2013 Subaru FORESTER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Subaru FORESTER has 94 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: my car has been consuming excessive amounts of oil since i have been made aware of the problem in april of 2014 by independent mechanics. at that oil change i had about a quart of synthetic left after only 4500 miles. i took it in early because the car was riding rough and that was when they disco. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 15 crash reports 15 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

26 complaints

28%

• MY CAR HAS BEEN CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL SINCE I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN APRIL OF 2014 BY INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. AT THAT OIL CHANGE I HAD ABOUT A QUART OF SYNTHETIC LEFT AFTER ONLY 4500 MILES. I TOOK IT IN EARLY BECAUSE THE CAR WAS RIDING ROUGH AND THAT WAS WHEN THEY DISCO
• 2013 SUBARU FORESTER - CONSTANTLY BURNING OIL. NEEDS TO BE REPLENISHED OFTEN. *JS
• IN JUNE WHILE DRIVING TO LA FROM YOSEMITE, MY OIL LIGHT BEGAN FLICKERING, ENGINE HAD ABOUT 46K, THEN CAME ON AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING FROM SAN DIEGO TO LA. SUBARU TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY OIL SWITCH. REPLACED WITH AUTOZONE PS309. DROVE FROM DENVER TO BISMARCK ND TO DRIVE MY COUSINS KID WITH A TUMOR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“MY CAR HAS BEEN CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL SINCE I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN APRIL OF 2014 BY INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. AT THAT OIL CHANGE I HAD ABOUT A QUART OF SYNTHETIC LEFT AFTER ONLY 4500 MILES. I TOOK IT IN EARLY BECAUSE THE CAR WAS RIDING ROUGH AND THAT WAS WHEN THEY DISCO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

13 complaints

14%

• I HAD A SIDE IMPACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT CRUSHED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS AND BLEW OUT THE DRIVER'S WINDOW. THE IMPACT NEARLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND AGAIN THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED BUT THERE WERE SERIOUS INJURIES IN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. I
• DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DID NOT SEE A UPS TRUCK PARKED ALONG SIDE OF. ROAD . REAR ENDED THE TRUCK HAD SEAT BELT ON AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND HEAD STILL HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHY DIDN'T. THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT PREVENT THIS?
• MY VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO RECALLS FOR BRAKES. BOTH RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF BY THE LOCAL DEALER. I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIRBAGS AND I BELIEVE THE DEALER, OR MANUFACTURER, CLAIMING MY VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED, IS NOT TRUE. I NEED TO FIND OUT, FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE, IF MY VEHICLE IS SAFE TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“I HAD A SIDE IMPACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT CRUSHED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS AND BLEW OUT THE DRIVER'S WINDOW. THE IMPACT NEARLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND AGAIN THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED BUT THERE WERE SERIOUS INJURIES IN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

9 complaints

10%

• 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. 07/25/14 CAR HAD DIFFICULTY TIME ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY.REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING AND GETTING VERY HOT. DEALER INSPECTED R/F WHEEL, ROTOR WAS BLUE AND HARD TO TURN. INSPECTED BRAKES AND FOUND PADS STUCK IN BRACKET. CLEANED AND LUBED PAD SL
• MY VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN APRIL AND APPROVED, BUT BY OCTOBER OF THE SAME YEAR MY BRAKING SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND STUCK. MY MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE REAR PADS WERE INTO STEEL, ROTORS DEEPLY GROOVED, FRONT BRAKE PADS STUCK IN BRACKETS CAUSING BRAKE PRESSURE TO G
• ON DEC 28,2014 I AM GOING TO MERILAND,MA FROM PHILADELPHIA. I WAS DRIVING MY SAID VEHICLE AT REGAL SPEED 65. JUST AFTER REST AREA MARILEND HOSE, TRAFFIC SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN, I APPLIED MY BRAKE BUT ITS WONT STOP IN TIME, I SWITCH DRIVING LINE AND AVOID ACCIDENT, BUT MY FAMILY AND ME ALL SCARED.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2013 SUBARU FORESTER. 07/25/14 CAR HAD DIFFICULTY TIME ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY.REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING AND GETTING VERY HOT. DEALER INSPECTED R/F WHEEL, ROTOR WAS BLUE AND HARD TO TURN. INSPECTED BRAKES AND FOUND PADS STUCK IN BRACKET. CLEANED AND LUBED PAD SL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

• CAME OUT OF A CAR WASH AND SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE THE SUBARU FORESTER ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY PEDALS. STARTED PUMPING BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOTHING. STEERED CAR THRU PARKING LOT NEXT TO CAR WASH AND SIDE-SWIPED THREE CARS AND SOMEHOW MANAGED TO STEER THRU THE REST OF THE
• I PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH HAS A SLIGHT INCLINE, PUT CAR IN PARK BUT LEFT IGNITION RUNNING AND HEADLIGHTS ON. I HAVE PARKED IN THIS SPACE SEVEN YEARS AND WAS NOT IN HABIT OF PULLING THE PARKING BRAKE. I HAD A VISITOR WHO NEEDED TO SEE DECK STEPS AS IT WAS NIGHTTIME. WE BOTH GOT OUT, WENT UP TH
• MY MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AFTER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. IT SHOWED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS FAILING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED OR IT WOULD CONTINUE TO SHOW 'CHECK ENGINE', AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NO LONGER WORK. IT HAS 117,000 MILES ON IT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“CAME OUT OF A CAR WASH AND SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE THE SUBARU FORESTER ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY PEDALS. STARTED PUMPING BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOTHING. STEERED CAR THRU PARKING LOT NEXT TO CAR WASH AND SIDE-SWIPED THREE CARS AND SOMEHOW MANAGED TO STEER THRU THE REST OF THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

7 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED TO 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FLOOR MATS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT B
• WHILE BACKING INTO A GARAGE THERE WAS A UNCONTROLABLE ACCELERATION CAUSING DAMAGE THE THE REAR END OF THE CAR AND ITEMS STORED IN THE GARAGE. 8JS
• I WAS DOING ROUGHLY 25/30 MILES AND MY CAR ACCELERATED TO A MUCH FASTER SPEED AND HIGHER RPM'S CAUSING ME TO JAM ON THE BRAKES. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED TO 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FLOOR MATS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT B”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 94 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: MY CAR HAS BEEN CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL SINCE I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN APRIL OF 2014 BY INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. AT THAT OIL CHANGE I HAD ABOUT A QUART OF SYNTHETIC LEFT AFTER ONLY 4500 MILES. I TOOK IT IN EARLY BECAUSE THE CAR WAS RIDING ROUGH AND THAT WAS WHEN THEY DISCO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: I HAD A SIDE IMPACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT CRUSHED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS AND BLEW OUT THE DRIVER'S WINDOW. THE IMPACT NEARLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND AGAIN THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED BUT THERE WERE SERIOUS INJURIES IN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: 2013 SUBARU FORESTER. 07/25/14 CAR HAD DIFFICULTY TIME ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY.REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING AND GETTING VERY HOT. DEALER INSPECTED R/F WHEEL, ROTOR WAS BLUE AND HARD TO TURN. INSPECTED BRAKES AND FOUND PADS STUCK IN BRACKET. CLEANED AND LUBED PAD SL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: CAME OUT OF A CAR WASH AND SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE THE SUBARU FORESTER ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY PEDALS. STARTED PUMPING BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOTHING. STEERED CAR THRU PARKING LOT NEXT TO CAR WASH AND SIDE-SWIPED THREE CARS AND SOMEHOW MANAGED TO STEER THRU THE REST OF THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)