Insurance
$1,610/yr
Full-coverage insurance averages $1,610 a year nationally for this vehicle — roughly 2.0× its maintenance bill. ACI estimate anchored to AAA's 2025 national average ($1,694/yr full coverage).
Subaru Forester Maintenance Cost (2016–2026)
Report ACI-SUB-FORESTER · Updated July 2026 · Figures are ACI model estimates
The Subaru Forester costs about $803 a year to maintain — $600 in year one rising to $1,125 by year ten, or $8,030 across a decade. That ranks #25 of 52 vehicles tracked by AutoCostIndex. Figures are modeled estimates at 12,000 miles a year with independent-shop labor, covering scheduled maintenance and expected repairs but not fuel, insurance, or depreciation.
Maintenance Cost Report ACI-SUB-FORESTER
Subaru Forester
gas · compact suv · MY 2016–2026
- Avg annual cost
- $803
- 10-year total
- $8,030
- Cost rank
- #25 of 52 vehicles
- Major-repair chance, 5 yr
- 13%
Average Annual Cost $803
$67per month
6.7¢per mile
Assumes 12,000 mi/yr · independent shop · 10-year average · ACI model estimate
The Subaru Forester ranks #25 of 52 vehicles we track — mid-pack for annual maintenance cost.
What it costs as it ages
Annual cost by vehicle age · ACI modelVehicle age, years · figures at 12,000 mi/yr, independent shop
Costs stay under $800 a year through year 6, then climb as tires (set of 4) and other wear items come due.
Common services
Typical U.S. pricing · independent shop| Service | Typical cost | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Oil change (synthetic) | $88 | 6,000 mi |
| Cabin + engine air filters | $74 | 15,000 mi |
| Brake pads (front, pair) | $310 | 48,000 mi |
| Tires (set of 4) | $840 | 50,000 mi |
| CVT fluid exchange | $240 | 60,000 mi |
Your numbers
Table recalculates with the settings panel| Vehicle age | Annual cost | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Age 1 | $600 | $600 |
| Age 2 | $610 | $1,210 |
| Age 3 | $640 | $1,850 |
| Age 4 | $685 | $2,535 |
| Age 5 | $735 | $3,270 |
| 5-year total | $3,270 | $3,270 |
Ownership context
National averages · beyond the maintenance billCost rank
#25 of 52
The Subaru Forester ranks #25 of 52 vehicles we track — mid-pack for annual maintenance cost.
Gas service profile
5 routine items
Routine costs are fluid-and-wear driven: oil at 6,000-mile intervals, filters, brakes, and tires. Tires (set of 4) is the single largest routine bill at $840.
Against its rivals
Average annual maintenance · ACI model| Vehicle | Avg annual | 10-yr total | vs. Forester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru ForesterThis page | $803 | $8,030 | — |
| Toyota RAV4 | $647 | $6,470 | −$156/yr |
| Subaru Crosstrek | $761 | $7,610 | −$42/yr |
| Honda CR-V | $819 | $8,185 | +$16/yr |
| Subaru Outback | $838 | $8,375 | +$35/yr |
Questions people ask
Is the Subaru Forester expensive to maintain?
It is about average. The Forester averages $803 a year in maintenance and typical repairs, ranking #25 of 52 vehicles on AutoCostIndex. That is mid-pack among vehicles we track.
What does a Subaru Forester cost to maintain per year?
$803 a year averaged over the first ten years — about $67 a month. Year 1 runs roughly $600; by year 10 the annual figure reaches $1125. Ten-year total: $8,030.
What are the most common Forester services?
The routine items are oil change (synthetic) (~$88), cabin + engine air filters (~$74), brake pads (front, pair) (~$310). Intervals and full pricing for every service are in the table on this page.
What's not included in this estimate?
Fuel or charging, insurance (about $1,610 a year nationally for this vehicle), collision damage, parking, tolls, taxes, and registration. The figure covers scheduled maintenance plus typical age-related repairs, modeled per our methodology.
Keep exploring
More Subaru models
Similar running costs
Rankings & hubs
How we calculate this
Every figure on this page is a modeled estimate from the ACI maintenance model: each routine service is amortized per mile from its manufacturer-schedule interval, priced at independent-shop labor rates, with an age-based repair expectation on top. The method is open — the exact formula, its calibration against AAA's published ownership-cost study, and its limitations are on the methodology page. Your invoices will differ; the model sets expectations, it doesn't predict a single car.
REFERENCES: AAA — Your Driving Costs 2025 (fact sheet) · AAA — Average mechanic labor rates by state (2026) · NHTSA — Safety recalls lookup · Updated 2026-07-19