| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2010 Subaru Forester repairs by problem area
Engine (35%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (7%)
Brakes and Traction Control (12%)
Suspension and Steering (14%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (16%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (13%)
Other (4%)
Chart based on 214 repairs.
2010 Subaru Forester engine repair cost distribution
$2500+ (3%)
$1000 - $2499 (12%)
$500 - $999 (7%)
$100 - $499 (27%)
< $100 (51%)
Chart based on 73 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2010 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 68000 mi US $189 |
Intercooler Hose connecting to the Turbo engine |
| 21080 mi | Malfunction with oil control valve. The dealer had to order the part - kept over weekend and fixed on 2nd business day. |
| 60000 mi US $296 |
Drive belts dry and cracking. Discovered during course of scheduled maintenance. Belts replaced. |
| 80000 mi US $504 |
Radiator cracked. Shop described failure as premature given mileage. |
2010 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 118500 mi US $155 |
Check oil leak...currently minor. Diagnosis is a leaking head gasket. |
| 122000 mi | Oil leak from head gasket. |
| 70000 mi | OCV stuck code thrown for bank 2. Dealer first replaced OCV solenoid and it did not fix. OCV switch corrected problem. |
| 52960 mi US $120 |
Replace fan belts |
| 162440 mi C $300 |
O2 sensor was faulty |
| 158500 mi US $50 |
Failed exhaust connection at muffler |
| 11000 mi | Replacement of fuel tank pressure sensor after diagnostic for reason why check engine light came on. |
| 56600 mi | Rattling heat shields. |
| 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. |
| 72540 mi C $50 |
Complained about excessive oil consumption. PCV valve replaced. |
| 99200 mi C $350 |
Ignition coil, had to go back one month later because a distribution cable unpluged. Missinstalled. Ignition coil. |
2010 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 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. |
| 64000 mi US $78 |
power steering belt was frayed. replaced belt |
| 98000 mi US $1500 |
replaced al exhaust and catalytic convertor |
| 61500 mi US $360 |
Replace serpentine belt |
| 70000 mi US $300 |
move/replace spark plug wires |
| 60000 mi US $520 |
gas tank vapor filter, diagnosed and replaced. |
| 102000 mi US $4300 |
Replaced head gaskets, timing belt, radiator and alternator. |
| 111000 mi US $90 |
Steering Pump Pully Tensioner wasn't keeping enough tension on the accessory belt |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 70000 mi US $1000 |
Exhaust Cross pipe cracked needed replacement. |
| 85000 mi | Head Gasket developed a leak. Car was traded in for a new one. |
| 115000 mi US $2400 |
Head gasket repair and timing belt |
| 87000 mi US $2000 |
Head gasket replacement |
| 131720 mi | Code P0420 - Cat Efficiency Low. |
| 152000 mi US $250 |
Rusted exhaust manifold with exhaust leaks |
| 68000 mi | Head Gasket replacement done on warranty due to low mileage and less than 10 years old. |
| 64480 mi C $1000 |
We were informed that the 'timing belt' required replacement |
| 123000 mi US $1400 |
Catalytic converter rusting out, creating loud exhaust noise and causing fumes to enter car. Catalytic converter replaced. |
| 133000 mi US $40 |
Replaced failed PCV valve. Found accessory belt starting to fail, replaced that as well. |
| 178000 mi US $50 |
Exhaust manifold gaskets leaking. |
| 180000 mi US $230 |
Exhaust flanges rotted out. Mechanic cut pipes around flanges and welded new pipe in place. |
| 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. |
| 9920 mi | Check engine and traction control lights on. Also cruise control light flashing. They replaced the ignition wiring to correct the problem. |
| 63813 mi US $11 |
Replaced alternator drive belt due to premature wear. |
| 83000 mi US $138 |
Check engine light came on. Dealer replaced the gas cap with a new gas cap. That fixed the problem. |
| 110000 mi US $2100 |
Blown head gasket |
| 89560 mi C $400 |
Engine flooded badly had to change plugs, cables and air filter. |
| 96940 mi C $950 |
Oil leak in the timing belt cover. Had to replace timing belt before the planned replacement at 168 000 km |
| 112000 mi C $1200 |
The typical Subaru 2.5 l engine gasket change. There were oil and coolant leaks |
| 123320 mi C $1700 |
Head gaskets |
| 75000 mi | Catalytic converter needed to be replaced |
| 35000 mi | engine light came on need to replace oil flow control valve. |
| 21080 mi C $70 |
recommended throttle maintenance as pedal a bit sticky - detected during inspection when in for 6 month maintenance |
| 27280 mi C $80 |
loose heat shield |
| 28620 mi C $100 |
cracked fan belt required replacement |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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! |
| 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! |
| 83700 mi C $1200 |
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. |
| 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. |
| 99200 mi C $135 |
Heat shield rattle repaired with clamps. |
| 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. |
| 43000 mi US $40 |
heat shield under car vibration/rattling |
| 38000 mi US $40 |
Noise in exhaust system. Loose heat shield. Tightened. Cost $40 |
| 85000 mi US $108 |
replace worn power steering belt replace ground straps |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 98000 mi US $350 |
Head gasket needs replacing. Front wheel bearing went bad. Right front CV Axel went bad |
| 83000 mi US $150 |
Alternator belt snapped, causing the battery to lose power. Replaced alternator belt and battery. |
| 103000 mi US $3000 |
Scheduled timing belt replacement, brakes,leaky head gasket seal |
| 113000 mi US $65 |
Shield over muffler needed reattaching |
| 115800 mi US $120 |
Steering was squeaky. Belt was frayed. Replaced. |
| 101500 mi US $370 |
Drive belt |
| 125000 mi US $120 |
Faulty wire from battery causing misfires Car was hesitating |
| 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. |
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