9.7

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$6,500
Average Mileage:
99,000 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace transmission (4 reports)
  2. fixed (1 reports)
  3. not sure (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Subaru dealer.

problem #6

Feb 102017

Forester Premium 2.5i

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

THE CAR WAS STALLING AND SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. GOT IN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR WHILE STILL IN THE 100K WARRANTY. AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS 3 YEARS OLD AT 2017. ONCE I PASSED 100K SAME PROBLEM OCCURED IN 2019, TOOK IT TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD I'VE PASSED THE 100K WARRANTY AND HAVE TO FIX OUT OF POCKET. AT 106K I REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS AT 40K. NOW AT 167K I'M GETTING ALL LIGHT ON INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE. SINCE "NEW" TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN 2019 THE CAR HAS BEEN BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY. TOOK TO SUBARU FOR DIAGNOSTICK MANY TIMES, THEY COUDLN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, AND AT SOME POINT TRIED TO TELL ME I HAVE A CRACK IN THE SHORT BLOCK OF THE ENGINE AND THAT'S WHY. THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE STARTER. NOW OUT OF A SUDDEN I GET ALL LIGHTS ON. DIAGNOSTICK CODES SHOW TRANSMISSION ISSUES. P0700 AND P2764. I NEED HELP. A SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILS AT AROUND 100K. IS SUBARU BUILT TO LAST ONLY THAT???

- Annie R., Hyannis, MA, US

problem #5

Jul 152019

Forester Premium 2.5i

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,000 miles

THE CAR WAS STALLING AND SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. GOT IN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR WHILE STILL IN THE 100K WARRANTY. AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS 3 YEARS OLD AT 2017. ONCE I PASSED 100K SAME PROBLEM OCCURED IN 2019, TOOK IT TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD I'VE PASSED THE 100K WARRANTY AND HAVE TO FIX OUT OF POCKET. AT 106K I REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS AT 40K. NOW AT 167K I'M GETTING ALL LIGHT ON INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE. SINCE "NEW" TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN 2019 THE CAR HAS BEEN BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY. TOOK TO SUBARU FOR DIAGNOSTICK MANY TIMES, THEY COUDLN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, AND AT SOME POINT TRIED TO TELL ME I HAVE A CRACK IN THE SHORT BLOCK OF THE ENGINE AND THAT'S WHY. THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE STARTER. NOW OUT OF A SUDDEN I GET ALL LIGHTS ON. DIAGNOSTICK CODES SHOW TRANSMISSION ISSUES. P0700 AND P2764. I NEED HELP. A SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILS AT AROUND 100K. IS SUBARU BUILT TO LAST ONLY THAT???

- Annie R., Hyannis, MA, US

problem #4

Jan 192024

Forester Premium 2.5i

  • Automatic transmission
  • 166,585 miles

THE CAR WAS STALLING AND SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. GOT IN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR WHILE STILL IN THE 100K WARRANTY. AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS 3 YEARS OLD AT 2017. ONCE I PASSED 100K SAME PROBLEM OCCURED IN 2019, TOOK IT TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD I'VE PASSED THE 100K WARRANTY AND HAVE TO FIX OUT OF POCKET. AT 106K I REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS AT 40K. NOW AT 167K I'M GETTING ALL LIGHT ON INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE. SINCE "NEW" TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN 2019 THE CAR HAS BEEN BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY. TOOK TO SUBARU FOR DIAGNOSTICK MANY TIMES, THEY COUDLN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, AND AT SOME POINT TRIED TO TELL ME I HAVE A CRACK IN THE SHORT BLOCK OF THE ENGINE AND THAT'S WHY. THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE STARTER. NOW OUT OF A SUDDEN I GET ALL LIGHTS ON. DIAGNOSTICK CODES SHOW TRANSMISSION ISSUES. P0700 AND P2764. I NEED HELP. A SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILS AT AROUND 100K. IS SUBARU BUILT TO LAST ONLY THAT???

- Annie R., Hyannis, MA, US

problem #3

Oct 202022

Forester Limited

  • CVT transmission
  • 107,819 miles

This alone is a reason to RUN, don't walk, away from Subaru Forester's from the era; certainly any over 100K miles, unless you enjoy the prison shower experience. Yet another crap design and known fault by Subaru and ZERO support from both dealer and company. This along with excessive oil consumption, should have been a recall. Instead only a bulletin was put out, with an extended warranty to 100k or time. Only way the owner will know, if they have a transmission issue or if they are overly diligent due to not trusting a company to do the right thing by it's customers.

- James B., Duluth, US

problem #2

Mar 172019

Forester

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,500 miles

I bought a certified pre-owned Forester with 18,000 miles. Took it to the dealer for 30,000 service. All was good (except $500 service charge for diagnosis and fluid change), nothing showed up. 2 weeks later, while 400 miles from home, the transmission suddenly blew and needed to be replaced immediately. Subaru was good about it, replaced the tranny, paid for rental to get home and towed my car back to NYC (home), even sent me a car vac as a present. But man, the tranny broke at 30k, and 500 miles after a complete service? Not cool.

- torbey, New York, US

problem #1

Jul 302015

Forester 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,000 miles

This happened in Feb. 2015. 30,000 miles later and it is happening again (July 30,2015). The car goes thru oil one quart every 700 miles. They said that's normal they burn oil. It is very expensive because it is synthetic oil. This has been happening since I bought car new June 2014.

Update from Sep 9, 2015: on July 30, 2015 got rental. Told could not locate new transmission. On Sept 8, 2015 call told prime Subaru rental needs oil change. Told transmission in and my car ready. Not sure of cost yet

- Jan L., nashua, NH, US