2012 Subaru Forester Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 2012 Subaru Forester covers ten trims of the four-door sport utility, X, X Limited, X Premium, X Touring, XS, XSL, XT Limited, XT Premium, XT Sports and XT Touring. Its engine list holds three gasoline 2.5L flat-fours: a turbocharged double-overhead-cam engine, a naturally aspirated single-overhead-cam engine and a naturally aspirated double-overhead-cam engine of 152 cubic inches. Wiring diagrams and procedures cover the fuel, ignition and cooling systems.

Engines covered

• 2.5L flat-four — DOHC, turbocharged, gasoline
• 2.5L flat-four — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 2.5L flat-four (152 cu in) — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door sport utility

Trims covered

• X
• X Limited
• X Premium
• X Touring
• XS
• XSL
• XT Limited
• XT Premium
• XT Sports
• XT Touring

Known issues on the 2012 Forester. For the 2012 Forester, the federal record holds 15 recalls. Several concern the passenger frontal air bag: in certain 2012 Forester vehicles sold or registered in certain states, including some whose inflator had already been replaced with one of the same design, prolonged humidity and temperature swings can degrade the propellant so the inflator bursts and throws metal fragments. Dealers fit alternate or new inflators. Owners lodged 105 complaints, led by engine (27), air bags (20) and vehicle speed control (18); 15 complaints reported a crash and 8 reported an injury. Air bag wiring diagrams and diagnostics apply, as do engine specifications.