How reliable is the Subaru Forester?
Owner-reported reliability data: inspection results, typical mileage, and the most common failures.
The Subaru Forester passes first-time inspections at roughly the European average. The most commonly reported issues are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen. Typical mileage by age and a year-by-year breakdown of reliability are shown below. All figures are owner-reported real-world data, not a marketing rating.
Above average reliability
Based on 2,907 inspection tests. First-time pass rate: 81.5%.
Subaru Forester reliability by year
How the Subaru Forester performs at first-time inspection, broken down by the year cohort. Empty cells mean we don't have enough owner-reported data for that year yet.
| Year cohort | Pass rate | Typical mileage @ 5 yrs |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 90.2% | – |
| 1998 | 92% | – |
| 1999 | 72% | – |
| 2000 | 65.7% | – |
| 2001 | 64.2% | – |
| 2002 | 70.2% | – |
| 2003 | 67.2% | – |
| 2004 | 69.1% | – |
| 2005 | 68.3% | – |
| 2006 | 68.7% | – |
| 2007 | 70% | – |
| 2008 | 72.4% | – |
| 2009 | 65.9% | – |
| 2010 | 67.9% | – |
| 2011 | 73.8% | – |
| 2012 | 72.3% | – |
| 2013 | 73.5% | – |
| 2014 | 76.7% | – |
| 2015 | 79% | – |
| 2016 | 81.5% | – |
Model-level pattern, not per-car prediction
These figures describe the Subaru Forester as a model. The reliability of any individual Subaru Forester also depends on service history, accident history, and how it was driven. Run a free VIN check to see the records attached to a specific car you're considering.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Subaru Forester reliable?
Based on owner-reported inspection records, the Subaru Forester passes first-time inspections at roughly the European average. Its first-time inspection pass rate sits around 82%. Reliability varies by year and engine: see the year-by-year breakdown on this page for the specific cohort you're considering.
What are the common problems on the Subaru Forester?
The most common owner-reported issues are: A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (3.7% of inspections); A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (2.9% of inspections); Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen (1.3% of inspections); A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (0.9% of inspections); A tyre seriously damaged (0.8% of inspections).
What mileage is normal for a Subaru Forester?
For a typical Subaru Forester, owner-reported average mileage works out to about – at 3 years, – at 5 years, and – at 10 years. The mileage section on this page shows the full distribution, high-use vs low-use cars often differ by a factor of three.
How do I check a specific Subaru Forester before buying?
Enter the 17-character VIN on Carlytics. The free check shows decoded specs and open safety recalls. The full vehicle history report (from EUR 8.90) cross-references owner-reported issues, mileage records, and stolen-vehicle databases for the specific car, model-level reliability tells you the pattern, the VIN check tells you the car.