Subaru Forester Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 556 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Subaru Forester across 28 model years. The 2015 model year has the most (95). The words owners use most often: “thermo control” (5% of reports).
- 556power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 51mention a crash
- 18mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $2,250typical repair cost reported by owners
- 40%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.
- Thermo control: mentioned in 28 of 556 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Subaru Forester at $2,250, and half of them between $1,100 and $8,900.
Based on 34 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2026), 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 power train problems happen?
Based on 303 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 556 complaints, 51 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 18 an injury.
Subaru Forester power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Forester | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2025 Forester | 4 | 4% | — |
| 2023 Forester | 5 | 7% | 11,426 |
| 2022 Forester | 4 | 4% | 51,000 |
| 2021 Forester | 15 | 7% | 11,250 |
| 2020 Forester | 32 | 5% | 500 |
| 2019 Forester | 38 | 5% | 14,000 |
| 2018 Forester | 23 | 5% | 4,000 |
| 2017 Forester | 46 | 8% | 33,400 |
| 2016 Forester | 51 | 12% | 44,500 |
| 2015 Forester | 95 | 15% | 51,100 |
| 2014 Forester | 41 | 10% | 64,611 |
| 2013 Forester | 6 | 8% | 49,500 |
| 2012 Forester | 5 | 5% | 62,000 |
| 2011 Forester | 8 | 5% | 60,000 |
| 2010 Forester | 7 | 3% | 70,500 |
| 2009 Forester | 17 | 10% | 52,500 |
| 2008 Forester | 2 | 4% | 130,821 |
| 2007 Forester | 11 | 15% | 37,500 |
| 2006 Forester | 4 | 5% | 52,090 |
| 2005 Forester | 5 | 5% | 40,000 |
| 2004 Forester | 12 | 5% | 93,500 |
| 2003 Forester | 9 | 5% | 8,000 |
| 2002 Forester | 16 | 18% | 29,650 |
| 2001 Forester | 23 | 17% | 46,000 |
| 2000 Forester | 21 | 28% | 74,000 |
| 1999 Forester | 32 | 24% | 72,000 |
| 1998 Forester | 23 | 23% | 75,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch
Model years: 2022
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Model years: 2023, 2024
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
Risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRP-23.
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2002, 2003
Problem: Certain sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions were produced with an improperly manufactured transmission parking rod. When the transmission selector lever is placed in the "p" (park) position, the transmission park mechanism, that is intended to hold your vehicle, may not engage.
Risk: The vehicle could then move/roll without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission parking rod assembly. Owner notification january 8, 2003. An interim owner notification will be sent during november 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time 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.
Transmission light over heating comes on
Valve control assembly failure. A known TSB. Disables safety features of the car. Should be a recall.
The transmission very suddenly (perfectly fine one day, bad the next) developed a severe transmission slip. Like getting rear ended feeling transmission slip. Dealership quotes the CVT control valve body.
Transmission slipped, stranded me in the middle of a road XXX. Stopped wouldnât go. Started locking down in reverse 1 month after I purchased the vehicle. XXX, my husband was backing down a road that had no turnaround. The RAB locked down, slammed so hard, the car slid six feet and the motor shut…
The contact owned a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while at a complete stop with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated without warning and crashed into a fire hydrant. While the foot was still on the brake pedal, the vehicle continued to accelerate and struck a street…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Subaru Foresters have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 556 owner complaints about power train 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 power train?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Subaru Forester?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,250 (half paid between $1,100 and $8,900), from 34 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Subaru Forester?
The most frequent phrase is “thermo control”, in 28 of 556 complaints.
Other Subaru Forester problems
- Visibility/wiper problems (1,061)
- Engine problems (827)
- Air Bags problems (817)
- Electrical System problems (797)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (532)
- Suspension problems (415)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (350)
- Service Brakes problems (273)
See all Subaru Forester problems.