2013 Subaru Forester: Complete engine failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2013 Forester report: complete engine failure. CarComplaints.com lists 1 owner complaints, average mileage 117,000 miles.
NHTSA has 27 owner complaints for the 2013 Forester in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11770534 (filed 10/12/2026): “I was driving my 2013 subaru forester on 10.11.2026 and the engine caught fire driving at 35-40mph. i immediately stopped, and turned off the car. fire dept and police responded and put out the fire. the fire was an oil fire is my best guess (blown head gas…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11640728 (filed 02/04/2025): “The contact owns a 2013 subaru forester. while the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. in addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. the vehicle…”
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: complete engine replacement (1 reports). 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
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $15,000 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Estimated repair cost: engine replacement (used or remanufactured engine)
Average shop cost
$1,435
Range $800–$2,225 (labor)
8.0–16.0 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$2,150
Range $1,200–$3,335 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimates only, not a quote. Actual prices vary by vehicle, shop and location. See the estimate for your city → · About this repair and its cost
Same repair on other models: 2012 Toyota 4Runner: Engine blew up · 2014 Hyundai Sonata: Seized engine · 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe: Engine seized · 2018 Ford Edge: Leaking coolant killed engine · 2019 Ford Fusion: Coolant intrusion cracked short block · 2019 Nissan Pathfinder: Timing chain pieces ruined the engine
Page last updated .