Used 2012 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews

“Oil leak both cams and chang (sic) cover”

“Oil leak both cams and chang (sic) cover” noted by the Subaru technician on Wednesday. My 2012 Subaru Forester has been using huge and excessive amounts of oil since its purchase. First, I was told that it was part of the “break - in period. Under no circumstances should a new car or even one with just over 65,000 miles like mine that has been babied and maintained only by the dealer present such major engine issues. This is my second Subaru and it will be my last. The first one, a 2003 Forester, though far from perfect, had over 150,000 miles before needing a new head gasket after exhibiting irregular oil use. This one has clocked with irregular oil usage since its purchase.

A Fine SUV Choice

When it comes to finding a small AWD wagon with a sunroof and manual transmission, there are only two choices. One is the Jeep Patriot, but that car had some quality control issues that I'm not sure were overcome, plus it looks like a toaster on wheels. The Forester fits the bill - not too fancy, not too plain, just right! There is plenty of room for full sized people. The black fabric on the seats and doors has subtle copper colored accents that add a nice look. You get easy entry and exit due to the large doors and seat height. Once behind the wheel it drives sporty with very few blind spots, and the huge sunroof brings in the great outdoors!

A lot of car for the money

As the title says, considering the cost of the vehicle, I'm very pleased. My mileage is always above 31MPG (rural driving & warm weather). I'm surprised by this - but happy of course. Despite what the EPA says, I'm convinced that a gentle driver gets much better mileage with a manual transmission. The car handles like a sports car which is amazing considering its high ground clearance. The ride is quite firm but not uncomfortable. The high sitting position gives the driver wonderful 360 degree visibility. Negligible blind areas. Some road and wind noise which I don't find bothersome.

GReat Value - Best AWD design

Love my new Forester. I always wanted an Outback or Forester and finally pulled the trigger in March. Great handling and performance for a sport utility vehicle. Interior is a little plain and lacks the extra bells and whistles that come with the competition, but it makes up for that in cargo room, road feel, engine performance, and reliability. If you are not use to the sound of a boxer engine, it may seem a bit load when the RPMS get above 3500, but this engine produces less vibration and balance. The AWD system is what stands out above the crowd. This system is designed to perform off road, not just in snow. Just look on youtube for comparisons on off road performance vs the competition.

Air conditioning dilemma

The 2012 Subaru Forester (VIN: JF2SHAEC8CH447905) has been great overall, until this summer. After only 2 and one-half years of ownership the AC stopped functioning! The Subaru dealer (Fred Beans Doylestown, PA) said it was likely the evaporator ($150 to estimate) and could be repaired for $1100. Our home repair shop (Barry Luff's Buckingham, PA) recharged the system including fluorescent dye and could not find a leak, suggesting it was the evaporator. They removed the evaporator, and saw (I have the part) the dye had leaked from within the evaporator fins by a puncture that was in addition to the place where the thermostat probe was placed. The suggestion was that the manufacturer had accidentally placed the additional puncture upon instillation, making a weakness for the leak to eventually occur, causing premature failure of the evaporator. It would be worthwhile to consider if other 2012 Subaru Forester owners have had this problem.

Great value, decent mileage

The Forester replaced a 2006 Mazda5 plagued with rear suspension problems. Tempted by the 33 mpg claim, I looked at the new Escape, but couldn't find real-world mileage reports and, in August, dealers were asking $25K+ for 2WD. I found a 5-speed Forester for $18.5K, and bought it. The 27 mpg estimate didn't thrill me, but it's actually done much better; at 4K up to 31 highway and ~22 city, though highway mileage drops quickly above 65 mph. This is a little better than the Mazda got, plus, with AWD, I can get out of the garage when there's more than 3 inches of snow, which was tough for the Mazda. I had a '96 Outback that held up very well for more than 100K miles, and hope this will as well.

Lots of room

I checked out some other choices before I decided on this car. I am 52, I have bought 11 new vehicles so far in my life.This is great my best so far. Very little road noise, very smooth ride. Doors are solid. Great visibility. Basic stereo sounds very good. The clearance is terrific, great for exploring in rural Arizona, where 4 x 4 is not needed but added clearance is. Seriously this is the most happy I have ever been with a vehicle in my life. My first Subaru, my first Japanese vehicle.

Starting Issues

Random starting issues at 5000 miles. Dealership can't duplicate the problem so the issue remains unsolved. Am afraid to drive this vehicle very far anymore.Am afraid of being stranded . Vehicle is also reluctant to start when the temps get below freezing. The owners manual gives instructions how to try to start the vehicle if these random starting issues occur. I wonder sometimes if they knew in advance these problems might occur with this type of vehicle. Therefore the need to put these instructions in the manual.If had known in advance about these problems I never would of bought this car. I'm stuck for now with a car I hate and am afraid to drive very far if it even starts. Buyer beware

oil consumption resolved

I have a 2012 Forester. My own EXACT oil consumption test revealed a1qt loss per 1500 mi. My Subaru dealer did their own dipstick test which came in a little less. Solution...a new short block, within the week. The car had 98,000 mi at the time,and who knows if they would have been as nice if I had been over my 100,000 mi warranty. The new engine has hardly burned a drop of oil and it seems like a real powerhouse now. They might very well get my business again, but I'll do a bit of research first.

My 6th Subaru

This is my 6th Subaru and my 4th Forester. The last one was a 2009 that I put 84K trouble free miles on. The Forester isn't necessarily the best car out there, but it is one of the best to fit all of the necessary categories of AWD, mpg, cost, space, style, and reliability. I have recommended Subaru to my family and friends, and no one has been disappointed. I would like them to update the automatic transmission, but Subaru engines seem to operate better at higher rpm's. The 2012 seats also seem more comfortable than previous years. The maintenance program of 7500 mile oil changes does make a difference in cost of keeping it on the road and trouble free.

Do not buy Subaru Forester

This is a high maintenance car. Engine failed after 112,000 miles without giving any indication. All the servicing is done at the Subaru dealer. Subaru did not help. If reliability is your priority, please look elsewhere. Slow acceleration, poor noise elimination and vibration are other issue I have experienced.

Oil Consumption Issue

Update: Got rid of car. Car had oil consumption issues at 15k and needed a piston ring job. One dealer was unwilling to do the work. After finding a dealer to do the repair (under warranty) and after numerous consumption tests, the car still had issues. I originally purchased the car to save on maintenance costs and simple design. Pros: good visibility, excellent AWD. Cons: consumes oil, does not get stated mpg, Bluetooth was horrible, FM radio sounded terrible, front passenger seat sits low, interior components are cheap/plastic, paint easily scratched/dulled

Do not buy this car

I bought my 2012 Forester about a year and a half ago. It started to have starting issues about 3 months ago. It won't start right away, sometimes it takes a few tries holding the key for about 10 seconds. I took it to North End Subaru and they tried a few things that didn’t work, and then told me it is normal. I then took it to Prime Subaru. They couldn't find anything wrong but gave me a few tips to try. They didn't work, I called back, they also told me that the problem is normal. It does always start eventually, but it just doesn’t seem normal to me. I have read reviews of people who have had similar problems for both the 2012 & 2013 models.

Second Forester is a Charm

Just traded my 05 Forester 2.5X auto for a 2012 2.5X Premium and what a great, positive improvement. The low entry of the 05 was difficult for me but the new one's higher stance, bigger doors and higher (power) seat make entry/exit much easier for this senior driver. The power seat provides a variety of very comfortable positions. Love the all weather package; up here in Alaska the heated seats, side mirrors and windshield wipers make 6 months of winter a little easier to take. I appreciate the framed windows after the 05's frameless mess. Much quieter and tighter feeling all around. Very happy choice.

Best car ever!

Love this car. Love the size, the safety and the look of this Forester. Value is off the charts, its never broken down and has always served my family well. Out of the 3 SUVs in our family, it's everyone's favorite...even though our other SUVs are newer. When the weather hits, we know our Suby will get us there safely.

Does the job!

I leased it about 2 1/2 years ago and just bought out the lease. It is not beautiful nor is it elegant, but it does the job. I live at the end of a dirt road in Vermont with a daily round-trip commute of about 50 miles. It always starts and it makes it through the deep snow, better than our Toyota 4Runner. Even with my canoe on top, it handles okay--not as well as my old Morgan +4 but that wouldn't have made the grade in Vermont. Runs much better with a little extra air in the tires. All in all, I find it practical, serviceable, and reliable. This is contrary to some of the other reviews but maybe I just got a good one--or they got bad ones.

RAV4 would've been a HUGE mistake!

I was either looking into buying the Forester or the RAV4, and I'm very glad I went with this car. I drove a RAV4 4CYL as a rental car for a long duration. It had a comfortable ride, got great gas mileage for a small SUV, was well equipped, had good front and rear leg room, and the performance was surprisingly good for a 4CYL engine. Sounds like a great car until you come to the driving dynamics: it's boring. And let's not forget the rear horizontally opening door with the exterior mounted spare tire. I feel like I might accidentally swing the door in to my child's face if I'm not careful. The Forester is everything the RAV4 is plus monumentally better driving dynamics and overall value.

My last Subaru

Between my wife and I we have owned five Subarus. A baja, an outback, a SUS and two foresters. This is the first I bought at a dealer, but what a disappointment. As soon as the warranty ran out, I noticed the car was low on oil. Now it is going through approximately 8 qrts of oil between changes. Nearly twice the capacity of the entire engine, every six months. I contacted Subaru corporate and was told "too bad. let us know when you want a new one." After some research I've found this is pretty much normal for this era of Subaru. I'm now checking the engine every few trips to make sure it doesn't run out of oil. In the beginning era of cars you often had to check oil like this. Most car companies fixed this in like the 50's. Seems Subaru is regressing. In addition to this nightmare of an engine, we used to own a 2004 Forester, our new 2012 has no new features, it like the same car with a much worse engine. This will be my last subaru.

Great Replacement and my first Subaru

I purchased my 2012 Forester as a replacement for my 2007 Rav 4. The Rave could not get up my driveway in a low snow storm (2-3inches) My Forester had no problem. At 50k miles I did however have a problem with oil consumption. I went to my local Subaru dealership who performed and oil consumption test and told be they would have to replace my engine. Since I had a bumper to bumper 100k warranty I was good. The dealership gave me a 2015 Forester to use while engine was replaced. I have had to troubles since,

Oil Consumption Issues

Dealership never sent me a notification about oil consumption issue. Found out at another dealer.

subaru stinks

Bought a new 2012 Subaru Forester. Battery has been replaces 2Xs. Had car either jumped or towed 10Xs. Service tells me that the battery is bad nothing more. Windshield arm replaced. Window will not stay up when button pushed to wind,Seat heaters do not function properly, don't get the gas mileage claimed on sticker. Took to 2 different Subaru garages to have repairs. Neither can find a problem. Will never ever buy another Subaru under any circumstance.

Owned for 2 months, Purchased with 56,000 miles

and the Engine Blew. There was no oil in it. No warning lights ever came on. Neither I nor the Subaru service department found any signs of leakage And I later learned there was a service bulletin on this model for excessive oil consumption. The purchase of this Subaru is turning out to be the worst automotive decision of my life. I am looking at 6 to 10k repair bill according to the Subaru dealership on a car that I paid $14,000 for 2 months prior. The used car warranty was for only 30 days and Subaru is only willing to provide minimal assistance. I was told that Subaru were good reliable vehicles but I have found them to be the exact opposite and their customer support has been a huge disappointment as well. Update: Got the motor replaced and it started knocking again 6 months later. Traded it in and took a 8k loss on it. I will never purchase another Subaru ever again.

Almost perfect

The car is great for winter, is very safe. The only thing a person might not be too big of a fan of is the interior design. But other than that no complaints

2012 subura forester

drives well and is comfortable. what is not nice is the high pitched wind noise coming from the roof with the wind that sound s like your heat is on full blast above your head. The suv whines on acceleration.

1/2 jeep 1/4 tow rig 1/4 sports car.

after 2.5 years of ownership, and pushing this little SUV to its limits and beyond, I have to say it fits my needs to a tee. Coming from a 99 528i bmw, and a 99 jeep cherokee (for deep snow and 4x4 jaunts) I was skeptical of the claims of a good handling SUV, with good ground clearance, and the ability to tow more than 1000lbs. All the claims are true, while not a bmw, this little crossover approaches the road quite well, steering is responsive, and body roll is minimal. as well as being able to tackle small offroad obstacles. mostly unimproved roads, with medium rocks, ruts, and shallow mud. I have put over 60k hard miles on this little suv, and towed a camper, and an enclosed trailer with two sport ATV's. both of which are over the recommended trailer weight rating (3000lb and 2800lb respectively) I liken it to a dual sport motorcycle. while not great on the road, nor great off road, the compromises are worth it. with the extreme duty I have put this rig through, there have been a few hiccups. I have had to at 40k replace all the brakes, and at 82k (now) had to replace the clutch throw out bearing, lower control arm bushings, and all the idler pulleys on the engine. mostly due to offroad use, and towing a trailer. other downsides of the base model are smallish brakes, which on road, and with modest spirited driving are adequate. however are very under powered while towing a trailer over the manufacturer rated 1000lbs. They are, however adequate to good with trailer brakes and required brake controller. I have yet to see a "stupid" problem with this SUV. I work it more often than your average subaru driver, and it always gets me where I need to go.

It's OK

I really want to love my Forester. Everyone said that I would. Maybe my expectations were too high. I will note that I am not someone who needs all the bells and whistles, nor wants them. So I figured a Subaru would be great. I will probably not be keeping it when my lease is up. There are good, bad, and a bunch of little annoyances that definitely add up.

Forester disappointment

My 2012 Forester SUV has fewer than 6000 miles on it. The transmission has had to be replaced. The fuel lid lever broke. The dealership ruined the seat. The "check engine" light came on... I thought I was buying a dependable vehicle, and I am so disappointed in this car. I will say that the dealership has been pretty good, but as soon as I can get rid of this car without taking a financial bath, I will. No more Subaru vehicles for this family!

Great small family vehicle

Great vehicle for family of four. Not much of a trailer hauler, with 1600 max weight.

Tickled pink

Very reliable and easy to use. No recalls.

2 Foresters in the garage

4yr ownership of 2008 version sold us. Its price is nice, not the most technically advanced in the segment. Nice ride, spacious great, for a small family that requires wagon utility, that can handle rough weather, is reliable, and safe. We got the alloy wheel-package.

Love my Subaru!

good value in its class

Large sun roof, alot of features for the money, gas milage has exceeded expectation. 5 speed is fun to drive.

Fun to drive but not built very well

I have a 5 speed manual, lots of fun to drive but... 60k the clutch went out and can't get into gear. 65k got the burning oil recall and 1/2 the engine replaced. 75k one of the drive shaft needed to be replaced. now at 90k the center diff is messed up and dealer wants almost 2k to fix. wife has a honda crv thats awd and she just does oil change and all is good. not what I expected from Subaru.

Lasted 36 miles

After having issues with my Legacy (transmission, AC, tire pressure gage, vibrations, etc) I somehow decided it was a good idea to get another Subaru. We leased a Forester, drove it roughly 35 miles and the starter, alternator, battery died. Brand new Forester, dead as a doornail. Jumping, charging... nothing but clicks which means the starter is DEAD. Leased it Saturday, now it's a Wednesday and we still have no new car... we have a small little rental car. BEWARE of Subaru, this is 2 for 2 with troubled cars... Be your own judge but just know that we have had nothing but issues with the two cars we got. We will NEVER buy another again.

2012 forester

Door/ fender metal is a bit soft, dents easily from parking lot with people opening their car doors and hitting it

Best SUV I’ve owned

Kept waiting for the oil consumption I keep hearing about. Never happened. At 80K+ miles, it’s as dependable as the day we bought it. Other than oil changes and tires, the only repair was rear brake pads at 65K. Note: Our Forester is vehicle of choice in snow over our 4x4 Dodge Ram, no comparison, the Forester plows through like a boss.

very expensive oil leaks

With 80k miles, I was told I needed head gasket and valve cover gaskets replaced to the tune of $4,500.00. This car was only serviced by Subaru technicians. I fixed the problem with a 20 dollar bottle of valve reconditionner.I will never buy a Subaru product again!

4 year owner

I meant to write a review an year back but I guess now that I have more experience. Pros: Good visibility, simple radio with volume knobs and features that were easy to accustom to after a 97 Honda, generally reliable aside from a cracked rubber bearing that was causing vibrations, blue background light around speedometer and tachometer is cool. I hate when they put red needles in the steering column display. Cons: plastic vibrates in colder weather in dash, ride is smoother compared to my old Honda but new ones have better ride. Seats have bad clothing which started to show threads right after a month of use unlike my Honda. The volume label below the knob also disappeared within a month. Doors are hollow and NVH is high. I had to get the dealer to install more insulation in the body as even gas smell git in at my first gas station trip. Doors are hollow. Finally, the dealer gave crap but I finally paid to get the alignment done so I am not afraid to fishtail in winter. Subaru also needs to put better tires for a well known AWD company. Resale is down but then it isn’t a Toyota.

Bought a Premium and it's PREMIUM

We love it. I checked out Santa Fe and Tuscon but chose this. Comfortable, smooth, plenty of pep. What do you need? First Subaru. I drove it two days on my over 100 mile commute round trip and got 27 mpg while it is new not broke in yet. I just bought it for my wife. $24,800 premium, added remote start, fog lights, all-weather mats, cargo tray, dog divider and bumper cover.

Dont carry your family in this SUV

Very unstable SUV when you carry more than two people including yourself. Sways on every turn with speed over 50mph like is ready to overturn. Looks like Corporate Subaru of America don't care about safety of car owners and passengers by dismissing open cases about car safety and works with World Government and Banks on decreasing population. Downshift on sudden acceleration (when you try to pass other car on the freeway) goes a way to low making engine reaching 5K rpm. Has very low quality sound system. Interior finishing quality - less than any other car or SUV, need a lot of improvements.

Stay Away

Basically 2 big problems: 1. Hwy mileage is no where near advertised, even when using cruise control. 2. Radio only works when not moving BY DESIGN

Intrusive Seat belt chime

This is my partner's car and they are enjoying it VERY much. However, I'm glad I'm not the one driving it, because of the stupid seat belt chime - see below.....

Best car on the market

Turns on a dime and so dependable! Love the Touring features my basic 2012 Subaru Forester didn't have and had less miles than my previous 2012 Forest.