How Long Do Subaru Foresters Last? (Miles & Years)
Subaru Foresters can reach 200,000 miles, though fewer do than the longest-lasting models. Of 25,070 used Foresters for sale in the US, 7.7% have passed 150,000 miles and 1.3% have passed 200,000. Among those 10+ years old, 4.8% are past 200,000 miles and 0.6% past 250,000, at a median of 124,771 miles.
At the roughly 11,200 miles a year typical of 10-year-old Foresters on the market, 200,000 miles arrives in about 18 years.
By CarWhere Research · CarWhere analysis of 25,070 live used listings · Updated 2026-11-03
Subaru Forester mileage on the used market
| Listings | Sample | Median miles | 150k+ miles | 200k+ miles | 250k+ miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All used Foresters | 25,070 | 58,715 | 7.7% | 1.3% | 0.2% |
| 10+ years old (2016 & older) | 5,736 | 124,771 | 25.8% | 4.8% | 0.6% |
250k+ is shown only where at least 10 listings qualify. All US used listings, every model year combined: 2.3% past 200,000 miles; 10+ years old: 9.1% (how long cars last, all models).
Median miles by model year
| Model year | Age | Median miles | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 yr | 14,802 | 2,445 |
| 2024 | 2 yrs | 29,433 | 2,314 |
| 2023 | 3 yrs | 34,637 | 2,589 |
| 2022 | 4 yrs | 55,844 | 1,054 |
| 2021 | 5 yrs | 66,343 | 1,430 |
| 2020 | 6 yrs | 73,616 | 1,613 |
| 2019 | 7 yrs | 83,117 | 1,360 |
| 2018 | 8 yrs | 94,738 | 1,499 |
| 2017 | 9 yrs | 105,189 | 1,432 |
| 2016 | 10 yrs | 111,933 | 1,008 |
| 2015 | 11 yrs | 118,459 | 1,550 |
| 2014 | 12 yrs | 124,612 | 997 |
| 2013 | 13 yrs | 127,001 | 238 |
| 2012 | 14 yrs | 132,818 | 320 |
| 2011 | 15 yrs | 132,567 | 318 |
| 2010 | 16 yrs | 140,434 | 390 |
| 2009 | 17 yrs | 146,109 | 181 |
| 2008 | 18 yrs | 153,362 | 41 |
| 2007 | 19 yrs | 143,223 | 45 |
| 2006 | 20 yrs | 136,241 | 47 |
Subaru Forester years to look for — and avoid
Most common past 200,000 miles: 2015 (56 of 1,696 listed), 2014 (43 of 1,084 listed), 2010 (29 of 446 listed). These are the model years most often still for sale past 200k — partly a sign of durability, partly of how many were sold.
Complaint record: NHTSA owner-complaint data flags 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 as years to avoid. The cleanest records belong to 2008. See the full Subaru Forester years to avoid and the best Subaru Forester years.
Common problems on high-mileage Foresters
- Front passenger airbag sensor malfunction / ODS failure (2014–2018) — owner reports between 78,255 and 135,000 miles
- Engine stall while driving (2009–2015) — owner reports between 73,000 and 148,000 miles
- Unintended acceleration without brake override (2010–2021) — owner reports between 66,000 and 148,000 miles
Most-reported NHTSA complaint areas across all Subaru Forester model years: electrical system (2,941), equipment (2,222), engine (797).
Adjusted for how many were sold, the Subaru Forester logs 0.525 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles (2015–2022 sales) — percentile 52 of 100 among the suvs in CarWhere's most reliable rankings (higher means fewer complaints per vehicle sold).
What keeps any high-mileage car going is the maintenance in its owner's manual schedule — fluids, filters and wear items — so ask for the service records of the specific car.
Shopping for a used Subaru Forester?
Compare live used Foresters by mileage, model year and price near you.
Browse used listingsFAQ
How many miles can a Subaru Forester last?
Subaru Foresters can reach 200,000 miles, though fewer do than the longest-lasting models. Of 25,070 used Foresters for sale in the US, 7.7% have passed 150,000 miles and 1.3% have passed 200,000. Among those 10+ years old, 4.8% are past 200,000 miles and 0.6% past 250,000, at a median of 124,771 miles. The highest-mileage 1% of listings show more than 207,763 miles.
How many years does a Subaru Forester last?
At the roughly 11,200 miles a year typical of 10-year-old Foresters on the market, 200,000 miles arrives in about 18 years. 5,736 of the 25,070 Foresters listed for sale are model year 2016 or older, and 25.8% of those have passed 150,000 miles.
Is 150,000 miles a lot for a Subaru Forester?
7.7% of used Foresters for sale have passed 150,000 miles, rising to 25.8% among examples 10+ years old (median 124,771 miles). Fewer Foresters make it far past that point on the used market, so a 150,000-mile example deserves a close look at its service record.
Which Subaru Forester years last the longest?
The 2015, 2014 and 2010 model years have the most Foresters still for sale past 200,000 miles (56, 43 and 29 listings respectively). Separately, NHTSA owner-complaint records flag 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 as years to avoid, with 2008 showing the cleanest records.
What are the most common problems on high-mileage Foresters?
Owner-reported failures with mileage on record include front passenger airbag sensor malfunction / ods failure (2014–2018), reported at 78,255–135,000 miles, engine stall while driving (2009–2015), reported at 73,000–148,000 miles and unintended acceleration without brake override (2010–2021), reported at 66,000–148,000 miles. Across all model years, the most-reported NHTSA complaint areas are electrical system, equipment and engine.
What is the average mileage of a used Subaru Forester for sale?
The median used Subaru Forester for sale has 58,715 miles; one in ten has more than 141,514. Based on 25,070 live US listings, 2026-11-03.
Sources & method
- Mileage shares: CarWhere analysis of 25,070 live US used-car listings from licensed vehicle-data providers, captured 2026-11-03. Aggregate counts only — no individual listings are stored. Listings without an odometer reading are excluded.
- “10+ years old” means model year 2016 or older. Comparing cars of similar age is the fairer test: a model with mostly new inventory will show few high-mileage examples no matter how durable it is.
- Median miles by model year: median odometer of each used model year on the market (minimum 30–40 listings per year), from CarWhere's live-listing price studies.
- Reliability: CarWhere analysis of NHTSA owner complaints (Office of Defects Investigation) and recall records. Complaint rates per 1,000 vehicles sold are shown where sales data exists.
- Listings show cars that are still on the road and for sale, so this is a survivor sample — it tells you how far these cars commonly go, not the share that were scrapped earlier.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-03