Faults:

I note many postings about the Subaru Forester Check Engine light coming on, and it seems impossible to fix. I have had the same problem and have had the computer re-set more than once.

Does anyone know how many miles you have to drive before the computer is ready to give a correct read-out again? I live in New Jersey and went through inspection only to fail because the computer is "not ready to read."

General Comments:

Otherwise the car seems fine.

Faults:

My right rear wheel-bearing has broken twice. I've had it fixed when the car was at around 30,000 miles and again at 40,000 miles.

General Comments:

I'm frustrated that my right rear wheel-bearing has had to have been replaced twice. I rarely drive the car (I average less than 10,000 miles each year) and yet my wheel-bearing has broken twice. I don't drive off-road at all!

This car is not ideal for tall people. I'm 5'7" and need to put the driver's seat back to drive comfortably. That said, back seat passengers have very little leg room.

Road noise is bad. Driving 50-60 mph on the highway requires me to turn up the volume on the radio. Every bump in the road is amplified.

U-turns are difficult in the city since the turning radius of the car is very wide.

Faults:

The CEL used to come on quite frequently. I make sure the gas cap is tight and have had very little trouble since.

Catalytic converter failed at 70,000. This was covered under warranty.

Clock failed at 50,000.

Cup holders are a joke.

General Comments:

I have put 125,000 miles on this vehicle with very few problems. Like any machine it must be maintained properly. With the proper maintenance I have found this Subie to be bulletproof.

This car will haul anything I can stuff into it, pull way more weight than recommended with a trailer, and laugh at the snowy roads we get here in the midwest. There are many storage compartments and with the back seats down quite a bit of room.

It handles well, the steering feel is excellent, but it is a little slow off the line. Once it gets up to 20 mph acceleration is decent. The clutch shudders on occasion, but that might be my fault.

As stated earlier, the cup holders are practically worthless and the clock gave out. I have never had a clock fail before.

The car is not perfect, but what it does, it does well.

So, if you are looking for an all-weather vehicle that sports above average handling, gets 28 mpg highway and won't leave you in the lurch I would heartily recommend a Forester.

I would say the Subie's main competition is a RAV 4 and a CR-V. These are fine vehicles, but do not offer the same performance. They are not full-time AWD and you must break traction with the front wheels before power is sent to the rear. The Forester has a 50/50 power split normally and the power can be sent either way depending on wheel spin. I find this to be a superior system, though you pay for it in fuel efficiency and acceleration.

Faults:

Head gaskets failed at about 100,000 miles.

Short block was diagnosed as cracked at 109,000.

O2 sensors replaced twice; last time at 110,000 miles.

General Comments:

The engine used in this car is known by Subaru to be faulty. Their WP-99 problem did not prevent the head gaskets from leaking. An expensive, never-to-be repeated experience.

Faults:

Coil went out at 40K miles; this is a common problem with this car. Dealer wants $295 U.S.

Both rear wheel bearings went at 40k miles, damaged hub. Dealer wants $825 to repair this known defect; $425 just for labor of under 2 hours, per their own Technical Service Bulletin.

Subaru has put a stop leak type of product in the engine to forestall head gasket failure which is common on this, and other model year vehicles.

General Comments:

My ownership of this car has been bittersweet. I love the basic design and the size of the vehicle, as well as the AWD. Unfortunately, with just 41k miles, the bad (and expensive) wheel bearings, the bad coil, and an engine that needs stop leak, really makes me wonder what more miles will bring. I like the car so much that I could almost overlook some of the problems I've had if Subaru wouldn't let their dealers gouge people for known defects.