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Used 2011 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
86 reviews

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Cons
3 out of 5 stars

Excessive Oil Consumption

climaxbrew, 10/27/2014
updated 04/27/2016
2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful

wife and I bought this car for our 20th anniversary. We bought it based on consumer reports and the companies image of being safe and reliable. It turns out that this is all hype and BS as this is the worst piece of junk I have ever bought. This car went through oil like crazy. Every 500-1000 miles I had to put 3-4 quarts of oil in. I diligently did this as Subaru tells you that it is normal to burn 1-2 quarts per 1000 miles. The end result was a blown motor on a 3 year old car. Told Subaru america about the problem and they offered no help whatsoever. We had to put a used motor in the car at a cost of over $4000 as a rebuild of the motor would have cost $7000. Beware people.This car is JUNK

Performance
2 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
3 out of 5 stars
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2 out of 5 stars

My first and last Subaru! Multiple issues..

Mary M, 10/10/2015
2011 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 4A)
21 of 24 people found this review helpful

I purchased my 2011 Subaru new and began having difficulties maintaining oil within the first two years. On a highway drive within 75 miles from home, I heard a clicking in the engine and car felt sluggish. Pulled into gas station and checked oil - WOW it was empty!!! I addded 4-5 quarts and the stick was still showing oil half way. I'm a single woman so of course I thought I must not be doing something right with maintainance even though I have oil replaced even more frequently than recommended for synthetic oil. Then I happened to see the other reviews for this model with same issues. There is no oil light to warn you of low oil and i see some reviews where people have had failed engines. In addition to the oil issue, I have had both right and left front cracked axles (at separate times and did not go over any pot holes). There was also a recall on the 2011 brake lines . Coincidentally last winter, I had my first accident ever when my brakes failed on a slippery road - grinding noise and car kept going. Bought this car for good control in snow since I live in New England but brakes have failed me a few times. Love the Subaru concept and jealous of all those other Subaru owners who love their's - maybe its just the 2011 Forester but I won't be taking any more chances and plan to return to Honda.

Safety
3 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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2011 Subaru Forester for sale near you
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4.13 out of 5 stars

A great Value but by no means perfect. . .

kghofsf, 04/04/2011
2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
32 of 38 people found this review helpful

I recently bought a Pearl Blue 2.5X Limited Forester. I was looking for a smaller Crossover that was rugged enough to handle some relatively sketchy gravel / dirt roads on the way to the back-country, but was not completely out of place in an Urban environment. I also didn't want to spend 40K+ either. After returning from a 2500 mile road trip to the Tucson AZ area I can confirm that the Forester essentially fulfills its twin goals of being both tough enough for the desert and civilized enough for everyday driving. It is Not, however, a luxury car (see the Volvo XC60) nor is it a Performance car. As such people with long daily commutes might want to look elsewhere.

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3.38 out of 5 stars

Not all warm and Fozzy

arveejay, 03/13/2011
2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
18 of 21 people found this review helpful

There is a lot of noise inside the car at speed. I spent a couple hours setting up the hands free Bluetooth phone. Pairing the phone was easy. Sitting still, windows up, programming numbers was a major chore. The voice mostly said pardon. It just didn't want to accept numbers. We finally got 6-7 numbers programmed and took it for a test ride. It rarely worked, even at speeds under 35 mph. At speeds above 55, forget it. Dealer replaced the radio and the microphone. Tech prewarned me it was no better, and it isn't. Called S.O.A. and I was informed there was no know fix for it. Bumper 2 bumper warranty, and it can't be fixed. That's reassuring.Pistons rattle when cold. Was told it's normal.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

great value and best in snow

gib2011, 01/19/2011
2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful

This is a great SUV especially for Harsh winters and off road driving. The 2010 /2011 Forester is easy on the eyes in my opinion. This car has the best value for money in its class. The leather interior is very nice but not luxurious. The blue tooth and Navigation work well, and the touch screen is very convenient. I really enjoy driving my Forester. The handling is better than I thought it would be. The sound system in the limited edition forester is good. I was quite impressed with the video quality of the DVD player. I watched Avitar in my Forester, and the surround sound together with the visual quality was great! I really love this car!

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