Subaru Forester ReliabilityAll Years Ranked (1998–2025)
Side-by-side KeepScores, risk levels, and owner-cost projections for every Subaru Forester we've analyzed. Identify the best years to buy, the ones to avoid, and the problems that follow the Forester across generations.
Average KeepScore
80/100
Best Year
2019 Subaru Forester
Score 88
Weakest Year
1998 Subaru Forester
Score 62
Every Subaru Forester Ranked
Sorted by KeepScore. Each link opens the full year-specific report.
A top-tier compact SUV choice offering exceptional all-weather capability and safety with minimal major reliability concerns.
Top risks: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) · Electrical / Infotainment (Starlink) · Suspension Components
A top-tier choice for safety and all-weather capability, provided you adhere to its specific maintenance schedule and address minor tech quirks.
Top risks: Infotainment System · Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) · 12V Battery / Electrical
A highly capable and safe SUV, the 2021 Forester delivers reliable performance when its specific maintenance needs, particularly the CVT, are diligently met.
Top risks: Transmission (CVT) · Catalytic Converter · Electrical/Infotainment System
A supremely dependable and safe compact SUV that excels in everyday practicality and retains strong value.
Top risks: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) · Engine Oil Consumption · Suspension Components (Bushings/Bearings)
A reliable, safe, and capable choice that leverages Subaru's strong heritage, with minor first-year new-model uncertainties.
Top risks: Infotainment System · Engine Minor Oil Consumption · Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) Maintenance
A top-tier choice for reliability, safety, and all-weather capability, provided the CVT is properly maintained.
Top risks: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) · Electrical / Infotainment System · Air Conditioning (AC) System
A highly dependable and safe compact SUV that truly embodies the Subaru promise of rugged reliability.
Top risks: Infotainment System · A/C Compressor/System · 12V Battery Life
A highly capable all-weather companion, but budget for crucial engine maintenance to ensure long-term value.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets · Timing Belt and Water Pump · Catalytic Converter
A safe and capable compact SUV, but the CVT demands careful consideration and service history verification.
Top risks: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) · Wheel Bearings · Oil Consumption (FB25 Engine)
A capable and safe SUV with outstanding AWD, but one that demands careful scrutiny of its powertrain's maintenance history.
Top risks: CVT Transmission · Engine Oil Consumption · Wheel Bearings
A highly capable and safe compact SUV that demands proactive oil level checks and strict CVT maintenance to ensure long-term reliability.
Top risks: Engine Oil Consumption · Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) · HVAC/AC System
A practical and capable SUV, but requires careful vetting of its critical powertrain components.
Top risks: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) · Engine Oil Consumption · Electrical/Infotainment System
A highly capable and versatile AWD wagon that demands vigilant engine maintenance to truly thrive.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets · Timing Belt & Water Pump · Rear Suspension/Subframe Rust
A highly capable and practical small SUV, but demands a thorough pre-purchase inspection and a budget for anticipated engine maintenance.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets · Rust and Corrosion · Power Steering System
A highly capable and practical compact SUV, but its known engine weaknesses demand careful pre-purchase scrutiny.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets · Timing Belt & Water Pump · Front Wheel Bearings & Suspension Bushings
A highly capable AWD vehicle, but potential buyers must be vigilant about engine maintenance history and undercarriage condition.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets · Emissions System (Catalytic Converter) · Rust & Corrosion
A capable and practical AWD wagon, but its infamous head gaskets demand careful consideration.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets · Rust and Corrosion · Oxygen Sensors / Catalytic Converter
A highly capable AWD compact SUV that requires diligent maintenance and a thorough pre-purchase inspection to be a reliable long-term partner.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets (EJ253) · Timing Belt System · Underbody Rust/Corrosion
A highly capable AWD compact SUV, but requires careful scrutiny of its engine history and ongoing maintenance.
Top risks: Engine (EJ25 Series Head Gaskets) · Exhaust System & Emissions · Wheel Bearings
A capable and safe crossover, but its core engine design presents notable long-term ownership risks.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets (NA 2.5L) · A/C Compressor · Suspension Components
A practical AWD workhorse, but its engine demands careful attention and a contingency fund.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets · Engine Oil Consumption · Front Wheel Bearings
A capable SUV with a few significant caveats that demand careful pre-purchase inspection and ongoing vigilance.
Top risks: Engine Oil Consumption (FB25) · A/C System Failure · Rear Suspension Components
A practical and capable SUV, but its known engine and transmission weaknesses demand careful vetting.
Top risks: Engine Oil Consumption · CVT Transmission Failure · Wheel Bearings
A practical and safe SUV with all-weather prowess, but its CVT can be a significant long-term gamble.
Top risks: Lineartronic CVT Transmission · Engine Oil Consumption · Electrical System & Sensors
A practical AWD companion, but one that requires careful scrutiny of its engine health to be a truly reliable partner.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets · Engine Oil Consumption · Catalytic Converter
A rugged, capable AWD vehicle with a known engine Achilles' heel that demands proactive attention.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets · Timing Belt System · Rear Wheel Bearings
A rugged all-wheel-drive workhorse that can be remarkably durable, but only if its critical engine maintenance and known gasket issues are meticulously addressed.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets · Timing Belt System · Suspension & Undercarriage Rust
A rugged all-weather champion, but only if its engine's notorious flaw has been expertly addressed.
Top risks: Engine Head Gaskets · Rust and Corrosion · Electrical / Sensors
Problems That Follow the Forester Across Generations
Issues that appear in the top-3 risks across multiple model years — the cost of ownership you can actually predict.
Engine Head Gaskets
Appears in 11 model years · 39% of generations
Engine Oil Consumption
Appears in 8 model years · 29% of generations
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Appears in 7 model years · 25% of generations
Wheel Bearings
Appears in 4 model years · 14% of generations
Rust and Corrosion
Appears in 3 model years · 11% of generations
Timing Belt System
Appears in 3 model years · 11% of generations
Catalytic Converter
Appears in 3 model years · 11% of generations
Infotainment System
Appears in 3 model years · 11% of generations
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