2015 Subaru Forester (SJ) · Known Issue
2015 Subaru Forester Excessive Oil Consumption (FB25): What It Really Costs to Fix
Quick answer: 2015 Subaru Forester excessive oil consumption (fb25) typically costs $50 to $4,500 at an independent shop, depending on which component failed.
Applies to: 2.5L only (2015: manual only). Other versions of the 2015 Subaru Forester do not have this problem.
What the Issue Is
The SJ Forester's FB25 shares the family ring-pack liability: oil passing the rings into the combustion chambers, regular top-ups between changes, and familiarity with the low-oil light. The SJ's first two model years sit inside the Yaeger v. Subaru settlement (final approval August 31, 2016), which gave covered cars 8 years/100,000 miles of coverage for consumption repairs with a replacement short block as the definitive cure, but not evenly: it took in 2014 Foresters with either transmission (automatics within VIN ranges) and only manual-transmission 2015 Foresters. A 2015 Forester with the CVT was outside it.
Post-settlement economics run the family script: the coverage has expired, definitive fixes cost engine money, and managing consumption with top-ups is the cheaper path for an engine that otherwise serves well, with the replaced-short-block cars as the documented, de-risked prize. The turbocharged 2.0XT of this generation uses a different engine and sits outside this issue.
Diligence is the family protocol: paperwork first (a short-block invoice transforms a candidate), then the dipstick-and-candor interview, the cold-start smoke watch, and pricing that matches the specific engine's demonstrated appetite rather than the model's reputation.
Symptoms to Watch For
- 1.Low-oil warnings between changes
- 2.Regular top-ups needed between oil changes
- 3.Startup smoke after sitting (progressed)
- 4.Plug fouling at intervals
- 5.Top-off admissions in the seller interview
Real Repair Costs
Managed top-offs versus short-block economics, per the family pattern. The settlement coverage (8 years/100,000 miles) has expired, and a 2015 Forester with the CVT was never in it.
| Repair | Typical Cost (installed) |
|---|---|
| Managed consumption (top-offs)per year | $50-$150 |
| Short block replacement, installed | $3,200-$4,500 |
Moderate issue. Ranges are US independent-shop estimates with quality parts. Use them as negotiation grounding, not a quote.
Mechanic's Tip: Spot It Before You Buy
Run the FB protocol: records first, for the short-block invoice that settles everything, then dipstick-against-claimed-service, the consumption candor question, and the cold-start tailpipe watch. Note the gearbox: on a 2015, only manual cars were in the settlement, so a CVT car never had that safety net and its consumption history matters more. Plenty of documented gems and thirsty gambles sit at similar asking prices, and the dipstick interview is your sorting mechanism; apply it before falling for the price.
The Bigger Ownership Picture
Beyond this specific issue, budget roughly $1,000-$1,500 per year for scheduled maintenance and repairs on a 2015 Subaru Forester. That is a typical US range from Avturo's ownership-cost table, an estimate rather than a quote, and it excludes insurance, fuel, and financing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Forester's oil issue the same as the Outback's?▼
Same engine family, same mechanism and the same settlement, Yaeger v. Subaru, though the covered years differ by model: for the Forester it took in 2011 to 2014 cars with automatics and 2011 to 2015 cars with manuals; for the Outback, 2013 automatics and 2013 to 2014 manuals. The checks transfer unchanged: paperwork, consumption interview, smoke watch.
Was the 2015 Forester part of the oil consumption settlement?▼
Only with a manual transmission. The settlement covered 2015 Foresters with the manual but not 2015s with the CVT, and its 8-year/100,000-mile coverage has run out anyway. For any 2015, what matters now is how much oil the engine uses and whether a short block was ever replaced.
How much does the definitive fix cost now?▼
$3,200 to $4,500 installed for short-block replacement at independents, expired-coverage economics that make managed top-offs the cheaper choice for a thirsty engine. Cars that got a settlement-era short block are worth seeking out, and the paperwork is what proves it.
What about the Forester's CVT?▼
Subaru's CVT warranty extension (16-107-17, June 2017) took 2014 and 2015 Forester CVTs to 10 years/100,000 miles, counted from the original warranty start date, so for a 2015 sold new in 2014 or 2015 it has ended. Run the light-throttle sweep and ask for fluid history alongside the oil checks; a car that passes both is the model at its used-value best.
Sources
The facts on this page were last checked against these documents on October 10, 2026. Programs and their coverage end; check the car's VIN with a dealer for what still applies.
- Court or settlement record: ClassLawGroup: Subaru oil consumption class action (Yaeger v. Subaru), class vehicles and terms (classlawgroup.com)
- Warranty program: Subaru notice on the oil consumption settlement coverage (NHTSA file MC-10140527) (static.nhtsa.gov)
- Warranty program: Subaru 16-107-17: Lineartronic CVT warranty extension to 10 years/100,000 miles (NHTSA file MC-10125885) (static.nhtsa.gov)
- Owner reports: 8020 Automotive: the most common Subaru FB25 engine problems (8020automotive.com)
Other Subaru Forester Years
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