1998 Subaru Forester S review from North America
"I'm disappointed with the reliability of this vehicle"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Front crank seal, twice, 120,000 kilometers and 160,000 kilometers. Dealer refused to fix under warranty.
Extremely loud heater fan - makes a chirping noise. No solution according to dealer.
Internal cam shaft belt tensioner replaced at 120,000. Dealer refused warranty.
Loud piston slap noise - no solution, according to dealer.
Replaced rear brake rotors, 75,000 kilometers.
Replaced front brake rotors, 150,000 kilometers.
Clock fixed once under warranty, broke a second time.
Low fuel warning light quit functioning.
Air conditioning "on" indicator light quit functioning.
General comments?
No rust yet in our hostile Montreal climate.
In the future, I'll stick to Honda or Toyota. Both of these makes have given me outstanding performance and reliability.
I bought a first year model, always a risky venture.
Roomy car that handles well, but reliability and dealer services are below what I expect from Japanese automakers.
Recommended reviews
| 1998 - Forester LX 2.5L 4-cylinder Boxer Solid, reliable, functional car with excellent bad-weather traction and all-around handling. |
|
| Repairs are a nightmare, but I love the car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.1 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 160000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Honda Civic |
| Date of Entry | 6th November, 2003 |