SubaruForester2020Overview/subaru/forester/2020/base/

2020 Subaru Forester

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Forester.

Transmission Automatic (AV-S7)

The 2020 Subaru Forester pairs an AV-S7 seven-speed automatic transmission with an engine that takes 4.4 quarts of 0W-20 oil, delivering EPA ratings of 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. With 592 owner complaints and zero recalls, this model year sits in the upper-middle range of the Forester's 1998–2026 complaint history—below the 2019 peak of 831 but far above the 12 complaints recorded for 2026—and its most frequently reported issue centers on visibility and wiper functionality. For researchers, that positions the 2020 as a transitional point: past the worst of the model's reliability troubles but still carrying enough owner-reported concerns to warrant attention, particularly in the visibility category.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192018

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy26/33/29 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI Non BCI Group Size Battery. Enhanced Flooded Battery Required. 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 Non BCI Group Size Battery. Enhanced Flooded Battery Required.OEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLIGHTOEM · verified
Tire size225/60R17 99HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length182.3 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height68.1 in
Wheelbase105.1 in
Curb weight3459 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined26 / 33 / 29 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular 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.

8.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.30 sec — 2020 Limited
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020Limited 2.5L F-48.30 sec16.50 sec182 hpAWD
2019Limited 2.5L F-48.30 sec16.50 sec182 hpAWD
2019Touring 2.5L F-48.50 sec16.60 sec182 hpAWD
2019Touring 2.5L F-48.60 sec16.70 sec182 hpAWD
2019Touring 2.5L F-49.60 sec17.30 sec182 hpAWD
2022Wilderness 2.5L F-48.00 sec16.30 sec182 hpAWD
2022Wilderness 2.5L F-48.10 sec16.20 sec182 hpAWD
2023Touring 2.5L F-48.50 sec16.50 sec182 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.4 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, GL-5 · 75W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 31.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidSubaru Lineartronic II CVT fluid.
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity12.4 - 12.9 Qts.
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 75W-90
Engine CoolantSubaru Super Coolant Diluted
Engine Coolant Capacity8.9 qt
Engine Oil0W-20 · Synthetic
Engine Oil Capacity4.4 qt

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug31.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts89 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-2-4
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)675 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)±100 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug TypeDILKAR7Q8
Spark Plug Gap.028-.031 in
Spark Plug Torque12.9 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing8 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity0.85-0.97 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46YF

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque19.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 100.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .870; Rear: .590

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
170.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60°±5°70 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
114.8 ft. lbs., Step 2: 73.8 ft. lbs., Step 3: Loosen 360°, Step 4: 14.8 ft. lbs., Step 5: 31.0 ft. lbs., Step 6: 98-102°, Step 7: Bolts 1 & 2: 98-102°, Step 8: Bolts 3, 4, 5 & 6: 48-52°14.8 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 12,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 72,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
At 137,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

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 2020 Subaru Forester represents a transitional point in its generation, with federal complaints dropping to 592 from a peak of 831 in 2019, yet remaining significantly higher than the 207 complaints recorded for the 2021 model year. Across this generation, complaint volumes escalated from 2014 to a 2019 peak before drastically falling in 2021, placing the 2020 model on the descending side of that arc but still burdened by lingering issues. Notably, the 2020 model had zero recalls and zero investigations—an improvement over the three recalls in 2019—but its 592 complaints were heavily concentrated in visibility categories, specifically Visibility/Wiper (234) and Visibility (49), though the data does not specify the root cause for these issues. Consequently, while the 2020 Forester is safer from a recall perspective than the prior year, its elevated complaint rate suggests it hasn't fully resolved the generation's peak-era flaws. If you are considering a used Forester, the 2020 model is a marginally better choice than the troubled 2019, but securing a 2021 model is a much wiser investment to bypass these persistent visibility concerns.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
459
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
592
Owner complaints
25 involved a crash · 7 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 592 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility/Wiper234
Unknown Or Other68
Visibility49
Electrical System44
Electrical System,Engine16
Engine16
Power Train9
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 459 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
02-193-24R2026-06-29EngineThis bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for…
09-74-21R2026-06-25EngineThis bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for…
09-81-21R2026-06-24Fuel/Propulsion SystemThis bulletin announces design changes made to the fuel injector and fuel pipe in…
SubaruNet Annoucement (E2026-06-11Unknown Or OtherThis announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood…
16-156-25R2026-06-02Power TrainThis bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which…

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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2020 Forester take?

4.4 qt of 0W-20 Synthetic, per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 Forester have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Forester get?

EPA figures are 26 city / 33 highway / 29 combined mpg.