The Subaru Forester is one of Subaru’s best-selling vehicles. In the United States, Subaru has sold more than 1 million Subaru Foresters since 1997 when it was introduced. The Subaru Forester is known for its fuel efficiency, reliability and all-wheel drive capability. This article will answer questions about how many miles a Subaru Forester can last as well as provide information on what years are considered to be the most reliable.
So, how many miles cam a Subaru Forester last? Subaru Foresters have an average of 250,000 miles. However, you may see some Subaru Foresters last as long as 300,000 – 350,000 miles!
The Subaru Forester is a popular choice as it is the car that people buy when they have outgrown their compact vehicle, but not yet ready to give up on things like high ground clearance or AWD. So how do they fair if you are looking to buy a used one?
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Are used Subaru Foresters reliable?
If you are thinking about buying a used Subaru Forester then you may have concerns about their reliability. Subaru Foresters are actually one of the most reliable cars in their class.
Many Subaru Forester owners have reported that they had no major issues with their car for 70,000 miles or more and Subaru also has a reputation for reliability so it’s not unusual to see Subaru Foresters on the road that are older than 15 years.
What is the most reliable year for Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester was launched in 1997 and is still available today. In terms of the most reliable year, 2013 was one of the best year for number of complaints reported. This was towards the end of the run of the third generation (SH) models.
In this year, the most common issue was excessive oil consumpution.
What are the worst years for Subaru Forester? What Subaru Forester should I avoid?
The 2014 Subaru Forester is the worst of all these models. It has by far more complaints than any other model.
The 2015 Subaru Forester had the highest number overall but that’s because there were fewer problems reported in general as opposed to higher rates of them being reported for things such as high-cost repairs or even issues seen after low miles accumulated.
What are the most common problems with the Subaru Forester?
Subarus don’t usually have a problem with reliability overall, but the most common problems identified on the Subaru Forester are a bad CV Joint, and high oil consumption.
The most common complaint about this specific car was with oil consumption; many people said their engine would burn through anywhere from 1 quart up to 2 quarts per month.
A Subaru Forester with a failed CV joint will not be able to turn the wheels because it’s connected to both axles in one unit. When this happens, you are stuck going straight because there is no way for the wheel on either side of the failed part. So clearly a serious issue that Subaru Foresters need to be very careful of.
Do Subaru Foresters rust easy?
Most cars are very prone to rust, however the Subaru Forester is not as bad as many other cars. Subaru Foresters are prone to rusting at the following areas:
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- Lower rocker panels, lower door sills and wheel openings
- The bottoms of fenders behind doors
- Underbody components like exhaust system brackets or bumper supports can be vulnerable too.
Are Subaru Foresters expensive to maintain?
Ongoing maintenance costs are always a concern and the Subaru Forester is no exception. Subaru Forester owners report that Subaru Foresters are expensive to maintain, but Subaru is one of the best brands on the market and they have an excellent warranty program which can help cover some costs, especially for newer models.
Do Subaru Foresters have transmission problems?
Any problems associated with a car’s transmission is usually to going to be expensive and the Subaru Forester is no exception. Subaru Foresters have been known to suffer from transmission problems, but they’re not as common an issue as with some other Subaru models.
How much does it cost to replace a Subaru Forester CVT transmission?
If things do go wrong and you need to replace the automatic CVT transition in your Subaru Forester then you can expect to pay between $4000 and $5000 for a new Subaru Forester CVT transmission.
Where there any major recalls on the Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester has been in production since 1997 so has had its fair share of recalls. Subaru has had six recalls affecting the Forester since 2001. Subaru was recalling 2002 Subaru Foresters and Outbacks due to a problem in the power steering system that may cause it to fail, increasing the risk of an accident.
One of the last recalls for the Subaru Forester was in 2013, Subaru was recalling all Forester and Impreza models for the 2012-2013 model year due to a potential problem with their steering column that could cause it to fail. Subaru is unsure how many vehicles are affected by this recall as they were manufactured from April 16th 2012 through December 31st of 2013.
The Subaru Forester has not had any major recalls since 2013 but always check to ensure the vehicle you are looking at has had the necessary recall work completed.
What are the best alternatives to the Subaru Forester?
If you are looking at an alternative to a used Subaru Forester, but still what to stick with the Subaru brand, then you are probably looking at a Subaru Outback. They come with all the same features of a Subaru Forester and more as the Subaru Outback is very spacious, perfect for families that need space to fit their luggage or groceries in the back seat.
However, if you want to look at another vehicle manufacture altogether then a good alternative to the Subaru Forester is the Toyota Rav 4 which offers a similar package of features but is less expensive. The best things about the Toyota Rav 4 is that it has a lot of space in the back seat for passengers and lots of trunk space for luggage.
