Subaru Problems

The Subaru Outback has a hard-won reputation for family-focused practicality blended with all-wheel drive light off-road ability. We help you decide if it's a solid used car bet.

The Forester has definitely been a winner for Subaru in Australia. Often the brand’s best-selling model year to year, the Forester’s magic is that it blurs the line between a conventional station wagon and the now ubiquitous SUV. In that process, the Forester has built up a huge following of devoted fans who can see the logic and practicality in the overall design. For 2013, Subaru gave us the fourth-gen Forester, or SJ model as it’s known internally. The same packaging remained as before, although the SJ model was a little longer, higher and had more wheelbase than the previous gen, but the new car was only 1mm wider, maintaining its appeal to inner-city dwellers who didn’t need or want a bigger Subaru (there was the Outback for that, anyway). The range kicked off with the 2.0i and 2.0i-L which used a 2.0-litre engine with 110kW and a six-speed manual transmission. The next step up the model ladder was to the 2.5i, 2.5i-L and the 2.5i-S, all of which were fitted with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 126kW and a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). There was also a turbo-diesel option in this generation, dubbed 2.0D, 2.0D-L and 2.0D-S, which had a bit less power at 108kW and was six-speed manual only. Finally, there was the big talking point, the XT and XT Premium, which were fitted with a 2.0-litre, 177kW turbocharged petrol engine and a CVT. That all sounds pretty complex, but what it meant was that there were basically three trim levels and four drivelines from which to choose. And either way, you got that boxy but practical wagon body, slightly jacked-up suspension and Subaru’s trademark all-wheel drive. That changed a bit for the Series 2 version of the Forester SJ, with Subaru taking the opportunity to simplify the model range and sneak an uprated turbo-diesel engine on to the market. The simplification took the form of dumping the previous base models (2.0i, 2.0D and 2.5i). The diesel upgrade came with new technology and construction for better performance and efficiency, but it remained a manual-only proposition, blunting its market appeal somewhat. Finally, a Series 3 version of the SJ Forester arrived in 2016, with a slight facelift and some subtle changes to the interior. Revised damping rates and improved steering were also part of the upgrade.

Subaru’s Forester is one of the brand’s most important models. In fact, based purely on sales, it’s Subaru’s number-one seller, but it’s also a model that has helped bring new buyers to Subaru showrooms. And it’s been doing that for almost three decades. The model we’re looking at here is the 'SK' model, or fifth-gen version, sold here from 2018 to 2025 when it was replaced by the all-new sixth-gen. Gone was the turbocharged Forester XT option, and every member of the SK family (apart from the hybrid variant) was powered by the then-familiar 'FB' series of engines measuring 2.5 litres. The model line-up started with the base-model 2.5i, then moved to the 2.5i-L, then the 2.5i Premium and finally the 2.5i-S. The differences were in the level of standard equipment and safety gear, because mechanically, they were the same including the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and Subaru’s trademark all-wheel drive platform. The 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid was the odd one out, with less power and performance and a slight fuel economy advantage if you could be bothered.   Is Subaru Forester a good car? The beauty of the Forester is that it combines all the good bits of an SUV (higher ride height, ease of access and all-wheel drive grip) with the convenience and practicality of a conventional station-wagon. The car could have been one big compromise, but never has been and those who bought one often pony up for a second or third Forester as the years pass. That’s how good the basic premise is. While it’s not an off-roader by any stretch, the Forester’s all-wheel drive and slightly better ground clearance give it great gravel-road abilities. This is part of the reason first responders such as country fire authorities and regional patient transport services absolutely love the Forester (and its Outback big brother). That all-wheel drive platform also infers a decent degree of safety, and that’s paired with a knee airbag and side-curtain airbags in every variant, as well as autonomous emergency braking (AEB), and Subaru’s 'Eyesight' safety aids including blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance and rear cross-traffic alert. That makes for a better-than-average safety deal and, in turn, makes the Forester a good choice for younger drivers who still need a decently sized wagon body.   Subaru Forester reliability Many other manufacturers would kill for a reliability record and reputation to match Subaru’s. And while the Forester is not perfect, most owners seem to have a pretty good run with their Subarus, including the ability to turn the odometer past that expected of the opposition. The one proviso is the vehicle has been serviced absolutely by the book. The Subaru engine has lots of small oilways which can become clogged if the oil isn’t kept fresh and clean. Details like the condition of the rubber boots on the four driveshafts are crucial, too, so they’re not exactly maintenance-free. Then again, neither is any other car. The lack of a turbocharger on the Forester helps keeps things simple and unstressed and that’s always good for reliability. The hybrid’s more complex petrol-electric driveline imposes a few more complexities and EV battery-life can be a concern. A pre-purchase check of the EV battery pack is a good idea.   Subaru Forester problems The bad old days of head gasket failures in Subaru engines were, unless you were really unlucky, a thing of the past by the time this model rolled around. The engine also uses life-of-engine timing chains instead of a rubber belt that needs periodic replacement. Early versions of the FB (Subaru’s in-house code-name) were sometimes guilty of excess oil consumption which was usually traced to either a poor Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve design or faulty piston rings. The good news is these issues had been addressed by the 2015 model-year, so a 2018 or later Forester shouldn’t be affected. We’d still check the car’s service history, however. Although CVTs have a somewhat less than stellar reputation in the trade, the Subaru unit has proven itself to be less troublesome than other brands. Some owners have complained about a jerkiness in the CVT in traffic and at low speeds, however. Beyond that, the big thing to watch for is the sort of trim and exterior damage often inflicted in the normal course of family-car duties. Car park dings should be easy to spot, milky drinks spilled between the seat cushions less so.   Subaru Forester recall The SK Forester has a pretty clean rap sheet when it comes to safety recalls. Some cars built in 2019 were recalled to replace a Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve that could fail, and another batch of cars made between 2017 and 2020 were recalled to check the integrity of the bolts holding the rear stabiliser bar. A batch of cars built in 2018 and 2019 was recalled for a potential fuel pump failure that could stop the car in its tracks and some MY2023 cars were also recalled to check for faulty front driveshafts. You can find out more about these recalls by contacting a Subaru dealer and providing the car’s VIN, or online at www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/.     Subaru Forester years to avoid No one year is better than any other in the fifth-gen Forester, so buy on service history, kilometres and condition rather than build-year. But the one version we probably wouldn’t bother with is the hybrid. Frankly, it feels underpowered to drive and the extra complexity of the hybrid platform just isn’t borne out by the small fuel economy gain. Truth is, this is a mild-hybrid rather than a meaningful one and we’d go for the upmarket, conventional-driveline Forester with more standard equipment for the same money.   Subaru Forester how many kilometres Subarus tend to keep on keeping on and the SK appears to continue that tradition. Search online, and you’ll find plenty of SK Foresters for sale with 250,000km or more showing, still with life left in them. Again however, this promise of useful life remaining is entirely dependent on that service record being intact and complete.     Subaru Forester best model Since there’s less price difference between the base model and the upmarket versions now than when they were brand new, the temptation today is to opt for a fully-equipped model and enjoy the luxe bits for not much more money. Since there’s no real mechanical differences between the various non-hybrid versions that advice holds true and, at the same time, gets you into a car with more standard safety kit. That said, every SK Forester had all-wheel drive, seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and Subaru’s 'Eyesight' safety cameras, so even the base-model is hardly lacking.     Subaru Forester resale value Prices for high-milers start at the mid-teens or even a bit less, but there’s probably better value to be had with an example with closer to 150,000km (or less) on board for around the high-teens or $20,000 mark. There’s also good value to be had by spending a closer to the high-20s or even $30,000 and looking for a later model Forester with around 50,000km showing on the odometer. At which point, you should be buying a car that will last the next decade or even more.   Subaru Forester parts Subaru has about 120 accredited service centres across Australia, the vast majority of which are also dealerships. But a good independent workshop should be able to tackle pretty much any job on what is, after all, a fairly conventional car. Even the CVT shouldn’t trouble a transmission specialist. Parts are readily available from traditional outlets as well as an army of online sellers. Just be careful buying from offshore online sites you don’t know.   Subaru Forester sales The success of the Forester as a best-selling model for Subaru in Australia, means there are lots of them out there. In 2025 alone Subaru sold more than 15,000 Foresters so the car is well understood and in plentiful supply. In fact, a quick online check reveals there are literally thousands of Foresters for sale right now, many of them the SK model.