Subaru Forester Reviews

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.

AC stopped working during first summer. Dealer fixed it. Second summer AC did work. Dealer repaired it. Kept the car for a week. Third summer AC again did not work. Dealer kept car for a week and repaired. It is annoying to go to dealer that is not that close. I dreading about fourth summer. We asked them to replace the car but dealer would not do it. This is my daughter''s car. My son also has Subaru and I was looking to buy one too. Now I am not so sure. I thought there was a lemon law by same problem repeating.

My CVT transmission failed on my 2014 Forester. This was a known issue. The warranty was extended to 100k miles because of known failures. My car has 130,000 miles on it. They offered no discounted fee for repair ($8000). This is a car company that is trying to bill itself the "reliable" car company. Since owning the car, I have had a yearly A/C Leak (with no known cause) and my oil started burning.

I own a 2015 Forester. Safety and AWD get 5/5 stars. However, cheap quality materials and a major design flaw has made me want to hate this brand to the fullest. The design flaw: The right and left corners around the rear seat have a panel that's too broad to be popping out. This is a place where passengers sit. The plastic should not be there in the first place. The only reason this is an issue is because the plastic used is the worst quality I've seen in any vehicle in my entire life. It is so this and flimsy that you could push it with your pinky finger and see it pushing in the hollow space. The plastic is super thin and very cheap quality. When a passenger sits in the rear seat, the plastic pushed in and cracked. I've replaced it twice already and it broke again within a week of replacing the panel. Each time cost me $672 to replace the panels. The only solution to this is to use hard plastic that wouldn't break or be so hollow.

Just leased a 2019 Forester - nothing but problems. Got it 2 weeks ago and it’s at the Subaru service center where they said it would be three days to get a new part. NOT impressed with their quality control.

I researched Subaru before I bought one. Should have went with my gut. They settled a class action suit for oil consumption a few years back and everything I read said the issue had been fixed. NOT!! I ordered my 2016 Forester because you can't find a car with a manual transmission anymore. The first trip I took in it the oil light came on. I thought it was because coming from the factory maybe they just didn't fill it up. The next trip I was on the oil light came on again. Started an oil consumption test. The nearest Subaru dealer is a 2 hour drive from me. 1st test showed no loss of oil. Went on another trip, repeat. When I went for the last leg of yet another oil consumption test I was 100 miles short of their 1200 miles they require so they refused to do it. 3rd trip repeat! I am so sick and tired of always having to check my oil and always having to have a quart in the trunk.

Gear shift and electrical problems. Keys started to get stuck in the ignition after turning the car off and putting it in park. Since it is over 36,000 miles, there is no warranty coverage. Will cost $450 to fix this unbelievable problem. Headlights keep going out. It is seemingly random. Not sure how much this will cost. I tried a Subaru for its quality reputation. That has not been my experience. Thinking of trading this in before I get more weird problems.

The Eyesight team technology is a hindrance. When it works it's ok. But it fails more than it works. When in fail mode it will more allow the use of cruise control. The disable button still will not allow cruise to work. On a nice sunny afternoon ok unless the sun is somewhat in front of you. At night on black highway mottled roads, wet roads, extreme cold or when it just is off because it thinks you can't see.

Thankfully the catalytic converter issue is now being resolved by the dealership.

My brother bought a 2014 Forester, which I really liked, so I bought a 2017 Forester. This car and service has been a complete disappointment. It started after my first oil change/maintenance visit. The car started to have loud vibrating noises coming from the dash and the trunk. I took it in for a second service visit. I mentioned the noise, they said they would look into it after the oil change and tire rotations. I was optimistic. After, they said they fixed the issue. 20 minutes into my drive, the noises came back. I also noticed that they did not rotate the tires, even though they assured me they did. I know this because I had a oil/grime smudge on the front passenger wheel, which was in the same location after the “rotation.” I also checked the oil. To my surprise, it was quite dirty and definitely had not been changed. I brought the car back, the service manager seemed concerned and assured me they would take care of it.

Our 2018 Forester has numerous instances where it is difficult to start the car because of the ignition steering interlock. When this happens one has to twist the steering wheel VERY hard while turning the key. In some cases it took two people. One twisting the steering wheel; the other turning the key. Our dealer tells us "the car is working as designed". I would not recommend this vehicle.

We've dreamed of owning this car for years. It has fulfilled all our expectations. Easy to drive, many convenient features, good gas mileage, great warranty features.

2016 Subaru Forester purchased December 2015. I noticed a paint defect on hood of my Forester and was instructed to speak to the Body Shop Manager. I believe the defect existed on the car when delivered new and has only gotten worse. My fault that I didn't report it earlier. It is obvious that the defect was not caused by an external factor such as a rock chip or any other droppings. Body Shop Manager refused to remedy the problem despite the 3 year bumper to bumper warranty still being in effect (he says paint is not covered). In my opinion it should be covered since it was a defect from day one and could not be attributed to any other external factor. Joseph Subaru does not stand behind its product. I will no longer recommend Subaru or this dealer.

I bought a 2015 Subaru Forester in 2014. I now have 73,000 miles on the car, mostly highway miles. I have been happy with the car until this month. The weather hit 80+ degrees and I turned on my air conditioner. Alas, hot air came out. I took it to the Subaru dealership and when I explained the problem, I was informed that this is a "usual" thing to happen with the Foresters. After a $120.00 diagnostic workup, I was told that indeed there was a leak in the system and the job would cost about $1100.00 to fix unless I had a warranty. Alas I had one but it ended at 70,000 miles. A 2015 forester, only 3 years old should not have this problem. I no longer have faith in Subaru, sorry, this is my last one. For those of you buying a Forester, get a longer extended warranty, you will need it.

This is the second Forester I have purchased. They very reliable and rigid. We love the customer service at the dealership, love the eyesight and safety features. It gets great mileage as we travel a lot. We take it to the outer banks and the all wheel drive option is perfect. I like the heated seats, luggage rack, large sunroof, all wheel drive, great leg room both front and back, black interior a definite plus. It's large enough but not too big. I wish it had larger cargo space in the rear, interior lights, glove compartment light. Rear USB ports would be a definite plus. A bigger screen on the backup camera would be nice. Having a cargo cover included would be nice instead of purchasing separately.

I changed from an Infiniti to a Subaru Forester. I needed to save gas money with increased costs and it worked when I purchased this vehicle. I get more bang for my buck. The car handles the snow really well. And the heat works great too. The large windshield helps me see everything. But I wish the exterior and interiors were more modern and up to date with the current trends. Also, there should be more compatibility with cell phones - Bluetooth, charging ports and cell phone stands.

The Subaru Forester is one of the most reliable, if not the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned, experienced. It has been a jewel for me, traveling... home and abroad. It is a well-built vehicle. It has almost 400,000 miles on it, and is running like a champ. Knock on wood. Great fuel economy. It was given to me by a family member, who maintained it well with taking it to the same dealership she purchased from. They have been very kind to her and have made her happy in maintaining a relationship with Subaru. I will be purchasing another brand new Subaru when the opportunity arises. I will have additional transportation, yet will always keep a Subaru in my arsenal. Improve the fuel economy though because the using gas situation, is quite played-out. I would personalize the exterior of the car: customize it to add more depth, enhance the vehicle's sleekness.

I love the height the SUV gives me. Easy to park and back up cam makes it even easier. Handles smoothly and good handling in snow. All wheel drive gives me the confidence to venture out after a snowstorm. I feel safe when traveling with my children. Fold down seats are an amazing feature that makes me love the space in the car. Great trunk space but I would include netting to keep my groceries in place. Not interested in paying more for added features like sunroof or GPS but Iove my backup cam though.

When I ready to buy a new car, I'd wanted to continue with a Saturn. But they were no longer being made so I turned to Subaru because of its reputation. The way it is built includes some renewable resources. The engine design is more balanced than standard engines, which should make it run better longer. Handles the road well, gets good gas mileage, and can carry odd sized things. It's also got good safety features. The seat fit well for sitting and seeing for lane changes. But I wish there was a way to make the moon shade to pull either way to get more light but block the sun. Haven't mastered the hands free phone, but that's likely my issue than a design flaw. But overall completely satisfied with my Subaru.

My 2006 Subaru Forester is a great car with very little maintenance. It performs great on snow and ice, economical, fun to drive, very good safety rating, looks great, drives nice, smooth ride, and low repair costs. Also, high resale value and safety bags in side doors and front panels. However, it does not have an onboard computer, GPS, and WIFI connection. And it's a basic car, frame sits fairly low to the ground, wish the car sat up higher from the road.

I love my 2018 Subaru Forester. This is my second Forester bought brand new and I also owned a preowned Subaru Legacy. I prefer the Forester as I like the ground clearance and the ease of getting in and out of it. Though my Forrester does not have all the luxuries of the Legacy in the model I purchased, I feel the ride is as smooth or smoother than the Legacy and I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

I have owned Subarus for many years and I love my Forester. It is durable, has all wheel drive for snow in Massachusetts, it is roomy and comfortable. Most importantly I feel it is a safe car.

2009 Subaru Forester with only 35,500 miles. Constant recalls and mechanical issues. However, great customer service from the dealership. The newer models have greater mechanical reliability.

Fuel efficient, roomy, comfortable, top safety awards, low maintenance, AWD, second one I have owned, feel safe in this Subaru Forester. Bluetooth sync with phone makes for hands free driving. Easy to use touchscreen.

Subaru Forester 2017 is a great car with the safety features such as lidar, all wheel drive, etc. Great producer of these cars. The Subarus have built a following among consumers.

I have a Subaru Forester 2010 with 100,000 miles on it. I really like it for its reliability, the way it handles in snow. I wish it were another color as I have trouble finding it in parking lots, and I think the front could be better designed to hold necessaries... It is a basic model, gets about 24 mpg...and frankly, it can't be beat.

This Subaru Forester is the second new car I've bought. Wanted to buy American but had nothing but very bad luck with the T-bird I bought. I worked on night shift for 40 years and really wanted a dependable car -- this Subaru is it! The only servicing I've had done is regular maintenance and the dealership in San Rafael is outstanding and for a single woman really helped me out and guided me as to what was needed and when. So glad I bought the car. It's a 2002 and I still love it.

I got a Subaru Forester last summer. I live in a lake-effect snow belt where storms and large snow-fall is legendary. This was my first winter driving my Subaru and it was amazing. I got through piles of snow, blizzards where I was plowing snow with my vehicle on the interstate, and never got stuck. I felt very secure and wish I had always owned a Subaru.

While it is hard to beat a Subaru Forester in winter driving conditions, they are a "finicky" vehicle. Subaru almost insists that you follow their maintenance schedule which is grueling if not quite expensive.

The Subaru Forester is quiet and comfortable, holds everything we need to put into it, and gets great gas mileage. The electronics and radio controls on the console and on the steering wheel are great as well.

Subaru Outback - well-made, thrifty, roomy with excellent driving visibility. Enough power in its 4 cylinder engine to pull up to 2700 tongue weight (Forester tops out at 900 lbs). 4 cylinder is about 250 lbs. lighter than the 6 cylinder. Buy the 4 cylinder. Economy varies from 25 mpg in city winter traffic, to 39 on the open highway in summer. Great balance and traction in slippery weather conditions. Best car on ice I've ever driven. Convenient controls and smart night lighting. Excellent ground clearance and intelligent design, well executed. Kudos Subaru!

I've had this Subaru Forester for 15 years and I've loved every single minute of it. Not a single major problem. Comfortable, well equipped. When I start looking for a different car this is the one I would consider first.

I just moved to a mountain community where I was warned that I should have a 4 wheel drive vehicle. I hadn't expected to get another car, but when my former car died, car shopping was mandatory. I began on CarGuru and spent weeks looking at Subaru Foresters. I've had many people tell me how great a Subaru is. When I found a few, and went to drive them, I was sold, even before the test drive. They are AWD and are not cumbersome, or too big. The size of my Subaru is really a perfect size for me. I love the way it drives around the curves of the mountains.

Wish the Bluetooth radio on Subaru Forester was friendly. Gets too touchy. Otherwise awesome Car and handles great. Easy to get in and out and no blind spots. Free oil change for 2 years and great service.

Based on excellent reviews, I bought a used 2001 Subaru Forester. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED! Repairs are expensive. A lot of the trim & features such as cup holders break compared to a Toyota that I had years ago prior to this Subaru. The rearview mirror & the headlights fogged over so badly that they had to be replaced; also the compass beneath the mirror stopped working. Temperature gauge on the dashboard suddenly stopped registering correctly or engine heat not being controlled right so that not enough engine heat is retained in the engine to run efficiently -- not corrected by replacing thermostat. Was told I would have to replace the whole dashboard & instrument panel to possibly correct. Mechanism to open the moonroof broke. Most frustrating is that despite trying several Subaru dealerships for repairs, NONE of them have technicians who can use reasoning skills to diagnose or figure out a problem!

In this tundra like zone, having a reliable 4 wheel drive vehicle (Subaru forester 2016) is important (to me). As I travel, I see other cars off the road waiting for tow trucks while I travel safely and securely.

Subaru Forester all wheel drive is of the best cars I have owned. High seating and comfort level. High gas mileage and glides like a sled on ice. Automatic bells and whistles sounding off to keep you abreast of any changes on the road when driving.

This is our third Subaru. We love these durable, good looking vehicles. They handle well and perform well whether it's a short errand to town or a long distance drive for an out of town wedding. As a Realtor I need a reliable vehicle and my Subaru Forester fits perfectly.

Subaru Forester performance-wise very good but appearance, not so much. Missing the "wow" factor. Relatively get very good ratings. We had Honda before and thought we would try Subaru this time.

Comfortable and easy to enter as seats are higher. Good for elderly as not necessary to fight getting out. Excellent view outside the windshield so better visibility to drive. Trunk is easy to open and large enough for suitcases or groceries. Possible to put extra luggage on top of roof as bars are present. Seats are comfortable in both front and back so four people fit comfortably. It is possible to manage 3 small people (kids) in back seat. The position and angle of driver’s seat can be easily changed electronically. Radio and disk player work well with excellent sound. Subaru Forester all-wheel drive makes it easy to get up hills in snow and downhill on lower gear.

We have owned the Forester for only about 8 months so I have tempered my ratings accordingly. I am favorably impressed with the overall performance of the Forester. It has enough "get up and go" for me even though we do not have a turbocharged model. With more than 6000 miles of driving, we are averaging almost 29 mpg combined city and highway. Leg and headroom are ample. Customer service, at least at our dealership (Sangera, in Bakersfield, CA) has been extraordinary, so far - we have only been there once for scheduled maintenance but they went above and beyond our expectations to accommodate us.

Great car but has an excessive oil consumption problem. The 2011 Forester is a good car to drive. Good visibility, good power, comfortable but it consumes much more oil than it should.

Excellently made car. Have had absolutely no issues with this car, always in top condition through rain, snow, sleet, hail, heat, etc. When I was initially shopping for cars I never would have thought that I would love my Subaru the way I do, but the moment I sat in my Forester and drove it around the block I knew I had to have it. First, Subaru dealerships also don't pay their employees on commission, so there is no need to be haggled and harassed. They state the true and honest facts about their vehicles. My Subaru has not depreciated in value, and even though it is a 4 wheel drive car NO maintenance has ever been done to it besides an oil change every few thousand miles. Worth every penny. Oh, and don't forget about Eyesight. It has literally saved my life (and my insurance premiums) more times than I can count. You won't regret it buying this extremely well made and beautiful car. I know I haven't.