Subaru Forester owner's manuals
The Subaru Forester appears in NHTSA vehicle records for 29 model years, from 1998 to 2026. Pick your year below for the official manual and recalls.
Choose your model year
29 yearsHow to get the right Forester manual
- Find your VIN on the driver's side of the dashboard or the door jamb label, and decode it below to confirm the model year and trim.
- Open the official Subaru owner site and choose the Forester.
- Select your model year. If the site asks for a VIN, use it so the manual matches your exact equipment.
- Download the owner's manual plus any separate guides for navigation, infotainment, warranty and maintenance.
- Save the PDF to your phone so it's there when you're in the car without signal.
Sections worth bookmarking
Instrument cluster
Every symbol your Forester can show and what to do about it.
MaintenanceService schedule
Intervals for oil, filters, brake fluid and inspections, including severe service.
Capacities and fluids
Oil grade and capacity, coolant type and tire sizes, usually in the last chapter.
Fuses
Fuse box locations and what each fuse protects, near the back of the manual.
Find it on the driver's side of the dashboard or the door jamb label. We don't store what you type.
About Subaru manuals
Subaru publishes owner's manuals and a warranty and maintenance booklet. EyeSight driver assist has a dedicated section, and it is worth reading because windshield replacement affects the cameras.
Questions
Where can I get the Subaru Forester owner's manual?
Subaru publishes owner's manuals on its official owner site (subaru.com). Choose the Forester and your model year, or sign in with your VIN so the manual matches your trim.
Is the manual the same for every Forester year?
No. Manuals are written for each model year and the Forester spans 1998–2026. Equipment, infotainment and maintenance intervals change between years and generations, so always use the edition for your year.
How do I check recalls on a Subaru Forester?
Use the recall checker on this page, which searches NHTSA's recall database by model year. Recalls apply to specific VINs, so confirm with a Subaru dealer or at nhtsa.gov/recalls using your 17 character VIN.