Subaru Forester Maintenance Cost
Subaru Forester maintenance costs. Full year-by-year breakdown, common problems, and which years to buy or avoid.
Estimate the Subaru Forester's total cost for your mileage and years of ownership →
Which year Forester should you buy?
Green is safe, red means major known issues. Tap any year.
Years scored against Forester's own complaint record — not against other SUVs.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints most reported in 2010. NHTSA recall 14V311, 14V830, 20V001 and others issued.
- Air Bags
- Electrical System
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic
- Seat Belts
- Exterior Lighting
What breaks on the Forester
Top issues ranked by share of total NHTSA complaints.
Subaru Forester maintenance schedule
RepairPal's scheduled dealer-service costs for the Subaru Forester, by mileage interval. This is separate from the avg. repairs/yr figure above, which covers unscheduled repairs only.
| Mileage | Service cost | Running total |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000 mi | $93–$104 | $93–$104 |
| 6,000 mi | $135–$164 | $228–$268 |
| 7,500 mi | $177–$227 | $405–$495 |
| 10,500 mi | $89–$102 | $494–$597 |
| 12,000 mi | $266–$356 | $760–$953 |
| 15,000 mi | $259–$350 | $1,019–$1,303 |
| 18,000 mi | $126–$152 | $1,145–$1,455 |
| 22,500 mi | $177–$227 | $1,322–$1,682 |
| 24,000 mi | $267–$358 | $1,589–$2,040 |
| 25,500 mi | $89–$102 | $1,678–$2,142 |
| 30,000 mi | $398–$552 | $2,076–$2,694 |
| 33,000 mi | $89–$102 | $2,165–$2,796 |
| 36,000 mi | $266–$356 | $2,431–$3,152 |
| 37,500 mi | $177–$227 | $2,608–$3,379 |
| 40,500 mi | $89–$102 | $2,697–$3,481 |
| 42,000 mi | $135–$164 | $2,832–$3,645 |
| 45,000 mi | $259–$350 | $3,091–$3,995 |
| 48,000 mi | $233–$309 | $3,324–$4,304 |
| 52,500 mi | $177–$227 | $3,501–$4,531 |
| 54,000 mi | $135–$164 | $3,636–$4,695 |
| 55,500 mi | $89–$102 | $3,725–$4,797 |
| 60,000 mi | $665–$944 | $4,390–$5,741 |
| 63,000 mi | $89–$102 | $4,479–$5,843 |
| 66,000 mi | $135–$164 | $4,614–$6,007 |
| 67,500 mi | $177–$227 | $4,791–$6,234 |
| 70,500 mi | $89–$102 | $4,880–$6,336 |
| 72,000 mi | $376–$518 | $5,256–$6,854 |
| 75,000 mi | $265–$358 | $5,521–$7,212 |
| 78,000 mi | $126–$152 | $5,647–$7,364 |
| 82,500 mi | $177–$227 | $5,824–$7,591 |
| 84,000 mi | $266–$356 | $6,090–$7,947 |
| 85,500 mi | $89–$102 | $6,179–$8,049 |
| 90,000 mi | $398–$552 | $6,577–$8,601 |
| 93,000 mi | $89–$102 | $6,666–$8,703 |
| 96,000 mi | $267–$358 | $6,933–$9,061 |
| 97,500 mi | $177–$227 | $7,110–$9,288 |
| 100,500 mi | $89–$102 | $7,199–$9,390 |
| 102,000 mi | $135–$164 | $7,334–$9,554 |
| 105,000 mi | $601–$852 | $7,935–$10,406 |
| 108,000 mi | $232–$308 | $8,167–$10,714 |
| 112,500 mi | $177–$227 | $8,344–$10,941 |
| 114,000 mi | $135–$164 | $8,479–$11,105 |
| 115,500 mi | $89–$102 | $8,568–$11,207 |
| 120,000 mi | $665–$944 | $9,233–$12,151 |
| 123,000 mi | $89–$102 | $9,322–$12,253 |
| 126,000 mi | $135–$164 | $9,457–$12,417 |
| 127,500 mi | $177–$227 | $9,634–$12,644 |
| 130,500 mi | $89–$102 | $9,723–$12,746 |
| 132,000 mi | $266–$356 | $9,989–$13,102 |
| 135,000 mi | $259–$350 | $10,248–$13,452 |
| 137,500 mi | $132–$194 | $10,380–$13,646 |
| 138,000 mi | $126–$152 | $10,506–$13,798 |
| 142,500 mi | $177–$227 | $10,683–$14,025 |
| 144,000 mi | $376–$518 | $11,059–$14,543 |
| 145,500 mi | $89–$102 | $11,148–$14,645 |
| 150,000 mi | $402–$558 | $11,550–$15,203 |
RepairPal dealer-schedule pricing. Independent shops typically charge less, and your actual cost depends on which services you keep up. Running total is cumulative — each row includes everything before it.
Is a Forester extended warranty worth it?
Worth considering. The Subaru Forester has an above-average major repair probability for the segment — a warranty is worth pricing before you buy, especially on higher-mileage examples. If you want to minimise risk, stick to the 2023 and 2026. Pay particular attention to 2011, 2012, and 2013 model years.
Buy new or save on a used Forester?
The Forester holds 87% of its value after 3 years — one of the best in its class. That strong resale narrows the used-car savings, but here's the real math.