5.3

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,000
Average Mileage:
55,950 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (2 reports)
  2. dipstick tube "o" ring replaced (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Subaru dealer.

problem #3

Dec 012023

Forester X Premium 2.5L

  • Manual transmission
  • 80,000 miles

Just like previous posts - Cam carrier leaks. This requires the engine to be removed. My independent mechanic says that they have seen quite a number of these. Subaru uses poor quality seals and does not use real gaskets - rather, they use silicone sealant around the valve covers and timing cover that dries up after a few years causing more leaks. I wonder what account made this decision to save a few bucks by not using high quality seals/gaskets, but jeopardize future sales and ruin long-term customer loyalty? A pity since my wife and I really like the vehicle otherwise.

- Gary L., Springfield, VA, US

problem #2

Mar 182015

Forester 2.5 Limted V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

My wife and I currently own a 2011 Subaru Forester we purchased new from Hatfield Subaru in Columbus, Ohio. We have always had it serviced at Byers Dublin Subaru in Columbus Ohio. At the 25,000 mile mark both head gaskets were leaking so the mechanics at Byers pulled the motor and replaced them. Just recently at the 33,000 mile mark i brought in my vehicle to Byers for my 30,000 maintenance check also complaining of a strange noise. They informed me the head gasket was leaking again and the noise we heard was the transmission running low on fluid. They again pulled the motor and made repairs, However, when placing the motor back in the car a strange noise developed in the engine, they again pulled the motor adjusting the tensioning on the timing chain yet the noise was still present. They then contacted Subaru technical support asking for assistance. They are currently pulling the motor for the fourth time with the intention on replacing the cylinder heads and cam shaft.

Up until now i have been in contact with both dealerships expressing my concerns. I have also spoken with customer service, a supervisor, and a manager at Subaru of America. The manager at Subaru headquarters said they could only offer me 2500.00 towards the purchase of a new vehicle The manager at Hatfield where I purchased my vehicle from passed me off to a sales associate who only wanted to sell me a new Subaru at full price to meet his end of the month February sales quota. The manager at Byers where my car is being serviced has been less then forth coming as to the true status of my vehicle and i have not heard from him as to the status of my vehicle as promised in the last four business days.

What concerns me the most is my wife and I now own a Subaru with a long list of engine problems so early in its life and a transmission which has been exposed to wear by fluid loss and after June of 2017 we have no warranty. We worked very hard paying off this vehicle early with every intention of keeping it for at least the next ten years, This was our first new car purchase and we chose Subaru because its incredible record of reliability. The current trade in value for this vehicle is 14,500 and we cannot afford to take out another loan for 10-14 thousand dollars to get the same style of Subaru we just paid off. We paid in full for a Subaru because of its name, we always had it serviced at your dealerships,and i feel we are being punished for a rare flaw which required them to pull the engine so early in its life and thus creating more problems with the engine and transmission by trying to put it back together, It is not a matter of if this vehicle will have more problems in the near future it is a matter of when and i refuse to put my wife and two children back in this Subaru wondering when the next big mechanical failure might occur, one which we cannot afford.

- Mike T., Columbus, US

problem #1

Oct 292015

Forester Premium 2.5x

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,760 miles

oil leak near front cover exhaust manifold

Oil leak AGAIN. That dealership has lazy &/or stupid techs.

- izzyb, Glenwood, IA, US