Is the Subaru Forester reliable?
51% of the 40 we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, with an average of 56/100 — it scores a little below average.
40
Cars inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections56/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/10051%
In good shape (60+)all cars we check: 56%Across 40 used Subaru Foresters we inspected, this model scores a little below average — average condition 56/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.
What we found
Most common faults
Oil leaks · Engine
70%
Cracked or torn suspension bushings · Suspension
48%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
30%
Signs of recent repair · Engine
25%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
23%
Share of inspected Subaru Foresters where each item was flagged.
How they score
Excellent 18%
Good 33%
Mediocre 25%
Poor 25%
Hidden history
What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on this model.
68%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
3%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
35%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 23%
How long does a Forester stay good?
Good cars by mileage
Share of Subaru Foresters in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.
More on Subaru
Other Subaru models we've inspected — or see the full Subaru profile.
Straight from recent Subaru Forester reports
2015 Subaru Forester · 147k mi — flagged: abnormal noise, oil leaks, fault codes recently cleared. Inspected Aug 18.
2013 Subaru Forester · 142k mi — flagged: abnormal noise, smoke, excessive vapor in exhaust, low coolant / cooling system issues. Inspected Aug 7.
The bottom line
These Foresters tend to show their wear in the engine bay more than anywhere else. Oil leaks show up on most of them and cooling-system problems plus recent repair marks are common enough that you should treat every example as a potential money pit until proven otherwise. The elevated rate of cleared codes only adds to the suspicion that sellers are covering tracks. Start your inspection by crawling underneath for fresh oil drips and checking coolant level and condition, then poke at the suspension bushings. If either the leaks or the wiped codes are present, use that to knock the price down or just keep walking.
FAQ
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What are the most common problems on a used Subaru Forester?
The items we flag most often are oil leaks (70%), cracked or torn suspension bushings (48%), low coolant / cooling system issues (30%). Have these checked before buying.
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Should I worry about cleared fault codes?
On 35% of these cars the ECU codes had been erased shortly before sale, which can hide active faults. Ask for a diagnostic scan and start the engine from cold.
Thinking of buying a Subaru Forester? Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 40 inspections · updated Aug 22, 2026
