Best And Worst Years for Subaru Forester (2024 Updated)
Last updated on September 10th, 2024 at 10:30 pm
With the Forester, Subaru has joined the crowded market for small SUVs. It has a strong reputation as an outdoor vehicle for daredevils because it has many useful features, a good powertrain, and respectable gas mileage.
In 1997, Subaru came out with the Forester, a small crossover SUV. It was the first car to combine all-wheel drive with a boxer engine because people wanted it to work well in the winter and all year round. The Forester is priced like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, the best-selling vehicles in its class.
Subaru is thought of as a reliable car company by most people. Even though the design choices made by the company have been criticized, few customers have complained about how reliable the product is. By reading, you can find out which years were the best and worst years for Subaru Forester.
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The Best Years For The Subaru Forester
One of Subaru’s best-selling crossovers is the Forester SUV. The Forester is widely regarded as one of the most trustworthy SUVs in 2021, both in terms of user feedback and the solid ratings provided by Consumer Reports.
You may still enjoy the great performance and elegance of the Subaru Forester without breaking the bank by purchasing a used or pre-owned model.
Subaru SUVs may be had in one of five different Forester trim levels: Forester (the entry-level), Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring.
Subaru cars are built to provide maximum occupant protection, driving dynamics, utility, and reliability. Listed below are the best years for subaru forester.
2005
Even the oldest SUVs may work well today. If you’re looking for a great first car for your kids or a second car, the 2005 Subaru Forester is a great choice. In 2005, cars came out with electronic throttle control.
These best years for subaru forester has a tough exterior and interior, but those are just two of its many strengths. After all, it’s made to last! Even though it’s about 20 years old, the engine is so good that you’ll enjoy driving it daily. The Forester is fun to drive in any weather or on any type of road.
2006
The 2006 Subaru Forester is another option to think about. It’s a year newer than the 2005 model, but it’s a lot like it in other ways.
The 2.5L engine under the hood of this crossover is a good one that will make driving easy. This model has safety features like anti-lock brakes (ABS) and airbags.
The subaru forester reliability by year got high marks because many thought its interior looked and felt very high-end. This car is in a class by itself because it has leather seats and a big trunk. There is plenty of room in the seats to stretch out and relax.
2007
Even though modern Foresters have a good reputation for being reliable, it’s important to remember that some older models are still fan favorites. Take the year 2007 as an example. This is the best choice for people who have less money to spend.
The 2.5-liter inline-five engine under the hood gives the car great speed and handling. Even though the 2007 Subaru Forester is getting on in age, the inside is still pretty good.
The best years for subaru forester only use high-quality parts. Many of you will also like that there is a lot of room to store things.
2008
Even though the design is old, that doesn’t mean it can’t still work well. The fact that the Subaru Forester, which came out in 2008, is still being made strongly indicates this. A lot of people think this is the best Forester ever made.
The 2.5-liter engine performed very well. Another selling point is that the SUV uses little gas.
Even though the model is old, the inside is both strong and nice to look at. The leather upholstery helped the car look like it was very expensive. Without a doubt, the 2008 Forester is the best one on the market right now.
2010
Want to avoid buying a model that is no longer made? The 2010 Subaru Forester in the middle is a good candidate for this list. The only real problem with this model was that it used a lot of gas. It still works well.
The most recent model, from 2010, does very well on the road. Because it still has a 2.5L engine, this option is great for families. People have always thought that the insides of Subaru cars are very nice. This subaru forester reliability by year design has been popular for ten years and shows no sign of stopping.
The built-in speakers could be better for people who like to listen to music. Other than that, the model is interesting.
2012
The 2012 Forester is the best years for subaru forester if you’re looking for a used vehicle that won’t break the bank but isn’t too outdated. The turbocharged models provide a feeling unlike any other behind the wheel. Antilock brakes, front, and side airbags are just a few of the superb safety features available on these vehicles.
2013
If you are on a tight budget but don’t want to buy an old car, the 2013 Subaru Forester is a great choice. One of its best qualities is that it performs so well. Any of the turbocharged models will be a lot of fun to drive.
When this was written, the model was about ten years old but had great safety features. It has advanced safety features like antilock brakes and front and side airbags to keep you safe in an accident.
2020
The 2020 Subaru Forester is a great choice if you want to buy a new SUV. No matter which version you choose, this model is a safe bet to make people happy.
The 2020 Forester is one of the newest cars on the market, so it has modern features like an easy-to-use infotainment system and adaptive cruise control.
This model doesn’t have a very interesting ride, but the inside is nice. The cabin is very far away from other places. There won’t be any noise from the road nearby.
2021
The 2021 Subaru Forester is the best choice if you want a more modern SUV. Almost everything about the 2021 version is the same as the 2008 version.
This car can be driven on any surface because it has all-wheel drive. The maker has also put in a high-quality, easy-to-use system for entertainment for this subaru forester reliability by year.
Compared to other SUVs, this one gets a lot of miles per gallon. If you can get up to 29 mpg, you’ll need to go to the gas station a lot less. This SUV has five seats, and all of them are very comfortable.
2022
New Forester models consistently rank well, with 2022 being one of the greatest years for Foresters. Its reworked, boxy shape is great for people who value form above function.
The ride quality in the best years for subaru forester is enjoyable and refined, and it is a dependable SUV that gets good gas efficiency for its class. Edmunds gives the 2022 Forester 4.6 stars out of 5, while JD Power gives it 84 out of 100.
The Worst Years For The Subaru Forester
Now that I’ve discussed all the important years, it seems fair to discuss the models you should avoid.
Listed below are the worst years for subaru forester:
2009
The last car to cut is the 2009 Subaru Forester. This SUV was above average in both quality and dependability.
The car had engine trouble, but other than that, it ran well. If you want a car from this group, you don’t have to look further than the 2009 Forester.
Most of the owners of these worst years for subaru forester complained about major engine problems, like the engine breaking down or the head gaskets leaking. A few people said the engine used too much oil, but the problem wasn’t big.
2011
The 2011 Subaru Forester wasn’t a car you could count on. The engine and brakes were not working well, but the electrical system and gearbox were not as bad.
Oil is used up very quickly by the SUV. Users could tell because there was a strong smell of burning oil. The engine in this SUV often broke down without warning, causing terrible crashes.
Even though it is harder to drive, the 2011 version is still worth looking at. Strangely, when the brakes were used on this model, it tended to speed up. This could lead to another terrible thing happening.
2014
Most of the problems that plagued the 2014 Subaru Forester were also present in 2015.
There were many things wrong with it, like the engine and the suspension. There were engine problems that were the same as in the 2015 model. It would quickly run out of oil, and the engine would stop working. Many people have said that this model is hard to keep in good shape.
But the 2014 Forester also had trouble with its transmission. There was a chance that the springs would break. At very high speeds, the car was also said to shake. Several model owners also said the fuse would blow out of the blue.
2015
Even though it came out in 2015, the Subaru Forester is the worst crossover on the market.
This year, many people had trouble with their engines or transmissions. Unlucky car owners said their problems included using more oil and stopping their engines running.
That’s just the start of all the problems that must be fixed. Several drivers said that the gearbox kept slipping. Everything about this plan is doomed to fail. Several owners of this model had major electrical problems, like the engine not starting and the batteries dying quickly.
2016
In 2016, the Subaru Forester’s engine broke down several times. Many business owners were angry about these problems. One strange thing about the engine was that it just wouldn’t speed up. Even the first idle at startup was pretty bad.
These worst years for subaru forester is the only one of Subaru’s that had problems with the paint. The exterior wasn’t done well, and some parts were a different color than others.
The crossover was a pain to own because the electrical and transmission systems had small problems.
2017
Some newer types, on the other hand, should not be used. The 2017 Forester is another Subaru car you should stay away from. This car’s three systems didn’t work.
At high speeds, people thought the crossover shook and shook, which was a big turnoff. As was already said, the engine would stop running at high speeds.
Another worry was that too much oil was being used. Also, the air conditioner wouldn’t work, so a costly repair was needed.
2018
We’re at the point where these cars could work, but it’s not a good idea.
The 2018 model year Forester SUV from Subaru was a good car. This was the last model of the fourth generation before the much-maligned 2019 model came out. The windshield on this model broke at the worst times, which was a major safety issue.
Another area for improvement of this model was that the GPS software that came with it had not been updated. So, it needs to show the most up-to-date changes to the maps.
A lot of people got lost because of it. Several people said that their Bluetooth had stopped working. The worst years for subaru forester are bothersome and can be fixed, but they make life harder.
2019
When a new generation of a car comes out, its first year on the market is often not a good one. The 2019 Subaru Forester was definitely like this.
This SUV had a lot of serious problems. Because of a bug, the navigation and phone features of the infotainment system would not work.
The electric system in the worst years for subaru forester is also broken. Customers were often unhappy because the batteries didn’t last as long as they wanted. Also, the functions for staying in your lane and keeping you safe would not work.
FAQs About Best & Worst Subaru Forester Years
Which generation Forester is the best?
Consumer Reports recommends the 2023 and 2022 Subaru Foresters as the most reliable used Foresters to buy.
What is the best year of a Subaru Forester to buy used?
The best model years to look for when shopping for a used Subaru Forester are 2012 and 2013. They are from the third generation of the Forester when Subaru first installed the FB25B engine, which became synonymous with the model’s greater dependability and quality.
What is the most reliable Subaru?
With almost all of its small SUVs remaining on the road ten years after being first introduced, the Subaru Forester is a close second to the Outback. Next longest-lasting is Subaru’s tiny Impreza sedan and hatchback, as well as the Legacy sedan.
What is the lifespan of a Subaru Forester?
If you take excellent care of your Subaru Forester, it may endure for up to 250,000 miles. Based on an annual mileage estimate of 15,000 miles, the lifespan of a Subaru Forester is estimated to be anywhere from 13 to 17 years.
What are the main problems with Subaru Forester?
Subaru Forester sport utility vehicles have a near-perfect dependability rating but a few quirks.
CarComplaints found that overall complaints decreased for the 2016 and 2018 models. Among the concerns were engine troubles, gearbox issues, and high oil use.
Other frequent customer concerns about seatbelts and airbags include the airbag light coming on and the airbag itself not deploying. These problems often manifest around the 60,000-mile mark and are assessed as a 3 out of 10 in severity.
Conclusion
The maxim says, “If you’re going to spend money, you may as well spend all of it.” A 2024 Subaru Forester is a good choice if your budget is over $26,000.
However, there are still Foresters from the year 2022 available for purchase. Buying a car that is one or two model years old is fine if you want to save money on a new car.
For the reasons stated above, we advise against buying a used Subaru Forester manufactured in 1998-2001, 2003, 2010-2011, or 2014-2015; nevertheless, if you are set on buying a used Subaru Forester, we suggest avoiding these specific years. In this article, we have listed above the best and worst years for subaru forester.
Remember that your Forester’s engine has a maximum lifetime of 250,000 kilometers, even with regular maintenance. You may do a better job of maintaining a brand-new Forester than an older one if you want to avoid taking on the difficulties caused by previous owners who may or may not have cared much about their vehicle.
