The 2022 Forester with the FB25 2.5L naturally-aspirated boxer engine is generally reliable, but shares the platform's known weak points: CVT cooler failures, excessive oil consumption on some engines, and the typical Subaru head gasket concerns that surface at higher mileage.
CVT Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission overheating warnings on dash, Metallic debris in CVT fluid during service, Shuddering or slipping during acceleration, Pink fluid pooling under vehicle (ATF mixing with coolant)
Fix: Replace CVT oil cooler and flush entire cooling system and CVT. Also inspect external CVT cooler lines for contamination. 4-6 hours labor depending on access and flushing procedures.
Estimated cost: $800-1,500
Excessive Oil Consumption (FB25 Engine)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 30,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Low oil light between changes (consuming 1+ qt per 1,000 mi), Blue smoke on cold start or hard acceleration, Carbon buildup on intake valves (port injection only), May trigger check engine light for misfire or lean codes
Fix: Subaru issued extended warranty coverage (case-by-case). Confirmed fix requires piston ring replacement or short block. Ring job alone is 12-16 hours; short block swap is 18-24 hours.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500
Head Gasket Seepage
Rare · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: External oil weeping at head/block mating surface, Coolant smell or minor loss without visible leaks, White residue around head bolt areas, Usually external seepage, not internal combustion leak on FB25
Fix: Both head gaskets, resurface heads if warped, timing components, coolant flush. The FB25 is better than older EJ engines but not immune. 14-18 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,200
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting into drive or reverse, Excessive vibration at idle in gear, Visible sagging or torn rubber on rear transmission mount, Drivetrain movement felt through shifter
Fix: Replace rear transmission mount. Sometimes pitch stopper also shows wear. 1.5-2.5 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $300-550
Park/Neutral Interlock Switch Fault (Recall 22V-464)
Rare · high severitySymptoms: Engine starts in gear (bypassing park/neutral safety), Vehicle can roll unexpectedly if started in gear, Intermittent no-start in Park or Neutral
Fix: NHTSA recall 22V-464: dealer replaces inhibitor switch on CVT. Free repair under recall. 1-2 hours at dealer.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall)
Fuel Filter/Fuel Pump Assembly Clogging
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard starting or extended cranking, Loss of power under load or at highway speeds, Check engine light with fuel pressure codes, Hesitation or stumbling during acceleration
Fix: Fuel pump assembly (includes filter) is in-tank. Drop tank, replace pump module. Subaru doesn't sell filter separately. 3-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $800-1,300
Solid daily driver if you verify no oil consumption history and CVT has been serviced; avoid high-mileage examples without full service records.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.