Used Subaru Forester Engines
Used, remanufactured and rebuilt engines for the 1998-to-present Subaru Forester — tested before they ship and covered by warranty. Tell us your Forester and we’ll match the exact engine.
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Engine Options
Which engine does your Forester have?
Every Forester has had a 2.5L flat-four, but not the same one: the DOHC EJ25D in 1998, the SOHC EJ251 and EJ253 from 1999 to 2010, the chain-driven FB25B from 2011 and the direct-injected FB25D from 2019. The XT models added the EJ255 turbo (2004–2013) and the 2.0L FA20F turbo (2014–2018), and a hybrid arrived for 2025.
The table below lists what was offered when. The change from EJ to FB happened mid-generation in 2011, so two Foresters that look identical can need different engines. We confirm from the VIN before we quote.
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5L DOHC flat-four | Code: EJ25D | 1998 only. |
| 2.5L SOHC flat-four | Code: EJ251 | 1999–2002. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5L SOHC flat-four | Code: EJ251 | 2003–2004. |
| 2.5L SOHC flat-four | Code: EJ253 | 2005–2008, drive-by-wire; i-AVLS and 173 hp from 2006. |
| 2.5L DOHC turbo | Code: EJ255 | XT, 2004–2008. 210 hp in 2004–2005, 224–230 hp from 2006. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5L SOHC flat-four | Code: EJ253 | 2.5X, 2009–2010. 170 hp, timing belt. |
| 2.5L DOHC flat-four | Code: FB25B | 2.5X, 2011–2013. Timing chain, port injection, 170 hp. |
| 2.5L DOHC turbo | Code: EJ255 | 2.5XT, 2009–2013. 224 hp; still the belt-driven EJ. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5L DOHC flat-four | Code: FB25B | 2.5i. 170 hp. |
| 2.0L direct-injection turbo | Code: FA20F | 2.0XT. 250 hp, 258 lb-ft; also written FA20DIT. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5L direct-injection flat-four | Code: FB25D | All trims, 182 hp. The Wilderness kept this body for 2025. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5L direct-injection flat-four | Code: FB25D | Revised engine, 180 hp; also in the 2026 Wilderness. |
| 2.5L Atkinson-cycle hybrid | Code: FB25D | Forester Hybrid, from spring 2025. 194 hp combined. |
Not sure which one is yours? Request a quote and we’ll work it out from your VIN.
Before You Order
What to check before you order
Which 2.5L
The EJ25D (1998), EJ251 (1999–2004), EJ253 (2005–2010), FB25B (2011–2018) and FB25D (2019 on) are all 2.5L flat-fours and none replaces another. A 2011–2013 FB25 does not fit a 2009–2010 car, even though the body is the same.
EJ251 or EJ253
In the 2003–2008 body the EJ251 has a cable throttle and the EJ253 (2005 on) is drive-by-wire, with variable valve lift from 2006. Match the model year, not just the size.
XT engines are their own
The 2004–2013 XT uses the EJ255 turbo and the 2014–2018 XT the FA20F. The FA20F was also in the 2015–2021 WRX in a higher tune, but the ECU, intake and exhaust differ, so we supply Forester-spec long blocks.
Hybrid is a different engine
The 2025-on Forester Hybrid runs an Atkinson-cycle FB25D with a motor-generator, a traction motor and a sealed lithium-ion battery. It is not the same engine as the standard FB25D. Tell us if your Forester is a hybrid.
Have your VIN ready
With the VIN we can confirm the engine, model year and body before we quote, which avoids ordering the wrong version.
Common Problems
Common Forester engine problems
Head-gasket failures — 2.5L, 1998–2010
The 1998 DOHC EJ25D fails internally, mixing combustion gas and coolant until the engine overheats and warps its heads. The 1999–2010 SOHC EJ251 and EJ253 leak externally at the head-block seam, typically at 100,000–150,000 miles, and a leak left alone ends in overheating and a replacement engine. Subaru’s 2004 WWP-99 campaign added a coolant conditioner to late-1990s and early-2000s 2.5L cars and extended cover for external leaks to 8 years or 100,000 miles; that cover has long expired.
Oil consumption — FB25, 2011–2014
Piston rings on early FB25 engines let the engine burn oil, and dealers usually fixed it with a new short block. The Yaeger class settlement, approved in August 2016, extended the warranty for oil-consumption repairs to 8 years or 100,000 miles on 2011–2014 automatic and 2011–2015 manual Foresters below set VIN cut-offs; that cover has now expired.
Ringland and turbo failures — EJ255 XT, 2004–2013
Detonation cracking the second piston ringland, with a sudden rise in oil consumption before the engine fails, and a clogged mesh screen in the turbo oil-feed banjo bolt that starves the turbo and the valve timing (code P0011), are widely reported on the XT. There is no manufacturer campaign for either.
PCV valve recall — 2019
On 2019 Foresters built between July 4, 2018 and March 21, 2019 the aluminum PCV valve can come apart and pieces enter the engine. Recall 19V-856 (Subaru WUW-08) replaces the valve, or the short block if the pieces cannot be recovered, so check the recall status by VIN before buying an engine.
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- 04
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FAQ
Forester engine questions, answered
Which engine does my Forester have?
By year: EJ25D in 1998, EJ251 1999–2004, EJ253 2005–2010, FB25B 2011–2018 and FB25D from 2019, with the EJ255 turbo in the 2004–2013 XT and the FA20F in the 2014–2018 XT; there has been no turbo since 2018. The code is on a label or stamp on the block; send us the VIN and we will confirm.
Will a WRX engine fit my 2014–2018 Forester XT?
Both use the FA20F, but the WRX version is tuned differently and its ECU, intake and exhaust do not match. We supply Forester-spec long blocks for the XT.
Can I put a 2011–2013 engine in my 2009–2010 Forester?
No. The 2009–2010 2.5X has the belt-driven EJ253 and the 2011–2013 car the chain-driven FB25B, and they are not interchangeable even though the body did not change. The XT kept the EJ255 through 2013.
Is the engine covered by a warranty?
Yes. Every engine we sell is covered by warranty, and extended cover is available at extra cost. The full terms are in our Warranty Policy.
Ready to replace your Forester engine?
Tell us the year and have your VIN to hand — a specialist will confirm the right unit and send you a quote.
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