Subaru Forester Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 188 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Subaru Forester across 21 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (25). The words owners use most often: “head gasket” (21% of reports).
- 188engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- $2,750typical repair cost reported by owners
- 51%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Head gasket: mentioned in 39 of 188 complaints (21%)
- Catalytic converter: mentioned in 11 of 188 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Subaru Forester at $2,750, and half of them between $2,100 and $3,100.
Based on 14 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2012), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 144 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 188 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 3 an injury.
Subaru Forester engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Forester | 1 | 1% | 11,426 |
| 2020 Forester | 4 | 1% | 49,698 |
| 2019 Forester | 5 | 1% | 107,500 |
| 2017 Forester | 1 | 0% | 156,774 |
| 2015 Forester | 5 | 1% | 6,540 |
| 2014 Forester | 3 | 1% | 35,000 |
| 2012 Forester | 2 | 2% | 3,000 |
| 2011 Forester | 7 | 5% | 22,489 |
| 2010 Forester | 6 | 2% | 1,412 |
| 2009 Forester | 12 | 7% | 14,805 |
| 2008 Forester | 2 | 4% | 53,800 |
| 2007 Forester | 6 | 8% | 90,000 |
| 2006 Forester | 11 | 13% | 48,000 |
| 2005 Forester | 7 | 8% | 82,491 |
| 2004 Forester | 16 | 7% | 70,000 |
| 2003 Forester | 19 | 10% | 62,026 |
| 2002 Forester | 14 | 16% | 78,304 |
| 2001 Forester | 16 | 12% | 75,000 |
| 2000 Forester | 12 | 16% | 115,000 |
| 1999 Forester | 25 | 19% | 86,700 |
| 1998 Forester | 14 | 14% | 73,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Engine and engine cooling
Model years: 2024
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.
Risk: Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: SubaruÂs independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts. The affected vehicles have not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners and therefore, no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRO-23.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
Model years: 2019
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUW-08.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
Model years: 2015, 2016
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2009
Problem: Subaru is recalling 16,715 my 2007-2008 legacy sedans and wagons, my 2008 impreza sedans and wagons, and my 2009 forester vehicles. Some vehicles may have the cylinder head-side oil supply pipe and turbocharger-side pipe improperly assembled.
Risk: Vibration would occur while driving and, over time, could eventually result in cracking the pipe which would allow oil to leak. If leaking oil contacts components operating at high temperatures, an engine compartment fire could occur.
Fix: Dealers will inspect for cracking or an oil leak at the oil supply pipe at the cylinder head-side. An additional bracket will be installed to increase rigidity of the pipe and the pipe assembly will be replaced with a modified part. The recall began on october 20, 2008. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Engine and engine cooling
Model years: 2004
Problem: On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the cover bolts for the engine oil control valve may not be sufficiently tightened, allowing oil to leak from around the cover gasket.
Risk: If leaking oil contacts components operating at high temperatures, a fire could result in the engine compartment.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and retighten the oil-flow control valve cover bolts. The recall began on october 8, 2004. Owners should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine PCV had failed, causing catastrophic damage to the engine. The contact was…
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being started, the contact heard an abnormally loud sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the…
The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while at a stop light, the brake pedal was released, but the vehicle failed to move. The accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle jolted forward. The contact was able to drive to a parking lot. After shifting to drive, the vehicle…
See attached document for complaint
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate and then stalled. The driver was able to pull over safely. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Subaru Foresters have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 188 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Subaru Forester. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Subaru Forester engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Subaru Forester?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,750 (half paid between $2,100 and $3,100), from 14 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Subaru Forester?
The most frequent phrase is “head gasket”, in 39 of 188 complaints, followed by “catalytic converter” (11).
Other Subaru Forester problems
- Visibility/wiper problems (1,061)
- Engine problems (827)
- Air Bags problems (817)
- Electrical System problems (797)
- Power Train problems (556)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (532)
- Suspension problems (415)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (350)
See all Subaru Forester problems.