Subaru Forester problems
72 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Our Subaru forester 2007 was in a front end crash and the air bags did not deploy. Driver was alone in car, there were no passengers. Damage to car was considered "total loss" by insurance company (assessed damage was at least $7500 with just a visual inspection). Front of…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Subaru forester. The contact stated that the check engine light illuminated upon starting. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop and the contact was informed that the catalytic converter was damaged. The vehicle was repaired. The…
Problem 1: date in: 5/22/07date out: 5/23/07 problem: brakes or transmission locked up; I had to have the vehicle towed to the dealership. Problem 2: date in: 6/22/07date out: 6/22/07 problem:brakes or transmission locking up. The way that the dealership handled…
The check engine light comes on, but the car runs fine. I had it checked and mechanic said gas cap problem and reset. After that time I was very careful to turn the gas cap until I heard 2 plus clicks (recommended by Subaru). I have experienced this problem 4 times since then…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2007 Subaru Forester reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2007 Subaru Forester is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2007 Subaru Forester?
On the NHTSA data, the 2007 Subaru Forester does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2007 Subaru Forester?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 13 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 88,463 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 88,463 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Subaru Forester has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2007 Subaru Forester?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 72 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.