Introduction
How Long Do Subaru Foresters Last?
The Forester is Subaru’s flagship compact crossover SUV, which is known for its robustness, practicality and smooth road handling.
Equipped with the Foresters 2.5L Boxer engine, plenty of cargo space and all-wheel drive as standard, it’s perfect for families, adventure seekers and seniors.
If you are interested in buying a forester then you are thinking about its longevity.
In this article, we will analyze How Long Do Subaru Foresters Last? or how many years of service the Subaru Forster can provide.
Here is the short answer to how long do Subaru Forester last:
The Subaru Forester is a durable vehicle and can travel between 200,000 miles and 250,000 miles. This means that with an average of 15,000 miles traveled each year, you can expect the forester to last 13 to 17 years. It depends on proper care and good driving habits.
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How Many Miles Can You Expect from a Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester is designed to be long-lasting. With an average lifespan of 13-17 years, it can last you a long time and is definitely considered a good long-term investment.
Of course, with exceptional care, these vehicles exceed their average capacity.
Some of the original first-generation models, which debuted in ’97, are still on the road today, while others have reached 300,000 mph, all demonstrating the Japanese carmaker’s ability to create long-lasting vehicles.
Looking at the used car market, the Jungle has been in good working order since the early 2000s, where the models more closely resembled station wagons than SUVs.
Like any vehicle, the longevity report depends on a number of factors. These are mainly maintenance, driving habits and how much the owner usually takes care of their car.
The more pressure is applied to a car’s engine, the faster the parts accumulate in debris. Take care to pull the car within the 1500-pound limit and avoid aggressive driving
To get the most out of your Subaru One:
- Get used to driving comfortably.
- Learn basic maintenance tasks such as tapping fluid and checking tire pressure.
- Keep up to date with factory scheduled maintenance.
- Should not exceed 1,500 stretch limit.
How Soon Should You Expect Rust on a Subaru Forester?
In the competitive compact crossover market, few other vehicles are also equipped to prevent corrosion, such as the Subaru Forster.
All body panels on the Forster are galvanized with zinc. Subaru maintains all of its vehicles through a number of treatment procedures to ensure corrosion prevention.
These treatments include the galvanization process, oven-treated primer coats, chip guards, and electrolyte paints.
As a result, we feel that it is not necessary to invest in ceramic coating later.
For areas affected by heavy snowfall, such as salt belt estates and areas near the sea, we recommend that you take extra precautions to reduce corrosion, primarily keeping the vehicle clean.
Salt build-up on the surfaces of vehicles is rust, and sand, dirt, and snow that accumulate moisture in wheel wells and underground structures.
To help keep the rust away, we recommend the following:
- Car wash regularly.
- Rust spray.
- Keep the interior of the vehicle dry.
- Ceramic paint protection
- Rusty treatment.
- Keep your forester in the garage.
What is High Mileage for a Subaru Forester?
Subaru Foresters with over 100,000 miles on the odometer are considered high mileage and a risky investment, although there are many factors to consider, the most important being vehicle maintenance history.
Buying a second-hand Forester with over 100km doesn’t necessarily have to be a bitter outcome.
Here are some major factors to consider:
- Amount of previous owners. As a general rule, less is better. More owners are generally more prone to more wear and tear. If a family owns it and has a car service from a distance of 100km, you can almost guarantee that they took good care of it throughout the property.
- Service History. The vehicle was properly serviced and the seller can provide proof.
- Check CarFax. This doesn’t guarantee anything but can help provide a clearer picture of wear and tear. Ensure it has negligible harm assuming any. Analyze the data to make sure something happened, it was not engine-related or mechanical.
- How long are you planning to keep the car?. If you’ve been planning on buying a car for several years, you have to ask yourself – the short-term savings are much more than spending on something more reliable.
How Long Does the Subaru Forester Last Compared to Similar Car Models?
With the growing demand for compact SUVs, the Subaru Forester offers a high level of safety and comfort features as well as light off-roading capabilities that are not usually found in vehicles of this size.
In this section, we will see how Subaru Forster compares to its competitors.
Subaru Forester vs. Toyota RAV4
Both compact SUVs offer excellent longevity, with the Toyota RAV4 on par with its Japanese counterpart, with an average lifespan of 200,000-250,000 miles.
The RAV4 is quite cheap in terms of annual maintenance cost. The difference between the two is ₹203, with the Forester and RAV4 costing $632 and $429, respectively.
Toyota wins by a considerable margin when it comes to reliability. The RAV4 is the third most reliable compact crossover on the market with a reliable score of 4.0 out of 5.0.
The Subaru Forster has a 3.5 out of 5.0 rating, and a disappointing 21 out of 26 vehicles in this segment.
The decision between Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 is based on personal preference in terms of interior styling, trim level options, and exterior design.
Subaru Forester vs Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is considered by many to be the king of compact, affordable SUVs, comparable to the expected longevity of the Subaru Forester, averaging 200,000-250,000 miles.
The Honda CR-V has an annual maintenance cost of 407, making it $225 cheaper than the Subaru Forrester’s 63 632 maintenance cost.
The Honda CR-V has surpassed the Forester in terms of reliability and is second in the compact SUV category for reliability with a score of 4.5 out of 5.
Both vehicles have a longer lifespan, have a starting price and both come with standard all-wheel drive.
The Forester has slightly better protection and a higher interior while the CR-V has better reliability and fuel economy, with both vehicles being strikingly similar and will ultimately depend on individual preferences.
Subaru Forester vs. Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 caters to drivers who are looking for a more exciting driving experience. However, in terms of longevity, it falls short of its Japanese counterpart, the Subaru Forster.
The CX-5 has an average lifespan of 200,000 miles, which is slightly less than the wilderness you’d expect if you reach between 200,000 and 250,000 miles.
The CX-5 has an annual maintenance cost of 447, making it الر 185 cheaper than the Subaru Forester’s $632 maintenance cost.
When it comes to reliability, no other compact SUV on the market is more reliable than the Mazda CX-5. With a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5, the CX-5 is the most reliable in the compact SUV category.
In addition to offering the best reliability on the market, the CX-5 also delivers higher-quality horsepower and torque than the Jungle, improved safety features, and interior technology.
Despite the expected longevity, our choice would be the Mazda, which offers a better driving experience at a slightly higher price point.
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How Reliable is a Subaru Forester?
The jungle is not particularly known for its reliability, although most ratings are more than acceptable.
Fix Paul gave the Subaru Forester a dependability rating of 3.5 out of 5.0 and positioned it 21 out of 26 for a conservative SUV, Consumer Reports gave a score of 84/100, and JD Power gave a similar score. 81/100 given.
Based on reviews from 43 owners, the Kelly BlueBook gives the Forster a reliable score of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Despite the otherwise attractive reviews, U.S. News & World Report gives Forrester 2021 a credible rating of the lowest possible forecast of two out of five.
To help improve the reliability of your vehicle, it is recommended to keep up to date with factory scheduled maintenance and adopt smooth driving habits.
The Best and Worst Years of the Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester, like many vehicles, has been part of the problem for many years, but the most significant increases were in 2014, 2015, and 2017.
According to the comprehensive database of car complaints, 2014 is Subaru Forester’s worst model year ever. Owners reported high oil consumption. The problem cost an average of 2,000 to repair and was 26,000 miles away.
Other issues found mainly in model years 2014, 2015, and 2017 include:
- distribution issues.
- Interior stuff problem.
- Electricity problem.
- Faulty suspension.
The model years with the most complaints were 2015 and 2014, with 142 and 103 complaints respectively, which we would recommend avoiding these model years if possible.
Not a single complaint has been filed so far in the current 2021 model year of the Subaru Forester, and it remains one of the safest options to look for while shopping.
Here’s a chart using car complaint statistics that break down the number of complaints made by model year.
Model Year
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
Number of Complaints
1
37
19
62
28
142
103
11
18
47
39
33
4
25
25
19
13
31
10
23
11
12
What About Recalls?
Here is the full list of recalls:
1998: 1 recalls
1999: 1 recalls
2000: 0 recalls
2001: 0 recalls
2002: 1 recalls
2003: 3 recalls
2004: 2 recalls
2005: 1 recalls
2006: 2 recalls
2007: 1 recalls
2008: 1 recalls
2009: 16 recall
2010: 15 recalls
2011: 14 recalls
2012: 13 recalls
2013: 10 recalls
2014: 3 recalls
2015: 2 recalls
2016: 3 recalls
2017: 1 recalls
2018: 2 recall
2019: 1 recall
2020: 0 recalls
2021: 0 recalls
Subaru Forester Model Year List:
There have been five ages of Forester since its commencement:
1998-2002 (1st Generation)
- 1998 Subaru Forester
- 1999 Subaru Forester
- 2000 Subaru Forester
- 2001 Subaru Forester
- 2002 Subaru Forester
2003-2008 (2nd Generation)
- 2003 Subaru Forester
- 2004 Subaru Forester
- 2005 Subaru Forester
- 2006 Subaru Forester
- 2007 Subaru Forester
- 2008 Subaru Forester
2009-2013 (3rd Generation)
- 2009 Subaru Forester
- 2010 Subaru Forester
- 2011 Subaru Forester
- 2012 Subaru Forester
- 2013 Subaru Forester
2014-2018 (4th Generation)
- 2014 Subaru Forester
- 2015 Subaru Forester
- 2016 Subaru Forester
- 2017 Subaru Forester
- 2018 Subaru Forester
2019-2021 (5th Generation)
- 2019 Subaru Forester
- 2020 Subaru Forester
- 2021 Subaru Forester
Is the Subaru Forester Expensive to Maintain?
With an estimated cost of $4,287 over a 5-year period, the Subaru Forester would cost approximately $2,632 per year to maintain, which means it has an average ownership cost.
The Forester comes with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile power train warranty.
How Long Do the Brakes Last?
Subaru Forester brake pads typically last between 30,000 and 70,000 miles.
How you drive your car, brakes will play a big role in its longevity. If you drive and go to too many stops or brake heavily, your brakes will need to be replaced frequently.
Sharp, full, and a full stop is the biggest culprit for premature brake pad wear.
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How Long Do Subaru Forester Batteries Last?
Subaru Forester batteries should last 3-5 years on average. Depending on factors such as climate, driving habits, battery type, and more, this can vary.
Here are four tips to help you prolong your Forest battery:
- Hold Your Battery Tightly: The vibration of your vehicle can loosen the contacts resulting in a short circuit and internal damage.
- Limit short rides: Fast car rides prevent the battery from being fully charged. To help preserve battery power, drive your Forester frequently and for longer periods.
- Sun: Protect your woods indoors from extreme temperature changes.
- Control rust: Wipe down the terminals (with a toothbrush dipped in a mixture of baking soda and water) and keep them clean.
How Long Do the Tires Last?
Subaru Forester tires last for 4 years, i.e. an average of 60,000 miles per year and 15,000 miles per year.
Maintaining the right tire pressure will not only keep you safe but will also extend the life of your tires. Right tire pressure usually results in a jammed driver’s door.
To make sure your tires are worn out, they should be rotated regularly as described in the owner’s manual or new tire warranty guidelines, usually every 5000-8000 miles.
How Long Does the Transmission Last?
The continuously variable transmission on the Subaru Forester is designed to last up to 300,000 miles with no options. However, larger servings can be had at around the 150,000-mile mark.
Make sure the fluid level is up and correct any problems immediately to keep the transmission running smoothly.
How Long Do Spark Plugs Last?
Subaru Forester spark plugs are built for between 30,000 – 100,000 miles before needing to be replaced.
Sparkle plugs are liable for making a flash that lights the air/fuel combination, causing a blast that makes the motor produce power.
They are usually inspected and replaced if necessary when you go in for a tune-up.
What About Insurance Cost?
According to Finder, the average insurance cost for a Subaru Forester is $112 per month or $1,346 per year.
Insurance costs can vary from person to person. Make certain to look around to track down the most ideal arrangement.
Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Subaru Forester
- Keep up to date with factory scheduled maintenance.
- Keep fluids high and check fluid levels regularly.
- Drive smoothly, use controlled acceleration and brakes.
- Check your tire pressure regularly.
- Check engine oil every two weeks.
- If possible, keep the car in the garage, away from the elements.
- Use good quality parts and fluids.
- Invest in a ceramic coating to prevent contamination and minor scratches.
- Consider all options to avoid corrosion.
- Wash the car regularly, especially when exposed to salt and ice.
- Verify the weight of items before using them, do not overload your vehicle.
We hope you find our informational article of How Long Do Subaru Foresters Last? Check out more article about best tires, how to & more.
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