DealScan2011–2024
How many miles does a Subaru Forester last?
By the DealScan team · Updated 2026-06-12
Quick answer
200,000 miles is attainable, but Subarus punish neglect more than Toyotas. An oil-fed, CVT-serviced Forester at 120,000 miles beats a vague-history one at 70,000.
What is a used Subaru Forester worth? Free price checkerWhat decides how long a Forester lasts
With a Subaru Forester, maintenance records matter far more than the number on the odometer. The issues below are what actually shorten a Forester's life when they go unaddressed — check for them before you judge a car by its mileage.
- 2011–2015: FB25 oil consumption — check the dipstick now and ask how often oil is added between changes
- 2014–2018: CVT failures led Subaru to extend coverage to 100,000 miles — confirm whether the CVT was serviced or replaced
- 2019+: windshield stress cracking and parasitic battery drain complaints — ask about replacements
- AWD system needs four matched tires — mismatched tread depths cause drivetrain wear
What to verify on a high-mileage Forester
- Current oil level and consumption history (2011–2015)
- CVT service or replacement records (2014–2018)
- All four tires same brand/model with even wear
- No head gasket seepage on high-mileage examples
Subaru Forester mileage FAQ
How many miles does a Subaru Forester last?
200,000 miles is attainable, but Subarus punish neglect more than Toyotas. An oil-fed, CVT-serviced Forester at 120,000 miles beats a vague-history one at 70,000.
What mileage is too high for a used Subaru Forester?
There is no single cutoff. 200,000 miles is attainable, but Subarus punish neglect more than Toyotas. An oil-fed, CVT-serviced Forester at 120,000 miles beats a vague-history one at 70,000. A documented, well-maintained example at higher mileage is usually a safer buy than a neglected low-mileage one.
Is a high-mileage Subaru Forester worth buying?
A used Subaru Forester is a capable all-weather buy with two documented soft spots: oil consumption on 2011–2015 FB25 engines (subject of a class action — check for top-off habits) and CVT reliability on 2014–2018 cars, for which Subaru extended the warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles. 2019+ models mostly trade those for minor annoyances like windshield cracking and battery drain. Verify head gasket history on anything older you're cross-shopping.
Found a Forester listing? Check the actual car.
Mileage is only half the story — price and history decide the deal. Paste the ad link or text into the analyzer and DealScan scores the deal, flags mileage-versus-condition mismatches, and lists the questions worth asking this seller.
Check a listing free