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2011 Subaru Forester

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 Forester.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S4)

The 2011 Subaru Forester is a compact SUV equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission, and for routine maintenance the engine requires 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API-grade oil, while EPA ratings for this model come in at 21 city, 26 highway, and 23 combined mpg. Against the broader complaint history spanning 1998 to 2026—with the model reaching its peak of 831 owner complaints in 2019 and its lowest point at just 12 in 2026—the 2011 model year recorded 147 total owner complaints with engine-related issues comprising the primary concern, alongside 16 associated recalls. This positions the 2011 Forester as a notably more reliable specimen within its own lineage, a meaningful consideration for researchers assessing long-term ownership outcomes.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque74 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy21/26/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 550 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 550 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S4)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	179.5 in
Overall width	70.1 in
Overall height	66.9 in
Wheelbase	103.1 in
Curb weight	3307 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.2 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	21 / 26 / 23 mpg
Drivetrain	All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	108 cu ft
Cargo volume	34 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Forester of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.7–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.70 sec — 2011 2.5X Touring PZEV

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2011	2.5X Touring PZEV 2.5L F-4	8.70 sec	16.80 sec	170 hp	AWD
2011	2.5x Touring 2.5L F-4	9.20 sec	17.00 sec	170 hp	AWD
2010	2.5XT Limited 2.5L Turbo F-4	6.70 sec	15.10 sec	224 hp	AWD
2010	2.5X Premium PZEV 2.5L F-4	9.30 sec	17.10 sec	170 hp	AWD
2009	2.5XT Limited 2.5L Turbo F-4	6.60 sec	15.10 sec	224 hp	AWD
2009	2.5XT Limited 2.5L Turbo F-4	6.70 sec	15.20 sec	224 hp	AWD
2009	2.5XT Limited 2.5L Turbo F-4	6.70 sec	15.10 sec	224 hp	AWD
2009	2.5X Premium 2.5L F-4	9.70 sec	17.40 sec	170 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 74 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 33.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-2-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	9.8
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	SYNTHETIC · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	SYNTHETIC · 0W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.5 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	6 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	22 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	6 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	22 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	33.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	74 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	17.0-20.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	162 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	140 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-2-4
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	MT: 650, AT: 675, TURBO: 700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	100 rpm
Spark Plug Manufacturer	NGK
Spark Plug Torque	15 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.03-1.17 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	100
Standard BCI Group Number	35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	550 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)	41.0-46.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	33.0-38.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	12.0 ohms
Engine Compression	152-203 psi. 14 variance psi.
Engine Oil Pressure	14 psi @ 600 rpm, 43 psi @ 5000
Intake Valve Lash	SOHC: 0.008, DOHC: 0.079 in
Exhaust Valve Lash	SOHC: 0.010, DOHC: 0.118-0.158 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	59 ft-lbs / 48.7 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.059; Rear: 0.059 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.944 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.944 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.87 in / 0.335 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

35 ft. lbs., step 2: 60

35 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages

Prep MFI and SFI

1	21.4 ft. lbs.	21.4 ft. lbs
2	73.8 ft. lbs.	73.8 ft. lbs
3	Loosen 180 degrees in the reverse order of installing.	180 degrees
4	Loosen 180 degrees in the reverse order of installing.	180 degrees
5	31 ft. lbs.	31 ft. lbs
6	78-82 degrees.	78–82 degrees
7	Bolts 1, 2	73–77 degrees
8	6, 5, 4, 3	28–32 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages

Prep MFI and SFI

1	21.4 ft. lbs.	21.4 ft. lbs
2	73.8 ft. lbs.	73.8 ft. lbs
3	Loosen 180 degrees in the reverse order of installing.	180 degrees
4	Loosen 180 degrees in the reverse order of installing.	180 degrees
5	31 ft. lbs.	31 ft. lbs
6	78-82 degrees.	78–82 degrees
7	Bolts 1, 2	73–77 degrees
8	6, 5, 4, 3	28–32 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages

Prep MFI and SFI

1	21.4 ft. lbs.	21.4 ft. lbs
2	73.8 ft. lbs.	73.8 ft. lbs
3	Loosen 180 degrees in the reverse order of installing.	180 degrees
4	Loosen 180 degrees in the reverse order of installing.	180 degrees
5	31 ft. lbs.	31 ft. lbs
6	78-82 degrees.	78–82 degrees
7	Bolts 1, 2	73–77 degrees
8	6, 5, 4, 3	28–32 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 1,250 mi.

Every 1,250 mi	Engine Oil (inspect fluid level)
At 3,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 3,750 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Drive Belt Tensioner (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
Every 5,000 mi	Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Battery Cable (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
Every 22,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Line (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Injection System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2011 Forester sits in the middle of the third generation (2009–2013), a period marked by elevated recall activity — 12 to 18 campaigns per year — compared with the 0–3 recalls typical of earlier models. Complaints dropped sharply from the 2010 peak of 262 to 147 in 2011, while recalls eased only slightly from 17 to 16, but Technical Service Bulletins surged from 229 to 349, a trend that continued through 2013. The leading complaint categories for 2011 were Engine (44 reports), Air Bags (23), and Service Brakes (7), with 21 crash-related and 6 fire-related complaints recorded; the data does not specify root causes for these issues. By 2012–2013, complaints fell further to 105 and 77 respectively, and recalls declined to 15 and 12, suggesting the generation's quality trajectory was improving. The 2011 model represents a transitional improvement over the troubled 2010 launch year but carries a high TSB count that signals ongoing service complexity; it is a reasonable purchase if all recall work is documented complete, though the 2012–2013 models show cleaner federal records.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

349

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

147

Owner complaints

21 involved a crash · 6 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10’11’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 147 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine44

Air Bags23

Unknown Or Other7

Service Brakes7

Vehicle Speed Control6

Power Train4

Electrical System4

Seats3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 16 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V008000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 09/01/2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona… Remedy: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer…

19V007000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 09/01/2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida… Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 349 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
SubaruNet Annoucement (E	2026-06-11	Unknown Or Other	This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood…
01-167-08R	2026-05-18	Unknown Or Other	This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
SubaruNet Announcement (R	2026-05-04	Power Train	This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
07-240-26R	2026-04-30	Unknown Or Other	This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles…
03-97-26	2026-04-24	Power Train	This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Forester. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 35 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2011 Forester take?

4.5 qt of SYNTHETIC 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2011 Forester have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 16 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Forester get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 26 highway / 23 combined mpg.

2011 Subaru Forester

Quick specs

Fitment & sizes

Full specifications

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

Performance & power Independent road tests

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Lubricants & capacities

Engine torques

Chassis torques

Ignition

Battery & A/C

Service checks

Brakes

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Common OBD-II trouble codes

VIN tools

Vehicles with shared specs

Reference guides

Related vehicles

Other years

Frequently asked