Overview & Reviews

Subaru attacks the mini-SUV market head-on with the Forester, which actually constitutes an SUV body on an Impreza platform with a Legacy engine under the hood. The most carlike of the mini-utes, Forester is also the most powerful. Airbags remain the full power variety, despite new rules allowing lower deployment speeds.

• Handles like a car. Accelerates like a car. Rides like a car.

• Travels off-road like a car.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 65.00

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  This car is a piece of trash! - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By paulnelissa - November 22 - 7:36 am

  We bought this car used from a Subaru dealership. The day after we bought it the check engine light came on and has stayed on for almost 4 years. We have, in the past 4 years, replaced the clutch, had a major oil leak, replaced the rear wheel bearings twice, and now have a crack in our cylinder head which can not be repaired. The mechanic has recommended a new engine. I realize that the car has a lot of miles, but come on. This car is a lemon if I ever saw one. Subaru has refused to honor warranty issues. We hate them and this car.

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  UGGGH - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By Bill - December 22 - 9:00 am

  NOthing but problems with this one. Its to bad because I loved the (260,000 miles) outback I had previously. The forrester has been a nightmare. Wheel bearings, every seal the thing has. Now the head gasket. I will be giving up on this one.

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  Some good but wheel bearings a killer!!! - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By s cristaldi - March 9 - 5:10 pm

  The car was purchased new. Has good features like paint/body quality. However have needed to replace wheel bearings almost every year. This is a 350 to 400 expense. Every year! Subaru has refused to take responsibility for this obvious engineering defect. So, be very careful purchasing a Subaru they will not back their products. Will never buy another Subaru. Too afraid of excessive costs.

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  A lemon! - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By LJN - April 5 - 10:56 am

  Bought the vehicle for durability and reliability. Have gone through multiple sets of tires, several sets of wheel bearings, two water pumps, and most recently replaced head gaskets ... all before 45K! Vehicle has known design flaws (head gaskets, for example) that Subaru of America refuses to be accountable for, offering cheap, short-term fixes. Will never buy another Subaru unless/until company stands behind their product!

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  1998 Subaru Forester - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By smokeymedic81 - January 13 - 11:04 am

  I bought this car uses so I cant say what the previous owner put it through. It had only 110,000 miles on it when I purchased it 6 months ago. Had my mechanic do a full inspection on it before I bought it. was able to drive it for 3 months, put a whole 3000 miles on it then the head gasket blew. The car is junk now because the cost to replace the head gasket is outragous. Will never buy a subaru again.

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  Would never buy another Subaru! - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By Lizzy - October 27 - 11:36 am

  This car has done nothing but cost us money! We have only owned it 4 years and only have 85,000 on a 10 year old vehicle but have had to replace the seals, transfer solenoid, clutches, you name it! Guess what? Once again, the engine light and At Oil Temp light are flashing after having the clutches replaced only 10 months ago. No one else can fix this vehicle either other than a Subaru Dealer. STAY FAR AWAY!

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  Dont waste your money - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By jackie w - February 18 - 10:00 am

  Never waste your money on a Subaru! After the 60,000 warranty went up we had transmission failure twice!!! The dealer never could seem to fix our car and we had difficulty finding anyone to work on Subarus and those who do have said they have had problems and one mechanic even said they were complete junk. Also the Forrester was not as good in the snow as we anticipated. Dont waste your money. Go with a Toyota or Honda!

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  Cant wait to trade this in... - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By Kris - July 25 - 11:06 am

  This is the most uncomfortable car Ive ever driven. Im 63" and the driving position makes me put one knee on the door on the other on the center console by the radio. If I ever hit anything my legs are broken, period. There are no words in the engine compartment only VERY obtuse pictograms. The car has never broken down but constantly has something broken. The clock randomly died. The rear wheel bearings have needed replacement twice. I snapped a piece of the braking system in half going over railroad tracks at 5mph. Horrible oil leak, killed oil pump, needed to remove water pump to get to oil pump, etc. Boxer engine runs like a champ, everything attached to it, not so much.