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Subaru Forester and Subaru Outback Lemon Odds and Nada Odds for the Year Ending June 30, 2018

An asterisk (*) marks results based on small sample sizes.

Year Make/Model Nada Odds per 100 Cars Lemon Odds per 100 Cars    
82 vehicles, 11.6 months per vehicle, 15800 miles driven2017 Subaru Forester
[?] see reported repairs
  82 vehicles, 11.6 months per vehicle, 15800 miles driven
140 vehicles, 11.4 months per vehicle, 17100 miles driven2017 Subaru Outback
[?] see reported repairs
  140 vehicles, 11.4 months per vehicle, 17100 miles driven
41 vehicles, 11.2 months per vehicle, 28000 miles driven2016 Subaru Forester
[?] see reported repairs
  41 vehicles, 11.2 months per vehicle, 28000 miles driven
122 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 32100 miles driven2016 Subaru Outback
[?] see reported repairs
  122 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 32100 miles driven
105 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 43500 miles driven2015 Subaru Forester
[?] see reported repairs
  105 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 43500 miles driven
93 vehicles, 11.5 months per vehicle, 41300 miles driven

Redesigned. Common problems with wind noise around the front side windows and the fuel door release.
2015
Subaru Outback
[?] see reported repairs
  93 vehicles, 11.5 months per vehicle, 41300 miles driven

Redesigned. Common problems with wind noise around the front side windows and the fuel door release.
68 vehicles, 11.6 months per vehicle, 56000 miles driven

Redesigned.
2014
Subaru Forester
[?] see reported repairs
  68 vehicles, 11.6 months per vehicle, 56000 miles driven

Redesigned.
48 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 57600 miles driven2014 Subaru Outback
[?] see reported repairs
  48 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 57600 miles driven
77 vehicles, 11.6 months per vehicle, 75800 miles driven2013 Subaru Outback
[?] see reported repairs
  77 vehicles, 11.6 months per vehicle, 75800 miles driven
58 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 79600 miles driven2012 Subaru Outback
[?] see reported repairs
  58 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 79600 miles driven
80 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 95300 miles driven2011 Subaru Outback
[?] see reported repairs
  80 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 95300 miles driven
37 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 87200 miles driven2010 Subaru Forester
[?] see reported repairs
  37 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 87200 miles driven
52 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 103600 miles driven

Redesigned for this model year. Dramatic improvement in reliability compared to the previous generation.
2010
Subaru Outback
[?] see reported repairs
  52 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 103600 miles driven

Redesigned for this model year. Dramatic improvement in reliability compared to the previous generation.
26 vehicles, 11.5 months per vehicle, 107800 miles driven

Redesigned for this model year.
2009
Subaru Forester Join or sign in to view   see reported repairs
  26 vehicles, 11.5 months per vehicle, 107800 miles driven

Redesigned for this model year.
37 vehicles, 11.6 months per vehicle, 124400 miles driven

Common problems with wheel bearings and CV joint boots.
2008
Subaru Outback
[?] see reported repairs
  37 vehicles, 11.6 months per vehicle, 124400 miles driven

Common problems with wheel bearings and CV joint boots.
26 vehicles, 11.8 months per vehicle, 114900 miles driven

Muliple reports of problems with head gaskets, cv joint boots, sway bar links, and wheel bearings.
2006
Subaru Outback Join or sign in to view   see reported repairs
  26 vehicles, 11.8 months per vehicle, 114900 miles driven

Muliple reports of problems with head gaskets, cv joint boots, sway bar links, and wheel bearings.
31 vehicles, 11.5 months per vehicle, 125300 miles driven

Redesigned for this model year. Most common problems involve struts, wheel bearings, steering pump, CV joints.
2005
Subaru Outback H4 Join or sign in to view   see reported repairs
  31 vehicles, 11.5 months per vehicle, 125300 miles driven

Redesigned for this model year. Most common problems involve struts, wheel bearings, steering pump, CV joints.

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Subaru Forester vs. Subaru Outback Lemon Odds and Nada Odds

Other sources of Subaru Forester and Subaru Outback reliability data provide only averages, which can conceal as much as they reveal. So we also report the percentage of Subaru Foresters and Subaru Outbacks with no repairs at all in the past year and the percentage of Subaru Foresters and Subaru Outbacks that are lemons (required three or more repair trips in the past year). These figures might surprise you.

These stats are promptly updated four times a year, to closely track Subaru Forester and Subaru Outback lemon odds as the cars age. Others can be over a year behind. Only TrueDelta tells you how reliable the Subaru Forester and Subaru Outback have been recently.

To see how frequently Subaru Forester and Subaru Outback problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.

What Our Members Are Saying about the Brand Reputation of the Subaru Forester

Subaru Forester Brand Reputation: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2010 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
Well known reliability. Their cars last a long time. see full Subaru Forester review
2010 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
The all wheel drive go in all weather conditions reputation. see full Subaru Forester review
2009 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
Known for making good cars. see full Subaru Forester review
2009 4dr SUV turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4
4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
Rugged, reliable, green--truly seems a brand that inspires loyalty and gives every reason to repeat as a customer see full Subaru Forester review
2007 4dr SUV 173-horsepower 2.5L H4
4-speed automatic AWD
Fine. It should be designated the official state car of New Hampshire! see full Subaru Forester review
2007 4dr SUV 173-horsepower 2.5L H4
4-speed automatic AWD
local dealer is first or second in Northeast every year; other owners have generally positive comments; inmage says sensible, but reliable see full Subaru Forester review
2006 4dr SUV 173-horsepower 2.5L H4
4-speed automatic AWD
Automaker personally inspects everycar throughout production. Entire car line-up has highest safety ratings compared to others. see full Subaru Forester review
2004 4dr SUV turbocharged 210hp 2.5L I4
4-speed automatic AWD
Subaru AWD is great. see full Subaru Forester review
2004 4dr SUV 165-horsepower 2.5L H4
5-speed manual AWD
I have numerous friends with Subarus, all of them have had amazing great reliability with few, if any problems. see full Subaru Forester review
2003 4dr SUV 165-horsepower 2.5L H4
4-speed automatic AWD
As noted above, stellar reputation among owners. reputation for being just a little different. see full Subaru Forester review
Subaru Forester Brand Reputation: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2010 4dr SUV turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4
4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
Subaru is rare on France and Belgium raods. Not a lot of dealers see full Subaru Forester review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Brand Reputation of the Subaru Outback

Subaru Outback Brand Reputation: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2012 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
Lived up to reputation, one year 20,000 miles no repairs. see full Subaru Outback review
2012 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
This is our 3rd Outback and 10th Subaru with ours and our kids. We love Subaru's. Safety was the reason we purchased our first Subie, a '95 Legacy, for our daughter. All wheel drive and the other safety features of Subaru sold us. We still feel like our Subaru's give us an edge in any unexpected unpleasant situation on the road. When Subaru came to the U.S., it was known for quirky fun vehicles. The Subaru's of today remain fun, but a lot of the quirkiness is gone. In design and execution, they seem more mainstream now. Our Subaru's have been reliable. The all wheel drive system seems bullet proof and with one exception the engines have been the same. Our '99 Outback has had an overheating gremlin. With normal maintenance a Subaru can be trouble free. see full Subaru Outback review
2011 4dr Wagon 256-horsepower 3.6L H6
5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
Most Subaru owners go back again when changing their cars see full Subaru Outback review
2010 4dr Wagon 256-horsepower 3.6L H6
5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
It has engendered fierce owner loyalty. I wanted to understand that better after owning many other vehicles over 4 decades. see full Subaru Outback review
2010 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
After reading the excellent reviews on Conumer Reports, and talking to Subaru owners I beagn to like the product. After seeing the bank for my buck value and then driving one I was sold! see full Subaru Outback review
2010 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
Very durable and GREAT in the snow. see full Subaru Outback review
2009 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
Many independent reviewers gave it high ratings, and current owners we s/w gave it high ratings for performance & satisfaction. see full Subaru Outback review
2008 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
sturdey, reliable, lasts for ever. see full Subaru Outback review
2008 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
5-speed manual AWD
I take care of my own vehicle maintenance, and I like the reputation for longevity that the drive-train, engine components, and suspensions have. I do regular oil changes with Mobil 1 synthetic, and get 200K miles out of my cars. see full Subaru Outback review
2008 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
Again, these cars are everywhere in the Northwest. This leads to wide availability of quality independent mechanics. see full Subaru Outback review