Short answer: if your Subaru Forester is past 36,000 miles, Subaru’s bumper-to-bumper coverage is already gone — and past 60,000 miles, the powertrain warranty is gone too. An extended warranty for a Subaru Forester — correctly called a vehicle service contract — picks up covered mechanical and electrical repairs after the factory warranty ends. At Empire Auto Protect, plans start at $69/month, coverage is honored in all 50 states, and you can cancel at any time. This guide covers what Forester owners actually face: the factory warranty timeline, the CVT and boxer-engine repair risks by generation, what coverage includes, and how to judge the cost honestly.

Want your exact number first? Get a free quote online — priced from your Forester’s year and mileage, with no payment required to see it. Or call 1-888-345-0084 — Empire is open 24/7, with humans answering around the clock and a human-supervised AI agent after hours.

What “extended warranty” means on a Subaru Forester

Only Subaru can extend Subaru’s factory warranty. What third-party providers sell — including Empire — is a vehicle service contract (VSC): a contract that helps pay for covered mechanical and electrical repairs after the factory warranty expires. Extended warranty” is the everyday name shoppers use for the same product, which is why this guide uses both terms.

• A vehicle service contract is not insurance. Empire’s plans are service contracts, not insurance policies.
• Coverage is honored in all 50 states at licensed repair facilities, following the contract’s claim process, including authorization before a covered repair.
• Your contract’s covered-parts list is the truth. Compare lists, not labels — that rule protects you with every provider, including us.

If you own another Subaru alongside your Forester, start with our general Subaru extended warranty guide and our Subaru coverage overview. This page goes deeper on the Forester alone. Sibling model? See the Subaru Outback extended warranty guide, and our head-to-head Empire vs Subaru Added Security comparison if you are weighing Subaru’s own dealer plan.

Subaru Forester factory warranty: when Subaru’s coverage ends

Every new Forester leaves the lot with the same core Subaru coverage. It is standard for the class — and it ends sooner than most Foresters wear out:

• New Vehicle Limited (bumper-to-bumper): 3 years / 36,000 miles — most components, except wear and maintenance items.
• Powertrain: 5 years / 60,000 miles — engine, CVT transmission, and the all-wheel-drive system.
• Rust perforation: 5 years / unlimited miles — rust-through on body panels.
• Roadside assistance: 3 years / 36,000 miles.

Do the math against how Foresters are actually used. Subaru owners keep their vehicles a long time and drive them in all weather — that is the point of standard all-wheel drive. A Forester bought in 2020 with average mileage crossed 36,000 miles years ago and is at or past the 60,000-mile powertrain limit now. From that point, the CVT, the boxer engine, the EyeSight electronics, the air conditioning, and the AWD system are all on your wallet — on a vehicle most owners plan to keep well past 150,000 miles. One note for owners of certain 2010–2018 Foresters: Subaru extended CVT coverage to 10 years / 100,000 miles on some model years — check your VIN with Subaru before assuming your CVT is uncovered, because that extension, where it applies, comes first.

The Forester across generations: why the repair risk changes by year

2019–2024 Foresters (fifth generation)

This is the Forester most owners are shopping coverage for today. Every trim uses a 2.5-liter flat-four boxer engine (182 horsepower) with direct injection, a Lineartronic CVT, standard all-wheel drive, and standard EyeSight driver-assist. Long-term reliability data is still building. The known watch items are the expensive modern ones: CVT behavior at high mileage, EyeSight camera and windshield costs (a windshield replacement on an EyeSight car requires camera recalibration), early-model battery drain and infotainment glitches, and auto start-stop wear on the battery and starter. None of this makes the Forester a bad vehicle. It makes it a vehicle whose expensive systems are now aging out of factory coverage at the same time.

2014–2018 Foresters (fourth generation)

These Foresters use the FB-series 2.5-liter boxer and the CVT that replaced the old 4-speed automatic. Early FB engines drew owner reports of higher oil consumption — worth an honest mention, because an engine that uses oil between changes needs watching, and low oil is hard on everything downstream. The CVT itself is this generation’s largest repair exposure: when a Lineartronic CVT fails, shops typically replace the unit rather than rebuild it, which is why the cost in the repair list below is so high. The turbocharged XT (sold through 2018) adds turbo and intercooler complexity on top.

2009–2013 Foresters (third generation) and older

These Foresters use the older EJ-series 2.5-liter engine — the engine behind Subaru’s famous head-gasket history, with failures commonly reported from around 70,000 miles on high-mileage examples. The EJ also uses a timing belt, due for replacement at roughly 105,000 miles. Be clear on the honest split: scheduled timing belt replacement is maintenance, and maintenance is the owner’s cost under any legitimate contract — including ours. Foresters from 2014 onward use a timing chain with no scheduled replacement — one maintenance item newer owners do not have to budget for.

Two Forester ownership facts that drive the coverage decision

1. Every Forester has a CVT — there is no cheaper transmission option to fall back on

Since 2014, every Forester has used Subaru’s Lineartronic continuously variable transmission. It is efficient and generally durable when its fluid is serviced on schedule, but it is a sealed, specialized unit: when one fails out of warranty, replacement — not a low-cost rebuild — is the usual path, and the bill reflects that. They are also a clean example of a pre-existing condition: a CVT that is already shuddering or slipping when you enroll is not covered by any legitimate provider. Coverage is bought for the failures ahead of you, not the one already in your driveway.

2. The head-gasket story is real — and it belongs mostly to the older EJ engine

Head-gasket failure made Subaru famous for the wrong reason, and honest shopping means placing it in the right years. The multi-layer steel gasket problems were concentrated in the EJ-series engines used through 2013. The FB engine that replaced it uses a different design, and head-gasket failure is far less commonly reported on 2014-and-newer Foresters. If you own a 2009–2013 Forester, head-gasket condition is a first-order question at any inspection. If you own a newer one, your bigger exposures are the CVT, the EyeSight electronics, and the air conditioning — which is exactly how the coverage levels below are built.

Most common Subaru Forester repairs owners pay for out of warranty

The ranges below are typical independent-shop and dealer repair ranges owners report for these jobs — general market context, not Empire quotes. Your repair bill depends on your year, trim, and local labor rates.

• CVT transmission replacement — the single largest repair most Forester owners will ever face. Typical range: roughly $3,500–$7,000 installed, because the unit is usually replaced rather than rebuilt.
• Head gasket repair (2009–2013 EJ engines especially) — typical range: roughly $1,500–$3,000, because the flat-four must be partially removed for access.
• Air conditioning compressor — typical range: roughly $900–$1,600.
• EyeSight windshield replacement and camera calibration — the windshield carries the stereo cameras, so replacement plus recalibration commonly runs $1,000 and up.
• Alternator and electrical repairs — typical range: roughly $600–$1,100 for an alternator replacement; auto start-stop batteries on 2019+ models cost more than conventional batteries.
• Wheel bearings — a known Forester wear item at high mileage, commonly a few hundred dollars per corner installed.
• Infotainment head unit failures — diagnosis and replacement commonly runs from several hundred dollars upward on touchscreen models.
• AWD system components — viscous coupling / transfer components and CV axles wear at high mileage on a vehicle that drives all four wheels, all the time.

One covered CVT or engine-level repair can exceed years of monthly plan payments. That comparison — your total contract cost versus one major repair — is the only math that matters, and the next sections show you how to run it.

What an Empire plan covers on a Subaru Forester

Empire offers coverage levels from core powertrain protection up to comprehensive, exclusionary-style coverage. The right level depends on your Forester’s age and mileage:

• Powertrain coverage focuses on the core: engine, CVT transmission, and the all-wheel-drive system — the failures that strand a vehicle and produce the largest bills.
• Stated-component coverage covers the specific parts named in the contract across more systems, typically adding air conditioning, electrical, steering, fuel, and cooling components.
• Exclusionary (comprehensive) coverage covers everything except a short list of exclusions — the closest to new-car peace of mind, and the broadest protection for Foresters loaded with EyeSight and infotainment electronics.

What no legitimate contract covers — ours included: pre-existing conditions, routine maintenance (oil, brake pads, tires, CVT fluid service, and the EJ timing belt service), accident or cosmetic damage, and anything outside your contract’s covered-parts list. Every legitimate contract also has a waiting period and mileage threshold before coverage begins; that is how the industry prevents enrollment of a vehicle that is already broken. Read the covered-parts list before you enroll, with any provider.

Subaru Forester extended warranty cost: how to judge it honestly

At Empire Auto Protect, plans start at $69/month. Your Forester’s exact price depends on its year, mileage, trim, coverage level, deductible, and term — which is why a real quote always asks for your odometer reading. A company quoting one flat price for every Forester without asking about mileage is guessing.

Judge any quote — ours included — by its total cost, using the same formula from our vehicle service contract cost guide:

Total cost = (monthly price × number of months) + (deductible × covered claims you file)

Worked example using the published starting price — arithmetic from $69/month, not a quote for your specific Forester: 12 months = $828; 24 months = $1,656; 36 months = $2,484. Run the same multiplication on your actual quote, add one deductible for one assumed claim, then compare that total against the repair ranges above and against our full extended car warranty cost guide. A lower monthly price stretched over a much longer term can cost more in total — always compare totals at the same coverage level.

Empire’s structure stays simple: you pay monthly and can cancel at any time, for any reason — dissatisfied, sold the Forester, changed your mind. Refunds cover the unused portion after cancellation; time when coverage was in effect is not refunded, because during that time your Forester was covered and eligible for claims. Empire is rated 4.4 stars on Google — verify the live rating yourself on Google, as you should with any provider.

When should a Forester owner buy coverage?

1. Best pricing: before the factory warranty fully expires. Lower mileage means a lower monthly price and the broadest plan options.
2. Still strong math: around 60,000–100,000 miles. The powertrain warranty is ending or gone, and CVT and AC risk climbs. This is where most Forester owners enroll.
3. Past 100,000 miles: act before the next failure, not after. Coverage must be in place — and the waiting period complete — before a breakdown for that breakdown to be covered. A Forester that is already slipping or overheating needs a repair first, not a contract.

However long you plan to keep your Forester, the rule is the same: coverage is cheapest and broadest before mileage and symptoms pile up.

Your next step: get your free Empire quote — enter your Forester’s year and mileage, see your real monthly price and coverage options in writing, then run the total-cost math on this page before you decide. Or call 1-888-345-0084 any time. Simple, in writing, on your schedule.

Driving Subaru’s three-row SUV? Ascent owners can go deeper in our Subaru Ascent extended warranty guide, which covers the Ascent’s CVT extension, its recalls, and its repair costs in full.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Subaru Forester extended warranty cost?

At Empire Auto Protect, plans start at $69/month. Your exact price depends on your Forester’s year, mileage, trim, coverage level, deductible, and term. Always convert the monthly price to a total contract cost — monthly price multiplied by the number of months, plus your deductible per covered claim — before comparing providers.

Can I get an extended warranty for a Subaru Forester with over 100,000 miles?

Yes, in many cases. Higher-mileage Foresters can still qualify, though plan options narrow and pricing rises with mileage. Coverage cannot pay for a failure that already exists when you enroll, and a waiting period applies before coverage begins — so the time to enroll is while the Forester is still running well.

Does an extended warranty cover the Subaru Forester CVT?

The CVT is part of the powertrain, so a covered CVT mechanical breakdown is exactly what powertrain and broader coverage levels are built for — check your contract’s covered-parts list for the transmission listing. Before enrolling, also check whether your Forester is among the certain 2010–2018 model years where Subaru itself extended CVT coverage to 10 years / 100,000 miles; where that factory extension applies, it comes first. Routine CVT fluid service is maintenance and remains the owner’s cost.

Is a Subaru Forester extended warranty the same as Subaru Added Security?

No. Added Security is Subaru’s own factory-backed service contract program, typically bought through a dealer, often at the time of purchase. Empire’s plans are vehicle service contracts sold directly by phone and online, available after purchase and honored in all 50 states. Either way, compare the covered-parts list, the total cost, and the cancellation terms in writing.

Are Subaru Foresters expensive to repair?

Routine maintenance is reasonable for an all-wheel-drive SUV, but major out-of-warranty repairs are not: CVT replacement, EJ-era head gaskets, AC compressors, and EyeSight windshield calibration all commonly run from several hundred to several thousand dollars. That gap between cheap maintenance and expensive breakdowns is exactly what a service contract is built for.

Is Empire Auto Protect insurance?

No. Empire sells vehicle service contracts, which are not insurance and are not an extension of Subaru’s factory warranty. Empire is open 24/7 at 1-888-345-0084 and is rated 4.4 stars on Google — verify the live rating before you buy, as you should with any provider.

Crosstrek owners can go deeper in our Subaru Crosstrek extended warranty guide for Crosstrek-specific CVT, oil-consumption, and EyeSight coverage details.