinder in clutch died, dealer said had some kind of service recall(TSB) on that part. The part is replaced and you are left with the labor charge to pay. So out of the shop for less then 400.00. 
Jan 2013 Alternator was making bad bearing sound, time for it to be replaced. Had this done and also had front brakes done, and power steering flush. 
Aug 2014

157500 mi

US $200
Ac pulley no longer working , belt shredded . Repaired all at dealer . 
Jun 2017

189000 mi

US $2800
Check engine evap code, Sticking solenoid valve. Changed out clutch, water pump, and replaced pulleys.  Two oil leaks. Head gaskets changed. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Oct 2012 - Dec 2012
Nov 2012

138000 mi
loss of compression 
Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States
Sep 2012 - Sep 2018
Sep 2012

168000 mi

US $337
Replaced spark plug tube seals and valve cover gaskets. Typical for Subaru 2.5, get oil in/on spark plugs from this leak. Only reason this was taken care of was I changed spark plugs. 
Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States
May 2014 - Sep 2015
Jun 2014

213000 mi

US $1671
Replaced manual transmission with used one 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Oct 2008 - Apr 2016
Nov 2008

91000 mi

US $1
After 7 years, rain gets down the rear window wiper shaft and "freezes" it such that the motor encounters too much resistance and doesn't go. The fix is to remove rear gate trim and wiper motor cover, and then spray lube the shaft and work the arm free. 
Dec 2008

92000 mi

US $120
Forester orig rear wheel bearings are weak. Inde shop replaced them 11 months and 4900 miles ago, now howling again. Shop would not replace for free, so I will do it myself. Halted work to buy more parts/tools due to frozen lat link bolt to bushing. 
Jan 2009

92000 mi
I tightened power steering belt since it was squealing in cold weather. Easily done yourself in driveway. 
Apr 2009

93000 mi

US $140
County Auto of Somerville MA did not replace, or did not use the upgrade roller bearings in repair of my car. When I dug into the knuckle to do it right myself, out came original BALL bearings--one was cracked in half! Small claims court, here we come! 
Sep 2009

96000 mi

US $30
For 2 years, I have found oil creeping onto driver side spark plug boots. It's due to the spark plug seals (pips) getting hard and no long sealing oil out of the spark plug tubes. So I replaced the pips, valve cover gasket, and bolt washers/seals. 
Apr 2010

100000 mi

US $50
2 yrs after shop replaced AC condenser and recharged refrigerant, the compressor now will not switch on. So I bought a multimeter and I am now probing around the circuitry to try and figure out why no power to the compressor. Not yet resolved. 
May 2010

100000 mi

US $514
Subaru A/C system is very thinly built. Shop detected leak in discharge line(from compressor to condensor). Replaced and recharged system. Said no need to replace original receiver/dryer. Blowing nice cold air now. 
Mar 2011

106000 mi

US $60
Rear exhaust pipe flange of original exhaust system finally rusted out. Independent shop cut out flange, and welded in a short piece of pipe. Quick and easy. Hope will last a few years, since the rest of the pipes and muffler seem solid. 
May 2011

107000 mi

US $98
Knock Sensor CEL turned on and off occasionally during past month, lately remaining on mostly. No drivability issue noticed. Replaced knock sensor myself quite easily with online instrux. CEL went off and has stayed off. 
Jul 2011

109000 mi

US $400
Replaced driver's side front axle since boot was torn. Replaced front pads, driver's side rotor, slide pin boots. Spent time to grind down pins and brackets so pad movement improved.  Put new bolts in rattling heat shields. 
Sep 2011

110000 mi

US $40
Wife noticed temp gauge rise and steam from under hood, she immediately pulled over and parked car. GOOD WIFE! Bottom radiator hose clamp rusted through and broke off causing coolant dump. I reattached hose and replaced all hose clamps. Since May 2011, when car warm, we experienced what we thought was torque bind, aka center differential bind. Turns out it was actually FRONT diff. bind. Fixed by replacing front differential oil. Myself in driveway. All symptoms gone. 
Mar 2012

113000 mi

US $26
Clutch went to floor last summer in very hot traffic jams. I am guessing it is the clutch slave cylinder, so I replaced that myself. Very easy to fix. If it happens again this summer, then I will replace the master cylinder next. 
Apr 2012

114000 mi

US $92
A year after working on front left brake caliper slide pins, they were sticking along with the lower cylinder. So this time I replaced the pads and the entire caliper&bracket with a rebuilt one from AutoZone. Very easy if bolts not frozen. 
May 2012

114300 mi

US $90
Driver's side rear wheel bearing was growling again for the last 6 months, so I replaced it. Since this same bearing was replaced 3 years ago, I now wonder if maybe the knuckle is damaged and that caused the bearing to fail. We will see. 
Jun 2012

114000 mi

US $13
CEL PO420 has come on twice in past 2 months during hot weather driving; I cleared it. ABS was buzzing, so I wire brushed the grounding wire eyelet and bolt to remove corrosion...fixed the problem.  Replaced both front headlight bulbs. 
Aug 2012

116000 mi

US $77
PO420 catalyst inefficient code had been coming on and staying on this summer. By August, an exhaust leak was audible. Inde shop replaced front exhaust pipe flange or donut gasket. I cleared CEL. No problems since. The CEL code PO420 came on in June, but that seems to come on every summer once or twice. It returned after I cleared it, within a month an exhaust leak was audible. Shop replaced gasket in front flange. I cleared code. All ok now. 
Nov 2012

117100 mi
PO420 CEL came on again. This is usually due to an exhaust leak. I cleared the code off after a few days and it has not come back on. So I will assume no real leak in exhaust system for now. 
Apr 2013

120000 mi
PO420 CEL on for a month before car inspection due. I pressed rag over tailpipe to check for exhaust leak, but none. So I cleared code, drove for 2 weeks and 183 miles, so the rear Oxygen sensor would reset itself, car passed inspection. 
Jun 2013

121000 mi

US $275
A year and 7k miles later, my driver side rear wheel bearing failed again. Maybe a warped bearing housing knuckle? Mechanic said no, let him try a better bearing with good grease. We will see in a year if he is right! 
Mar 2014

126000 mi
10 yr old Foresters in the rust belt develop a corrosion leak in the fuel filler neck pipe. We have smelled gas during the last few months right after filling to the top. And the CEL is on. Have ordered parts and will replace it soon. 
May 2014

127400 mi

US $1032
CEL P0442 has been on for months. Fuel filler neck pipe rusts out, gas leaks, CEL comes on. Inde garage replaced it. CEL off now. All fixed. New exhaust...everything rear of the cat. And new rear 02 sensor, since it was throwing P0037 code. All fixed now, and engine light off. 
Nov 2014

132000 mi
Occasional CEL P0420 will come on and stay on. For last few years. I cleared it out with my code reader about 3 weeks ago. So far it has stayed off. Probably burning oil in exhaust tickles rear 02 sensor. My best guess. 
Sep 2015

139000 mi

US $100
Both the clutch master cylinder(inner seals worn, so clutch pedal soft, does not spring up from floor) and the rubber clutch hose failed, pinhole leak (so clutch pedal went to floor, no return). So I bot replacement parts at Advance Auto. 
Nov 2015

141000 mi

US $1500
Clutch plates were slipping badly. Shop said I needed to replace plates AND flywheel. I dunno if flywheel REALLY needed to be replaced, but it is done. Original starter (solenoid really) finally died. Shop replaced it for about $314. 
Feb 2016

144000 mi

US $30
Probably a slight head gasket leak. I now add a half cup of coolant to radiator every month. Also added a small bit of Pwr Steering fluid with stopleak since pwr steering pump was squeaking but belt was tight. CEL is always on. Car would not shift into gear even with clutch pedal depressed normally. This happened more lately when the engine was warm, than cold. Clutch fluid looked murky too. Replaced slave cylinder and bled in new clutch fluid. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Nov 2008 - Mar 2010
Dec 2008

128000 mi

US $400
Rear wheel bearings. 
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Dec 2014 - Jan 2015
Jan 2015

US $800
Rusted drums, brake fluid leaking. Everything began to rust on body, time to trade in my baby. 

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2001 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Jun 2017 - Jun 2022
Nov 2021

179468 mi

US $1700
Only 1 of 4 cylinders firing properly. Codes say replace spark plugs and ignition coils. $225 spark plugs $448 ignition coil, $90 wires to ignition coil. Oil all over spark plugs, so replaced some seals. 
Subaru Forester in Oklahoma, United States
Oct 2009 - Mar 2012
Nov 2009

205000 mi

US $40
Replaced rear brake pads. Pads wore prematurely due to a sticking caliper on the right side. Freed the caliper and cycled it. Hoping it will hold out for another 200,000. 
Mar 2010

211000 mi

US $680
Both rear wheel bearings were replaced. The last set lasted about 60k miles. Replaced both rear wheel bearings. The standard Subaru weakness. This is the second time I have replaced them. I wish this car had a sealed bearing cartridge. 
Dec 2010

222000 mi

US $75
Replaced passenger front axle. CV boot was torn.  
Subaru Forester in Virginia, United States
Jan 2009 - Nov 2021
Oct 2010

148700 mi

US $75
Heat shield under car attaching screws rusted and let go, shield was dragging on the road. Heat shield was replaced between catalytic converter and muffler. 
Mar 2011

159000 mi

US $595
Loud grinding noise when driving with drop in gas mileage. Right front wheel bearing failed and was replaced. Changed oil while in in shop for the repair 
Jan 2012

169000 mi

US $313
Check engine light came on intermittantly. Code indicated that the catalytic converter was at or below 95% efficiency Air conditioner pulley seized, destroyed the drive belt 
Sep 2012

181000 mi
Both rear wheel bearings were making noise and were replaced. Four wheel alignment performed as rear links were cut. Check engine light on permanently. First converter of two was replaced. Error code cleared. Fuel purge solenoid set error code and was sticking closed. Shop blew out lines and cleaned solenoid, reset computer. Error code did not reappear. 
Jan 2013

193000 mi
Strong gasoline odor on starting cold engine when outside air temperatures below 25F. Some gasoline visible around and near fuel lines. Repair consisted of tightening the fuel line clamps around the rubber line connectors. 
Oct 2014

215300 mi

US $2020
Seized right caliper destroyed the rotor. Cleaned both calipers, replaced pad and both rotors Lower ball joint right casusing vibration & shaking excessive play. Replaced right & left lower ball joints Exhaust crossover rotted out & leaking - loud exhaust 
Nov 2014

216000 mi

US $1045
Valve cover gaskets leaking oil into spark plug wells and wires. Engine was running on 3 cylinders instead of 4. Oxygen sensor was fouled by unburned gasoline. Replaced gaskets, spark plugs and wires, including ignition wire. 
Jul 2016

236000 mi

US $99
Replaced leaking radiator. Really easy. 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Jun 2017 - Jun 2018
Jul 2017

243000 mi

US $150
rack & pinion went out 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Sep 2008 - Mar 2015
Dec 2008

115000 mi

US $420
Left rear wheel bearing replacement. The same bearing had been replaced at 35K miles. 
Jul 2009

120000 mi

US $3900
Head gaskets, all engine seals, oil cooler gasket, oil pump gasket  cat converter was working OK, but fittings were badly rusted so after engine removal, could not be reused. left rear wheel bearing was faulty fix from 9 months ago, right rear wheel bearing was new problem. Backing plates for rear brakes were completely rusted away. AC receiver dryer was leaking 
Aug 2010

138000 mi
wheel bearings worn out within a year of being replaced. rear control arm bushings worn out fuel filler pipe was badly rusted and needed to be replaced. 
Aug 2011

145900 mi

US $160
Idler pulley on AC drive belt froze, causing belt to fail. Replaced pulley and belt. 
Nov 2011

150000 mi

US $92
Running poorly, lacked power, especially at low speed. Replaced upstream oxygen sensor. 
Jul 2012

157200 mi

US $15
Let rear tie rod end bushing failed and needed to be replaced. 
Feb 2013

169200 mi

US $95
Knock sensor needed to be replaced. 
Apr 2013

170800 mi

US $350
Evaporative control hard lines were rusted through, causing a evaporation control system leak. 
Sep 2013

177000 mi

US $285
inner axle boot on passenger side was torn. 
Feb 2014

180000 mi

US $60
Some of the original emission control tubes and valves were corroded and needed to be replaced. Valve cover gaskets leaking. I replaced them. 
Mar 2014

180000 mi

US $400
cruise control actuator had stopped working. 
May 2014

184000 mi

US $700
Alternator bearings were starting to make noise, and I needed more amperage due some audio system upgrades, so decided to install a bigger alternator. Not really a breakdown, but I think the original alternator was on its way out. Headlight housings were getting pretty cloudy and cracked, and I had already done the refinishing approach, so decided to replace the headlight housings. 
Subaru Forester in Minnesota, United States
Mar 2012 - Aug 2018
Oct 2014

155700 mi

US $350
Worn tube, radiator flush and coolant ref ill 
Mar 2016

185000 mi

US $880
Right rear wheel bearing worn and replaced. Front CV joints replaced 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Mar 2011 - Jun 2013
Oct 2011

112500 mi

US $800
Drive side Axle needed replacement. 
Feb 2013

128000 mi

US $1600
head gasket seal was replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
May 2015 - Mar 2016
Jun 2015

167000 mi

US $350
New Axles 
Oct 2015

168000 mi

US $721
Left front spindle, axle and inner wheel seal positive terminal replaced 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Jun 2013 - Jun 2018
Jan 2014

US $1000
Head gaskets leaking and I did not know service history on timing belt, pulled engine out myself and overhauled, machined heads, all new gaskets, seals, belt, pulleys, starter, hoses etc..... 
May 2014

237200 mi

US $300
Overhauled engine, put back in car but was now getting no spark. Check various connections but not good with electrical so I towed it to a local shop. They believe the ECM "computer" is bad, awaiting a used ECM to fix. Wires broke to crank, cam and knock sensors when I removed and replaced intake. 
Oct 2014

238200 mi

US $5
Replaced slow leaking oil cooler seal 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Jun 2014 - Mar 2015
Jun 2014

91000 mi

US $500
Really Loud Exhaust Noise was noticed. Exhaust system back of catalytic converter was replaced (Muffler/Pipes) 
Dec 2014

96000 mi

US $200
Wheel was severely out of alignment, a bolt in the suspension was missing, replaced. 
Subaru Forester in Idaho, United States
May 2015 - May 2015
May 2015

US $300
Replaced struts 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Mar 2011 - Jun 2018
Apr 2011

86000 mi
Head gasket repaired under warranty. Barely leaking, and at first dealer refused to replace it until I used the name of the independent mechanic who noticed the leak. They know him. 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Aug 2015 - Jun 2022
Oct 2015

194300 mi

US $600
Replaced tie rod end and 4 struts. 
Apr 2016

198750 mi

US $89
Knock sensor Replaced Knock Sensor 
Oct 2016

201517 mi

US $100
Replaced passenger front CV Axle. Also replaced steering boot. Replaced CV Axle Replaced Steering boot. 
Jun 2018

207000 mi

US $50
Vent control stopped working 
Jul 2018

207700 mi

US $60
Primary Cooling fan ran intermittently, so replaced fan. 
Aug 2018

210265 mi

US $100
Replaced Secondary radiator cooling fan 
Sep 2018

211030 mi

US $75
Replace HVAC fan and relay Replaced front door check Replace rear door check 
Subaru Forester in Maine, United States
Mar 2010 - Jul 2012
Jun 2010

117000 mi

US $267
Repair inner tie rod end and boot 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Apr 2010 - May 2010
May 2010

60000 mi

US $300
Rear wheel bearings replaced. Rear bearings replaced 
Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States
Dec 2010 - Jan 2011
Jan 2011

220000 mi

US $200
Timing belt tensioner bearing busted. Replacement of tensioner. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Nov 2010 - Jan 2016
Dec 2010

138000 mi

US $555
Golden Hills Auto Center performed scan for check engine light, indicated spark plug wire and ignition coil failure (also resurfaced rotors - replaced rears after they damaged them. 
Mar 2011

143000 mi

US $1903
Check engine light still, check oil burn smell - missfire at #4 cylinder, oil in spark plug; replaced cylinder head gaskets, timing belt(?), water pump(?). Check engine light returned after this repair. 
Jul 2011

150000 mi

US $1110
In to and diagnose check engine light; code indicated catalyst efficiency below threshold; replaced cat converter. Check engine light off (Golden Hills fired.) Replaced C/V boot driver side  
Nov 2011

153100 mi

US $172
During a routine inspection, it was discovered that the tie-rod end was loose and need to be replace. Repair was done. 
Dec 2015

254000 mi

US $500
Bent Front wheel axel 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Feb 2011 - Aug 2013
May 2011

203800 mi

US $1500
Timing belt water pump idlers etc repaired successfully. Rear end whine, replaced wheel bearing and axle, still whining. 
Jun 2011

205000 mi

US $100
Transmission locked out of drive. Brake sensor replaced. 
Sep 2012

215000 mi

US $75
Leaking head gaskets on both sides. Put gasket conditioner and new coolant in. 
Jan 2013

US $46
Fuel hose near throttle body cracked. 
Jun 2013

222000 mi

US $450
Right rear wheel bearing went bad. Hub/Bearing,  and Brake Line were replaced 

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2001 Subaru Forester 4-door

turbocharged 4-cylinder automatic 2WD

Subaru Forester in Kenya
Nov 2008 - Jun 2013
Jun 2010

52700 mi

$12000
Changed shocks 

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2001 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Sep 2008 - Mar 2010
Oct 2008

121000 mi

US $200
Overheating on long drives. 
Feb 2009

122000 mi

US $200
Hydraulic clutch line ruptured. 

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2001 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Oct 2008 - Mar 2010
Nov 2008

85000 mi

US $345
Oil was leaking. Car hooked up to computer. "O" ring replaced. We noticed sparks coming out of exhaust. Dealership replaced oxygen sensor. Still an occasional spark but not as much. We haven't told dealer this. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Aug 2009 - Mar 2010
Sep 2009

151000 mi

US $1725
needs steering boots replace dipstick tube o ring 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
May 2009 - Mar 2010
Jul 2009

133000 mi

US $950
wheel bearing right passenger side rear needed replacement. 

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2000 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Nov 2013 - Mar 2015
Jan 2015

US $1100
I had a new clutch put in (flywheel), the old clutch was the original from when I bought the car 15 years ago. The clutch was starting to slip. I'd say we got our money's worth out of it! :) 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
- Mar 2010
Dec 2008

100000 mi
Driver's side window power window stopped working. Had to replace the button window button. 
Jul 2009

115000 mi

US $5000
2nd Head Gasket blew. 
Feb 2010

120000 mi

US $1600
Replaced clutch and bushings. 
Mar 2010

124000 mi
Found another leak under near heater. The fix for this was to epoxy the tear. Subaru dealer did this for free. Since I had just brought in for the other water leak. 

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2000 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD

Subaru Forester in Illinois, United States
Dec 2014 - Jul 2018
Jun 2017

167000 mi

US $550
CEL, needed new catalytic converter, also replaced spark plugs, wires and starter coil 
Oct 2017

175000 mi
Car was overheating. Temperature gauge running hot and coolant pushing out of overflow tank 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Jun 2016 - Jun 2018
Oct 2016

100532 mi

US $840
Service trans 
Nov 2016

102405 mi

US $413
2 front axles replaced due to wobbling on acceleration. I believe a CV is still amiss or something similar as the symptoms persist without radiating up the steering column L Rear wheel bearing replaced as I could feel some play happening and the sound was awful 
Jul 2017

109000 mi

US $650
TB/WP/TS 
Jun 2018

118000 mi

US $250
R Rear Wheel Bearing 

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2000 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder automatic AWD

Subaru in Alberta, Canada
Oct 2013 - Mar 2014
Mar 2014

190340 mi

C $290
replaced alternator and battery 

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1999.5 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru in Georgia (nation)
Mar 2014 - Mar 2015
Feb 2015

73560 mi
Whet turning up engine getting stop it self. After warming works nearly well not good. Some times during a drive engine stops working it self. So I can't find a problem with the engine electronic. What should I do please let me know. .... 
Subaru in Illinois, United States
Feb 2010 - Mar 2010
Mar 2010

137000 mi

US $25
"Check engine" light has been on intermittently for months. Probably indicates need for yet another O2 sensor, which is a known problem with this vehicle.  Repeated problems with crankshaft pulley and associated belt. Crankshaft pulley replaced twice in six months--separated the first time. Second replacement still has problems with loosening and belt slipping off. 

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1999 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru in Pennsylvania, United States
Feb 2013 - Dec 2013
Mar 2013

204000 mi
Security System Siren not sounding. Replaced siren. 
Subaru in New Jersey, United States
Nov 2012 - Dec 2012
Dec 2012

88000 mi

US $200
The car would not shift into drive reliably. The transmission fluid and filter were changed. Mechanic felt it would need transmission work shortly and will cost about $2000. Will probably buy a new car Engine light went on. The code related to the fuel line. We tried changing the gas cap, no luck. I would look further to repair, but the car is now having transmission issues (too expensive to fix)and I will likely sell and buy a new car 
Subaru in Minnesota, United States
Aug 2012 - Jan 2013
Jan 2013

US $100
replaced rear strut. 
Subaru in Pennsylvania, United States
May 2012 - Jun 2012
May 2012

70000 mi

US $350
It makes a loud bang when starting to go from a dead stop but is not fixed. They fixed right front axel. They said that is the problem but it is not. 
Subaru in California, United States
Mar 2012 - Apr 2012
Apr 2012

128000 mi
engine died. would need to be replaced. 
Subaru in Oregon, United States
Apr 2013 - Nov 2015
May 2013

190700 mi

US $790
Strut was broken and others weak. Replaced all struts. 
Jun 2013

191000 mi

US $2900
replace oil pump seals 
Subaru in New Mexico, United States
May 2014 - Jun 2014
Jun 2014

124000 mi
Air condition was coughing. Cracked compressor. Fuel gage busted. Crazy engine light always on. 
Subaru in Massachusetts, United States
Jun 2017 - Jun 2018
Oct 2017

160000 mi

US $800
replace lines 

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1999 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder manual AWD

Subaru in Michigan, United States
Dec 2010 - Dec 2013
Jan 2011

74000 mi

US $80
Replaced failed rear oxygen sensor. 
Feb 2012

93000 mi

US $300
Front oxygen sensor replaced. (Dealer incorrectly diagnosed problem initially and replaced rear sensor.) 
Subaru in New York, United States
Dec 2010 - Jul 2011
Jul 2011

125000 mi
check engine sensor 
Subaru in Utah, United States
Dec 2010 - Sep 2018
Jan 2011

109000 mi

US $600
Repaired oil leak at the front of the motor. I had the leak for a year before repaired because dealer said it would be repaired when I replaced the timing belt. Radiator hose damaged by oil leak had to be replaced. 
Aug 2012

123700 mi

US $300
Ignition coil bad. Replaced coil, plugs and wires. 
Subaru in Ontario, Canada
Dec 2010 - Apr 2011
Apr 2011

78120 mi
transmission needs replacing; decided to retire the vehicle. 

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1999 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder automatic AWD

Subaru in Illinois, United States
Dec 2010 - Mar 2011
Mar 2011

89000 mi

US $110
delayed forward engagement leaky head gasket 
Subaru in Missouri, United States
Jun 2011 - Apr 2013
Nov 2011

213100 mi

US $658
The rear wheel bearing went out. I had it replaced, which ended up being quite a job, apparently. 
Jun 2012

235000 mi

US $580
Radiator plastic-crimped top popped in Death Valley. I had it replaced, along with the old original coolant hoses. 
Subaru in North Carolina, United States
Dec 2010 - Aug 2013
Mar 2013

236000 mi

US $302
Slow leak of coolant 
Subaru in Massachusetts, United States
Nov 2017 - Jun 2018
Jun 2018

280000 mi

US $500
Normal brake and front cv joints. 
Subaru in Michigan, United States
Feb 2011 - Mar 2012
Feb 2012

173300 mi

US $250
New front stabilizer 
Subaru in British Columbia, Canada
Dec 2010 - Jun 2011
Mar 2011

210800 mi

C $2500
Timing belt broke, engine seized 

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1999 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder automatic 4WD

Subaru in Oregon, United States
Jun 2017 - Jul 2018
Nov 2017

215000 mi

US $300
Replaced Alternator 

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1998 Subaru Forester

Engine not specified

Subaru in Georgia, United States
Oct 2011 - Nov 2011
Nov 2011

120000 mi

US $2000
Head gasket leak; decided to replace the car 
Subaru in Pennsylvania, United States
Sep 2011 - Nov 2011
Nov 2011

150000 mi
Trip was for state inspection after purchasing used. Replaced Calipers. Noted Front Engine leak, internal engine leak and oil pump replacement. replaced calipers, brake fluid hoses, state inspection. Head gasket. Coolant pulled in and out of reservoir and overheating periodically, then consistently. Attempted engine block seal. Then overheated, and traded in for Toyota Corolla. Mechanic did not think head gasket initially. 
Subaru in Hawaii, United States
Mar 2011 - May 2011
Apr 2011

125000 mi

US $250
rear wheel bearings noise, replace with new L/R side 
Subaru in Portugal
Mar 2011 - Jul 2018
Apr 2011

112220 mi

€450
and right rear wheel bearing 
Subaru in New York, United States
Jul 2012 - Dec 2012
Aug 2012

202500 mi

US $325
short brake line replaced, pads,shoes,drums, rotors replaced. 
Subaru in Texas, United States
Feb 2012 - Mar 2013
Mar 2012

64000 mi
Second time problem with rotors; suspension bars and other suspension-related issues that I didn't understand. 
Subaru in Utah, United States
Jul 2012 - Jul 2013
Oct 2012

232200 mi

US $88
Lose inner tie-rod replaced, plus both steering boots 
Jun 2013

234000 mi

US $800
U Joints went on driveshaft when driving 350 to Idaho. Trapped in Idaho for two days waiting for parts. 
Jul 2013

234000 mi

US $145
Alternator failed - showed P0101 and P0103 codes. replaced alternator, problem went away. 
Subaru in Texas, United States
Mar 2013 - Mar 2016
May 2013

185000 mi

US $450
replaced 2 rear sway bar links noticed an intermittent gasoline smell when driving the car, shop found and replaced cracking fuel lines 
Mar 2015

197000 mi

US $1100
steering rack replaced with remanufactured had all four shocks/struts replaced 
Subaru in Alberta, Canada
Feb 2016 - Nov 2016
Jul 2016

155400 mi

C $100
Re-replaced front drivers side strut - Gabriel strut had failed within a week of installation. 
Subaru in Pennsylvania, United States
Mar 2013 - Jun 2014
Apr 2013

187700 mi

US $920
Replaced catalytic converters and O2 sensors. The connecting flanges had rusted through even though the cat and SS containers were still good after 15 years. They had rusted off from the exhaust pipe flange, Noise and CO danger in Winter. 
Jun 2014

198000 mi
Frame rusted out. Wheel not attached to frame... can't drive or steer it. Vehicle was junked. 

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1998 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder manual AWD

Subaru in Iowa, United States
Mar 2011 - Sep 2013
Dec 2011

132000 mi

US $55
Doors froze shut, owner damaged door handle trying to open the door 
Aug 2012

140700 mi

US $1000
Head gaskets;  radiator+hoses. CV boots; steering rack boots AC high side hose 

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1998 Subaru Forester 4-door

4-cylinder automatic AWD

Subaru in New Mexico, United States
Mar 2011 - Aug 2016
Nov 2011

122200 mi

US $20
The sensor on the gas gauge needed to be replaced. 
Subaru in Hawaii, United States
May 2011 - Sep 2012
Sep 2011

97000 mi

US $400
Cracked radiator - replaced radiator, hoses, thermostat - also added "freon" and changed oil. Just completed by backyard mechanic (trained on Subarus). Still monitoring for possible damage to head gasket when car overheated. 
Dec 2011

98000 mi

US $280
starter motor went out - replaced starter motor - was done in my backyard by a pro mechanic who has a home service business - took about 2 hrs. - $180/motor, $100/labor. 
Subaru in Washington, United States
Jun 2017 - Jun 2018
Dec 2017

191500 mi

US $80
Trans. fluid temp light came on 

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See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs
See TrueDelta's information for all Subaru models.

Subaru Forester Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently Subaru Forester problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.