Subaru mechanic or experience on here?

[JRobyn]

Hi guys,

I think there was a fairly recent thread somewhere on TBN where a Subaru dealer mechanic participated? I'm looking at a new Subaru Forester (possibly Outback) and am concerned about their reliability and service history. We would hope for it to be our commuting vehicle between GA and TN, so it will get a LOT of miles. I'd hope to get 250,000 or more out of it with good care like we have gotten with our GMC Sierra.

I believe that Subaru has now resolved the head gasket issues, but am hearing about high oil consumption and am a bit leery of the new CVT trans. Do the 2015s still have issues? Anything that an owner can do to mitigate or avoid the issues?

I've looked at Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Ford Escape also, but they all now have AWD systems that are kinda marginal under conditions that we would likely encounter on a routine basis. Subaru AWD seems to be the best by far, so it keeps coming out on top.

- Jay

 

[techman]

There are quite a few subaru owners at work in my area. I too have a '14 Outback. My information is that the head gasket issues are in the past. Have not heard anything about oil consumption. As far as the CVT, I too was hesitant. Several here have been on the road without any issues, some with 100K+

I know of 2 co-workers who have had subarus over 350k miles. Things were replaced, like trannys, but overall the basics were original. I can say that the only inherent problem I knew of was the head gasket, which Subaru did own up to (my mother-in-laws had 80k and started leaking coolant, dealer/factory replaced them for $ 100) (also the head gasket was coolant leak, not a "blown" head gasket). Overall I can say all information I know from our own and co-workers is that they are very high in reliability.

paul

 

[Deerherd]

I'm on my third Forester, first one I traded in at 215k, second one at 205k and current one is at 191k. I've put over 600k miles on them and besides oil, tires and other maintenance items, I have had zero major problems. I did have to replace a heater fan speed blower control on number two and I have to get my a/c checked on my "newest" one before summer but all in all its been a very reliable car. Good luck!

 

[s219]

You are right that the other AWD systems are basically front wheel drive with rear wheel assist when the fronts slip. In real winter weather, they are pretty lame compared to the Subarus I have owned. The Subarus were darn near unstoppable in snow. It's a night and day difference.

I can't comment on recent years as the last of five Subuarus I owned was sold in 2007, but they were all excellent cars with no problems, and I hold Subaru in high esteem. Next time we need a vehicle style they make, it will be a Subaru without question. The new 2015 Outback looks phenomenal by the way, and the styling picks up from where the 2005-2010 models left off, with more of a Euro look/feel. I was not a fan of the 2010-2014 generation. New Forester looks great as well.

The CVT is pretty well tested at this point, especially from Subaru (there were one of the pioneers of the CVT back in the 80s).

Have not heard about oil consumption issues, but again, have not been in the loop recently. Head gasket issues should be long gone, as the new 2.5 is an all-new design and doesn't have coolant passages through the gasket area anymore.

Some of the best Subaru knowledge on the web used to be the Subaru forums on edmunds.com. Take a look and see if they are still active and may have some more info for you. Good luck!

 

[davesl708]

I have a 2009 Legacy. 141k miles. Short of a CV joint boot cracking ($15.) no issues. Brakes lasted 100k. I use 1qt of oil in 3500 miles. Not unusual.
Steering, trans, everything is fine. I expect 300k before I get rid of it for a new version.

No issues in snow or ice. I commute 80 miles per day for work.

 

[RalphVa]

Wish Subaru would bring back their Baja or something similar. Could kick myself for not buying one new in their last (2006) year.

Ralph

 

[davesl708]

Wish Subaru would bring back their Baja or something similar. Could kick myself for not buying one new in their last (2006) year.

Ralph

I had an 84 Brat. Loved it. So much fun. Perfect for deer hunting. Could drive through the woods right to the deer. Gave it up with only 165k. Bet it is still running.

 

[HeLa]

i unfortunately don't currently own a subaru but have had many over the years. BRAT, GL, Loyale, Legacy ...

the absolute best online subaru resource: Ultimate Subaru Message Board - a GREAT community of owners

 

[mark02tj]

I had an '80 Brat that I bought brand new right after I turned 18. Super fun car and great in the snow. That was back before there were 4WD SUVs everywhere and even front wheel drive was not that common. My only problem with the Subarus back then was that they were pretty thin metal and prone to rust. They've since taken care of that issue.

My parents have driven Subaru's since 1978. Several of them went 200-300k miles. They had an '83 that they sold to my buddy in 1990. It had 220k miles at the time and he put another 100k or so on it before he sold it to someone else!!

I don't think you could wrong with a Subaru.

 

[nybirdman]

We are on our third Subaru,the latest is a 2010 Outback that we purchased new.Currently has 58,000 miles.
Trying to get the wife to trade it for a new one but she doesn't want to part with this one.
I have a close friend that has traded about the same time we did(all three times).
So that's a total of six,no problems with any of them.Best vehicle on the road for the money;and this from a long time GM owner.
We had the rear brakes replaced on the 2010@30,000 miles;UNDER WARRANTY,never would have happened with any GM that I owned.Nothing wrong with the CTV,get the four cylinder.

 

[Green Power]

I have family members with outbacks, they have no complaints.

 

[Garandman]

I've owned four Subarus, currently own two. They are immensely popular in New England and historically have sold at 4X the rate and 8X the rate in VT.

You are right that the other AWD systems are basically front wheel drive with rear wheel assist when the fronts slips

Which is exactly what the Subarus with 4EAT were: 90/10.

OP, the Subaru 2.5 When used in the Outback had a lot of head gasket failures. In the Impreza and Forester it has been better as they are lighter. There is also an oil consumption complaint that has resulted in a class action lawsuit. Nonetheless the Forester and Crosstrek sales have taken off.

Unlike the CR-V system and older Subarus, the AWD system does not shut off at speed. Their traction control and drive systems seems to work better. Subaru has at least five different AWD systems, with the VTD system and STI system the most sophisticated. They all work well and have few problems. Because the engine is in line with the drive system, it is simpler and better balanced than other small crossovers.

Subaru has made CVT's a long time and they seem to be holding up well.

What kind of conditions are you facing that require AWD? Ironically the OEM tires on the Subarus (and most other new cars) suck in ice and snow. I literally drove my 2006 Outback from the Subaru dealer to the tire dealer and sold the takeoffs.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/related-topics/210062-any-subaru-owners.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/271195-subaru-crosstrek.html

 

[RayMunising]

I have a 2014 Forester I purchased 9/2013. It's our first Subaru (previously bought Toyota/Honda). It has 20K miles on it now. No oil consumption. I change the oil every 4K miles. I think it is VERY important to follow the manufacturer's break in procedure. We love the thing. It takes us where we want to go. We live in Munising, MI (average 150 inches snow). With snow tires it's amazing. Stock tires are TERRIBLE on snow/ice. It has some rattles under the dash (common on Subarus I'm told). Hoping it is as reliable as our 2000 Honda Accord was!

 

[Garandman]

Who Keeps Stealing All The Old Subarus In Portland?

Forester easily passes this test.

 

[Mendonsy]

My wife won't even consider driving anything but a Subaru. She doesn't drive a lot of miles which in many respects is worse than driving it more. She traded a '99 Outback that only had 80k miles on it for her current '14 Forster.

 

[JRobyn]

...
What kind of conditions are you facing that require AWD? Ironically the OEM tires on the Subarus (and most other new cars) suck in ice and snow. I literally drove my 2006 Outback from the Subaru dealer to the tire dealer and sold the takeoffs.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/related-topics/210062-any-subaru-owners.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/271195-subaru-crosstrek.html

Thanks all. I was expecting to hear some good things, but y'all are positively glowing! You've assuaged my concern about the CVT. Now I just need to hear more about the oil consumption problem.

At the TN house, we have 1/2 mi of rutted gravel drive with one pretty steep incline that sometimes gets snow and ice, and we have occasionally gotten caught in snow/ice on the drive down Hwy 111 over the Cumberland Plateau. So we really only need AWD occasionally, but if I'm going to buy a new vehicle with AWD, I really prefer that it WORK.

- Jay

 

[Garandman]

You can't swing a cat without hitting a Subaru here. The Forester has enough ground clearance that you can load it with passengers and cargo and a roof rack still get down a rutted dirt road. You will find tons of videos on youtube with people doing all sorts of shenanigans. But change the tires! The dealer is absolutely, positively going to tell you they don't get any complaints about the OEM tires. BS, the forums are full of complaints - not just for Subaru, OEM tires blow.

The "Cute-Ute" market is really hot these days. In 2014 Forester sales were up 30%, Mazda CX5 25%, Rav4 23%. The best sellers in the segment are:
GMC Terrain/Chevrolet Equinox
Honda CR-V
Ford Escape
RAV4
Forester

Those numbers are a little deceptive because 100% of Subarus are AWD while most of the others are available as FWD or AWD.

Sales figures.

 

[nybirdman]

Make the tire change part of your deal.NO oil consumption problems on the six that I mentioned.Our 2010 Outback was the first year with the CVT(Forrester was a year earlier),we had full confidence that it would be no problem and it hasn't been.
Motor Trend's SUV of the year in 2010 and I think the Forrester the year before.The four cylinder motor is fine for this vehicle,not a lot gained with the six.30+MPG on the highway easily.
One change on the 2015's is that they added "gear changes" to the CVT,don't know why,we like it as originally built.

 

[Mendonsy]

One change on the 2015's is that they added "gear changes" to the CVT,don't know why,we like it as originally built.

Probably because some of the competitor websites were calling it "shiftless" or a "no speed transmission". I agree that there is nothing wrong with the way it was.

 

[s219]

I've owned four Subarus, currently own two. They are immensely popular in New England and historically have sold at 4X the rate and 8X the rate in VT. Which is exactly what the Subarus with 4EAT were: 90/10.

We had one Forester with 4EAT, but my WRX and first Outback were manuals with the 50/50 system and viscous coupling (WRX also had rear LSD), and my VDC Outback and later 05 Outback XT were VTD, with something like 45% front / 55% rear default bias, rear LSD, and a lot of tricks for redistribution. The OB XT was by far the best snow vehicle I ever owned. I used to score front row in the parking lot at the ski area before it was plowed on powder days, and that was usually as fun as the skiing was. I had no concerns driving in deep powder with that car.

Back to the 4EAT and active AWD system -- 90/10 was the default, and would react to slippage. But it also had proactive shifting of power, going aft under acceleration and going forward under braking, that would reduce the chances of slippage to begin with. Simpler systems at that time (like on the Honda CR-V, etc) were purely reactive, only shifting front to rear under slippage, so I still considered the Subaru 4EAT system to be superior back then.

In later years, Honda/Acura went to a more proactive system on their higher end vehicles. I have had a couple of Acuras with SH-AWD that were quite good both in snow and in general driving. SH-AWD will also shift side to side in the rear, overdriving the outside wheel in turns for an effective steering input. It works well to reduce understeer that is typically present in a lot of these vehicles, and makes their SUVs tolerably sporty to drive. I have no idea what's in the less sophisticated Honda AWD systems nowadays, but my general impression is that the CR-V still sucks pretty bad in the snow from what I have seen.