I’m down in Minnesota. My 1999 Grand Prix recently died, now looking at a 2011 forester. Test drove it and man are Subarus fun to drive. Smooth and simple car. Hopefully if I get this forester, it’ll help me in the good ole MN winters. Good video though, thanks for the info!
Tyson, thanks for your reply. Yes that's right, no major issues. I do however suggest that the timing belt be replaced by a reputable shop. Not lot of room to work but lots of room for error!
fellow 2009 owner. just broke 100,000 miles.some issues in thelast 6 years of owning it but nothing too bad... had to replace the spark plug tube seals/cover gaskets on both sides due to leaking oil into spark plugs. also had to replace the power steering rack steel line because of corrosion at one of the crimps. i did my own timing belt/water pump radiator recently.its beem trouble free for the most.
So you guys took one video as a difference for a decision like this? I'm not here to say what you should or shouldn't do. I find myself between Forester and Jetta but this video is just his case, I never heard of those problems in other Forester on youtube... Just isolate cases I'd say
I have a 2009 Forester X 2.5 manual. I bought it to daily drive while working on my modified 2002 WRX. That was in 2019. My WRX is still sitting in the garage and now the Forester is modified. ISC coilovers, Kartboy front and rear swaybar endlinks, Perrin 25mm rear swaybar, ISC adjustable lower control arms, adjustable lateral links, 18x9.5 wheels wrapped in sticky Falken Azenis tires. I have a Forester that handles like a go cart but I can still haul stuff from Home Depot. Even though its lowered about 3 inches from stock and has wide wheels it still doesn't stand out much since it looks like most other silver suvs. It handles so good I had to put in a Sparco seat with better side bolsters to hold me in during hard cornering. My next modification is a STI 6speed trans, rear diff, axles and brakes. Love this car!
I owned a used 2010 Forester for several years. The main thing that I had to replace on it was the automatic transmission cooler line, which rusted out at its lowest point next to one of the tranny hoses to the radiator it connects to. It's an easy do-it-yourself repair. I would suggest those who own these to check this once in awhile for deterioration.
I just bought this EXACT car, colour and everything yesterday at 210,000km. Thank you very much for the video and the information, really useful for me to keep an eye out for things.
Hello there, I'm also looking to buy one after a few months and there are similar models which have gone similar miles on it so I was wondering how has it holding up for you?
It had some issues and I ended up swapping out the motor. I later found out that I had not been using the proper oil filter (its a long story). Otherwise, it's still on the road and going strong. Replace the timing belt at the recommended intervals and regular oil changes.
Joel, thanks for your comment. I have also recently replaced my timing belt and that caused a few issues. All good now but I should have made a video about it 🤔
I have a 2011 with a 2012 engine and the oil consumption is a issue she’s not blowing issues she’s just using a lot of it. My 2001 didn’t have this problem. I’m HOPING that replacing the PVC valve will fix it.. hopefully... Mine gets 26-28 MPG but I think for a car that’s all-wheel drive all the time that’s it’s pretty good.
Well, for what you've experienced over the ten years of ownership of the Forests, seems like it has held up pretty well.... considering the conditions in which it's being driving and, is still pulling strong like a Bull, says it all .. It's one heck of a machine. and very reliable, too. Yelp
Ive got a 2010 fozzy so far its been good to me only thing ive had replaced was the oil pressure sensor that was causing oil to pool up on top of the engine.
My 2009 forester is running about 120000 miles, and I am changing the consumable parts (Various oils, suspension parts, all bushings, break parts,....) on time, and now it runs like a new car. However, it becomes a real new car after replacing two oxyzen sensors and cleaning the throttle body. Brake pads and discs are best with bosch parts.
Batteries in a Canadian climate last about 5 years, I find the smaller batteries have a shorter lifespan bt my 2010 Ram has gone thru 3 batteries in the last 10 years as well.
Don't use slotted and vented rotors on a factory size brake system. You decrease the ability of the rotors to quickly absorb heat and actually increase stopping distance and brake noise per the same size oem rotor. They are also more likely to "warp" and crack.
I’ve had issues with mine with the batteries I bought one a year ago the car sat I was messing with it and thought I disconnected it and apparently I didn’t so after 2 months of sitting because other issues it ruined a brandnew battery very unfortunate and it was 2 months out of warranty. 200$ down the drain 😓
My dad drives this model of Forester. Car condition is not bad. To me, this car seemed not comfortable, it drives good on good roads, but on bad road, or dirt road? Salon gets in too much noise like it doesn't have a floor! Is it because he installed bigger tires or not, I don't know.
5 major issues with my SH are as follows It's a brilliant Japanese car It's amazing in the slippery stuff It's a car that rarely goes wrong It's a vehicle that puts a smile on my face when driving it It's very economical because it's a diesel... enough said
I have a 2018 Forester and all I have replaced are the air filters. My 2002 Forester, droid the brakes at 80,000 miles and I sold the car at 137,000 miles still not needing brakes. I did replace the struts at 112,000. Barrie’s, three in sixteen years. Yes the damned head gaskets at 112,000 miles.
I did have an engine issue where I had to replace it entirely. The issue turned out to being an incorrect oil filter that a local parts store had been supplying me for years. (They were providing me a trans filter rather than engine. Physically the same, internally very different). Otherwise, no other powertrain issues. Not even a leak
Wow! The wrong oil filter has made you replace the whole engine? What happened? Poor oil pressure, wrong specs of the oil? I can't see how a wrong oil filter can cause such a huge damage to the engine.
ok, so I have a 2010 MT and a 2013 AT Subaru Forester. The brakes on my 2010 lasted until 97000 and on the 2013 lasted until 103000 miles. I haven't had any of your problems. My 2010s rear door is stuck shut right now. Pretty easy fix according to the you tube videos. I think the fuel economy could be better, however, I use high quality synthetic in all my cars, and it does help with the mileage. My 10 gets 27 on the highway and the 13 gets 27-31 depending. I don't tow, but I have had roof cargo carriers which drop the mileage at least 3 mpg, so I try and do rear carriers. That said, I've had these cars everywhere, from south florida to the Yukon and they have never left me on the side of the road. Compared to some of my friends other brands, these have been stellar. I think they have been the best cars I've ever owned. My 13 is black like yours.
Is it automatic? I had the manual turbo diesel version. The fuel gauge said 4.8l per 100km, but actually is was closer to 5.6l. Still, good for a car of that age. The break problem might also be related to being an automatic. In the manual you usually use engine breaking a lot, which also helps with the fuel. Same with the using the cruise control to allow a smooth driving and avoiding unnecessary acceleration and breaking. Beside that we only had the bushing problem.
@@thehonestmechanic btw. I had also issues with the battery, but it was due to the contacts. They just needed a brush and everything would be fine again.
Interesting experience with Forester 2009. I also have one with 220,000 km on it with none of those issues mentioned here, like drive shaft, etc I did break a sway bar link, but only because I hit a wombat, and hitting a wombat is like hitting a rock at 100km/h. Was very lucky that was the only thing that broke, besides the stupid plastic cover under the engine. Also, front breaks usually wear twice as fast as the rear breaks, I think that's a common thing, they work harder. I am also waiting for that much talked about head gasket failure, but so far it's squeaky dry at the seems and under the engine, the engine oil looks like amber and and the coolant is like Pacific ocean, fresh and clean. The engine sounds quiet and even like happy cat, and the car is still quite agile on the road. It must be that dry down under climate that makes the car so happy... and the regular service of course :)
I recommend an oil change every 5000 kms. Depending on the year of your Subaru, the oil viscosity can differ so check your owners manual. Use a high quality oil. Remember, oil is cheaper than a motor job
This might be a long-winded response, I apologize and I will try to get straight to the point... The first two problems that you mentioned seem to coincide with what is going on with my Forester (2011, 5 speed manual, bought it used, about 120k - ish miles) You mentioned something about the driveshaft and hearing a noise at low speeds? The noise that I hear sounds like a squeaky bearing, I only hear it when I'm sitting in the car, idling. I took it to a certified Subaru specialist, and he said that these models are known for having loud/squeaky throw-out bearings. Is this the sound that you are referring to? At any rate, the specialist also told me that I needed a new clutch, which I mentioned to my previous mechanic(they were in the process of closing their shop. I was able to talk to them one last time after visiting the Subaru specialist) and they rolled their eyes and laughed out loud, so who knows if the specialist was giving me facts or not... Regardless, not the point of the story, but I thought it was relevant. The second thing that you mentioned were the rear brakes. My brakes squeak/squeal every so often, generally in the morning when I'm backing up (so, sounds like rear brakes, just like in your vid) Do these specific problems sound similar to what your vehicle was going through?
My 2017 has had four separate recalls, the most serious involving electrical issues - if you leave the door open five minutes the battery completely drained. The latest is the air conditioning compressor, which will also involve replacing the radiator. I don’t know how this car got its high marks by the experts in reliability.
Have run a previous generation Outback, and currently an SG9 2.5 XT Forester, so previous shape to this one. Drive shafts haven't been an issue, so far, but as a matter of form i repack the CV's with grease every 3 or so years, have done this for more than 40 years on all cars and can't remember the last time i had to renew a CV or shaft. All Japanese brakes suffer badly from salt corrosion (no salt used in Japan), worth removing the pads cleaning up and regreasing all sliders etc with the correct brake grease every year, also exercise the pistons in their bores a few times, the brakes will last much better. Fuel wise, no vehicle that runs a proper full time all wheel drive system will be good on fuel, Subaru tried Diesel to make them more attractive but the engines don't last. My issue with Subarus apart from parts pricing is what a horrid job swapping the spark plugs is, and the cambelt run on the 4 cylinder engines is too complicated, would have been better to have two belts, one driving either side giving the belts a much easier life. Also, though this applies to so many engine designs, a water pump has no business being driven by a cambelt, that's something the auxilliary belt should be driving, this is what Toyota does with the long lived 3.0 litre D4D (Hilux/Prado), the cambelt only drives the camshafts, nothing else, 90k miles interval, its an hour's job to change and failure is unheard of.
Anti roll bar links are so cheap might as well be part of the major service interval. One other thing, on those cars with self levelling headlights or suspension, keep the adjusting link pivots lubricated and the mounting brackets coated in grease or similar, for such simple items they are ridiculously expensive to replace.
PS. regarding battery failures. I'm sure i read somewhere years ago that some Subarus don't engage the alternator into charge mode immediately after starting for some reason, something to do with time or temperature before the alternator is allowed to charge at full rate. I haven't tested this, nor know which vehicles this may apply to, and it hasn't been a problem for us (though Britain doesn't suffer from extreme cold) but could your typical use of the car in winter mean the alternator isn't able to keep the battery charged enough allowing it to deplete over the winter period when you would be using more power draining things.
I have a 2012 impreza with 2.0 litre engine 160000km burns plenty of oil/ changed all 4 wheel bearings/ all 4 struts/ front lower ball joints/ rear brakes every 40000km. I would say average quality at best compared to other vehicles that I have owned
I thought you were going to start with the head gaskets! Great video but your lucky if you didn't have to deal with the head gasket on the non turbo version of the 2009. The head gaskets on mine and a friends had to be replaced by Subaru in the early 40000KMs but at 120000KMs needed to be done again(terrible Subaru gaskets and Subaru know about the problem and still use the same bad gaskets), this time I used triple steel and had the heads done, now the engine sounds and drives much better but lots of work and expense. My neighbour has the same issue with her 2010 forester at 170000 but has chosen to dive till it dies and buy a new car.
@@tylerheenan9393 Besides the 2 head gasket replacements done on my 2009, the first replacement done by Subaru paid for by the guy I bought the car from that was leaking again at 120000KM (lasted 60000KMs like the original). The head gaskets done by me with triple steel gaskets (nothing made by Subaru), the heads rebuilt and still working but the car is a constant pain in the ass. Every Subaru I see, my neighbours 2013, my sisters 2014, a buddies 2010, I could go on and on, and not just the Ej25s. This problem is not overblown but it matters little since they don't have an electric car plan so they will be bankrupt in a very few years. I keep it for my daughter to drive but it will be my last Subaru.
Your battery issues could be because of the dark colour. Batteries typically don’t last nearly as long with a black vehicle compared to a white one. Heat is what kills batteries. You can apparently pull a fuse to make it 2wd if you really want better fuel economy. Not sure which fuse it is but I saw that somewhere.
@@thehonestmechanic awesome! We go to Sudbury quite often. I found your channel as I was looking for information on the 2009 forester. My neighbour has one that needs a bunch of work. I was going to have a look at it. I know the driveshaft to the rear wheels is finished. The transmission has issues but not sure how bad. The rad is leaking. Etc etc. I think the motor is ok. I thought they changed to a timing chain in 09 but maybe that was in 2011.
@Sunset Originals No timing chains on Subarus.... Changing the rad is straight forward. The drive shaft is not terrible either but definitely more involved. Let me know if you ever need some direction!
I ride a 2010 forester, the car has a new pressure plate but that's al I that's done. I must say my forester does use some oil. I don't know how the previous owners drive the car but the car is using about a liter every 5k. that's way to much
Due to where you live I'm going to say your battery drain issue is because you have a bad ambient air temperature sensor. Mine was located up under my battery in my truck I have no idea where yours would be located though but when it goes bad it can keep the battery from charging even though the alternator is fine
@@ARDG89 John's probably talking about people who actually have to drive to work every day. Not everybody lives in urban ratholes that require trains and buses. Road salt and Sub-Zero temps are murder on automobiles.
They have non ethanol fuel up in Canada. Non ethanol gas gives you higher mpgs compared the ethanol based gasoline down here in the USSA. His car would probably get 25 -26mpg using our gas.
I'm in the market for an SUV and found a 2012 Forester 2.5X with 68k miles, they're asking $13k. Carfax is clean, nothing suspicious. Any advice before I go look at it?
Always a great idea to ask for service records. Also, you may want to have the timing belt replaced. Otherwise, the only other thing that I didn't mention in the video is the head gaskets can be problematic for some.....
@@thehonestmechanic Thanks! But I thought that starting in 2011, the non-turbo Foresters got the FB25 engine with a timing chain that doesn't need replacing? I will check the condition of the coolant, oil, and under the oil filler cap for gunk or anything suspicious, and make sure there's no white smoke from the exhaust. Is there any way to prevent these issues other than regular oil changes? Maybe not running it hard while still cold, letting it warm up slowly might be easier on the head gasket and piston rings.
No timing chains on Subarus to my knowledge. As for head gaskets, MLS (multi layered steel) gaskets are supposed to fix the issue. I think Subaru made a great car in those years. Let's see what the future holds..... happy motoring!
One major problem I've noticed is. The front wheel bearings end up being really noisy for a long time, with absolutely nothing wrong with them, I had one buzzing insanely loud for a year, and when when changed it was completely fine, and it WAS the bearing cause when changed the noise was gone. Happens each side a year on the front. One of my biggest pet peeves of the car.
Sorry, but slotted rotors wear your pads down sooner. So, you’re not getting more life out of your pads. But I have found that OEM compound rear brake pads do wear out faster than the fronts for some reason. And I have experienced this on different makes as well. For a street car, I don’t want to run slotted or cross drilled rotors because (1) I’m paying more for less of a rotor, (2) you never go fast enough to benefit from those features
It is a feature of the automatic 4eat transmissions, for when you run the donut tire on the rear so you don’t blow up the differential. (Had to edit my phone froze)
Do you add water to battery? I found the water level is low after half a year, so I add water every time I change oil. So far, the battery is strong in its 5th year.
Yes I do add distilled water to my batteries if they need it. Unfortunately, not all batteries give you this option. The one in the Forester is a sealed top.
I have a 2010 with 230K miles on it. Still running good. Subarus need maintenance like every other vehicle. They’re no different. 9 years for a battery? They must last longer in Canada.😅
8L/100k s from a 1.5 ton crossover + passenger's+ srtuff in the trunk i'd say it's awsome..... don't know what kind of better crossovers there are that are same size and do better... that is petrol not diesel offc.
Only 20 000km on pads? Are you using not original parts? I'm a mechanic at a Subaru workshop and normal wear on pads is around 40-70 000km in the front and 90-110 000km in the back (depending on driving style of course). In the 2 years I've worked on Subaru's I've only ever changed 2 drive shafts due to the hanger bearing (and I check them on every service on every car). But it does happen every so often, seems you were the unlucky one. Normal battery lifetime is usually around 5-7+ years and you seem to be on the 5 year mark no seemingly no issue there (also not really a major issue). Stabilizer bar bushings... super easy to change, dirt cheap, doesn't cause any problems other than noise when they go bad.. Major issue?? Fuel economy on boxer engines is not the best because they are a fundamentaly unefficient engine design. An issue to some, yes, but I wouldn't call it a major issue.
Funny how the first problem u talk about is the drive shaft haha. I've got a 2012 Subaru Forester XT, I just replaced the drive shaft and stabilizer bar bushings. Thank god I got an extended warranty.. Saying hi from Quebec
La durée de vie normale d'une batterie en climat tempérée est de 3 a 4 ans au-delà c'est du bonus, en conditions hivernales intense la batterie peut voir sa durée de vie réduite de moitié, donc trois batterie en dix ans est une bonne moyenne.
Very Canadian!!! Lmao. Jk. My mom has a 2009 Forester. Somebody hacked the catalyst system apart and it’s throwing an O2 sensor problem. So that’ll cost a pretty Loonie to fix.
Not had any of those issues with my 09 Forester - standard commute is around 8.0 litres per hundred kms. Only problems I've had in 250,000 k's is needed to replace the viscous coupling at 180k and the ball joints and wishbone bushes at 220k. Apart from that and a cat fault at 180k which I fixed for $40, it's been great
Own or purchase a Subaru Forester traded in or get rid of it by 70,000 MI or you're going to be looking at a lot of repair bills... First of all at $36,000 MI you have to add one quart of oil between oil changes at 80,000 to 90,000 you're putting between two and three quarts in!! I had a solenoid go in the torque converter case. Would have cost $2,200 fortunately my mechanic was able to order a solenoid and install it for $675.. then you have all the front end work new front axles control arm.. stabilizer bushings.. rear bearings both rear wheels.. now the drive system is not working.. only running on front wheel drive.. more headaches I would never buy a Subaru again
I research a lot of vehicles. Tell me outside the Toyota Corolla, which one do you buy? Owner of a Ford 5.43v and a Hyundai 2.4 Thea ll . They all have problems. Cylinder deactivation GM and Chrysler no thanks!
Absolutely right! They all have problems. We really like our VW Tiguan and the Mercedes CLA250. I have owned Domestic, German and Japanese. All have issues however, which issues are you willing to work with. Our 2002 Honda Civic was great, but brakes never lasted. My 2009 F150 was great, but the drive shaft was an issue and caused vibration. I think you get the point. 😉
@@thehonestmechanic sadly picking a vehicle is like picking your poison. I really like the Subaru Forrester . I have a aluminum 16 ft boat with 50 motor. Just under 2000 empty. I don’t know about those CVT s. Towing.
John, I honestly don't have any experience with CVT transmissions. I love the Forester also. I would look into the towing capacity of the vehicle you plan to purchase first.
You've done a great job talking me out of any Subaru. No amount of Bernie stickers will save you from the design flaws that will haunt you as they age.
@@thehonestmechanic we' ve got the same problem here, I live in Bariloche which is located at the very south west of Argentina, en Subaru has an official service dealer here. I' m looking for a forester right now, Is there anything that I should take care on a used Forester ? speaking about the AWD system and the transmission, I dont know if it needs an specific maintenance... Thank you! great video!
@@diegoenriquefleck2355 Depending on mileage, other than what you saw in the video, I would add a timing belt replacement. Otherwise, solid vehicle with minor livable issues
@@thehonestmechanic There is a battery monitor like a guitar can be purchased in Canadian Tire. I bought one for my 2010 Forester after several awkward battery/alternator failure. The Subaru's alternator doesn't work well during extreme cold weathers. Sometimes the voltage can be dropped below 12 volts when driving. I've experienced 2 engine stalls because of the electric power outage. One time was saved by jump start and the other one couldn't saved, which must be towed. The "professional" battery and alternator test in the dealership is useless because their test is in a warm garage. I just went to the dealership and ask them to replace the alternator and they gave me an aftermarket choice. Then I've never had any issue with the battery or alternator for 4 years until now.
@@anthonybarragan1687 yeah I think 2-3 years is all you get on these modern cars especially with all the anti-theft systems and computers in cars always drawing battery when the cars off. Pretty normal stuff, but check also where you're buying the battery because if it's been sitting on a shelf 6 months unused its lost 50% of its life even though its new.
It's so silly to see people covering their license plates. You're license plate is in full public view everyday that you drive. How in the world do you think blocking it is going to protect you?! Blocking your license plate to protect you is a myth. Not based in fact and basically makes zero sense. You're welcome.
I ve the same car and your review is 100% accurate! Other than that its still an amazing car.........
I’m down in Minnesota. My 1999 Grand Prix recently died, now looking at a 2011 forester. Test drove it and man are Subarus fun to drive. Smooth and simple car. Hopefully if I get this forester, it’ll help me in the good ole MN winters. Good video though, thanks for the info!
Tyson, thanks for your reply. Yes that's right, no major issues. I do however suggest that the timing belt be replaced by a reputable shop. Not lot of room to work but lots of room for error!
fellow 2009 owner. just broke 100,000 miles.some issues in thelast 6 years of owning it but nothing too bad... had to replace the spark plug tube seals/cover gaskets on both sides due to leaking oil into spark plugs. also had to replace the power steering rack steel line because of corrosion at one of the crimps. i did my own timing belt/water pump radiator recently.its beem trouble free for the most.
Currently torn between this exact Forester and a Ford Escape and this video sealed the deal for me. Thanks for posting this!
me too
So you guys took one video as a difference for a decision like this? I'm not here to say what you should or shouldn't do. I find myself between Forester and Jetta but this video is just his case, I never heard of those problems in other Forester on youtube... Just isolate cases I'd say
@@zed9955 what problems
I have a 2009 Forester X 2.5 manual. I bought it to daily drive while working on my modified 2002 WRX. That was in 2019. My WRX is still sitting in the garage and now the Forester is modified. ISC coilovers, Kartboy front and rear swaybar endlinks, Perrin 25mm rear swaybar, ISC adjustable lower control arms, adjustable lateral links, 18x9.5 wheels wrapped in sticky Falken Azenis tires. I have a Forester that handles like a go cart but I can still haul stuff from Home Depot. Even though its lowered about 3 inches from stock and has wide wheels it still doesn't stand out much since it looks like most other silver suvs. It handles so good I had to put in a Sparco seat with better side bolsters to hold me in during hard cornering. My next modification is a STI 6speed trans, rear diff, axles and brakes. Love this car!
Sounds like a great ride!!
I owned a used 2010 Forester for several years. The main thing that I had to replace on it was the automatic transmission cooler line, which rusted out at its lowest point next to one of the tranny hoses to the radiator it connects to. It's an easy do-it-yourself repair. I would suggest those who own these to check this once in awhile for deterioration.
I just bought this EXACT car, colour and everything yesterday at 210,000km.
Thank you very much for the video and the information, really useful for me to keep an eye out for things.
Hello there, I'm also looking to buy one after a few months and there are similar models which have gone similar miles on it so I was wondering how has it holding up for you?
It had some issues and I ended up swapping out the motor. I later found out that I had not been using the proper oil filter (its a long story). Otherwise, it's still on the road and going strong. Replace the timing belt at the recommended intervals and regular oil changes.
Joel, thanks for your comment. I have also recently replaced my timing belt and that caused a few issues. All good now but I should have made a video about it 🤔
I have a 2011 with a 2012 engine and the oil consumption is a issue she’s not blowing issues she’s just using a lot of it. My 2001 didn’t have this problem. I’m HOPING that replacing the PVC valve will fix it.. hopefully...
Mine gets 26-28 MPG but I think for a car that’s all-wheel drive all the time that’s it’s pretty good.
Well, for what you've experienced over the ten years of ownership of the Forests, seems like it has held up pretty well.... considering the conditions in which it's being driving and, is still pulling strong like a Bull, says it all ..
It's one heck of a machine. and very reliable, too.
Yelp
No blown head gaskets or ring issues. That's good
Thx4 Ur honesty Angel 🙏♥️🕊
Ive got a 2010 fozzy so far its been good to me only thing ive had replaced was the oil pressure sensor that was causing oil to pool up on top of the engine.
I've had the same problem... sensor was inexpensive though
Third battery in 10 years and that's an issue? am defninitly buying this car
My 2009 forester is running about 120000 miles, and I am changing the consumable parts (Various oils, suspension parts, all bushings, break parts,....) on time, and now it runs like a new car. However, it becomes a real new car after replacing two oxyzen sensors and cleaning the throttle body.
Brake pads and discs are best with bosch parts.
Batteries in a Canadian climate last about 5 years, I find the smaller batteries have a shorter lifespan bt my 2010 Ram has gone thru 3 batteries in the last 10 years as well.
Don't use slotted and vented rotors on a factory size brake system. You decrease the ability of the rotors to quickly absorb heat and actually increase stopping distance and brake noise per the same size oem rotor. They are also more likely to "warp" and crack.
I’ve had issues with mine with the batteries I bought one a year ago the car sat I was messing with it and thought I disconnected it and apparently I didn’t so after 2 months of sitting because other issues it ruined a brandnew battery very unfortunate and it was 2 months out of warranty. 200$ down the drain 😓
My dad drives this model of Forester. Car condition is not bad. To me, this car seemed not comfortable, it drives good on good roads, but on bad road, or dirt road? Salon gets in too much noise like it doesn't have a floor! Is it because he installed bigger tires or not, I don't know.
5 major issues with my SH are as follows
It's a brilliant Japanese car
It's amazing in the slippery stuff
It's a car that rarely goes wrong
It's a vehicle that puts a smile on my face when driving it
It's very economical because it's a diesel... enough said
I would love to try a diesel!
I have a 2018 Forester and all I have replaced are the air filters. My 2002 Forester, droid the brakes at 80,000 miles and I sold the car at 137,000 miles still not needing brakes. I did replace the struts at 112,000. Barrie’s, three in sixteen years. Yes the damned head gaskets at 112,000 miles.
Thanks for the tips, man. Any major issues within the engine or the AWD transmission?
I did have an engine issue where I had to replace it entirely. The issue turned out to being an incorrect oil filter that a local parts store had been supplying me for years. (They were providing me a trans filter rather than engine. Physically the same, internally very different). Otherwise, no other powertrain issues. Not even a leak
Wow! The wrong oil filter has made you replace the whole engine? What happened? Poor oil pressure, wrong specs of the oil? I can't see how a wrong oil filter can cause such a huge damage to the engine.
@brunoluizcarvalho I can only assume that it caused low oil pressure or a restriction. The main bearings were toast
Thanks man!
Nope, she runs pretty good! Regular oil changes are the secret 😉
ok, so I have a 2010 MT and a 2013 AT Subaru Forester. The brakes on my 2010 lasted until 97000 and on the 2013 lasted until 103000 miles. I haven't had any of your problems. My 2010s rear door is stuck shut right now. Pretty easy fix according to the you tube videos. I think the fuel economy could be better, however, I use high quality synthetic in all my cars, and it does help with the mileage. My 10 gets 27 on the highway and the 13 gets 27-31 depending. I don't tow, but I have had roof cargo carriers which drop the mileage at least 3 mpg, so I try and do rear carriers. That said, I've had these cars everywhere, from south florida to the Yukon and they have never left me on the side of the road. Compared to some of my friends other brands, these have been stellar. I think they have been the best cars I've ever owned. My 13 is black like yours.
Road salt and cold temperatures are the cause of some issues. I do love Subaru. Solid vehicle and relatively easy to repair
I’ve heard Subaru updated the head gasket design 2018+
I found, for whatever reason, the battery freezes really easy if you dont keep the insulator sleeve on it.
Is it automatic? I had the manual turbo diesel version. The fuel gauge said 4.8l per 100km, but actually is was closer to 5.6l. Still, good for a car of that age.
The break problem might also be related to being an automatic. In the manual you usually use engine breaking a lot, which also helps with the fuel. Same with the using the cruise control to allow a smooth driving and avoiding unnecessary acceleration and breaking.
Beside that we only had the bushing problem.
It is an automatic transmission
@@thehonestmechanic btw. I had also issues with the battery, but it was due to the contacts. They just needed a brush and everything would be fine again.
Don't forget to check out my channel. Thanks for the support! 🙏
Interesting experience with Forester 2009.
I also have one with 220,000 km on it with none of those issues mentioned here, like drive shaft, etc
I did break a sway bar link, but only because I hit a wombat, and hitting a wombat is like hitting a rock at 100km/h.
Was very lucky that was the only thing that broke, besides the stupid plastic cover under the engine.
Also, front breaks usually wear twice as fast as the rear breaks, I think that's a common thing, they work harder.
I am also waiting for that much talked about head gasket failure, but so far it's squeaky dry at the seems and under the engine,
the engine oil looks like amber and and the coolant is like Pacific ocean, fresh and clean.
The engine sounds quiet and even like happy cat, and the car is still quite agile on the road.
It must be that dry down under climate that makes the car so happy... and the regular service of course :)
Regular service. These people wait 7500 miles between oil changes , and mod them for more hp which blows the head gasket
Valuable info from this comment. Please advice, what kind of engine oil do you recommend?? And after how many Kms should it be changed???
Thank you.
I recommend an oil change every 5000 kms. Depending on the year of your Subaru, the oil viscosity can differ so check your owners manual. Use a high quality oil. Remember, oil is cheaper than a motor job
This might be a long-winded response, I apologize and I will try to get straight to the point... The first two problems that you mentioned seem to coincide with what is going on with my Forester (2011, 5 speed manual, bought it used, about 120k - ish miles) You mentioned something about the driveshaft and hearing a noise at low speeds? The noise that I hear sounds like a squeaky bearing, I only hear it when I'm sitting in the car, idling. I took it to a certified Subaru specialist, and he said that these models are known for having loud/squeaky throw-out bearings. Is this the sound that you are referring to? At any rate, the specialist also told me that I needed a new clutch, which I mentioned to my previous mechanic(they were in the process of closing their shop. I was able to talk to them one last time after visiting the Subaru specialist) and they rolled their eyes and laughed out loud, so who knows if the specialist was giving me facts or not... Regardless, not the point of the story, but I thought it was relevant. The second thing that you mentioned were the rear brakes. My brakes squeak/squeal every so often, generally in the morning when I'm backing up (so, sounds like rear brakes, just like in your vid) Do these specific problems sound similar to what your vehicle was going through?
Rear brakes yes. They do squeak often. Mine is automatic so I don't have a clutch problem or throw out bearing. Thanks for the comment!
My 2017 has had four separate recalls, the most serious involving electrical issues - if you leave the door open five minutes the battery completely drained. The latest is the air conditioning compressor, which will also involve replacing the radiator. I don’t know how this car got its high marks by the experts in reliability.
Have run a previous generation Outback, and currently an SG9 2.5 XT Forester, so previous shape to this one.
Drive shafts haven't been an issue, so far, but as a matter of form i repack the CV's with grease every 3 or so years, have done this for more than 40 years on all cars and can't remember the last time i had to renew a CV or shaft.
All Japanese brakes suffer badly from salt corrosion (no salt used in Japan), worth removing the pads cleaning up and regreasing all sliders etc with the correct brake grease every year, also exercise the pistons in their bores a few times, the brakes will last much better.
Fuel wise, no vehicle that runs a proper full time all wheel drive system will be good on fuel, Subaru tried Diesel to make them more attractive but the engines don't last.
My issue with Subarus apart from parts pricing is what a horrid job swapping the spark plugs is, and the cambelt run on the 4 cylinder engines is too complicated, would have been better to have two belts, one driving either side giving the belts a much easier life.
Also, though this applies to so many engine designs, a water pump has no business being driven by a cambelt, that's something the auxilliary belt should be driving, this is what Toyota does with the long lived 3.0 litre D4D (Hilux/Prado), the cambelt only drives the camshafts, nothing else, 90k miles interval, its an hour's job to change and failure is unheard of.
Anti roll bar links are so cheap might as well be part of the major service interval.
One other thing, on those cars with self levelling headlights or suspension, keep the adjusting link pivots lubricated and the mounting brackets coated in grease or similar, for such simple items they are ridiculously expensive to replace.
PS. regarding battery failures.
I'm sure i read somewhere years ago that some Subarus don't engage the alternator into charge mode immediately after starting for some reason, something to do with time or temperature before the alternator is allowed to charge at full rate.
I haven't tested this, nor know which vehicles this may apply to, and it hasn't been a problem for us (though Britain doesn't suffer from extreme cold) but could your typical use of the car in winter mean the alternator isn't able to keep the battery charged enough allowing it to deplete over the winter period when you would be using more power draining things.
Couldn't have said it better myself... thanks for the feedback!!
I have a 2012 impreza with 2.0 litre engine 160000km burns plenty of oil/ changed all 4 wheel bearings/ all 4 struts/ front lower ball joints/ rear brakes every 40000km. I would say average quality at best compared to other vehicles that I have owned
Based on other comments, newer Subarus are not as reliable as they once were
Hi man suchi, no issues with the head gaskets or the transmission so far....👍
I thought you were going to start with the head gaskets! Great video but your lucky if you didn't have to deal with the head gasket on the non turbo version of the 2009. The head gaskets on mine and a friends had to be replaced by Subaru in the early 40000KMs but at 120000KMs needed to be done again(terrible Subaru gaskets and Subaru know about the problem and still use the same bad gaskets), this time I used triple steel and had the heads done, now the engine sounds and drives much better but lots of work and expense. My neighbour has the same issue with her 2010 forester at 170000 but has chosen to dive till it dies and buy a new car.
Don't forget to check out my Subaru Forester playlist for more Forester content! 🙏
They don't use the same gaskets. The problem is real but overblown and only applies to the EJ25s.
@@tylerheenan9393 Besides the 2 head gasket replacements done on my 2009, the first replacement done by Subaru paid for by the guy I bought the car from that was leaking again at 120000KM (lasted 60000KMs like the original). The head gaskets done by me with triple steel gaskets (nothing made by Subaru), the heads rebuilt and still working but the car is a constant pain in the ass. Every Subaru I see, my neighbours 2013, my sisters 2014, a buddies 2010, I could go on and on, and not just the Ej25s. This problem is not overblown but it matters little since they don't have an electric car plan so they will be bankrupt in a very few years. I keep it for my daughter to drive but it will be my last Subaru.
Your battery issues could be because of the dark colour. Batteries typically don’t last nearly as long with a black vehicle compared to a white one. Heat is what kills batteries.
You can apparently pull a fuse to make it 2wd if you really want better fuel economy. Not sure which fuse it is but I saw that somewhere.
Thank you for the feedback!
@@thehonestmechanic great videos too! I like the content. I think you said you’re in Ontario? Which part? I’m between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie.
@@sunsetoriginals7320 Sudbury my friend. Thank you for the lovely comments!
@@thehonestmechanic awesome! We go to Sudbury quite often. I found your channel as I was looking for information on the 2009 forester. My neighbour has one that needs a bunch of work. I was going to have a look at it. I know the driveshaft to the rear wheels is finished. The transmission has issues but not sure how bad. The rad is leaking. Etc etc. I think the motor is ok. I thought they changed to a timing chain in 09 but maybe that was in 2011.
@Sunset Originals No timing chains on Subarus.... Changing the rad is straight forward. The drive shaft is not terrible either but definitely more involved. Let me know if you ever need some direction!
Hows the traction on this thing? Good in the snow?
I think it's great in snow especially when using winter tires!
Bro try ceramic break pads they last 3-4 times longer than the normal cheap one. There not even that expensive
I have a 2010 with 145k miles and head gasket is leaking oil. 2k to fix the problem with replacement. They need to remove the engine. Bit expensive
I have a 2010 Subaru Forester I don’t use full synthetic oil and also add a quart of Lucas oil treatment little to no oil leak👍
I ride a 2010 forester, the car has a new pressure plate but that's al I that's done. I must say my forester does use some oil. I don't know how the previous owners drive the car but the car is using about a liter every 5k. that's way to much
Due to where you live I'm going to say your battery drain issue is because you have a bad ambient air temperature sensor. Mine was located up under my battery in my truck I have no idea where yours would be located though but when it goes bad it can keep the battery from charging even though the alternator is fine
Thanks for your reply! I'll look into this.
8L/100km? Mine reaches 11.5L/100km... Don't know how it happens
If you're a mechanic fella then you know that all cars cost money and eventually go wrong somewhere... but they're a necessary evil.
Why is it necessary?
@@ARDG89 John's probably talking about people who actually have to drive to work every day. Not everybody lives in urban ratholes that require trains and buses.
Road salt and Sub-Zero temps are murder on automobiles.
True but after owning an 02 xtrail and then getting a 2010 forester, these things are trash, headaches and expensive as hell, less KWs aswell.
My Subaru Forester goes through batteries every 4~5 years. Back n the 90’s, my Legacy went 13 years on one battery.
I hear that more and more. Still seems odd to me...lol
these modern cars are just a scam man...
In US conversion if anyone is curious 8 liters per 100 km = 29 mpg which is pretty dam good if you ask me
It is ! Problem is, it rarely gets there
They have non ethanol fuel up in Canada. Non ethanol gas gives you higher mpgs compared the ethanol based gasoline down here in the USSA. His car would probably get 25 -26mpg using our gas.
@@drott150 We have 10% to 15% of ethanol in our gas. Havent seen any ethanol free gas anywere around me.
@@konstantindufnik696 That's interesting, I thought most of Canada has ethanol free gas.
@Konstantin Dufkin, that's why I run high test. No ethanol
I'm in the market for an SUV and found a 2012 Forester 2.5X with 68k miles, they're asking $13k. Carfax is clean, nothing suspicious. Any advice before I go look at it?
Always a great idea to ask for service records. Also, you may want to have the timing belt replaced. Otherwise, the only other thing that I didn't mention in the video is the head gaskets can be problematic for some.....
@@thehonestmechanic Thanks! But I thought that starting in 2011, the non-turbo Foresters got the FB25 engine with a timing chain that doesn't need replacing? I will check the condition of the coolant, oil, and under the oil filler cap for gunk or anything suspicious, and make sure there's no white smoke from the exhaust. Is there any way to prevent these issues other than regular oil changes? Maybe not running it hard while still cold, letting it warm up slowly might be easier on the head gasket and piston rings.
No timing chains on Subarus to my knowledge. As for head gaskets, MLS (multi layered steel) gaskets are supposed to fix the issue. I think Subaru made a great car in those years. Let's see what the future holds..... happy motoring!
@@thehonestmechanic Subaru FB25 engine timing chain: ua-cam.com/video/9d3jXymo3Lg/v-deo.html
Thanks for this! Always love to learn
One major problem I've noticed is. The front wheel bearings end up being really noisy for a long time, with absolutely nothing wrong with them, I had one buzzing insanely loud for a year, and when when changed it was completely fine, and it WAS the bearing cause when changed the noise was gone. Happens each side a year on the front. One of my biggest pet peeves of the car.
Northern Rails, do you replace them with OEM Subaru bearings or aftermarket bearings? It will be interesting to know.
Aftermarket from Napa
Probably the problem lol
Sorry, but slotted rotors wear your pads down sooner. So, you’re not getting more life out of your pads. But I have found that OEM compound rear brake pads do wear out faster than the fronts for some reason. And I have experienced this on different makes as well. For a street car, I don’t want to run slotted or cross drilled rotors because (1) I’m paying more for less of a rotor, (2) you never go fast enough to benefit from those features
I heard if you take out a fuse, it will make it a two wheel drive.
I heard something similar but never tried it
It is a feature of the automatic 4eat transmissions, for when you run the donut tire on the rear so you don’t blow up the differential. (Had to edit my phone froze)
Do you add water to battery? I found the water level is low after half a year, so I add water every time I change oil. So far, the battery is strong in its 5th year.
Yes I do add distilled water to my batteries if they need it. Unfortunately, not all batteries give you this option. The one in the Forester is a sealed top.
@@thehonestmechanic They must used different batteries, mine does have caps that are removable.
I have a 2010 with 230K miles on it. Still running good. Subarus need maintenance like every other vehicle. They’re no different.
9 years for a battery? They must last longer in Canada.😅
Any headgasket or transmission problems?
My 2010 has 234 thousand km on it and no headgasket and transmission problems so far.
Man Suchi, same as Northern Rails, no issues here either
Man Suchi I believe pre 2005 models had the head gasket issues.
Gps tracker/shut off for the battery drain.
8L/100k s
from a 1.5 ton crossover + passenger's+ srtuff in the trunk i'd say it's awsome.....
don't know what kind of better crossovers there are that are same size and do better... that is petrol not diesel offc.
I’m having the same drive shaft issue with my 2012. Any idea how much that costs?
I purchased an aftermarket drive shaft with a lifetime warranty for $1000. With basic tools, patience and some effort, it can be done in your driveway
سلام اخي عند يسيارات من نوع سوباري فورستر2009 معطلة لقد قمة اعادة برمجة كومبيتر اسيارن بدون جدو ولم يشتغل المحرك
my 2010 needed the head gaskets replaced at 70k this was my biggest expense so far.. ouch!
How much did this repair cost you
Which repair are you referring to? I have made a few toy Subaru.
I'd assume he meant the head gasket as it's the only repair specifically mentioned.
man that sucks... you had to replace all those replaceable (consumable) items!
also, i had to put gas in it every week or so!!!!! this is BS!
@@MichaelPSmith-mp1fk 😆😆😆😆 you had to put gas in ?! Wtf dude ,.mines been running on water and hand sanitizer for 3 years
Only 20 000km on pads? Are you using not original parts? I'm a mechanic at a Subaru workshop and normal wear on pads is around 40-70 000km in the front and 90-110 000km in the back (depending on driving style of course).
In the 2 years I've worked on Subaru's I've only ever changed 2 drive shafts due to the hanger bearing (and I check them on every service on every car). But it does happen every so often, seems you were the unlucky one.
Normal battery lifetime is usually around 5-7+ years and you seem to be on the 5 year mark no seemingly no issue there (also not really a major issue).
Stabilizer bar bushings... super easy to change, dirt cheap, doesn't cause any problems other than noise when they go bad.. Major issue??
Fuel economy on boxer engines is not the best because they are a fundamentaly unefficient engine design. An issue to some, yes, but I wouldn't call it a major issue.
Thanks for your reply 👍
Funny how the first problem u talk about is the drive shaft haha. I've got a 2012 Subaru Forester XT, I just replaced the drive shaft and stabilizer bar bushings. Thank god I got an extended warranty.. Saying hi from Quebec
Hi there . I am interested in buying xt 2.0 turbo 2008 and I wanted to ask your xt how many liters does it consume x 100 🤔
Hi Wael, my Forester is not the XT model with the turbo. It has the normally aspirated 2.5 litre a d it averages 9 to 10 litres per 100 kms
La durée de vie normale d'une batterie en climat tempérée est de 3 a 4 ans au-delà c'est du bonus, en conditions hivernales intense la batterie peut voir sa durée de vie réduite de moitié, donc trois batterie en dix ans est une bonne moyenne.
Vous avez raison. Pour moi, je m'attends à une vie de 5 ans pour une batterie
Very Canadian!!! Lmao. Jk. My mom has a 2009 Forester. Somebody hacked the catalyst system apart and it’s throwing an O2 sensor problem. So that’ll cost a pretty Loonie to fix.
FYI 2009 Subaru Forester was the year to avoid Every car make has the good and bad years. Best to research before buying new or used
I agree with the research. It's still going strong!
8 liters per 100? what does that translate in to Miles Per Gallon?
That's about 29 miles per gallon
@@thehonestmechanic thats not too bad. thanks for the information
I feel like I get a new battery every year
Not had any of those issues with my 09 Forester - standard commute is around 8.0 litres per hundred kms. Only problems I've had in 250,000 k's is needed to replace the viscous coupling at 180k and the ball joints and wishbone bushes at 220k. Apart from that and a cat fault at 180k which I fixed for $40, it's been great
How'd you fix the cat for $40?
Sorry, I don't follow. Can you elaborate?
@@thehonestmechanic oh sorry I was replying to Phillip Layton
@@riderdie1603 LOL happy to see you in the comments section eh!
Own or purchase a Subaru Forester traded in or get rid of it by 70,000 MI or you're going to be looking at a lot of repair bills... First of all at $36,000 MI you have to add one quart of oil between oil changes at 80,000 to 90,000 you're putting between two and three quarts in!! I had a solenoid go in the torque converter case. Would have cost $2,200 fortunately my mechanic was able to order a solenoid and install it for $675.. then you have all the front end work new front axles control arm.. stabilizer bushings.. rear bearings both rear wheels.. now the drive system is not working.. only running on front wheel drive.. more headaches I would never buy a Subaru again
I research a lot of vehicles. Tell me outside the Toyota Corolla, which one do you buy?
Owner of a Ford 5.43v and a Hyundai 2.4 Thea ll . They all have problems. Cylinder deactivation GM and Chrysler no thanks!
Absolutely right! They all have problems. We really like our VW Tiguan and the Mercedes CLA250. I have owned Domestic, German and Japanese. All have issues however, which issues are you willing to work with. Our 2002 Honda Civic was great, but brakes never lasted. My 2009 F150 was great, but the drive shaft was an issue and caused vibration. I think you get the point. 😉
@@thehonestmechanic sadly picking a vehicle is like picking your poison. I really like the Subaru Forrester . I have a aluminum 16 ft boat with 50 motor. Just under 2000 empty. I don’t know about those CVT s. Towing.
John, I honestly don't have any experience with CVT transmissions. I love the Forester also. I would look into the towing capacity of the vehicle you plan to purchase first.
@@thehonestmechanic Thank for your replies!
For the algorithm 🤩🥰💪🫶😁😎👌🥸🤓🥳🫡
You've done a great job talking me out of any Subaru. No amount of Bernie stickers will save you from the design flaws that will haunt you as they age.
But look what you have once you sort out the problems, great driving Dynamics! They are not disposable cars.
But I had one for over 300,000 miles
You live in a cold climate. Batteries don’t do as well in cold as they do in say a 70° average climate
"Here in northern canada"
Thats the accent got it haha
I think the battery issue is caused by the cold weather
That is definitely a factor here in Northern Ontario!
@@thehonestmechanic we' ve got the same problem here, I live in Bariloche which is located at the very south west of Argentina, en Subaru has an official service dealer here. I' m looking for a forester right now, Is there anything that I should take care on a used Forester ? speaking about the AWD system and the transmission, I dont know if it needs an specific maintenance... Thank you! great video!
@@diegoenriquefleck2355 Depending on mileage, other than what you saw in the video, I would add a timing belt replacement. Otherwise, solid vehicle with minor livable issues
@@thehonestmechanic There is a battery monitor like a guitar can be purchased in Canadian Tire. I bought one for my 2010 Forester after several awkward battery/alternator failure. The Subaru's alternator doesn't work well during extreme cold weathers. Sometimes the voltage can be dropped below 12 volts when driving. I've experienced 2 engine stalls because of the electric power outage. One time was saved by jump start and the other one couldn't saved, which must be towed. The "professional" battery and alternator test in the dealership is useless because their test is in a warm garage. I just went to the dealership and ask them to replace the alternator and they gave me an aftermarket choice. Then I've never had any issue with the battery or alternator for 4 years until now.
Power steering pump is also the weak point....
I did have a leak in one of the hoses. So you're right. It was an easy fix and at the time not too expensive.
Subaru batteries suck in general get interstate they last about 5 to 7 years
Your battery is normal. Try living in florida, every 2-3 years the sun chews up your battery.
For the forester?
@@anthonybarragan1687 yeah I think 2-3 years is all you get on these modern cars especially with all the anti-theft systems and computers in cars always drawing battery when the cars off. Pretty normal stuff, but check also where you're buying the battery because if it's been sitting on a shelf 6 months unused its lost 50% of its life even though its new.
:D
Would be nice if you included the year of the model in the title. Nice clickbait. We all know the 2009 sucked.
take a Diesel Engine and your c onsumption problem is gone 🙂
It's so silly to see people covering their license plates. You're license plate is in full public view everyday that you drive. How in the world do you think blocking it is going to protect you?! Blocking your license plate to protect you is a myth. Not based in fact and basically makes zero sense. You're welcome.
Lol! very insightful ! Thanks for sharing.