This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Subaru Forester engine problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Subaru Forester have filed 50 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 74,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
50
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Forester | 13 |
| 2008 Forester | 8 |
| 2009 Forester | 28 |
| 2010 Forester | 29 |
| 2011 Forester (this page) | 50 |
| 2012 Forester | 22 |
| 2013 Forester | 22 |
| 2014 Forester | 41 |
| 2015 Forester | 72 |
2crashes
3fires
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 50 engine complaints filed for the 2011 Subaru Forester, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 34% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 9 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 50 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The purpose of this bulletin is to advise of SOA’s revised Catalytic Converter Recycling Program shipping procedure.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2011 Forester engine appears in a persistent stream of complaints centered on two main issues: oil loss and catastrophic failure.
Oil consumption dominates. Owners describe burning or losing 0.25 to 1+ quart per 1,000–1,500 miles, sometimes more. One owner reported his engine empty after 11,600 miles following an oil change; another burned 4.8 quarts in 3,480 miles. The burnt-oil smell is unmistakable. No leaks show up underneath—mechanics shrug and say "it's a Subaru"—so the oil is burning inside. Subaru issued technical service bulletins (TSBs) citing irregular stamping of camshaft position sensor plates and surface treatment changes to piston rings, and extended warranty to 8 years/100,000 miles on some vehicles in 2014–2016, but many owners fell outside those windows or were told the issue was "normal."
Oil seals and gaskets fail early, often between 60,000–120,000 miles. Camshaft carrier seals, head gaskets, and valve cover gaskets leak, dripping oil onto hot exhaust and triggering a burnt-oil smell. One owner replaced all seals at 73,000 miles; the problem recurred at 120,000. Repair costs run $2,300–$4,500.
Engine failure without warning is the worst outcome. Connecting rods or bearings seize, producing a sudden loud knock that escalates to catastrophic failure in seconds. The oil is gone—sometimes completely empty—yet many vehicles have no low-oil warning light. Two reported engine fires, one after a minor collision and one during normal highway driving. Owners repeatedly note Subaru denied warranty claims based on mileage overages or blamed insufficient maintenance, despite faithful service records.
Subaru's reluctance to issue a recall and owners' discovery of an ongoing class action lawsuit suggest this is a known, systemic defect.
Same Subaru Forester engine reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive Oil Consumption (Internal Burning)
Engine burns or consumes oil internally at rates far above normal, sometimes 0.25–1 quart per 1,000–1,500 miles or more, despite no visible external leaks. Owners report having to add oil repeatedly between scheduled changes. Some owners describe a burnt-oil smell from the engine block; others notice the dipstick dropping dramatically in short intervals. The root cause appears to involve piston ring or cylinder wall defects, though owners and independent mechanics often cannot locate a leak.
When: Typically begins early in vehicle life (under 5,000–20,000 miles) and persists throughout ownership; some cases reported from 40,000+ miles onward.
Symptoms owners cite: Burnt-oil odor from engine block; Oil level drops 1–4 quarts between oil changes; Dipstick shows low oil despite recent fill-up; Engine ticks, rattles, or strains under acceleration or highway speeds; No visible external oil leaks despite consumption; Oil pressure warning light may not activate even when oil is severely depleted
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite costs of $3,200–$9,500+ for repairs including main oil seal replacement, short-block replacement, or full engine block replacement. Some owners report the issue recurs even after seal or block replacement. One owner reports a 1.5-quart loss after only 948 miles during a dealer consumption test.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued TSBs 02-131-12R and SB-11-100 HR on irregular stamping of camshaft position sensor plates and related oil seals. In August 2014 and April 2016, Subaru extended powertrain warranty to 8 years/100,000 miles for oil consumption issues on some vehicles. Multiple owners report Subaru refused warranty coverage citing mileage overages or stating consumption is 'normal' (claiming owners should expect ~1 quart per 1,200 miles). Owners reference an ongoing class action lawsuit.
Oil Leaks from Camshaft Carrier Seals and Gaskets
Oil leaks from camshaft carriers, valve cover gaskets, head gaskets, and related seals, often on both sides of the engine. Leaking oil drips onto hot exhaust manifolds, producing a strong burning smell or smoke. Multiple owners report taking the vehicle in for repair only to have the problem recur months or years later, even after the dealer replaces gaskets, seals, and valve covers.
When: Reported at mileage ranging from ~61,000 to 120,400+ miles; some cases appear early in vehicle life (within the first few years).
Symptoms owners cite: Strong burning-oil smell, especially under acceleration or on hills; Smoke from engine compartment; Oil leaking visibly onto exhaust manifold; Ticking or tapping noise from engine; No initial warning lights (in some cases); Recurrence of leaking after prior repair
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers typically replace one or more of the following: valve cover gaskets, head gaskets, camshaft carrier seals/covers, engine intake manifold, spark plugs, and engine cover seals. Costs cited range from $2,300–$4,500 for initial repair. One owner reported needing a full engine reseal including head gaskets, cam carriers, and valve cover gaskets at 73,000 miles; another required the same work after 3 years and 120,400 miles, with the problem recurring.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued TSBs 02-131-12R and SB-11-100 HR addressing irregular stamping of camshaft position sensor plates and oil seal issues. One owner cites TSB 02-157-14R (Surface Treatment Change to Oil Control Piston Rings). Owners report Subaru did not cover repairs under TSBs in some cases, citing mileage or other exclusions.
Engine Knock and Catastrophic Failure (Rod/Bearing Seizure)
Engine develops loud knocking, ticking, or rattling noise while driving, sometimes suddenly and without prior warning. In severe cases, a connecting rod or bearing fails catastrophically, puncturing the engine block, destroying internal components, or causing complete seizure. The failure often coincides with severely depleted oil levels (sometimes empty) despite owners claiming they check and maintain oil, or with rapid oil consumption that goes undetected. No warning lights activate in many cases before failure.
When: Occurs at highly variable mileage: some at 60,000–65,000 miles, others at 87,000–117,000 miles. In a few cases, the vehicle is relatively new (~472–872 miles on one case, though that involves misfire).
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loud knocking, tapping, or banging noise from engine compartment; Noise escalates rapidly (sometimes from onset to failure in 15–20 seconds); Engine stalls or comes to complete stop without warning; Smoke or flames visible from under hood; Oil reservoir found empty despite recent checks; Oil pressure warning light illuminates (sometimes), but no low-oil warning; Vehicle coasts to a stop or dies mid-drive
Repairs/costs cited: Requires full engine replacement; one owner cited a $9,000–$9,500 repair cost. Another report indicates a connecting rod punctured the engine block, melting wiring and causing smoke. Owners repeatedly note the lack of an early warning system (no low-oil warning light) made it impossible to prevent failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued Technical Service Bulletins addressing oil consumption; one owner was told by Subaru that a vehicle would need to be driven 1,200 miles in order to qualify for engine block replacement under a TSB. One owner reports Subaru blamed owner for inadequate oil changes and voided warranty, despite owner's testimony of regular maintenance and a full oil change 11,602 miles before failure.
Check Engine Light with Emissions Control Failure and Secondary ABS Disabling
Check engine light (CEL) activates due to emission control system faults, including thermostat issues and sensor problems. Critically, Subaru has programmed the system to automatically disable the anti-lock brake system (ABS) and cruise control whenever a CEL event occurs, even for minor issues like a loose gas cap. The driver discovers this only by observing a blinking cruise light and an illuminated ABS warning light. The vehicle manual states that ABS disabling creates a risk of loss of steering control and directional stability.
When: Reported in one detailed complaint describing CEL events in June 2013, August 2014, and December 2014; thermostat replacement and ECM reprogramming required per Service Bulletin.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; ABS warning light illuminates (steady); Cruise control light blinks; ABS system disabled; driver must drive without anti-lock braking
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports thermostat and gasket assembly were replaced following ECM reprogramming per Service Bulletin 09-56-13 (dated 10/21/13). Owner reports being forced to drive without ABS multiple times while waiting for repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru Service Bulletin 09-56-13/10/21/13 addresses thermostat replacement only after ECM reprogramming.
Cylinder Head Gasket Failure (Oil-to-Coolant Contamination)
Cylinder head gaskets leak, allowing engine oil to enter the cooling system (or vice versa). This causes the engine to rattle, triggers multiple warning lights, and makes the vehicle undrivable without expensive repair.
When: Reported at unspecified mileage; one owner cites $3,000 repair cost.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine rattling noise; Multiple engine warning lights illuminate simultaneously; Oil leaking into cooling system (or coolant into oil)
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost cited as ~$3,000; one owner notes Subaru refuses to address the issue despite knowing it affects multiple year/model vehicles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reports Subaru knows this is an issue with this and other years but refuses to do anything about it.
Camshaft Adjuster Misalignment (New Vehicle Assembly Defect)
On a brand-new 2011 Forester delivered with fewer than 900 miles, camshaft adjusters are not set properly at the factory, causing random misfire and/or cylinder-specific misfire (cylinders 3 and 4). The dealership initially blamed mechanics and a loose gas cap, then diagnosed improper shim installation at the factory. Despite multiple attempted repairs (including at least 5 procedures and a shim kit addition) and consultation with Subaru manufacturer, the issue remained unresolved after over 10 days in the shop.
When: Detected at ~472 miles and persisted through 872 miles; check engine light came on immediately.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Random misfire and/or misfire on cylinders 3 and 4 (per independent mechanic scan); Vehicle does not run properly despite dealer and manufacturer troubleshooting
Codes mentioned: Random misfire, Misfire on cylinders 3 and 4
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership added a shim kit to correct improperly set camshaft adjusters; issue persisted. Multiple repair attempts made; vehicle never properly repaired during warranty period.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru manufacturer consulted; multiple procedures attempted without success.
Engine Fire (Post-Collision and Non-Collision)
Engine compartment catches fire in at least two separate incidents. In one case, fire occurred after a minor collision (low-speed impact with another vehicle); in another, fire occurred without prior accident during normal highway driving. In both instances, fire spread rapidly and consumed the vehicle; no warning lights activated beforehand.
When: One incident at 102,000 miles during highway driving; one incident following collision (mileage not specified).
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke visible from engine compartment; Rapid flames engulfing engine compartment and cabin; No warning lights activated prior to fire; Vehicle becomes total loss
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles deemed total loss by insurance. One owner was injured and treated at hospital for stress-related gastrointestinal issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: In one case, manufacturer was notified but did not assist. In the collision case, no manufacturer response documented.
Unintended Engine Start (Aftermarket Remote Starter Interaction)
Vehicle engine starts by itself without driver input. In one detailed complaint, after unlocking the vehicle remotely and opening the door, closing the door causes the engine to start without key insertion. In other instances, engine continues running even after key is removed from ignition. Vehicle was fitted with an aftermarket remote starter by the dealer; the remote starter was changed twice, with owner on the third unit, yet problem persists.
When: Reported on two separate occasions as of complaint date; problem occurs occasionally.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine starts without key insertion or remote start button press; Engine continues to run after key is removed from ignition; Requires battery disconnection or remote starter to shut off engine
Repairs/costs cited: Remote starter replaced multiple times (at least three units); issue persists. Owner forced to disconnect battery wire to stop engine in earlier occurrences.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer remote starter installer asked to inspect again.
Intake Valve Spring Failure
Intake valve spring breaks while vehicle is in operation (in this case, backing out of driveway), causing the valve to drop into the cylinder, resulting in severe internal engine damage.
When: Unspecified mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden mechanical failure during low-speed driving; Thousands of dollars in engine damage
Repairs/costs cited: Requires thousands of dollars in repairs due to valve-to-cylinder contact damage.
Synthesized from 50 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
When the check engine light (CEL) is activated by an emission control failure Subaru has programmed a shut down of the anti-lock brake system (as well as shut down of cruise control). This ABS shut down could occur for a simple loose gas cap which is common cause of CEL failure. The section 3-16 on CEL warning light/malfunction indicator does not inform the owner that a CEL event will be…
My Subaru is being tested for oil consumption use, I returned with 1 1/2 quart low after 948 miles. Tech stated it was on full after it was taken to garage. It was not checked in our presence. Car has no oil sensor and I fear the motor will lock up & I do not trust the Subaru dealer now since they denied adding oil.
Failed consumption oil test. Engine had to be replaced .I was told by Subaru that their was no recall .my second Subaru forester 2013 had same problem and its engine had to be replaced.
My 2011 Subaru forester with 65,700 miles on it is sluggish into gear when first starting. I took it to the dealer who informed me it needed a new transmission ($5500+). I think this is outrageous. I read in forbes that there was an extension of the warranty (see…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Subaru forester. The contact stated that there was an excessive oil consumption after every oil change. The failure occurred on multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 14,000.
On 5/24/11, while driving through an intersection, my forester was hit broadside by another vehicle that ran a red light. The impact of the speeding vehicle caused the forester to spin 360 degrees and flip-over on the driver's side. I was left trapped inside the forester and witnesses pointed out that the engine and transmission continued to run after the forester flipped over. Apparently there…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Subaru forester. The contact stated that the engine emitted a strong burning odor and smoke while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure where it was diagnosed that the engine was leaking oil on the manifold. The dealer replaced the engine intake manifold, valve cover gasket, camshaft, sparks plugs, and engine cover seals; however,…
Had engine trouble with your 2011 Subaru Forester?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2011 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 50 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 39 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 22,736 and 103,000 miles, with the median around 74,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 22,736; a quarter make it past 103,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Subaru/Forester.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.