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Subaru Forester

SHJStock varies — page stays live

Introduced during the mid-cycle refresh of the 3rd generation, the SHJ chassis marked the debut of Subaru's all-new 'FB' series boxer engine. Replacing the aging EJ-series, the FB20 offered better low-end torque, improved fuel economy, and transitioned to a maintenance-free timing chain setup.

Engine
FB20 DOHC NA
Displacement
1,995 cc
Drive
4WD
Gearbox
4AT / 5MT
Fuel
Petrol
Body
SUV
Subaru Forester SHJSubaru Forester — representative 3rd gen (SH) image

Chassis variants of the Forester

SG5EJ20 DOHC / SOHC1,994 cc4WD4AT / 5MTSH5EJ20 DOHC / EJ205 Turbo1,994 cc4WD4AT / 5MT
SHJFB20 DOHC NA1,995 cc4WD4AT / 5MT

Dimensions & shipping volume

Length
4,560 mm
Width
1,780 mm
Height
1,675 mm
Weight
1,440 kg
Shipping volume
13.6 M³

Manufacture year vs. registration year

Japanese paperwork shows the first registration date, but African customs count age from the month of manufacture. Verify with the chassis serial before purchase:

Serial prefixProduction periodSeries
SHJ-002001XXXXXXOct 2010 – Oct 2012Late Model (Applied Model C-D)

Import eligibility by country (2010–2012)

KenyaNot eligible
8-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.
UgandaCheck unit age
Only units manufactured Jul 2011 or later qualify (15-year limit).
TanzaniaEligible
No age ban; vehicles over 10 years pay additional excise duty.
ZambiaEligible
No age limit; surtax applies to vehicles older than 5 years.
MalawiEligible
No age limit; duty calculated on cc and age band.

Common questions about the SHJ

Does the FB20 engine in the SHJ use a timing belt?
No, the FB20 engine features a maintenance-free steel timing chain instead of a rubber timing belt, reducing long-term service costs.
Are there any known problems with early FB20 engines in the SHJ?
Some early FB20 engines in the 2011-2012 model years experienced higher-than-normal oil consumption. It is critical to regularly monitor oil levels and use the specified 0W-20 engine oil.