2012 Subaru Forester: Excessive oil consumption
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2012 Forester report: excessive oil consumption. CarComplaints.com lists 13 owner complaints, average mileage 62,450 miles.
NHTSA has 29 owner complaints for the 2012 Forester in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11636357 (filed 01/16/2025): “I checked my oil level, fluids, and tire pressure before a drive on the highway. driving on [xxx] south, faint ticking started, then a louder tapping, and i immediately pulled off, luckily, off an exit ramp. aaa towed the forester to a certified repair shop…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11565874 (filed 01/16/2024): “My vehicle has 52460 miles and was in southern oregon subaru for an oil change, when i was informed the engine was leaking oil. the service advisor said the cam carrier reseal was needed and it would cost $3380.00. i checked youtube and found that subaru fores…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: none clearly reported. Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range: get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .