2011 Subaru Forester Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about engine oil consumption and oil leaks, frequently reporting that oil needs topping up between changes and that dealers attributed the loss to seals, cam carriers or piston rings. A second recurring theme is braking behaviour, including a soft or slow-responding pedal and concerns about brake lines or anti-lock function. Reports of unexpected acceleration while parking or reversing, and of airbag or seat-related warning lights, also appear in the sample.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine uses oil between changes (oil consumption)

   • 46 complaints (31%)
   • median 73,500 mi at 6.8 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,200 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners describe adding a quart or more of oil well before the next scheduled change and finding the dipstick low or dry despite no visible puddle underneath. Dealers, according to the complaints, ran oil consumption tests, replaced PCV valves or seals, and in several cases said the short block or engine needed replacement; some owners report the repairs did not stop the loss. Several complaints mention no low-oil warning appearing before the level dropped. Reported from very low mileage up past 100,000 miles, with many complaints in the 60,000-130,000 mile range.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the oil level on the dipstick before and after a test drive, ask for service records showing top-offs between changes, and ask whether any oil consumption test was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dealer says my 2011 Subaru Forester (~60,000 mi) has a cam carrier oil leak that will require a $2,500 repair to fix, as it involves removing the engine. I'm concerned that a leaking camshaft seal can compromise the timing belt, leading to a catastrophic engine failure and damage.”

   NHTSA complaint #11315465, filed 2020-03, 60,000 miles

   “Two months after buying the car used from a dealer, I noticed that it smelled 'oily', like an old car that had been sitting without being started. I checked the oil and the car was almost dry after about 1900 miles from picking it up from the dealer. It has used oil excessively ever since. I need about 1 qt, sometimes more, every 500 miles. After driving, it always has that hot old oil smell to the engine, like a very old car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11310636, filed 2020-02, 60,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Abnormal engine noise and engine failure

   • 17 complaints (12%)
   • median 71,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2024

   Owners report ticking, knocking or rattling from the engine bay, sometimes followed by stalling, loss of power or the engine stopping while driving. Complaints say dealers diagnosed internal engine damage and recommended a short block or full engine replacement; a few describe the vehicle being towed. In some reports the noise appeared alongside low oil level. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles, often after driving at highway speed.

   Recall 16V738000

   What to check: Listen for ticking or knocking at cold start and after a highway drive, and ask whether the engine or short block has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought this vehicle in 2016 and have always maintained my car and now the engine is blown it's making a ticking noise all the oil was gone I was driving down the rd and it starting making a ticking noise under the hood”

   NHTSA complaint #11173695, filed 2019-02, 84,000 miles

   “I was driving down to queens to see my wife's family and as soon as I passed a truck I heard something hit my car. As soon as I got into long island, I heard the engine revving as if it were a diesel engine. I stopped at a shop and they listened to it and said that it is an internal issue in the engine and not to drive it. They helped me out by finding the closest dealership and they called. The guy from the shop called Subaru and they told him to call the tow truck to get the vehicle towed to their shop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10625856, filed 2014-08, 76,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Oil leaks from seals and cam carriers, burning smell

   • 27 complaints (18%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2025

   Complaints describe a burning oil smell after driving, especially on hills, traced by dealers to leaking front engine seals, cam carrier covers, valve cover gaskets or head gaskets. Owners say the repair often involves removing the engine and quoted costs of several thousand dollars. Some report the smell returning or persisting after resealing. Often described between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles, and in one case in stop-and-go hill driving.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Look for oil residue or fresh sealant around the cam carriers and valve covers, check for a burning smell after a drive, and ask whether the timing belt or seals have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “73000 miles and we had to do a full engine reseal including head gaskets, cam carriers, valve cover gaskets. All were leaking. Complaint is that the gaskets should not fail this soon, 73k miles. We were losing engine oil. Car was maintained according to Subaru.”

   NHTSA complaint #11182093, filed 2019-02, 73,000 miles

   “Our Subaru Forester began ticking, like a lifter was sticking, and the oil level of the synthetic oil was perfect. Then the car began to have a burning smell from the engine compartment. We took the car to our dealer huebueger, colo. Springs, colorado. The tech informed us that the car had technical service bulletins about these issues. The tech also said that a TSB is issued by an auto maker when there is a growing trend with an unanticipated problem, but does not warrant a recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11089894, filed 2018-04, 124,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Soft or slow-responding brake pedal

   • 16 complaints (11%)
   • median 32,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2024

   Complaints describe a brake pedal that travels toward the floor or feels soft, particularly when cold or on an incline, and brakes that owners feel take too long to slow the vehicle. Dealers according to the reports replaced brake fluid, master cylinders and vacuum boosters, sometimes more than once, without fully resolving the concern. Other complaints describe brake lines rusted through and leaking fluid. Reported from about 16,000 to 108,000 miles; rust-related line failures appear in older, higher-mileage vehicles.

   Recall 14V830000Recall 14V3110001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Hold firm pressure on the pedal with the engine running to see if it sinks, and have the brake lines inspected underneath for corrosion, especially in salt-road states.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Anti-lock brakes have malfunctioned for me numerous times and I will now only drive my Subaru (despite all wheel drive, which works well) when road conditions are good. Accident occurred when driving mid-day on plowed but snowy road; downhill; I was not turning, but wanted to go more slowly and tapped brakes. Anti lock brakes kicked in and car began to skid; skidded off road and into a mailbox; needed to be towed out. After being pulled out, and continuing down hill, at 10 MPH, car began to skid again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10568027, filed 2014-03, 29,000 miles

   “Soft brake pedal that continues down to floor after pressure applied ; especially when engine cold or when on an incline. First brought to Subaru of new bern, n.c. On august 8, 2016 where they replaced brake fluid. Problem continued; on sept. 13, 2016 the master cylinder replaced under extented warrantee. Problem still exists; service manager drove car and agreed with my complaint. He also drove a 2015 model and same thing happened. On sept. 27th, manager authorized replacement again of the master cylinder and vacuum booster pump. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10915212, filed 2016-10, 38,062 miles
5. 5
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration while parking or reversing

   • 21 complaints (14%)
   • median 35,274 mi at 3.6 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2024

   Owners describe the vehicle surging or accelerating on its own at low speed, most often while backing up or manoeuvring into a parking space, with the brake pedal reportedly not stopping it. Several complaints mention damage to nearby objects or vehicles. A related group describes surging while braking to a stop with cruise control engaged. Reported mostly under 30,000 miles in the sample, typically during low-speed parking or reversing.

   What to check: During a test drive, try several slow reverse and parking manoeuvres on a clear lot and note any surging or hesitation; ask whether the throttle body or pedal sensor has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Pulled into a parking space at a local train station. Car was stopped and shut off. Not sure if keys were in ignition or not. When reaching over to get handbag and tote I heard the engine rev up very suddenly and loudly, car jumped 6 curb and propelled forward about two feet when right front bumper hit tree and car stopped. Air bags did not deploy and I was not injured. Before I even knew about this website I told the adjuster and the dealership that the car took off on its own. The only reaction I got was strange looks. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10523859, filed 2013-07, 28,000 miles

   “Driver (adult female) was backing up to park when the vehicle suddenly accelerated. Driver lifted foot off the accelerator and hit the brake. Vehicle accelerated even more. Crashed into a guy wire on an electric pole, snapping off the top of the pole. Several days later the second driver (adult male) was backing up in the driveway to turn around. Car suddenly accelerated. Second driver now a believer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10522911, filed 2013-07, 30,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws a steady stream of oil-consumption and oil-leak reports, so a pre-purchase inspection that includes an oil level check, a look for leaks and a compression or leak-down test is worthwhile. Also have the brake lines inspected for corrosion and confirm any open recalls for the airbag inflator and brake lines have been completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.