| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
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 2792 repairs.
Subaru Forester engine repair cost distribution
$2500+ (8%)
$1000 - $2499 (13%)
$500 - $999 (16%)
$100 - $499 (29%)
< $100 (34%)
Chart based on 799 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2020 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
182-horsepower 2.5L H4 7-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| 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. |
| 64000 mi | Fuel evap canister filter plugged. Replaced filter, Covered under extended warranty |
2019 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
182-horsepower 2.5L H4 7-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| 33000 mi | Thermo Control Valve Failure |
2019 Subaru Forester 4-door
4-cylinder CVT AWD
| 33480 mi | Engine temperature control assembly showed fault |
2018 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| 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 |
| 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. |
2018 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD
| 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. |
| 9000 mi | engine was replaced after multiple oil consumption tests showed that the car was buring 2 quarts every 600 miles. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 59000 mi | Full engine replacement due to high oil consumption and failed oil consumption test. |
2017 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| 3000 mi | Heavy soot deposits on exhaust pipe tips. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 6200 mi | Misfire on #1 cylinder when started. Computer was fed an update and problem fixed |
| 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. |
2017 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 237hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 21791 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. |
2017 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD
| 66000 mi US $150 |
During inspection shop found exhaust leak in the exhaust manifold/catalytic converter assembly. First shop quoted $4000 for repair. Took to Subaru dealer. Repair was covered under a special extended warranty period for this year of Forester. |
| 9000 mi | Reprogram ECM for engine hesitation and jerking. |
| 19 mi C $290 |
Rock got caught in heat shield. 1 hr labor to repair. |
| Rear O2 sensor tripped, turning on check engine light. A software update seems to have eradicated the problem. |
2017 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD
| 5303 mi | Vehicle is consuming oil. Oil level low by 34 oz. Started oil consumption test with new oil/filter change. |
2016 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| 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. |
2016 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD
| 102864 mi US $644 |
Repair loose converter heat shield |
| 16000 mi US $135 |
oil change at dealer |
2015 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| 41000 mi | Dealer that did Wqw57 in April failed to tighten turbo hoses, hoses cane loose and car stalled. |
| 49000 mi | Po420 code, replaced front cat Po420 code, dealer reflashed ECU |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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! |
| 30000 mi | Noticed oil seepage around spark plug cover. |
| 8680 mi | Oxygen Sensor failing. |
| 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). |
| 1000 mi | Dash lights returned following 2nd repair. This time dealer replaced ECM computer. Solution is so far successful after 1 week. |
| 19000 mi | Dealer noticed cracked exhaust hanger bracket. Replaced under warranty. |
| 85560 mi C $100 |
Rough idling. Check engine light kept coming on then off. Sometimes several safety systems would fail then go back online. |
| 17980 mi | Turbo engine recall Software repair spark plug mis Fire |
| 19220 mi | Engine shake excessive vibration, cleaned carbon buildup from intake valves. Shake came back within three days. |
| 19620 mi | Engine shake appears again -carbon buildup in cylinder 1&3. Removed air intake to perform more cleaning. Still intermittent shake. |
| 34100 mi | Leak in crank case which leaked onto the exhaust and into cabin Also leak from transmission pan plug |
| 34000 mi | Low outside temperatures caused a squeaking fan belt |
| 22940 mi C $100 |
Reset engine light |
2015 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 237hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| 10731 mi | pinging at times - may have gotten bad gas |
2015 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 145hp 2.0L H4 Diesel 6-speed manual AWD
| 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. |
| 24180 mi | Rattle in heat shield. Still present and will return car after Christmas holiday |
| 24180 mi | Exhaust system had split which was causing harsh noises in acceleration. Replacement of defective portion of exhaust has repaired identified problem |
2015 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD
| 28200 mi | This vehicle is currently experiencing the high oil consumption common with previous years. |
| 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. |
| 36000 mi | oil/water sensor defective, leading to CEL. Replaced. |
| 59000 mi US $69 |
Suddenly started using oil. Dealer replaced PCV valve, problem cured. |
| 12000 mi | Oil Leak |
| 42964 mi US $100 |
Several clamps on the exhaust system heat shields rusted out and were rattling. Dealer replaced with new ones. |
2015 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD
| 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. |
| 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 . |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 8200 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 |
2015 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
148-horsepower 2.0L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| 31000 mi | replace the turbo which was operating well but abnormally noisy |
| 40300 mi | C Service destroyed fuel/air (F/A) sensor. Has been on backorder from Japan for over a month. Waiting... |
2014 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| 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? ? |
2014 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| 13020 mi | Shaking at idle, intermittent. |
| 21000 mi | Software reset for check engine lignt |
| 55000 mi | Recall notice: Ignition computer was reflashed to solve a pre-ignition problem under hard acceleration |
| 2000 mi | engine occasionally difficult to start after not being used for a day or so. |
| 2300 mi | engine occasionally stumbles/misfires during startup. Mechanics ran diagnostic tests (first time they ran this test for 2014 vehicles), but found no problems. |
| 4000 mi US $90 |
rubber hood boot seal between turbo intercooler housing and air ductwork is warped, fits poorly. |
| 4000 mi | Replaced rubber boot seal between hood and intercooler, and several fasteners which broke during replacement process. |
| 8300 mi | Reprogrammed ECU per TSB to improve engine start-up. |
| 15000 mi | replaced hood-mounted intercooler air diverter (rubber seals had become torn). 2nd time this part has been replaced |
| 16000 mi | Engine was intermittently missing. Technician flashed ECU with new software update that addressed the problem. |
| 17000 mi | Subaru recall to correct engine misfiring. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 28000 mi | Catalytic Convertor Went Bad |
| 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. |
| 13000 mi | Lagging throttle response. Hesitancy during acceleration (from a stop and during passing). ECU reflashed. |
| 3000 mi | CEL thrown during a hard start. ECU was reprogrammed with a fix for the issue |
| 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. | |
| 22288 mi | Same camshaft position sensor was leaking oil. Saw a spot of oil. |
| 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) |
| 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. |
| 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) |
| 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. |
| 60265 mi | P0420 - Center Exhaust pipe replaced. (I think is is between the manifold and turbo - also has some kind of inbuilt cat) |
| 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. |
| 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. |
2014 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD
| 56000 mi US $500 |
LEAKING CAM CARRIERS |
| 10000 mi | Timing Belt tensioner needed adjusted. |
| 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. |
| 185000 mi US $2000 |
Catalytic converter needed to be replaced due to carbon buildup |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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.) |
| 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. |
| 14000 mi US $26 |
Fuel cap left loose by attendant causing check engine light to come on. Would not reset after fuel cap was tightened |
| 30400 mi | 30k service at local dealer failed to reinstall oil drain plug properly, requiring emergency visit to distant dealer to diagnose and fix. |
| 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. |
| 29000 mi | Changed engine due to oil consumption problem. Used two quarts of oil in 2,800 miles. |
| 40000 mi US $302 |
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). |
| 88000 mi US $200 |
Second engine was using 2 quarts of oil between oil changes and the engine had to be replaced again |
| 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). |
| 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. |
| 36000 mi | Low oil light came on. Car is currently conducting an oil consumption test. |
| 39000 mi | Oil level checked for oil consumption check. Oil loss deemed acceptable for now, test still in progress. |
| 24000 mi | Blue exhaust on start up. Car was returned later that month off lease. |
| 26000 mi US $50 |
Engine loses oil at more than 1 qt per 2000 miles. It is difficult to correctly read oil level. |
| 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. |
| 49600 mi | Car started going thru oil and the dealer installed a new engine( now thats service) |
| 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. |
| 17700 mi | Return for oil consumption test. Results, car not consuming any oil over a 1,200 mile test. |
| 24000 mi | Serpentine belt came off. New belt put on |
| 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. |
2014 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD
| 14880 mi C $250 |
Oil consumption |
| 15680 mi | oil consumption test |
| 16740 mi | oil consumption test |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 18000 mi | Burning oil. Started oil consumption test, replaced PCV valve |
| 22000 mi | burning oil-replaced short block |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 39680 mi | Mass air flow meter failed causing check engine light. Repair was covered under extended warranty. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
2014 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
148-horsepower 2.0L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| 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. |
| 19840 mi $1050 |
replaced one (1) spark plug |
2013.5 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD
| 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... |
2013 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 56957 mi | Because of excessive oil consumption, Subaru replaced the short block and all associated gaskets. |
2013 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 2 mi US $996 |
Replaced oxygen sensor, EGR valve, and mass air flow sensor. |
| 99500 mi US $2200 |
Catalytic converter replaced. EGR valve replaced. Wiper blades replaced. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 18320 mi | Engine burns oil. Dealer started oil consumption test. |
| 32860 mi | Engine short block replaced after undergoing oil consumption test. |
| 45880 mi | start oil consumption test |
| Leak on Passenger side cam-carrier. Had to drop the entire engine to get to it. |
| 103000 mi US $660 |
Had to replace two mufflers due to corrosion and rust damage |
| 91000 mi US $390 |
hard starts changed spark plugs and cleaned throttle body |
| 99000 mi | Engine failed the oil consumption test need a short block basically got a rebuild |
2013 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
| 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. |
| 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. |
2012 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| 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 |
| 8000 mi | 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. |
2012 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 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 |
| 132060 mi | Car went into limp mode with check engine , cruise and traction control light on or flashing. |
| 137020 mi | Oil consumption test recall from Subaru Canada. More than 1 liter per 2500km Engine will be changed under warranty in January 2018. |
| 138880 mi C $300 |
Engine changed under recall from Subaru Canada for excessive oil consumption. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 18600 mi | 5W30 Synthetic now in car. Aprox. 1000K since oil change. Oil consumption appears improved. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 82000 mi | Engine continues to burn oil at a rate of ~0.5 qts/1,000 miles. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 47000 mi | Vehicle failed oil consumption test with rate of 43.760Z per 1,200 miles. Engine removed and new short block installed. |
2012 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 13000 mi | CEL, Cruise & Traction control lights blinking. Dealer reset ECU. |
| 51000 mi US $385 |
Engine was repaired under Subaru's high oil consumption TSB. |
| 91000 mi US $600 |
Replace serpentine belt. |
| 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 |
| 20000 mi | Faulty fuel cap, took 3 visits to diagnose & fix. Technician left clamp on line during 2nd visit causing 3rd visit |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 91760 mi | Valve cover leak observed, inspection only, only to monitor. |
| 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. |
| 16000 mi | Burning oil. Dealer states normal a qt.every 1,000 miles. |
| 125860 mi A $6800 |
Engine replaced due to main bearing failure |
| 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. |
| 13000 mi | Reloaded engine software but still have intermitant starting problems. Seal for timing belt cover leaking. |
| 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. |
| 78000 mi US $2500 |
Head gasket failure resulting in coolant leaking along with a crack in another small part. |
| 59000 mi | CEL, flashing cruise, traction control lit. Cruise in. Code indicated loose gas cap. |
| 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!!! |
| 144000 mi US $2800 |
Reseal engine to resolve multiple oil leaks. Replace water pump. Replace one wheel bearing. Replace stabilizer links. |
| 148000 mi US $1700 |
Catalytic converter replaced. O2 sensor damaged due to overheating. |
| 16500 mi | 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. |
| 24000 mi | Motor oil consumption, misfires, coolant consumption. |
| 41540 mi | Plugs and coil to correct check engine light |
| 68000 mi | High oil consumption. Dealer did oil change at no charge and re-checked oil consumption after 1200 miles. Within acceptable consumption rate. |
| 42000 mi US $120 |
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. |
2011 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| 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 |
| 103000 mi US $100 |
Cam shaft cover was leakng |
2011 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 145hp 2.0L H4 Diesel 6-speed manual AWD
| 166160 mi €800 |
catalysts change after >250k Km |
2011 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 86800 mi | Short block replacement due to high oil consumption. Cost totally covered by Subaru. |
| 30000 mi | Leaking cam seal. Dealer replaced cam seal. 5 days in shop - at least there's no more oil leak... |
| 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 |
| 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... |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 22320 mi | Minor oil leak on right side cylinder head needed to be re-sealed. Required and overnight stay. Covered under power train warranty. |
| 24800 mi | Engine oil leak at right side cam cradle. Requires pulling engine and replacing gaskets and or resealing. |
| 12000 mi | excessive oil burning, 2 qts every 3k, backfire when AC is on, loud vibration when traction control kicks on in snowy conditions |
| 49000 mi | Having new small block installed to fix oil consumption. This is covered under warranty. |
| 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 |
2011 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 1800 mi | ECM reflashed. Oil consumption test started as no sign of oil leaking/burning could be detected. |
| 3000 mi | Rattle from the spare tire area of the vehicle. Oil consumption check. Developed engine knocking. It was explained to me that the knocking is typical of the boxer engine; some louder than others. |
| 2100 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. |
| 5000 mi | Very rough idle; vehicle would not stay running. Smell of raw fuel, enough to cause eyes to burn. |
| 19000 mi US $80 |
Going thru a 1/2 to 3/4 of oil every 1000 miles.... |
| 30000 mi | oil consumption test. Dealing w /subaru of america directly on resolution of problem. |
| 35200 mi | Car occasionally fails to start or takes extended time to turn over. |
| 36900 mi | Gaskets were leaking. |
| 2000 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. |
| 41300 mi | Check engine light, ABS light, Traction control light all illuminated. |
| 59000 mi | Timing chain tensioner was leaking down overnight. |
| 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. |
| 12700 mi | oil leaking from valve cover gasket. |
| 13000 mi | valve cover gasket replaced (warranty) |
| 13000 mi | valve cover gasket leaking engine still leaking oil |
| 28200 mi | cam engine seals leaking resulting in oil leak and low oil levels |
| 32000 mi | car is still leaking oil, has to go back to shop |
| 34500 mi | Car leaks oil. Dealer repeated major repair of cam gasket seals. Hopefully this fixes the problem once and for all |
| 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. |
| 103400 mi US $700 |
drive belts wore out and needed to be replaced |
| 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 |
| 22000 mi | Started oil consumption test with dealer. Oil consumption is higher than expected, using approx. 1 qt. for every 3000 miles. |
| 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. |
| 91700 mi | Check engine light on. Dealer said sensor needed replacement but estimate was ridiculously high. Will attempt repair on my own. |
| 94000 mi US $110 |
Replaced Air/Fuel ratio sensor |
| 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. |
| 101000 mi US $1150 |
Replace o-rings and seals to stop bsd oil leaks. |
| 102000 mi | Oil consumption test found excessive consumption. Replaced short block and seals; replacement covered by Subaru under class-action agreement |
| 114311 mi | Replace cam seals and O-rings again. Warranty work from short block replacement (Jul 2016). |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 32000 mi | Engine and/or transmission hesitation when turning corners and accelerating. Doesn't respond for a couple seconds, then usually... |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 21000 mi | Leaking Cam seals and head gaskets. leaky cam seals |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 68000 mi | replaced both valve cover gaskets |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 103000 mi | Compete Engine replacement under warranty due to excessive oil consumption. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 23000 mi | Check engine light is on. It camplained about bank 1. Dealer said upgraded software and reset check engine light. |
| 27000 mi | Engine light is on again. Dealer said changed both down pipes. I was told there was a leak in intake. |
| 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. |
| 125000 mi US $3500 |
replaced short block due to oil consumption |
| 151000 mi US $150 |
Check engine light, O2 sensor |
| 205000 mi US $120 |
P0420, catalytic converter not optimal |
| 78000 mi US $470 |
fuel/induction service |
| 96000 mi US $450 |
A/F sensor bad |
| 49000 mi US $600 |
replace faulty oxygen sensor |
| 64700 mi US $3900 |
Several gaskets replaced for oil leak, also one sensor repaired |
| 98000 mi | Published oil consumption problem with 2011 Subaru Forester. Dealer replaced engine short block. |
| 46500 mi | short block replaced due to oil consumption problem |
| 52600 mi | engine front cover leaking. replaced all necessary o rings and seals. replaced dipstick tube seal |
| 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! |
| 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. |
| 140000 mi | threw a rod and blew the engine |
| 84000 mi US $2100 |
Both cam carriers (or cages) were leaking oil and needed to be resealed. This required removing the engine, |
| 108000 mi US $470 |
The idle pulleys and belt tensioner needed replacement. |
2011 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
148-horsepower 2.0L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 38260 mi | Replacement of small engine due to unusual oil consumption |
2011 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
148-horsepower 2.0L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 75700 mi C $65 |
check engine light on. Code P0456, evap small leak. Cleared code, cleaned around rim of gas tank filler neck |
2011 Subaru Forester 4-door
turbocharged 4-cylinder automatic AWD
| 46580 mi | Blown head gaskets. Replaced radiator, water pump, all hoses and timing belt with this repair at my own cost. |
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 |
| 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. |
| 21080 mi | Malfunction with oil control valve. The dealer had to order the part - kept over weekend and fixed on 2nd business day. |
2010 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 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. |
| 162440 mi C $300 |
O2 sensor was faulty |
| 70000 mi | OCV stuck code thrown for bank 2. Dealer first replaced OCV solenoid and it did not fix. OCV switch corrected problem. |
| 11000 mi | Replacement of fuel tank pressure sensor after diagnostic for reason why check engine light came on. |
| 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. |
| 52960 mi US $120 |
Replace fan belts |
| 158500 mi US $50 |
Failed exhaust connection at muffler |
| 56600 mi | Rattling heat shields. |
| 118500 mi US $155 |
Check oil leak...currently minor. Diagnosis is a leaking head gasket. |
| 122000 mi | Oil leak from head gasket. |
2010 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 75000 mi | Catalytic converter needed to be replaced |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 9920 mi | Check engine and traction control lights on. Also cruise control light flashing. They replaced the ignition wiring to correct the problem. |
| 131720 mi | Code P0420 - Cat Efficiency Low. |
| 102500 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 |
| 152000 mi US $250 |
Rusted exhaust manifold with exhaust leaks |
| 87000 mi US $2000 |
Head gasket replacement |
| 35000 mi | engine light came on need to replace oil flow control valve. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 64000 mi US $78 |
power steering belt was frayed. replaced belt |
| 98000 mi US $1500 |
replaced al exhaust and catalytic convertor |
| 63813 mi US $11 |
Replaced alternator drive belt due to premature wear. |
| 51000 mi US $40 |
Noise in exhaust system. Loose heat shield. Tightened. Cost $40 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 115000 mi US $2400 |
Head gasket repair and timing belt |
| 98000 mi US $350 |
Head gasket needs replacing. Front wheel bearing went bad. Right front CV Axel went bad |
| 111000 mi US $90 |
Steering Pump Pully Tensioner wasn't keeping enough tension on the accessory belt |
| 83000 mi US $150 |
Alternator belt snapped, causing the battery to lose power. Replaced alternator belt and battery. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 103000 mi US $3000 |
Scheduled timing belt replacement, brakes,leaky head gasket seal |
| 113000 mi US $65 |
Shield over muffler needed reattaching |
2009 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| 143220 mi | Head gaskets starting to leak. |
2009 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 62000 mi | Capital repair of the engine. |
| 67580 mi $625 |
Radiator replacement |
2009 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 104000 mi | had the head gaskets changed, also the belts and fuel filter |
| 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 |
| 55000 mi US $850 |
Turbo failure due to oil blockage in banjo bolts. Car burning oil. Required turbo replacement. |
| 5518 mi | Blown engine and damaged turbo. |
| 8060 mi | Secondary air pump failure. |
| 48360 mi | O2 sensor broke. $500 to replace. Some belt need to be replaced. Another $200. All brakes rusted. Need $700. |
| 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. |
| 43000 mi US $200 |
Check engine light on-replaced the EGR/came back on |
| 35000 mi US $500 |
Cracked radiator. No blown heads, thankfully |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 39680 mi C $6800 |
Connecting Rod broken. Catastrophic engine failure. Known problem with 09 Subarus. |
| 60000 mi | Slight coolant leak from radiator cap. Cap was replaced. |
2009 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 145hp 2.0L H4 Diesel 6-speed manual AWD
| 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 |
| 85560 mi $100 |
A rubber tube was broken. Tube was replaced |
| 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 |
| 86800 mi $400 |
EGR valve was replaced |
| 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. |
2009 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 127000 mi US $4000 |
Replace clutch |
| 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. |
| 42000 mi | Catalytic converter replaced - initially damaged when the engine failed in May, 2012. Repair was covered by warranty (unlike the engine repair). |
| 44000 mi US $150 |
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. |
| 99200 mi C $1200 |
Replaced oil pressure switch (leak), removed oil pump to change leaking o-ring and redo RTV gasket. |
| 109120 mi C $100 |
Passenger side rear oil pressure sensor leaking. |
| 58300 mi US $100 |
Small oil leak from valve cover gasket and spark plug seals |
| 67300 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. |
| 103000 mi | New EGR valve; check engine light indicated problem |
| 110000 mi US $700 |
R&R 2 motor mounts and transmission mount. Valve Cover gaskets R&R |
| 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. |
| 90800 mi US $2300 |
3 Trips to correctly repair catalytic converter. Also had to replace Oxygen sensors, valve gaskets and coil. |
| 77000 mi US $1800 |
Exhaust , heat shield , and header repair. |
| 91000 mi US $740 |
Replaced spark plugs due to misfire.(and.check engine light). |
| 94000 mi US $1700 |
Replaced clutch due to wear |
| 22000 mi | Dealer visit was due to ecu flash though. |
| 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. |
| 60000 mi | Repaired loose exhaust heat shield |
| 89000 mi US $24 |
Valve cover gasket leak - oil leaking into spark plug well caused ignition failure. |
2009 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 119040 mi | Both heads gaskets weeping externally, no sign of internal leaks. |
| 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. |
| 86500 mi US $44 |
Heat shield on bottom of car came loose. |
| 111000 mi US $1300 |
Head gasket replacement |
| 114500 mi US $583 |
Hoses failed. Thermostat replaced |
| 62200 mi | Drive belt shows wear and cracks |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 104000 mi US $100 |
Ignition Key would stick in place when turning car off, could not remove key. |
| 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 |
| 19840 mi | Engine lost power. erase memory of TCM and ECM, idle learn AT transmission learning. Runs much better now. Even better than new. |
| 117800 mi C $355 |
Heat Shield replaced on Exhaust system |
| 66000 mi US $1550 |
Both head gaskets were externally leaking significant oil. |
| 66000 mi US $1500 |
Subaru comped half the cost of head gasket replacement, both sides. Also replaced timing belt, associated gaskets, transmission cooler line. |
| 43400 mi | Heat shields were lose, causing loud rattling. |
| 91500 mi US $600 |
Head gasket |
| 28000 mi US $400 |
rattling sound in the central part of the exhaust pipe |
| 112000 mi US $150 |
exhaust heat shield bolts were loose |
| 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 |
| 92700 mi US $25 |
repair of the rattling heat shield. |
| 173000 mi US $75 |
Plugs and wires |
| 112000 mi US $400 |
Replaced catalytic converter |
| 100000 mi US $2000 |
Warped head gaskets Timing belt |
| 108000 mi US $1100 |
low gas mileage noted, needed new spark plugs and a fuel system cleaning |
| 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 ? |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 85500 mi US $80 |
had exhaust leak at rear left muffler welded up |
| 43000 mi | R & R Valve cover gasket |
| 109000 mi US $2000 |
replace head gaskets |
| 115000 mi US $3000 |
Head gasket leak. Needed full replacement plus water pump, heads resurfaced. |
| 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. |
| 150000 mi US $800 |
Radiator replacement, had leak. |
| 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 |
| 104000 mi | Head gaskets |
| 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 |
| 37700 mi C $300 |
Check engine light came on. Was running rough and misfiring. Injector flush, and a full service which includes plugs etc. |
| 47520 mi C $900 |
Engine is misfiring on 2 cylinders |
| 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. |
| 81700 mi C $600 |
Engine was misfiring, running on 2 of 4 cylinders. Replaced coil packs and wires again. |
| 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. |
| 121000 mi US $275 |
Wire from main wiring harness to transmission speed sensor was broken. |
| 42000 mi US $468 |
exhaust flex pipe connector, corroded and not flexing. |
| 68700 mi US $325 |
Replaced warn drive belts, they were cracking and making squealing noise when attempting to exit parking spaces. |
| 65000 mi US $6 |
Needed use 3 stainless steel worm gear clamps on exhaust heat shield. The bolts and nuts rotting off. |
| 79000 mi US $1104 |
replaced coil, spark plugs and wires |
| 84000 mi US $650 |
Exhaust pipe broke off cat converter. They replaced the catalytic converter and twin exhausts with non-oem parts. |
| 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. |
| 80600 mi C $900 |
Oil leaked into combustion chamber because of leaky gasket. |
| 105400 mi C $30 |
loose heat shields |
2009 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
148-horsepower 2.0L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 66340 mi | Lambda probe in front of catalyzer needed replacement. cost was $250 approx. common problem on Forester.. |
2009 Subaru Forester 4-door
turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel manual AWD
| 49600 mi $2450 |
I had crankshaft broken! They exchanged so called down half of a motor The fuel turbine was broken. |
2008 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 85180 mi C $1200 |
Clutch |
2008 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 76000 mi US $35 |
Loose belt on the power steering making loud screech noise |
| 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 |
| 147000 mi US $136 |
After a week of no use we noticed oil on driveway. The heads are leaking as well as main seal. |
| 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. |
| 81000 mi US $1115 |
Upper radiator hose was worn. Worn A/C and alternator belt. |
2008 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
173-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 110400 mi US $1600 |
Clutch needed replacement. |
| 220000 mi US $125 |
Issues with the exhaust. Part of the duct was replaced(the middle part after the manifold, before the muffler. |
| 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. |
| 36580 mi | Head gasket found to be leaking, needs full replacement next 12 months. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 174000 mi US $20 |
AC belt broke |
| 107000 mi US $3300 |
Head gasket replacement |
| 143000 mi | Head gasket, repaired that, then it was the drive belt I believe |
| 44020 mi C $175 |
Squealing on start-up. Drive belts replaced. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 57040 mi C $897 |
Noisy exhaust. Exhaust was leaking through midpipe and muffler. Midpipe and muffler were replaced. |
2008 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
173-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 43400 mi C $395 |
O2 SENSOR |
| 59520 mi C $96 |
Oil pressure switch allowing oil to leak onto engine |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 201000 mi US $300 |
Rear resonator, muffler. |
| 56000 mi US $1200 |
Engine suddenly running badly. Replaced coil pack, spark plugs, spark plug wires. Replaced valve cover gaskets. |
| 85973 mi US $250 |
replaced valve cover gaskets and gromets flushed radiater and replaced plugs. |
| 166000 mi | Warranty repair for catalytic converter |
| 48980 mi C $70 |
Replaced oil pressure switch |
| 58280 mi C $1900 |
Major parts: Machined engine block Changed valve/guide Changed spark plugs/wires Changed drive belt |
| 75920 mi C $125 |
Oil pressure switch (back order from the dealer) |
| 85340 mi C $165 |
Cam seal pushed out 1/4. Total loss of engine oil on highway. |
| 45000 mi US $2500 |
Head gasket needed replacement. Also changed timing belt. |
| 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). |
2007.5 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 55000 mi £1100 |
Air pump failure |
2007 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 99700 mi US $1000 |
Radiator burst |
| 108000 mi | Fuels leaking over intake manifold. Estimate $500 |
| 112000 mi US $200 |
fuel injector needed to be replaced. - misfire in the cylinder |
| 113000 mi US $1500 |
Working on Heads. Replaced valves 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. |
| 117000 mi | Fuel is leaking under the intake manifold |
| 118000 mi US $550 |
Replaced all the fuel hoses. They were still leaking |
| 38000 mi US $730 |
Two cracked plastic "roll-over" vent valves on top of fuel tank were replaced. |
| 60000 mi US $600 |
A rubber transmission mount was collapsed causing misalignment between the engine and transmission. |
| 107300 mi US $1400 |
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. 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
2007 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 133000 mi | Check Engine light for Secondary Air Injector valve stuck closed. |
2007 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
173-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 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. |
| 88000 mi US $98 |
Oil sensor leaks and velve cover gaskets leaks |
| 124300 mi US $3000 |
Headgasket failure. |
| 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. |
| 90000 mi US $232 |
Valve cover gaskets replace due to oil leak. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 86000 mi | Took car in for timing belt replacement, and mechanic reported blown head gasket |
| 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. |
| 18600 mi | Same repair as previously. Defective radiator cap cause car to drive too hot. Again replaced cap. Car still under warranty. |
| 29000 mi | Radiator cap: antifreeze accumulates under it & causes system to overheat. 3rd radiator cap on this car. |
| 71000 mi US $81 |
Same old problem: for the 4th time the radiator cap malfunctioned, coolant was lost & the car started to heat up. |
| 109000 mi US $1800 |
Timing belt replaced, $1200 of total. |
| 117000 mi | Catalytic convertor needs replacing. Cost would be $1100. Did not do this repair. |
| 131000 mi US $800 |
Catalytic convertors replaced. |
2007 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
173-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 37000 mi | cracked hose on fuel vapor recovery system was cause of check engine light. Dealer had suggested replacing gas cap first. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 102300 mi US $2721 |
replace both cylinder head gaskets left cylinder head oil sending unit |
| 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. |
| 50000 mi | replaced ecm and fuel pump |
| 64000 mi US $724 |
Evap emissions system fault (check engine light). Gas tank vent valve replaced. |
| 67000 mi | Check engine light with cruise light flashing. Diagnosed as cat converter fault. Replaced under warranty. |
| 126500 mi US $60 |
Replace leaking valve cover gaskets, adjusted valve clearance |
| 129000 mi US $150 |
Leaking Radiator replaced |
| 69000 mi | Check engine light came on. Mechanic cleared codes at no charge. Problem has not recurred. |
| 77100 mi US $450 |
O2 sensor replaced |
| 57020 mi C $1000 |
needed higher quality engine oil< triggered sensor to show low presssure |
| 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 . |
| 256000 mi US $1000 |
Cadalydic converter |
| 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. |
| 145000 mi US $400 |
Solunoid Oil Leak |
| 89000 mi US $130 |
Removed and cleaned the buildup of carbon . |
| 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. |
| 141262 mi US $28 |
Leaking spark plug seals and valve cover gasket. Replaced affected seals |
| 148500 mi US $685 |
Leaking front camshaft seals, seals were replaced, timing belt and associated parts + neighboring seals inspected. |
| 121520 mi C $200 |
Fuel pump and filter |
| 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. |
| 33000 mi | This trip was to shut off the engine light and reset the cruise control, which keeps tripping, for an unknown reason. |
| 33000 mi US $700 |
Cracked roll valves. All replaced. |
| 61800 mi C $600 |
misfire on 4th cylinder, replaced wires and ignition module |
| 66340 mi C $380 |
all exhaust heat shield bolts loose. two shields had fallen off a month ago. rattle solved by removing other four shields |
| 87420 mi C $450 |
front pipe and gaskets |
| 108871 mi C $4179 |
head gaskets leaking coolant into engine and onto ground |
| 109740 mi C $260 |
new muffler |
| 179000 mi | Oil pressure sensors leaking |
| 69782 mi | Computer / tranny |
2006 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| 71000 mi US $3500 |
headgaskets. |
2006 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 230hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 68700 mi C $500 |
Secondary Air Valve (RH) |
| 63000 mi C $900 |
OBD error running rich and secondary injection system failed. replace MAF sensor and Smog air pump |
| 122000 mi | Valve cover gasket found to be leaking |
| 124200 mi US $20 |
replaced belt for alternator/power steering pump |
| 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. |
| 154000 mi US $1200 |
full reseal job - leaking everywhere. Will need new clutch in 10K. Sold. |
| 161000 mi US $1600 |
Head gasket |
| 155700 mi C $700 |
Turbo oil line leak - 8 hours of labour to change a $74.00 pipe |
| 183520 mi C $6000 |
head gasket - rebuilt engine |
| 196100 mi C $900 |
Secondary air pump valves crapped out |
| 213900 mi C $500 |
AC pulley bearing seized, damaged timing belt cover |
2006 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 230hp 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 135780 mi C $550 |
Radiator seam cracked at top, was able to limp to shop. |
| 153140 mi C $180 |
Misfiring on cylinder 2, bad coil pack. |
| 91760 mi $500 |
Replaced cam cover gasket |
| 89900 mi R 4000 |
Replaced pistons and rebored cylinders |
| 58000 mi US $176 |
Secondary emission control problem . Check engine light on. |
| 59000 mi US $2200 |
Check engine light on. Replacement of pump and associated air valves. |
2006 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
173-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 91000 mi | Continual P420 Low catalytic efficiency code. |
| 195000 mi US $100 |
Bad MAF sensor |
| 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 |
2006 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
173-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 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). |
| 68200 mi US $500 |
Replaced oxygen sensor |
| 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. |
| 66000 mi US $350 |
Air/fuel ratio sensor went bad. Replaced and reflashed ECU by dealer. Problem solved. |
| 130000 mi US $60 |
poor gas mileage. clean the fuel injectors and changed motor oil and filters. |
| 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. |
| 83000 mi 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. |
| 116000 mi US $2000 |
Not sure what the exact problem was but check engine light was flashing. |
| 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! |
| 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. |
| 174765 mi US $6656 |
Exhaust hangers broke, pipes, muffler, converter replaced Replaced head gaskets, milled warped heads Replaced water pump |
| 69000 mi US $150 |
Air/fuel ratio sensor |
| 73800 mi US $103 |
Upper radiator hose replaced |
| 130300 mi US $195 |
there was a leak. there was a repair at oil filter/cooler housing. + new o-ring-s and clamp-n |
| 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. |
| 171740 mi $380 |
Rocker cover gaskets |
| 189720 mi $150 |
Faulty Catalytic sensor fixed by spacing outside exhaust stream. |
| 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. |
| 139300 mi US $2200 |
valve job, head replaced with refurbished one |
| 140100 mi | valves needed to be readjusted |
| 143000 mi US $84 |
low voltage to oxygen sensor |
| 93400 mi US $100 |
Minor vapor leak. Re-set fault. Happened again. New has cap installed in January. Still problematic. |
| 104200 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 147000 mi US $130 |
New thermostat, probably unnecessary. Need a new head gasket just over a year after replacing it. |
2005 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| 71000 mi | Check Engine Light was coming on, suspected O2 sensor |
2005 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 210hp 2.5L I4 5-speed manual AWD
| 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). |
| 117300 mi | Oil gasket leaking; gasket replaced |
| 125000 mi US $3200 |
replaced clutch. Clutch was worn out and beginning to slip. |
| 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. |
| 144000 mi US $900 |
There was a squeak while running. It was a drive belt that needed replacing. It was replaced |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 111480 mi C $700 |
Radiator cracked and evap leak. |
| 114080 mi C $700 |
Blown turbo, installed a used turbo. |
| 117800 mi C $500 |
PCV valve replaced, AC belt replaced |
| 91380 mi C $163 |
Idler pulley was worn at the bearing. I was hearing a faint fluctuating squealing sound. It was replaced. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
2005 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 210hp 2.5L I4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 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. |
| 66000 mi US $700 |
Radiator leaking badly--sudden onset |
| 91000 mi US $800 |
Radiator |
| 113000 mi US $700 |
MAF sensor |
| 83300 mi US $750 |
Replaced timing belt & idler pulleys because the bearings in the idlers were starting to make noise |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 57000 mi US $1000 |
o2 sensors on engine |
| 34237 mi | Replaced failed turbocharger |
| 38984 mi US $1691 |
Replaced failed turbocharger (2nd time @ only 38K miles) |
| 66000 mi US $1000 |
Turbo failure |
| 87000 mi US $500 |
Radiator developed a crack. |
| 95000 mi US $800 |
Turbo failure. The 4th turbo failed on the car! |
| 97500 mi US $100 |
Valve leak which caused engine light to come ON. |
| 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. |
| 106500 mi US $1300 |
Turbo replacement. Gasket valve. Timing belt |
| 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. |
| 132000 mi US $400 |
One faulty fuel injector was diagnosed. I replaced the faulty one and the other three as preventative maintenance. |
2005 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 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! |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 91120 mi C $300 |
Replaced faulty sensor |
| 119660 mi C $800 |
Replaced fuel filler neck as it was rusted through. Replaced oil pan |
| 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. |
| 107500 mi | Air sensor and air intake path. |
| 117000 mi US $740 |
Dealership cannot stop the throttle from opening unexpectedly, especially when the heat is on and the engine is warm. |
| 117000 mi US $500 |
Accelerator pedal assembly replaced to stop unexpected throttle. |
| 54500 mi US $128 |
Coolant leak at thermostat |
2005 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 28500 mi | Replaced spark plug wires. Car idled rough, sputtered, misfired. Check engine light illuminated |
| 34000 mi | Warranty repair. Catalytic Converter. Clutch fork was damaged. Both replaced under warranty. |
| 46500 mi US $100 |
Replaced ignition coil. Car idled very rough until completely warmed up--check engine light illuminated. |
| 76000 mi US $100 |
Oxygen sensor. Warranty covered. Head gasket beginning to leak. Warranty replaced. |
| 86000 mi US $8000 |
Car engine sputtered and ran rough. The ignition coils, spark plugs, and spark plug wires were replaced. |
| 95300 mi US $600 |
water pump seized as belt harmonizer cracked and stopped working. |
| 97000 mi | Catalytic converter failing Exhaust shield rusted through, began to come loose, and rattle. |
| 90000 mi US $250 |
Exhaust pipe leaking - welder fixed it |
| 97940 mi C $2200 |
Head gasket had leak and was replaced. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 101060 mi C $340 |
Computer detected a misfire condition. Mechanic did a tune up to replace plugs and wiring. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 79600 mi US $150 |
Rough idle when rainy. Changed the plug wires. |
| 156860 mi C $320 |
Oxygen sensors failed, replaced both |
| 152200 mi | Catalytic Converter |
| 140000 mi US $75 |
Oil change + replacee radiator hose clamps |
| 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). |
| 141 mi US $10 |
replaced downstream o2 sensor - took 20 minutes |
| 183000 mi US $3700 |
Internal engine damage. Rebuild required. |
| 155000 mi US $1500 |
Head gasket repair |
| 37000 mi US $485 |
Muffler, catalytic converter, flange and assorted parts rusted and replaced. valve covers leaking |
| 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. |
| 74400 mi C $4200 |
Head gasket replacement and engine overhaul |
| 85000 mi US $20 |
noise from belts / pulleys / generator |
| 67000 mi US $2050 |
Both head gaskets where leaking, car was overheating. Replaced both head gaskets, and timing belt/timing components. |
| 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. |
2005 Subaru Forester 4-door
4-cylinder manual 4WD
| 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. 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. |
| 56420 mi | The exhaust system had a leak and was also rattling. |
| 63240 mi | Error code showing one bank of air fuel sensor malfunctioning. The sensor was replaced. |
2005 Subaru Forester 4-door
4-cylinder automatic AWD
| 86800 mi €330 |
sec. airflow pump and valves replaced. Errorcodes 2441, 1440 |
2004 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 210hp 2.5L I4 5-speed manual AWD
| 84600 mi US $300 |
Crack in plastic radiator cap leaked coolant. Replaced with fully welded alum radiator |
| 86300 mi US $350 |
Blown turbo was replaced with used unit |
| 97600 mi US $1980 |
blown turbo |
| 129000 mi US $1200 |
Clutch replacement |
| 105000 mi US $380 |
Radiator leaked and was replaced. |
| 107000 mi | High oil consumption, e.g. 2 quarts every fill up. The mechanics suspect engine cylinder problem or PCV valve problem. |
| 104000 mi US $600 |
Turbo died, made horrible noises, very little power. Replaced turbo with another used one (from a friends WRX) |
2004 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
turbocharged 210hp 2.5L I4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 146000 mi US $202 |
Engine Sludge caused CEL. Full engine flush and detergent cleaning followed by dealer oil change |
| 152000 mi US $1323 |
Turbo Rebuild and replacement. Replacement of gaskets and banjo joints. Antifreeze leak also fixed. |
| 152500 mi US $611 |
RH Oil Control Valve, Hoses, and Gaskets Replacement |
| 154000 mi US $413 |
All engine coil packs and spark plugs replaced due to dead cylinders. |
| 168000 mi US $97 |
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. |
| 170500 mi | Camshaft position sensor had degraded over the life of the car, causing stalls during acceleration. |
| 195000 mi US $3500 |
Complete turbo rebuild and engine flush. |
| 134000 mi US $108 |
Cam position sensor failed and caused rough idle and stalling. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 92900 mi US $70 |
Car wouldn't start |
| 100000 mi US $50 |
Slow coolant leak at the fitting at the base of the radiator |
| 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. |
| 125000 mi US $525 |
Variable Valve timing solenoid had was stuck in the fully advanced position by a small piece of something. |
| 65100 mi | Catalytic converter replaced under orig warranty. |
| 80600 mi C $400 |
breather fallen off cat converter trip cel |
| 114700 mi C $50 |
Clogged cam oiling valve caused check engine |
| 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 |
| 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). |
| 97000 mi US $400 |
Radiator leaking |
| 160000 mi US $200 |
Overheated and subsequently damaged turbo. Likely caused by neglected oil changes. Replaced turbo with used part from junkyard. |
| 273800 mi US $1900 |
The turbo blew. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 161000 mi | 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 |
| 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 |
2004 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 170800 mi US $340 |
Leaking Muffler |
| 180000 mi US $400 |
Replaced Head Gaskets Machine Ship 250 dollars Parts about 150 |
| 87000 mi US $25 |
Engine temp was fluctuating. Dealer replaced radiator cap, No problem seen since. |
| 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. |
| 51000 mi US $400 |
reported loss of power |
| 100000 mi | threw code P0519 cleaned IACV |
| 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. |
| 135000 mi | Vapor canister clogged resulting in not being able to fill with gas, did not affect driveability. Took 10 min to repair. |
| 108000 mi | Needed a new head gasket within the next few months. Traded. |
| 63240 mi C $340 |
oxygen sensor |
| 75020 mi C $500 |
leaking coolant from head gasget |
| 77500 mi C $50 |
slight coolant leak from head gasket |
| 104140 mi C $950 |
Replaced timing belt and water pump, cam and crank seals, re: minor oil leaks. |
| 116560 mi C $2120 |
Valve cover gasket and spark plug tube seals |
| 136060 mi C $100 |
Oil seepage |
| 146940 mi C $20 |
Exhaust system, bolts to manifold came loose |
| 148800 mi C $400 |
Leaking oil, valve cover gadgets replaced |
| 115000 mi US $311 |
Remove buzzing heat shield. |
| 118000 mi US $587 |
Engine surging/stumbling. Starved for fuel. Replaced faulty idle air control valve and, as precaution, evap canister purge valve. |
| 60000 mi US $3000 |
intake injector rails leaked gas, serpentine belt replaced, window howled due to poor seals, rotors replaced at only 40k |
| 162000 mi US $500 |
Cracked head |
| 106000 mi US $830 |
One bad drive belt pulley. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 72300 mi US $12000 |
Clutch was slipping and was replaced |
| 74000 mi | 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. |
| 84000 mi US $100 |
Stuttering/hesitating when gas given, esp. going up hills. Spark plugs and cables replaced |
2004 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 60000 mi | Head gasket replaced |
| 72000 mi | head gasket replaced second time by dealer |
| 70060 mi C $500 |
The infamous heat shield rattle. This dealership had attempted to fix it once before; I chose to have the shields removed. |
| 75000 mi US $2000 |
Turbo went out. |
| 93000 mi US $42 |
vent control solenoid malfunction. Reset CE light; tested solenoid, working ok |
| 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. |
| 102000 mi US $10 |
oil leak observed front of engine, added oil stop leak |
| 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 |
| 157000 mi US $1500 |
Engine issues related to car losing power and stalling. Full clutch replacement. |
| 83000 mi | Oxygen sensor |
| 132000 mi US $800 |
Replaced catalytic converter with bolt-on replacement in order to pass inspection (CEL on since purchase, but no driveability issues) |
| 138000 mi US $600 |
Front oxygen sensor replaced. |
| 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). |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 96000 mi US $42 |
Had a CEL for emission system |
| 85560 mi C $2500 |
Replaced head gaskets Replaced fuel pump |
| 132000 mi US $585 |
main exhaust pipe cracked |
| 176000 mi US $230 |
idler pulley for A/C bearing failed. Replaced that, and the belts. |
| 179000 mi US $95 |
exhaust resonator replaced, full piece from catalytic converter to muffler. $92 shipped and $3 back gasket. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 90000 mi US $400 |
Replace Valve Cover Gaskets and Tube Seals. Oil dripping on spark plugs. |
| 105000 mi | Tighten exhaust heat shields which were vibrating during acceleration. |
| 110700 mi US $2066 |
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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 130200 mi C $500 |
Coil pack damaged, had to change |
| 109000 mi US $102 |
Exhaust flange and gasket needed replacing. Part of exhaust pipe needed welding. |
| 120000 mi US $230 |
Rusted fuel neck filler pipe and corresponding components replaced |
2003 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| 101000 mi US $97 |
slipping belts |
2003 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 162000 mi US $500 |
Head gaskets |
| 171000 mi US $35 |
Rough idle, random misfires. Replaced ignition coil with Subaru part |
| 179000 mi US $800 |
Rod bearings worn (knocking). Replaced engine |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 88000 mi | Head gasket issue. Got an estimate 3500. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 137640 mi A $160 |
Engine running rough under load due to failing fuel pump. Replaced fuel pump. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 158000 mi | Oil leak: complete head gasket replacement, new clutch. |
| 346000 mi US $865 |
exhaust pipe corrosion and failure |
| 71000 mi US $1000 |
Catalytic Converter |
| 104000 mi US $800 |
EGR Problem |
| 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! |
| 126000 mi US $2900 |
head gaskets replaced -- car leaking oil |
| 162000 mi US $218 |
replaced A/C idler and A/C belt |
| 169900 mi US $200 |
replaced cracked radiator |
| 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. |
| 171000 mi | 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 |
| 173000 mi US $223 |
Major Misfiring - cracked engine coil, replaced coil & plug wires. still drivable because standard trans, automatic probably would have broken down. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 209000 mi US $350 |
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 |
| 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. |
| 73400 mi | Strong fuel odor in cold weather. |
| 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. |
| 90000 mi US $170 |
Check engine light came on. Code indicated fuel vapor pressure leak. Smoke test conducted, no problem found. Updated computer codes. |
| 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. |
| 83500 mi US $1200 |
Radiator shot. Replaced. |
| 192000 mi | Head gasket replacement, also replaced timing belt. Catalytic converter replaced |
| 193000 mi US $50 |
Vacuum leak |
| 132000 mi US $900 |
head gasket replacement with water pump and timing belt done at same time |
| 96100 mi | Two pistons had to be replaced under manufacturer warranty - wrong sized ones were originally installed and causing piston knock. |
2003 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 94000 mi US $1850 |
2 head gaskets leaking coolant. Had the gaskets replaced. |
| 180000 mi US $1000 |
O2 sensor replaced |
| 189100 mi US $400 |
Exhaust replaced-everything but the cat converter. |
| 204000 mi US $1500 |
Head gaskets replaced because they were leaking. |
| 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! |
| 247000 mi US $1700 |
Engine overheating so coolant system maintenance, hoses replaced, engine block and heads cleaned because of oil burn-off. |
| 250000 mi US $2197 |
Engine replacement |
| 71000 mi US $3000 |
Piston Slap on two cylinders |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 106000 mi | Head gaskets were leaking, mild on one side, moderate on the other. |
| 110000 mi US $210 |
engine oil cooler was leaking due to a bad o-ring |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 49000 mi US $400 |
Front Oxygen Sensor replaced. |
| 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. |
| 89000 mi US $1023 |
Y-pipe heat shield rattling Intermittent high idle with higher ambient temperatures. Previous throttle body cleanings no help. Loosened throttle cable. |
| 98000 mi US $618 |
Exhaust pipe broke aft of rear catalytic converter. Muffler OK, but exhaust pipe replaced. |
| 87200 mi US $888 |
Replacement of serpentine belt |
| 113000 mi US $350 |
O2 sensor replacement |
| 105000 mi US $3400 |
Cracked piston. Entire engine had to be replaced. Used engine with 70,000miles cost $3,400 |
| 78000 mi US $159 |
O2 sensor |
| 78000 mi US $400 |
Exhaust rusted out |
| 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. |
| 64000 mi US $1302 |
Head gasket had to be replaced, also did valve adjustment. |
| 96720 mi C $4200 |
timing belt slipped and damaged valves, camshaft etc. Had to remachine or replace all, including new waterpump. |
| 99200 mi C $593 |
radiator was leaking anti freeze. Radiator replaced |
| 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. |
| 58000 mi US $450 |
engine leaking oil - various valve gaskets. |
| 150000 mi US $1400 |
Exhaust manifold had crack, rust spots in exhaust pipes. Muffler, catalytic converter, and manifolds replaced. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 149000 mi US $1800 |
head gasket. second for the car |
| 126000 mi US $3200 |
Head gasket replacement. |
| 133000 mi US $364 |
Cracked radiator was replace. |
| 76000 mi US $65 |
exhaust system loose |
| 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 |
| 90000 mi US $500 |
O2 sensor caused check engine light |
| 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. |
| 189569 mi US $850 |
Noisey idler/pulley on A/C compressor drive belt replaced. |
| 200000 mi US $500 |
Replace cracked original radiator. |
| 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. Radiator replaced, radiator cap, thermostat, fan clutch and hoses |
| 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. |
| 142000 mi US $406 |
exhaust manifold replaced, oxygen sensors, gaskets/ hardware |
| 5000 mi | troubleshoot - rough idle at start |
| 9000 mi | failed catalytic converter replaced |
| 160000 mi US $800 |
air flow sensor failed |
| 160200 mi US $450 |
Plastic upper radiator outlet cracked causing radiator hose to pop off. Car lost all of its coolant and stranded me on interstate. |
| 178000 mi US $45 |
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. |
| 116000 mi US $970 |
Leaky head gasket allowed antifreeze to get into cylinders. Replaced gasket. Also ground valves while engine was taken apart. |
| 137000 mi US $150 |
Exhaust pipe corrosion caused noise |
| 151000 mi | Leaking water pump and leaking head gasket |
| 156000 mi US $200 |
Replaced and repaired portions of the exhaust system. |
| 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. |
| 128000 mi US $90 |
Fuel lines leaked gas |
| 173000 mi US $96 |
P0030 o2 sensor and changed front and rear diff fluid and ATF drain and fill. |
| 191000 mi US $250 |
Exhaust muffler to pass inspection |
| 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. |
| 124000 mi US $580 |
Replaced transmission wiring harness which was worn and causing transmission warning light to come on. |
| 139000 mi US $370 |
valve cover gaskets were leaking badly along with gasket on the oil filler line. |
| 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. |
| 151300 mi US $600 |
Replaced driver side head gasket, |
| 159500 mi US $150 |
replacement of the belt tensioner while at shop for slignment |
| 185000 mi US $150 |
Radiator top separated. I purchased a new one plus hoses. |
| 68000 mi US $2000 |
Bent valve die to to worn exhaust guides. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 135000 mi US $600 |
In the course of performing regular maintenance, the mechanic found what appeared to be a leak in the head gasket. |
| 86100 mi US $2000 |
Minor head gasket leak as well as a few oil leaks from around the pump. |
| 98000 mi US $281 |
Bearings in idler pulley were wearing down, resulting in a whine. Idler pulley replaced. |
| 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. |
| 99600 mi US $650 |
Steering pump belt needed replacement |
2003 Subaru Forester 4-door
Engine not specified
| 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. |
| 112000 mi | Catalytic converter needed to be replaced when sold. Small head gasket leak when sold. |
2003 Subaru Forester 4-door
4-cylinder automatic AWD
| 52000 mi US $2000 |
2 pistons replaced to solve 'piston slap' |
2002 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 138000 mi US $850 |
replace valve cover gasket, spark plugs, wires and tune up |
| 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. |
| 226000 mi | engine blew hole in block - needs to be completely replaced or car scrapped |
| 143000 mi US $40 |
Exhaust leak - welded |
| 165000 mi US $496 |
Replace knock sensor and coil pack |
| 170000 mi US $1416 |
Replace exhaust system (except cat) |
| 174000 mi | Reset Check Engine Light (showed code for evap system). Code has not reoccurred after additional 600 miles. |
| 179000 mi US $2150 |
CEL indicated leak in evap system. Replaced solenoid purge valve at rear of car |
| 192100 mi US $1100 |
Replace converters and related sensors |
| 196400 mi US $3300 |
Top end rebuild (valves and guides), new piston rings, |
| 138700 mi US $1857 |
CLUTCH, 1457. |
| 144200 mi US $135 |
rear oxygen sensor needed to be replaced |
| 149000 mi | 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 |
| 65000 mi | Catalytic converter replaced on warrantee |
| 138000 mi US $20 |
Cooling system |
2002 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 236000 mi | Cracked head gasket. It just stopped with no warning. Donated the car to the kidney foundation. |
| 79220 mi $600 |
O2 Sensor died |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 263000 mi US $150 |
Replaced 02 sensor. Exhaust badly corroded. |
| 265100 mi US $250 |
Engine overheated. |
| 267700 mi US $450 |
Replaced entire cooling system including radiator, hoses, thermostat, and expansion tank. |
| 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. |
| 191000 mi US $179 |
Head gasket |
| 80000 mi US $1400 |
oil leak from axle casing |
| 90000 mi US $500 |
Replace electronic distributor |
| 111100 mi US $3400 |
leaking headgaskets |
| 128000 mi US $145 |
muffler replaced |
| 128000 mi US $300 |
minor vacuum leak, would throw a code once every few months couldn't find it. suspected evap canister in rear under bumper. |
| 81000 mi US $1000 |
Catalytic converter failure required replacement. |
| 96000 mi US $2000 |
External headgasket leak on both sides required headgasket replacement on both sides. |
| 87000 mi | Evap system leak w check engine code. |
| 95000 mi US $2800 |
Head gasket replacement, w machining. Both sides had been seeping, common for this generation of 2.2 engines. |
| 124000 mi | Second blown head gasket. Repaired at 68k miles, and leaking again at 120k. |
| 207100 mi US $150 |
Replaced upstream and downstream o2 sensors |
| 210500 mi US $145 |
Replaced Radiator |
2001 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| 111000 mi US $1900 |
Leaky Head Gasket: Replaced gaskets, machined heads, and cleaned valves. |
| 107880 mi C $5000 |
Burning all the oil in the engine within a few months. |
| 108500 mi | Burning oil. |
| 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. |
| 90000 mi US $1600 |
blown head gasket |
2001 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 138300 mi US $800 |
wiring harness failure, causing short to fuel pump. Cam leaking oil. |
| 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. |
| 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! |
| 112000 mi US $235 |
Needed an a/c pulley system. It was making noise and they replaced it. |
| 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 |
| 78120 mi C $1200 |
oil pan changed (was rusted) crank sensor changed (during extreme cold weather car refused to start, after a short drive) |
| 81220 mi C $300 |
code P1443: vent valve malfunction. replace evap vent valve |
| 83080 mi C $750 |
Rotten middle/rear exhaust pipe, plus muffler |
| 169000 mi US $25 |
Blown head gasket temporarily fixed with stop leak. |
| 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. |
| 188600 mi | Head gaskets leaking internally and externally, will need clutch as it's original, brakes, timing belt and struts...time to trade it in. |
| 212000 mi | timing belt, brakes, head gaskets, |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 109000 mi US $400 |
Put new bolts in rattling heat shields. |
| 110000 mi US $9 |
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. |
| 115100 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 143200 mi | 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. |
| 105000 mi US $500 |
Secondary oxygen sensor malfunction. Replacement solved problem. |
| 131440 mi A $400 |
Leaking fuel line. |
| 155000 mi US $1100 |
O2 sensors and exhaust from cat back. |
| 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. |
| 138000 mi | loss of compression |
2001 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 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. |
| 138000 mi | fuel filler pipe was badly rusted and needed to be replaced. |
| 145900 mi US $160 |
Idler pulley on AC drive belt froze, causing belt to fail. Replaced pulley and belt. |
| 150000 mi US $92 |
Running poorly, lacked power, especially at low speed. Replaced upstream oxygen sensor. |
| 169200 mi US $95 |
Knock sensor needed to be replaced. |
| 170800 mi US $350 |
Evaporative control hard lines were rusted through, causing a evaporation control system leak. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 181000 mi | 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. |
| 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. |
| 215300 mi US $2020 |
Exhaust crossover rotted out & leaking - loud exhaust |
| 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. |
| 241300 mi US $99 |
Replaced leaking radiator. Really easy. |
| 175000 mi US $200 |
Head gasket failure |
| 91000 mi US $500 |
Really Loud Exhaust Noise was noticed. Exhaust system back of catalytic converter was replaced (Muffler/Pipes) |
| 198750 mi US $89 |
Knock sensor Replaced Knock Sensor |
| 207700 mi US $60 |
Primary Cooling fan ran intermittently, so replaced fan. |
| 210265 mi US $100 |
Replaced Secondary radiator cooling fan |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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.) |
| 155700 mi US $350 |
Worn tube, radiator flush and coolant ref ill |
| 238700 mi 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..... |
| 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. |
| 238200 mi US $5 |
Replaced slow leaking oil cooler seal |
| 220000 mi US $200 |
Timing belt tensioner bearing busted. Replacement of tensioner. |
| 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. |
| 128000 mi US $1600 |
head gasket seal was replaced. |
| 203800 mi US $1500 |
Timing belt water pump idlers etc repaired successfully. |
| 205000 mi US $100 |
Transmission locked out of drive. Brake sensor replaced. |
| 215000 mi US $75 |
Leaking head gaskets on both sides. Put gasket conditioner and new coolant in. |
| 211000 mi US $46 |
Fuel hose near throttle body cracked. |
2001 Subaru Forester 4-door
4-cylinder manual AWD
| 121000 mi US $200 |
Overheating on long drives. |
2001 Subaru Forester 4-door
4-cylinder automatic AWD
| 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. |
2000 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 115000 mi US $5000 |
2nd Head Gasket blew. |
| 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. |
| 248500 mi 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! :) |
2000 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 167000 mi US $550 |
CEL, needed new catalytic converter, also replaced spark plugs, wires and starter coil |
| 175000 mi | Car was overheating. Temperature gauge running hot and coolant pushing out of overflow tank |
| 109000 mi US $650 |
TB/WP/TS |
1999.5 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| 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. .... |
1999 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| 128000 mi | engine died. would need to be replaced. |
| 88000 mi US $200 |
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 |
| 191000 mi US $2900 |
replace oil pump seals |
| 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. |
1999 Subaru Forester 4-door
4-cylinder manual AWD
| 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. |
| 123700 mi US $300 |
Ignition coil bad. Replaced coil, plugs and wires. |
| 74000 mi US $80 |
Replaced failed rear oxygen sensor. |
| 93000 mi US $300 |
Front oxygen sensor replaced. (Dealer incorrectly diagnosed problem initially and replaced rear sensor.) |
| 125000 mi | check engine sensor |
1999 Subaru Forester 4-door
4-cylinder automatic AWD
| 236000 mi US $302 |
Slow leak of coolant |
| 235000 mi US $580 |
Radiator plastic-crimped top popped in Death Valley. I had it replaced, along with the old original coolant hoses. |
| 210800 mi C $2500 |
Timing belt broke, engine seized |
| 89000 mi US $110 |
leaky head gasket |
1998 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| 150000 mi | 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. |
| 120000 mi US $2000 |
Head gasket leak; decided to replace the car |
| 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. |
| 185000 mi US $450 |
noticed an intermittent gasoline smell when driving the car, shop found and replaced cracking fuel lines |
1998 Subaru Forester 4-door
4-cylinder manual AWD
| 140700 mi US $1000 |
Head gaskets; radiator+hoses. |
1998 Subaru Forester 4-door
4-cylinder automatic AWD
| 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. |
See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs
See TrueDelta's information for all Subaru models.
