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SureCritic / Makes / Subaru / Forester / 2011

2011 Subaru Forester

Average Score

Overall Rating 4.3/5Overall Rating 4.3/5Overall Rating 4.3/5Overall Rating 4.3/5Overall Rating 4.3/5
4.3
(48 Reviews)
43%
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Category Summary
(Avg. out of 10)
    Value
  • Features
  • Build Quality
  • Fun
  • Reliability
  • Performance
  • Exterior
  • Comfort
  • Interior
  • Styling

Reviews

Overall Rating 4.3/5Overall Rating 4.3/5Overall Rating 4.3/5Overall Rating 4.3/5Overall Rating 4.3/5
4.3
(48 Reviews)
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Reviews

RM
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Rich M.
2011 Subaru Forester
Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5
09/13/2016

Meh

My father's CRV which is two years older gets way better MPG, has had far less issues, and rides much better - and the CRV has double the miles. This is the first car my wife and I purchased new. Thought it would be an awesome experience but it has been "meh." In terms of reliability - the only mechanical issue we have had in 6 yrs and 51k miles is a cam shaft seal. Had that not been under warranty it would have hurt. Also the shocks went bad around 20k which was very surprising. Ever get stuck? Nope! Best AWD available under $50k. But with the average 18 MPG and bad ride quality, despite a really nice interior and great amenities this car gets a lackluster overall rating. Oh, almost forgot, the transmission shudders badly. Feels like TCC lockup issue. Not looking forward to that repair. A far cry from what I would expect from Motor Trend's 2009 Car of the Year winner
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LP
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Liz P.
2011 Subaru Forester
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5
03/30/2019
Verified Review

My car

Love my Subaru Forestet, but it burns oil really bad. Received an oil change and 3000 miles later no oil left which is not good. This is the only complaint I have on the vehicle. It would be nice to get better gas mileage and I would get another one if the oil problem gets fixed.
Recommended
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RW
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ROBERT W.
2011 Subaru Forester
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5
09/04/2019
Verified Review

Built-in Oil Leak

When buying a new car the customer must always assume that the unit was constructed without flaws. Unfortunately, some 2011 Foresters were manufactured with inadequate timing cover oil seals. This defect did not show up until about 50,000 miles. The owner has decided to let it leak. In discussing this problem with my previous mechanic I inquired if such an oil leak might contribute to an engine fire. We both agreed that if a fire were to break out I should stop the car, unfasten the seat belts and exit the vehicle. Unfortunately, this manufacturing defect is one which Subaru prefers not to address. The service writer exhibited a wry smile when I pointed out that the inspection report included the timing cover oil leak. Will I buy another Subaru?
Recommended
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JD
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JILLIAN D.
2011 Subaru Forester
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5Overall Rating 3.0/5
01/26/2021
Verified Review

Subaru Forester

Great for taking to trails, skiing, and car camping. Unreliable engine.
Recommended
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HH
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Hamid H.
2011 Subaru Forester
Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5Overall Rating 2.0/5
12/18/2021

Burns Oil, Leaks Oil, Good AWD

I bought my 2011 Subaru brand new. First oil change at 3k I was shocked to find only 3 Qts of oil coming out of engine. Turns out it badly burns oil (about 1qt / 1000 miles). It also leaks a lot of oil from Cam Carriers and front timing chain cover. All are costly repairs. This is my 1st and last Subaru. Only good thing about it is the AWD. With snow tires on, it is a beast.
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MH
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MARK H.
2011 Subaru Forester
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 1.0/5Overall Rating 1.0/5Overall Rating 1.0/5Overall Rating 1.0/5Overall Rating 1.0/5
01/31/2019
Verified Review

New engine leaking oil

Our first engine burned oil and Subaru replaced it at 50,000 miles. The new engine started leaking oil at 75,000 or so. The rear main seal is leaking and that is a major problem that will be expensive to fix. First and last Subaru for me!
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CG
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CHRIS G.
2011 Subaru Forester
verified customerVerified Owner
Overall Rating 1.0/5Overall Rating 1.0/5Overall Rating 1.0/5Overall Rating 1.0/5Overall Rating 1.0/5
11/28/2019
Verified Review

Sure it's great... On my third engine

So I guess Subaru dad a recall and a class action lawsuit about the 2011 Forester which no one told me about. Despite the fact that while it was under warranty the first engine blew. They assured me at GO Subaru on Arapahoe Rd in Greenwood Village Colorado, that it was a fluke, a one in a million occurrence. They didn't notify me of the class action lawsuit and neither did Subaru. Last year my engine blew again. It wasn't under warranty. I took it to a local Subaru mechanic who was all too familiar with the problem. He got me a new engine (not a 2011 boxter engineer) and did great work. It was 6k out the door. Subaru is an awful untrustworthy business that makes pretty good cars. But for all my and wife's next cars and for my four kids.. Pretty sure Subaru will never see another dime. Which is a shame. Two generations and six cars they will never sell. By the way never do business with the Subaru dealer on Arapahoe..I think they are Auto Nation now... Pikers, cheats and liars all of them
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RR
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Roger R.
2011 Subaru Forester
Overall Rating 1.0/5Overall Rating 1.0/5Overall Rating 1.0/5Overall Rating 1.0/5Overall Rating 1.0/5
05/05/2020

What a high maintenance SUV! BUYER BEWARE!!

I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT HAS TO BE CONSTANTLY WATCHED AND MAINTAINED AS THIS ONE, 2 QTS / 1000 MILES, RUNS ROUGH, QUITS, THROWS CODES FOR EVERYTHING, PLUGS/COIL FAULTS, NOW IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY WILL NOT START WILL NOT GIVE ANY CODES. NOW ILL HAVE TO GET IT TO A SHOP FOR AREAL SCANNER TO TROUBLESHOOT. IT'S TO BAD, it drives nice, feels good going down the road and highway, but SUBARU really screwed up with all the damn sensors! Being a technician I see all kinds of things and how to troubleshoot, but Subaru built this so unless you have a $2000+ troubleshooting/code analyzer diagnostic computer your going to be SOL. I'm pulling sensors out, checking them with a OHM meter, shooting wires, reading the wiring diagrams and I'm against a intermittent fault. So clearly without a way to get into the ECU, your dead in the water. So this is the reason for the one star. Maybe Subaru will start to include a life time of computer diagnostic troubleshooting in their warranty and a couple hand full of sensors, wondering if Yugo built this one. AVOID the 2009-2013, junk engines and SOA will leave you holding the bag. The real sad thing is they are built very well, but the electrical issues will screw you up and cost. And the oil using engine YOU MUST STAY AHEAD OF or it will eat itself up on your dime.
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