Subaru Forester Reviews

I hope to save people from heartache and financial loss with my story. Subaru engines appear to be highly questionable from head gaskets to excessive oil consumption and instead of a recall they just extend warranties a little bit. In 2016 there was a class action lawsuit against Subaru for the very issue I had - excessive oil consumption & engine failure **.

Add my name to the many very dissatisfied with Subaru vehicles, and unfair treatment by customer service. My Forester failed the oil consumption test, and now I need a new engine at 125,000 miles - never received notification about vehicle defect and class action extended warranty. Subaru should pay to fix these defective cars that customers buy in good faith. I was told it was my problem that my Forester showed engine damage past the warranty, and my problem that I never received the notification they claim to have sent, even though I was the original owner, my address was current, I even was employed by my post office as a mail clerk, bought the car new, purchased extended warranty, did all maintenance servicing, and had oil changed every 5,000 miles, and brought car in for airbag repairs when I received notice. Had I been sent notification, I would have immediately brought car in for inspection within the warranty time frame.

I purchased a brand new 2012 Subaru in 2011 (my first Subaru). Up until last summer at 102,000 miles I loved it, then all went downhill. I took it in to the dealership for an unusual noise and was told it would need a new short block engine as it was 3 quarts low on oil. How can that be I asked since not one single dash light had come on during this time. Well when did you last have the oil changed he asked and I replied that he could check in his system since the dealership did my oil changes.

There's a reason you see so many Subarus on the road! When we needed to replace our long loved Ford Edge, we assumed it would be with another Ford. Then, we tried the Subaru with the "eyesight" feature and we were sold. I also have an issue with my back and the seats were a perfect fit.

Very good for snow and off road terrain, huge cargo space, however underpowered to a fault. Main problem so far is that driver’s seat is very uncomfortable, and steering wheel does not extend sufficiently, either your legs are bent or your arms uncomfortably stretched, otherwise, serves the purpose.

Major work needed to be done at 80k. Engine reseal with cams and something else. Right now the transmission sounds bad and I need need new shocks and struts before I get tires. I bought this car 2011 and expected no major work until 150k. Very disappointed.

This is the third Forester I have owned, and by far the best. Added safety features are great, and driving this Forester is an absolute pleasure. As far as looks go, I had no intention on upgrading from my 2016 Forester, but once I saw the new 19 Sport, just had to have it.

Great car. All wheel drive. No problems. Well made to last for long time. This is my second Subaru. Drove thru many snow storms in Rochester NY with no problem. Great color and still shines. 2012 model. Very little maintenance. Bought it as a pre-owned vehicle with low mileage and fantastic warranty. Would highly recommend this car.

I love my 2010 Forester, however, the pick up is weak. I cannot accelerate as quick as I would like to, especially in scary situations on the highway. Subaru puts 4 cylinders in their cars to save on gas, and I understand that, but my car is a little slower than I would like. I have taken this vehicle all across the country. I have done a lot of off-roading in the Nevada, Arizona and California deserts as well as the mountains in California, New York, Utah, etc. It did very well on rough, icy and muddy roads. I actually lived and slept in this car for a while. Surprisingly comfortable! I love my Subaru. I put over 50,000 miles on it since I bought it used back in 2017. I will definitely consider a newer Forester when the time comes to purchase another car.

I have had several Foresters and it is the only car I will buy. It is average on gas, but it is good in the winter weather which is very important to me. I like the way it drives and that is a highly rated safe car.

Love some features, hate some features. The adaptive cruise control is excellent. It works from a dead stop up to the speed the driver has chosen. Driver information messages are awful. The only display for a second or two. A chime lets you know there is a message, but by the time you look down to see it the message has already disappeared.

This is my fourth Subaru. I've owned two Outbacks and two Foresters. Each one I've owned has given me excellent service, with no problems whatsoever. I am especially pleased with the safety features on my 2019 Forester Limited. Mine has Eyesight front collision prevention, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rear collision prevention, and blind-spot monitoring. The 2019 Forester is larger than its predecessors, peppier, and gets better mileage. How do they do this? Subaru clearly listens to its customers, and this is reflected in each year's improvements. My only complaint in previous models was the turn signal clicker. I often couldn't hear it over traffic noise or the sound system. Subaru fixed this with the 2019 models. I can hear it, even while playing the excellent Harmon Kardon sound system, and it's not obnoxious. Just loud enough to tell me that my turn signal is on. It's this attention to detail that will keep me a loyal customer.

I love this car as it makes me feel safe. It is easy to drive, has ample leg room and is high enough for me to get in and out with ease. I also like the fact that it is a very safe car with an internal frame that makes for a secure feeling. My wife drives one as well and she was t-boned by a large pick up and escaped unscathed. It also offers substantial storage and carrying capacity. I would recommend this vehicle to any one.

Four months into ownership, 2nd Subaru. Fuel mileage great. Sometimes phone connection is slow on bluetooth. There is no really center console space for stuff. Seat belt connections are too low. I had to buy extenders so I could reach them. They are okay if you are short and move your seat forward, but if not they are between the seat and center console and hard to get to. Also, the door pockets could be just a tad deeper say another 1/2 inch of space so you can actually get stuff and your hand in there.. Also, the fabric floor mats that come with the vehicle are junk. Make them better or remove them from the price. However, they did come with great plastic floor mats which are the only ones I use.

Well designed but not as intuitively ergonomic as my prior RAV4. Good mileage, optimal sizing, excellent safety features. Consumer Reports review basically nailed it. Dealer made the buying process unnecessarily drawn out. Website did a good job on hardware options but poor on software. Biggest hiccough so far, setting the clock - I couldn't figure it out, dealership had to call tech support. Now I'm stuck with daylight savings time setting.

The Forester drives like a Cadillac. The interior is very roomy, and Subaru's Eyesight safety system and AWD come standard on all models. This vehicle is rated 5 stars out of 5 stars for crash safety by the NHTSA. Also gets an average of 28 mpg which is also #1 in the subcompact SUV category. Consumer Reports gives the Forester a rating of 84 out of 100 which is one of the 3 highest-rated vehicles they have rated. Great Value. Warranty is average. Would buy again!

This is my 9th or 10th Subaru, and everyone just gets better! The safety features are phenomenal! The Eye Sight Package lets you know if you're drifting out of your lane, and helps control the car to keep you on the road. It drives well in the snow, and even ice too! The 2020 Forester has more leg room in the back seat and a lot more space in the cargo area! And the price is right too!!! I love this car!!

I live in Denver, CO and my 2008 Subaru Forester has kept me going through up to 11 inches of snow. Subaru is the most seen vehicle make and I think of it as the state car of Colorado. Mine is paid off and the maintenance even for a ten-year-old car is not more expensive than a monthly car payment. Gas mileage is ok – about 20 miles per gallon. I recommend finding a reliable auto mechanic shop (I specifically recommend ATR), because the reason I gave the company overall a 3 rating is because the dealer servicing is horrible. I’ve had either an overcharge issue or a timing issue with every Subaru dealer I’ve used in Denver – one of them can’t seem to tell time.

Subaru makes a wonderful product! The Forester handles so well that It's hard to tell that I am driving an SUV. Very comfortable for long trips as well. My Ins. rate went down! This is due to the safety ratings on the Forester. My previous vehicles cannot compare. (One was a Honda).

I've complained several times about oil consumption, always being told, a Qt in 3000 mi. is acceptable, not to me. On vacation of 2500 miles, used over a gal. oil, tested at dealer, Ends with engine (short-block) being removed R&R under warranty, that removes a lot of negative I had before of the pancake 2.5L Leaker from low sloppy machinist specs for 2013.

This all-wheel drive car makes me feel absolutely safe on the road, regardless of weather or road conditions. I understand that gas mileage is not the best, due to the all-wheel drive technology, but I love this car anyway. It has great visibility, great comfort (heated seats are my pet luxury), and ample room for passenger/driver comfort.. The fold-down split-rear seat offers excellent cargo room--not to mention the standard roof-rack and that is combined with a car that isn't a monster in size or driveability.

I have owned a Subaru Forester since 2010 and this cars are very reliable, good on gas mileage, safe on the roads. The interior is modest and simple but it works for daily usage. I’m happy with this Subaru Forester and looking forward to update soon with a newer one.

I bought my third Subaru Forester in March of 2017. From the moment I bought it, I knew it had no heat on the floor. I would get in the car with snow on my feet and it wouldn’t even melt off. I complained and complained, went to a different dealership, I called corporate, all to no avail. Of course it only bothers me in winter, but still, I’m paying for a lease that is not even worthy. I cannot get anyone at Subaru to listen to me help. It’ll be the LAST Subaru I ever buy.

2008 and 2017 Foresters - on the 2008, various $ problems ** right after 30,000 miles, and then electrical system - dashboard warning icons problem - indicators stay on even though there is not a real problem, just with the system. Too expensive to bother fixing. Made the repeat mistake of buying a 2017 forester. At 10,000 miles, battery died. Dealer said it's because I do not drive enough. Huh? I drive several times a week, but apparently have to do long rides to keep battery going. They replaced the battery and "Adjusted" the computerization to accommodate low-mileage drivers. Then, the "Security" icon started blinking constantly at 11,400 miles. Could not use the fob to open the door - now on the way to dealer again re: "Calibration"- of what? Electrical system? New fob? What? No more Subarus for me!!!!

Subaru 2010 Forester limited: purchased with extended warranty which ended April 2017. In 2018 the head gaskets developed a leak which the dealership informed us it was a common occurrence with all Subarus at or around 60,000 miles. Ours had 63,000 and it would cost between 3,500 to 3,700 dollars to replace. We had it done at a Subaru only mechanic shop for 2,500. Now here we are November 8, 2019, took in our forester for oil change (always every 3,600 miles) we let the mechanic know that just yesterday we are noticing a slight fluttering noise. He has just finished checking it out and has informed us we need a new short block engine due to rod wear. The estimated cost at 5,200 to 5,500 dollars. Our Forester has 80,000 miles and has been maintain to exact manufacturer's specifications! Maybe this vehicle is not exactly a lemon but, it is certainly sour grapes! Never buy a Subaru!

Subaru offers a 100,000 warranty on these cars, knowing the transmission will go out around then. Ours went bad at 108,000 and they offered us nothing. Now stuck with a broke down car and needs a $9000 new transmission. Shame on you Subaru for even releasing these cars!! Wife & I we’re both avid Subaru drivers and supporters... After this experience, will NEVER buy or recommend Subaru to anyone!!

I have a 2014 Subaru Forester. Seriously, not happy as I have been complaining about putting 1 to 2 quarts of oil in between oil changes since it hit 60k miles. It now has 108k miles on it. It would reach 2.5k miles after an oil change and my oil light would come on. It also has a burning smell whenever I park. Of course nobody can tell me why and when my husband called Subaru, someone had the gall to tell him it is normal to add oil between changes.

I bought a new 2013 Subaru Forester in 2012. After owning it a very short time I noticed a leak on the garage floor. Took it into the dealer and they said I had a cracked block. Took them a long time to replace it. Good service at the dealer as I always took it in as called for in the warranty. A couple of years later once again they detected another cracked block. The rep from Subaru happened to be at the dealership and they again replaced it. I frequently had times that the I could not get the key out after I parked. Had to turn the steering wheel hard back and forth as I tried to get the key out.

Motor is shot at 112,000 miles due to oil consumption problem. Never a service bulletin or any type warning about the oil consumption Problem. 2011 Forester. Bought new. Never again will I buy a Subaru. They should at least cover the cost. Customer service is a joke!

I own a 2016 Forester XT and I never had any issues at all. Very dependable and solid built SUV. Handles good. Accelerates good. Overall I recommend buying this year model. The only visits to dealer had been routine oil and filters change.