Does the 2011 Subaru Forester have a timing belt or chain?

The 2011 model year of the Subaru Forester comes in two different engine options, and unfortunately, that complicates matters a bit. If You have the 2.5L non-turbo DOHC engine, You'll have a timing chain. If You have the 2.0T turbocharged DOHC engine, You'll have a timing belt. Subaru recommends replacing the belt of the latter every seven years of 105,000 miles, whichever comes first. While obviously it's a pain to replace Your timing belt, it's important to stay on top of it. Due to routine wear and tear, timing belts require routine interval replacement because of their potential for catastrophic failure. If it fails while driving at highway speeds, You could be looking at a lot of damage. Chains on the other hand, are typically good for 250,000 to 300,000 miles -- it's likely that Your engine will fail before the timing chain does, barring unforeseen circumstances.