The Subaru Forester is a very popular car model on the market today. Despite being high in terms of popularity rankings, this Forester still has numerous problems that need to be addressed when purchasing this vehicle.
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The worst model years range from 2003-2015, with the most concerning model years being the 2014 and 2015 Forester problems.
Worst Subaru Forester Problems
The top three Subaru Forester problems range from the model years 2011 to 2014. The third worst Forester issue is the broken coil springs in the 2014 Forester, with the average cost to fix coming out to $1,000. The second worst Subaru Forester problem is excessive oil consumption in the 2011 Forester, with the average cost to fix this issue coming to $1,600.
The worst Subaru Forester problem is high oil consumption in the 2014 Forester, with the average cost to fix coming out to around $2,000 and usually occurring at 26,000 miles.
2003 Subaru Forester Problems
The top user concerns for the 2003 Subaru Forester include the windows and windshield, seat belts and airbags, and the body and paint categories. Regarding the NHTSA, the top concerns focused on the fuel system and the engine.
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Windows and Windshield Problems
The top concerns for the windows and windshield include loud air noise coming from the rubber seal in the window, the power window does not work, and the power window will not roll up all the way. The typical repair cost for the loud air noise is to replace the seal at around $400, which usually occurs at around 87,000 miles.
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Seat Belts and Air Bags Problems
The top concerns from users from the seatbelts and airbags include the airbag light coming on and the airbag failing to deploy. These problems typically happen at around 60,000 miles and have a severity rating of 3.3 out of 10.
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Body and Paint Problems
In this category, the top Subaru Forester problems include the door seals tearing easily, the wind noise from the window seal, and the frame support rusting over time. The only way to fix this problem of the door seals falling off is to replace the seals at around 108,000 miles, with a severity rating of 6.0 out of 10.
2006 Subaru Forester Problems
For this model year, the top Subaru Forester problems include the engine category, the windows and windshield category, and the transmission system.
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Engine Problems
Regarding the engine system in your Subaru Forester, the main issues deal with the head gasket failing, the car misfiring when accelerating, the engine failing, the engine firing, the engine surging on deceleration, and the car completely losing power.
The typical repair cost comes in at around $1,800 to replace the head gasket at nearly 78,000 miles to fix the head gasket failure.
2009 Subaru Forester Problems
For the 2009 Forester, the top Subaru Forester problems include the engine, interior accessories, and the AC and heater system.
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Engine Problems
To fix the most severe Subaru Forester problems, issues include engine failure, head gasket leaks, excessive oil consumption, rod knocking, and the timing belt pulley failure. The engine failure usually occurs at nearly 112,000 miles, with the most common solution being to replace the entire engine.
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Interior Accessories Problems
The main concerns for the interior accessories for the 2009 Subaru Forester problems include the compass not working, the driver’s seat collapsing, and the key lock-in not working correctly.
2010 Subaru Forester Problems
The 2020 Forester was one of the worst model years to date, with the Subaru Forester problems, including the engine system. The interior accessories, and the braking system of the Forester.
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Engine Problems
The main engine concerns from car owners of the 2010 Forester include blown head gaskets, engine failure, noisy, cold starting, blown turbo engine, and the diesel filter warning light coming on during use. The typical repair cost for blown head gaskets includes $2,380 to replace the head gasket at around 91,000 miles.
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Interior Accessories Problems
Regarding the 2010 Forester’s interior accessories, the main concerns deal with the seat collapsing, the hatch arm breaking, and the check engine indicator coming on the dashboard while driving. To fix the seat collapsing, the only solution is to install a new seat at around 64,000 miles.
2011 Subaru Forester Problems
The 2011 Subaru Forester problems were very severe, with the top user issues and NHTSA complaints focusing on the engine system and the brakes.
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Engine Problems
The top Subaru Forester problems referring to the engine include excessive oil consumption, engine failure, oil leaks, burning oil smell, and unintended acceleration. To fix the excessive oil consumption, the most common solution is to replace the engine or add oil, with the average repair cost coming out to around $1,640 and happening at usually 46,000 miles.
2014 Subaru Forester Problems
Regarding the 3014 Subaru Forester problems, this model has had numerous engine, excessive oil consumption, suspension system, and transmission issues, making this one of the worst model years.
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Suspension Problems
The main concern regarding the 2014 Subaru Forester problems with the suspension includes broken coil springs. The typical repair cost comes out to around $1,060 to replace the springs, struts, and the rear coil springs. The average mileage for this fix of the broken coil springs comes out to around 58,700 miles and has a severity rating of 8 out of 10.
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Transmission Problems
Regarding the transmission, the top user concerns focus on the flat spot lurching, the car surging, the suspension no longer working, the clutch is damaged, the car rolling backward while parked, the car whining, and the car is stuck in park. To fix the surging and jumping in your car, you need to bring your car to a manufacturer so they can fix this serious Subaru Forester problem.
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Electrical Problems
To fix the most severe Subaru Forester problems, you need to address the most common electrical issues in the 2014 Forester. These common problems include multiple electrical malfunctions, blown fuses, and the door ajar light staying on during use. The electrical malfunctioning’s typical repair cost comes out to around $300 and occurs at nearly 59,000 miles.
2015 Subaru Forester Problems
The 2015 Forester is often regarded as the worst vehicle due to the high number of overall complaints for this year. The most serious Subaru Forester problems for the 2015 model include the engine category, interior accessories category, and the transmission.
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Engine Problems
The top engine concerns from 2015 Forester owners include excessive oil consumption, unintended acceleration, engine stalling while driving, the check engine light staying on, the engine hesitation while accelerating, and the engine catching on fire or failing.
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Interior accessories Problems
The other category regarding the 2015 Subaru Forester problems is the interior accessories. The main issues include the Bluetooth connectivity not working, the voice recognition failing, the dashboard vibrating during use, the eyesight driver assistance system not showing the right picture, and the cruise control randomly turning off during use.
The most common solution is to replace the radio at an average price of around $150 and 25,000 miles to fix the Bluetooth connectivity issues.
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Transmission Problems
The last category for the 2015 Subaru Forester problems includes the transmission, with the top user concerned focusing on the car surging at low speed, the transmission slipping while accelerating, the transmission failing, and the car experiencing a delay when shifting.
2017 Subaru Forester Problems
After a relatively low year in terms of problems for the 2016 Subaru Forester, the 2017 Forester had more severe complaints that have to be immediately addressed. The top categories of concern for the 2017 Forester include the transmission, electrical system, and the engine.
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Transmission Problems
The top category of concern for the 2017 Subaru Forester problems focuses on the transmission, with the main user issues being the car shuddering and jerking while using.
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Electrical Problems
The 2017 Subaru Forester problems focused on the electrical system include the battery being too weak, the radio and navigation freezing, and the car dying while driving. The typical repair cost comes out to around $200 to replace the battery at nearly 25,000 miles on average to fix the weak battery.
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Engine Problems
The main Subaru Forester problems for the engine category in the 2017 model include the car stalling while accelerating, the excessive oil consumption, and the car having unintended acceleration. Fixing the excessive oil consumption usually occurs at nearly 16,000 miles, with a severity rating of this problem coming out to 6 out of 10.
Subaru Forester Reliability
2019 Subaru Forester Rating
Regarding the 2019 Subaru Forester problems, this model year has seriously improved from the poor rating years of the 2014-2015 models. The pros of this 2014 Forester include an upscale and luxurious interior, user-friendly and easy-to-use features, high safety scores, and a comfortable ride for long periods of time. The only Subaru Forester problems in this model year are an underpowered engine and a lack of acceleration.
This model year has earned various rankings and awards for impressive qualities. The 2019 Forester earned the #9 spot in the 2019 Affordable Compact SUV category, #11 in Used Compact SUVs $20K and up category, #15 in the 2019 Affordable SUVs with 2 Rows category, and the #24 spot in the Used SUVs with 2 Rows $20K and up category.
The only unfavorable rankings and middle of the road ratings include a #26 spot and #32 spot in the 2019 Affordable Crossover SUV and Used Crossover SUV between $20 and $25K category.
2020 Subaru Forester Rating
Despite the Subaru Forester problems in recent years, the 2020 Forester ranked in the middle in terms of compact SUV rankings for this model. This model year has a spacious cabin, user-friendly and innovative tech, extensive safety systems, and ample fuel economy.
The pros of this 2020 model year include spacious seats and cargo hold, excellent fuel economy, an all-wheel drive, and a quiet and comfortable ride. The Subaru Forester problems for the 2020 year feature a lackluster and poor acceleration, along with a poor predicted reliability rating.
The US News Scorecard rating for this model year comes out to 7.8 out of 10 with the critics' rating coming to 8.6, the performance 7.1, the interior 8.1 out of 10, and the safety rating coming to 9.8 out of 10.
The 2020 Forester also earned the Finalist spot for the 2020 Best Compact SUV for the Money and the 2020 Best Compact SUV for Families.
2021 Subaru Forester Rating
Even with the Subaru Forester problems, this car model earned the #9 spot in the Compact SUV category. The pros of this model year include ample passenger and cargo space, the user-friendly infotainment system, the high economy ratings, and the all-wheel drive. The cons of the 2021 Forester feature the lowest reliability rating possible and the lack of engine power.
This 2021 Forester earned the #9 spot in the Compact SUV category, #30 in Crossover SUV category, and the #20 in the SUVs with 2 Rows category. Even with the Subaru Forester problems, the ratings are still relatively high and middle of the pack in terms of compact and crossover SUVs.
The Car US News Scorecard rating for this model year came out to 7.7 out of 10, with the critics' rating coming to 8.6, the performance to 7.1, the interior to 7.9, and the reliability rating only earning 2 out of 5.
Conclusion
As you can see, despite the Subaru Forester being a popular and widely-known vehicle, some various problems and concerns can make you question which model to purchase for you or your family. The worst model years range from 2011-2014, while the problems started in the 2003 model year.
Even though the problems stayed relatively minor for the first few years after 2003, the 2011-2014 model years had instances of engine issues, transmission problems, and suspension concerns that make this car unsafe and unreliable to drive.