Subaru Forester
S3, 79V, 1997 Release, etc... · See All
- ✓ Verified company
352 reviews · Statistics
- See all reviewer photos
Expert Review
Great but isn’t worth buying anymore in 2023
Forester S3 (2008-2012)Not a great first car, as it is SHOCKING on fuel efficiency! Driving mainly on country roads has absolutely wrecked its suspension and brakes, however its practical design offers ample cargo space, making it suitable for both daily errands and adventurous journeys. It’s also good for 4WD driving, just invest in a great mechanic because you’ll be there A LOT.
Purchased in at Subaru Dealers.
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: New
- Year: 2009
A GREAT CAR ALL ROUND
Forester S5 2.5i Premium (2018-2023)I bought this new car about 8 weeks ago. We live in the country, and the previous European car just wasnt made for country driving. The Forrester has all the features and is HUGE on safety. The headlights are very bright also. The car handles brilliantly also. I travel 10 into our local town, and occasionally in to the city where it is equally impressive. Our local dealer is easy for servicing also.
Purchased in at Subaru Dealers for $51,000.
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: New
- Year: 2023
Faulty Alpine head unit
Forester S5 2.5i-S (2018-2023)We purchased a new Forester in April 2023 and immediately had issues with the Alpine head unit iLX-507A constantly cutting out, skips and turns off when using apple car play / music apps, the unit only operates normally when using the radio.
We've had the vehicle looked at 3 times by the dealer on 15 May 2023 (included 1st service), 30 May 2023 and 26 June 2023. I was advised that on the last visit a co-axial cable was installed which did rectify a phone call audio issue which we also had.
We have ongoing issues with the head unit, I've bee
... Read moren in contact with Subaru - their response times are useless! Buyer beware for any Alpine head units in these foresters, we wish we went for another brand - it is that frustrating. Class actions in the US against Subaru for faulty head units, I wonder if this will hit Australia.Purchased in .
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: New
- Year: 2022
Feels like a ticking time bomb
Forester S5 2.5i (2018-2023)This is my 3rd Subaru (first one I've bought new) and when comparing it to its main rivals considered it value for money with the safety features like eyesight etc that are included. I am Subaru brand loyal
BUT...
Problems have come up since purchased that have been completely brushed off by Subaru.
The car has done less than 25,000km. There are other minor issues with the service dept (not being able to fix a slowly leaking tyre and me having to have get this done independently at a mechanic - I thought the staff working on cars at Subaru s
Purchased in at Subaru Dealers for $39,000.
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: New
- Year: 2021
Find out how Subaru Forester compares to other Midsize / Medium SUVs
Know better, choose better.
Subaru excessive engine oil consumption
Forester S3 (2008-2012)I live in Sydney, Australia. The attached photo shows a row of 10, 5-litre oil containers on top of the engine of my Subaru Forester which represents how much engine oil it can consume between the regular Subaru recommended oil changes. The engine was tested by Subaru and it was found that it can consume up to 49 litres of oil between each 12,500km oil change. That represents about $900 of oil consumed before the oil is changed again at the next regular service. Furthermore, the entire engine sump capacity is about 5 litres which also means
... Read more I have to replace the entire engine sump oil ten times between regular services. Subaru excessive oil burning is well documented on the Internet since Subaru released its new FB engine in 2011 and it is still basically the same engine in 2023. Some Subaru owners call their cars “Oil-Oholics”. In fact, in the United States of America a legal challenge by some owners resulted in a Court Order to fix the problem free of charge to the owners. The Court settlement was finally approved on 31 August 2016. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on the law suit where it said “piston rings in the vehicles wear out quickly and some vehicles burn excessive amounts of oil”. It also reported that the oil consumption issue "can cause engine failure while the Class Vehicles are in operation at any time and under any driving condition or speed”. Initially Subaru set about tearing the engines down and replacing the piston rings, however, Subaru later decided to fit a new engine Short Block. A short block is the bottom part of the engine consisting of the crank case, crank shaft and pistons. Over the ensuing years Subaru America issued a Service Bulletin (02-157-14R) about excessive oil consumption and fitting a short block. The Bulletin has been updated several times and the last issue I found is dated 26th January 2021. The replacement short block program is still underway with an extra 8 year or 160,000 kilometres warranty on the engine after the replacement. (Note: Subaru Canada has issued similar documentation but it is a little more lenient than its US counterpart.)- Bought: Used
- Year: 2012
What a Lemon
Forester S5 2.5i-L (2018-2023)Our 2019 premium was a total Lemon, it was at the authorised dealer for six months as the engine failed and Subaru were pathetically slow in diagnosing the issue.
Purchased in at Ballina Quayside Motors for $44,800.
- Transmission: Continuously Variable (CVT)
- Bought: New
- Year: 2019
Essendon Subaru Service Centre
Forester S3 (2008-2012)I booked my car at Essendon Subaru and want to charge me for repair. The car still under warranty and want to charge me to replace the Front Lower Control Arm bushes
Poor customer service :(
Note: check the car history or warranty. So disappointing :(
Purchased in .
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: New
- Year: 2017
Marylin, thank you for your review. We are sorry to hear of the way you feel towards the recommendation for a repair by Essendon Subaru. We encourage you to reach out to Subaru Australia on 1800 22 66
... Read more 43 or email feedback@subaru.com.au, providing the opportunity for a Case manager to assist your concerns further. Warm Regards, The Subaru Team
Faulty Engine Coolant Bypass Valve could be costly.
Forester S5 2.5i-L (2018-2023)Dashboard lights came on in my 2019 Forester and several things no longer worked. The auto braking, lane keeping and cruise control no longer worked and fuel consumption rose dramatically. While inconvenient the car was still driveable. The local Subaru dealer (Patrick Auto Group) quickly obtained a spare and has fixed the problem. I had only traveled 18000 km approx so it is worrying that this could happen at this mileage.
The text message said the cost was $1618.95 but it was covered by the warranty. I have owned Subaru's since 2000 with onl
Purchased in for $38,000.
- Transmission: Continuously Variable (CVT)
- Bought: New
- Year: 2019
Faulty air conditioner in 2019 Subaru Forrester.
Forester S5 2.5i-L (2018-2023)Extremely disappointed and dissatisfied in my 2019 model Subaru Forrester and subsequent lack of care or responsibility to fix the problem by anyone at Subaru.
A Subaru service centre has assessed the car’s air-conditioning three times over twelve months (since the air-con failed the first time) and this time, said the problem is some leaks requiring new o-rings at a cost to me of $500…yes, that’s right, apparently O-rings cost $500!!!
However, an independent third party assessment of my 2019 Subaru by a respected air conditioning business
... Read morehas found the problem to be a fault with the evaporator and compressor and they are both leaking. This is going to cost $4000 to fix!!! I have now lost all trust in Subaru after they have tried to sweep the problem under the carpet. I have given Subaru every opportunity to rectify this problem. I have spoken with service centre personnel, phoned the Subaru feedback line and spoken with a mediator who was going to liaise with Subaru further. However, the mediation person has disappeared and stopped responding to my emails and phone calls this week, again which says a lot about your service, Subaru. Subaru, you are a huge disappointment. The reputation of your name is everything.Purchased in .
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: New
- Year: 2018
Find out how Subaru Forester compares to other Midsize / Medium SUVs
Know better, choose better.
Failure to disclose actual pricing.
ForesterI received an email to subscribe to two years of map updates for my 2019 Subaru Forester. The quoted price was $ 214
I duly took out the subscription and it was only when an emailed receipt was received that I noted that the price was in US dollars. The actual cost to me was $329.68 which Includes a bank Foreign Exchange fee of $9.60
I am reasonably certain that the website did not state that the price was in US dollars and the fact that Subaru Australia advised, after 4 weeks, that they would refund the extra charge ($115.60) confirms to me
... Read morethat the subscription was not given in US dollars. After 19 business days from that advice, Subaru Australia are yet to make this payment even though they advised on 24 Jan to allow 7-10 business days for receipt of payment. Any contacts from Subaru Australia have only been received after my emailing or phoning them.Purchased in for $43,000.
- Transmission: Continuously Variable (CVT)
- Bought: New
- Year: 2019
Hi Peter, thank you for your review. We are sorry to hear of your experience. Please be advised we have forwarded your correspondence to your acting case manager who will be in contact with you shortly.
Kind Regards, The Subaru Team
Acting Case Manger has today rang and confirmed that the price for a Subaru Forrester GPS maps update has now been corrected on the relevant website and the price is now displayed in AUS Dollars. How
... Read moreever the Acting Case Manager is unable to advise when her Accounts payable team will be able to process payment, notwithstanding the same Case Manager confirmed that payment would be received within 7-10 business days of 24 Jan 2023. The date when documentation was requested to support payment (and supplied) was 12 Jan 2023. As I commented upon previously, great customer service. I also received a phone call yesterday from the same Case Manger, I believe as a result of finally including my local Subaru dealership in the loop.
Poor service
Forester S5 2.5i-S (2018-2023)My 2019 Subaru forrester has the engine light on. Still under warranty. Has to wait 3 weeks before a dealership could book it in. Then only to be told I have to wait another 2 weeks for parts to arrive and get it fixed. Why sell cars if you can’t honor the warranty and provide the service
Purchased in at Bartons Wynnum for $54,000.
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: New
- Year: 2019
Vinesh, thank you for your review. We appreciate your feedback and assure you that we have forwarded copies of your correspondence to the appropriate people within Subaru to ensure that further steps
... Read moremight be taken to improve this aspect of our business and in the form of constructive criticism. Kind Regards, The Subaru Team.
Buyer Beware 2020 Subaru Forester
Forester S5 2.5i Premium (2018-2023)Currently 33days off the road
Engine - catastrophic engine failure.
A product is only as good as when the Manufacturer backs its product in claim.
There were no warnings and we were left stradnded. This is a Warranty Repair and yet Subaru Australia has only just approved ordering parts. No compensation, no definitive time for completion, just delays and month(s) in question. 33days and counting.
Not impressed. Dissatisfied Customer
Purchased in at DVG Melville.
- Transmission: Continuously Variable (CVT)
- Bought: New
- Year: 2020
Hi Jenny, thank you for your review. We are saddened to hear of your experience and we are committed to making it better. We encourage you to reach out to our Customer Relations Team on 1800 22 66 43
... Read moreor email feedback@subaru.com.au providing the opportunity for a case manager to investigate and assist you further. Kind Regards, The Subaru TeamFind out how Subaru Forester compares to other Midsize / Medium SUVs
Know better, choose better.
Amazing car. Can’t find a fault to sell it
Forester S4 2.0D-S (2013-2018)Bought my Forester 2DS brand new in 2017. Has clocked 90,000 km as of yet and has never ever missed a beat. I have done a quite a bit of beach and moderate mountain terrains. Changed the first set of Bridgestone at 76,000 and replaced with another 4 Bridgestone. Still running on the original factory fitted Panasonic Battery. 82% charge still on.
I have owned many number of cars like Toyota,Nissan,Honda,Mitsubishi,BMW,SuzukiHyundai,Kia and many bikes as well. I travel around Australia a lot.
I have switched to my local garage for services afte
Purchased in for $42,500.
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: New
- Year: 2017
Perfect car
Forester S5 2.5i-S (2018-2023)Purchased car in December 2021 when it had done only 27500km and have driven 20000 in one year.
Pros:
* Great interior and is very spacious
* Safety features work very well
* Very comfortable to drive. Have traveled from Adelaide to Melbourne with only 2 stops of 10 and 20 minutes of each.
Cons:
Purchased in at Jarvis Cars for $43,500.
- Transmission: Continuously Variable (CVT)
- Bought: Used
- Year: 2020
2022 Subaru Forester 2.5i-S
Forester S5 2.5i-S (2018-2023)In April 2022, I ordered a Subaru Forester 2.5i-S in Ice Silver. I took delivery late May 2022. I ordered the top of the range model with leather seats, tow bar, GPS and whatever else you get with paying $10K extra. Originally, I wanted a 100% electric vehicle. Unfortunately, decent electric cars are hard to come by in Australia. We still think that we have a god given right to contaminate the environment. Also, there were no car dealers that sold electric cars in a 1,000km radius, and, towing a boat with an electric car wouldn’t have worked an
... Read moreyway. My son and I drove to every car dealer in town and I first zeroed-in on the Subaru XV. I took it for a test drive. I was very impressed with the overall comfort, quality of the fit-out and handling. Because I had driven a Mercedes E280 for over 10 years and an Audi A6 3.0 Quattro for 5 years, I had high expectations.. and I wanted a 4WD. I was about to pay the deposit when I was told that the XV would not tow a boat confidently. I did notice the lackluster performance during the test drive but thought it may have been due to the “intelligent” i-drive system wanting to save me money. It was suggested I look at the Subaru Forester because of the larger engine. To be honest, I did not like the size or looks of the Forester. The bat-car style wings on the bonnet, the long nose and 80’s look didn’t enthuse me. So, back to the drawing board. I test drove the Mazda CX5 and a few other cars. Except for the Subaru, and Mazda, all other cars in that price range and vehicle class were unacceptable. The manufacturing standard of most vehicles I saw was so poor that I left these dealerships without even test driving them. The exterior designs of some of these vehicles were also plain ugly. Just look at Toyota's new models...yuck. The Mazda CX5 didn’t do it for me in the end. Although the design was appealing compared to the Forester, the motor was weak, visibility was poor and, compared to the Subaru, brakes and steering were also very poor. So, why did I buy the Forester? Well, the above for starters. I have also split my review into pros and cons. Let’s start with pros.Purchased in at Subaru Dealers for $50,000.
- Transmission: Continuously Variable (CVT)
- Bought: New
- Year: 2022
Questions & Answers
Hi ,looking to purchase an ex-demo model ,what issues do I need to know about , what price would I expect to pay? Thanks for any feedback
Looking at a Subaru Forester X S3 Auto AWD MY12 with about 120,000, anyone have any ideas on what to check for?
You first have to know what engine is in it. The earlier EJ turbo with rubber timing belt was carried over in the S3. In 2011 the new FB normally-aspirated engine with chain drive was fitted along with the EJ turbo. Some EJ engines had head gasket issues. As in the case of my FB engine it uses a lot of engine oil but these engines can also leak along the join line where the cylinder head is split to hold the camshafts. Both engines require the engine to be lifted out to do a proper repair. As far as I know the S3 was only fitted with the old 4-speed 4EAT which is said to be very reliable. The first of the CVT gearboxes were fitted in the next model and the internet indicates some owners reported some issues,
Get an answer from our members and Subaru Australia representatives
Details
| Category | Midsize / Medium SUVs | Midsize / Medium SUVs | Midsize / Medium SUVs | Midsize / Medium SUVs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $51,441 | $48,026 | $45,130 | $42,658 |
| Warranty Distance | 150,000 kms | 150,000 kms | 150,000 kms | 150,000 kms |
| Transmission | Continuously Variable (CVT) | Continuously Variable (CVT) | Continuously Variable (CVT) | Continuously Variable (CVT) |
| Drive Type | All Wheel Drive (AWD) | All Wheel Drive (AWD) | All Wheel Drive (AWD) | All Wheel Drive (AWD) |
| Fuel Type | Petrol | Petrol | Petrol | Petrol |
| Wheels | 18" Alloy | 18" Alloy | 17" Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| ANCAP Safety Rating | 5 Stars | 5 Stars | 5 Stars | 5 Stars |
| Fuel Consumption | 7.4 L/100km | 7.4 L/100km | 7.4 L/100km | 7.4 L/100km |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 63 L | 63 L | 63 L | 63 L |
| Engine | 4 Cylinder 2.5L | 4 Cylinder 2.5L | 4 Cylinder 2.5L | 4 Cylinder 2.5L |
| Max Power | 136kW @ 5800rpm | 136kW @ 5800rpm | 136kW @ 5800rpm | 136kW @ 5800rpm |
| Max Torque | 239Nm @ 4400rpm | 239Nm @ 4400rpm | 239Nm @ 4400rpm | 239Nm @ 4400rpm |
| Country of Manufacture | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Phone Connectivity | Android Auto (Wired), Apple CarPlay (Wired), Bluetooth and USB | Android Auto (Wired), Apple CarPlay (Wired), Bluetooth and USB | Android Auto (Wired), Apple CarPlay (Wired), Bluetooth and USB | Android Auto (Wired), Apple CarPlay (Wired), Bluetooth and USB |
| Wireless Charger | No | No | No | No |
| Security Features | Immobilizer | Immobilizer | Immobilizer | Immobilizer |
| Roof | Sunroof | |||
| Companion App | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Steering Wheel Adjustment | Telescoping (Manual) | Telescoping (Manual) | Telescoping (Manual) | Telescoping (Manual) |
| Maximum Towing Capacity (braked) | 1,800 kg | 1,800 kg | 1,800 kg | 1,800 kg |
| Maximum Towing Capacity (unbraked) | 750 kg | 750 kg | 750 kg | 750 kg |
| Manufacturer Warranty | 5 year(s) | 5 year(s) | 5 year(s) | 5 year(s) |
| Keyless Features | ||||
| Keyless Locking/Unlocking | No | No | No | No |
| Boot | Automatic Close and Automatic Open | Automatic Close and Automatic Open | Automatic Close and Automatic Open | Automatic Close and Automatic Open |
| Safety Features | ||||
| Cameras | Blindspot and Rear | Blindspot and Rear | Blindspot and Rear | Blindspot and Rear |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive (ACC) | Adaptive (ACC) | Adaptive (ACC) | Adaptive (ACC) |
| Parking Sensors | Front | Front | Front | Front |
| Hazard Perception | Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Forward Collision Warning | Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Forward Collision Warning | Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Forward Collision Warning | Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Forward Collision Warning |
| Lane Assistance | Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Keep Assist (LKA) | Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Keep Assist (LKA) | Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Keep Assist (LKA) | Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Keep Assist (LKA) |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Ground Clearance | 220 mm | 220 mm | 220 mm | 220 mm |
| Driver Information | ||||
| Gauges | Analogue and Digital | Analogue and Digital | Analogue and Digital | Analogue and Digital |
| Built-In Navigation System | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Heads Up Display | No | No | No | No |
| Voice Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Radio (DAB+) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Release date | ||||
Extra Information
ProductReview.com.au has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence our content moderation policies in any way, though ProductReview.com.au may earn commissions for products/services purchased via affiliate links.
Hi Chippy. S, thank you for your review. We are truly sadden to hear of your experience and would love the opportunity to investigate into your concerns. Please reach out to our Customer Relations te
... Read moream on 1800 22 66 43 or you may email feedback@subaru.com.au Warm Regards, The Subaru Team