Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.
Chart based on 72 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
Diesel particulate filter failed spectacularly following an air leak in the turbo air lines (difficult to say if the air leak became worse following the DPF failure, or caused it). DPF was replaced with a new unit. Leaking turbo air lines/seals were replaced.
3040 mi
Carbon catchment filled and would not empty dy driving as described in the manual. Had to be taken to shop for manual emptying
25420 mi
ERC unit & DPF (Diesel Motor) replaced for second time.
Faulty gas cap caused service engine light, cruise, traction control and brake lights to illuminate.
31000 mi
CE lamp AND BRAKE warning light illuminated. Shut itself off on the way to dealer. I pulled codes for all 6 cyl misfires. Dealer could not fathom the problem. Second time it's happened. I elevated complaint to SOA.
115000 mi
US $230
Serpentine belt idler bearing failed, belt popped
5580 mi
Leaky timing chain cover gasket
18600 mi
leak from the timing chain cover gasket. 2nd time in for this problem. repaired under warranty
43400 mi
C $85
Timing belt replacement
90520 mi
C $1700
Cooling hose replaced Changed the oil pan
129580 mi
C $500
Ignition coil replaced
2000 mi
Corrected original hesitation problem with reflash.
8000 mi
Car stalled at stop lights. No TSB or recall available. Reflashed transmission computer and released car. Problem not fixed.
17000 mi
TSB, RPMs drop at low speed with A/C on
65700 mi
US $350
Exhaust system was leaking at gaskets.
24000 mi
During oil change coolant was observed leaking from weep hole on water pump. Subaru dealer agreed and ordered new pump. Waited a week for the part. Replacement took almost 2 days.
3200 mi
Reflashed ECU to correct hesitation problem.
8060 mi
Car surges forward when the steering wheel is turned. Especially when engine is in warm up cycle.
36200 mi
Was driving car and then it became difficult to use power steering (it died) and stalled out. Needed to be flatbedded out. The tensioner belt had snapped and rendered the power steering and alternator to be useless.
6000 mi
Oil light intermittently came on, a sensor was "loose" as per technician
9000 mi
Low oil light came on, car more than 2 qts low, but no leaking, refilled oil, but could not find/fix problem. Dealer states other dealer that did last oil change "underfilled" oil
9500 mi
oil light turned on, car was almost 2 qts low with no sign of leakage. dealer stated possibly other dealer underfilled car at last oil change.
13000 mi
Car had low oil warning again, 1 qt oil added. Low oil sensor replaced, oil change completed
Noise when accelerating. Was coming from heat shield. Dealer adjusted it twice before, but would come back after one month. Replaced.
14000 mi
ECU was also reprogrammed for long-start condition at high-altitudes in cold conditions.
60000 mi
US $1500
Replaced leaking radiator assembly.
85900 mi
US $1300
Timing belt water pump thermostat and change coolant... tensioner bearings...
93000 mi
US $300
Crossover pipe leaking coolant
166 mi
On day of purchase check engine light was on; reported to me that the oil sensor was not plugged in correctly and once that fitting was tightened all was OK - Car drives like a dream.
136600 mi
US $2400
Water pump and belt replacement. Water pump had been replaced at 99k. Car had overheating issues days before pump replacement. Item began overheating 2 weeks after the water pump was replaced. This time it was the head gaskets. HG were replaced, cleaned up. New thermo, gaskets, front and rear seals, belts, etc. Also did placed some generic parts (for cost only) such a couple of bulbs.
85000 mi
US $3000
Headgaskets blown
56200 mi
Engine light started blinking and car stalled in traffic. Able to restart after 10 minutes (light stayed on) Garage found error message about camshaft timing. Mechanic reset computer and have not had a problem since.
65000 mi
US $40
Oil filter seal failed - all oil spilled into driveway. Apparently the problem is the seal broke in sub-zero weather. Mechanic said numerous Subarus had same problem during cold snap.
88000 mi
US $700
Manifold gasket and oil sensors.
96000 mi
US $144
Needed to reattach heat shield because of rattle.
100000 mi
US $1500
tighten the heat shield to stop rattling, replaced rusting oil pan
111000 mi
US $1000
Sudden drop in mileage (from 26 to 18 mpg) cleaned injectors replaced plugs.
96720 mi
C $2000
Head gasket leak and 2 pistons damaged.
67000 mi
US $50
Valve cover and spark plug tube gaskets
130000 mi
US $2100
Timing belt
3200 mi
gas cap lid or body panel cover would not open, so couldn't get gas. tentative diagnosis: the rubber cord that holds the gas cap to the car body inside the lid got pinched in the lid, wedging it closed. dealer's gonna replace the cord-fastener.
1000 mi
engine hesitation going up steep driveway. Common problem but no fix yet.
137640 mi
C $500
Fuel line rust and leaking fuel
77000 mi
US $400
Car would not start. Replaced crank sensor.
31000 mi
Took vehicle in for random drops in idle when coming to a stop. This also happens during slow speed maneuvering in parking lots. Due to the random nature of the problem, Dealer was unable to duplicate or pull any codes from the vehicle.
55580 mi
C $700
Idler pully bearing failed on serpentine belt.
14000 mi
Cold weather start bug
16900 mi
updated firmware to address cold weather start issue, and cvt updated to use lower ratio in reverse
117000 mi
US $1400
some sensors, oil flush/change
7000 mi
Heat shield bent of exhaust pipe bent into the drive shaft from snow buildup. Heat shield was pushed back to shape. Shop foreman said he would report a bad design issue to Subaru.
93000 mi
US $90
The exhaust piping between the muffler and the mid-pipe flange rotted through right at the flange. A muffler shop welded a splice between broken pipe and the flange. Experiencing another exhaust leak/rattle before the Cat, location unknw.
9200 mi
Computer system update required. Paid in full by Subaru of America. Done while in for 7,500 mile maintenance (tire rotation, oil change, etc)
98000 mi
US $800
Head gasket replacement
109000 mi
US $500
Oxygen sensor
79000 mi
US $300
fan motor broke / fuse blown / car overheated
9000 mi
Diagnosed with an engine block that was porous. A new short block was put into the car under warranty.
15000 mi
Coolant was down to reservoir, so they topped it off. I was concerned about where it is going. They said to just watch it until oil change in several hundred miles.
40900 mi
Changed oil clogged oil nozzle under warranty.
496 mi
between 20 and 30 degrees farenheit I had problems starting the car reprogram computer to solve start problem when cold
64480 mi
C $150
remove metal plates around catalyzer
86260 mi
C $200
Replace fuel system oxygen sensor
85000 mi
US $50
Check engine light reporting Cat Converter failure. Did not have work done, just diagnosed.
60140 mi
C $420
Faulty oil pressure switch
64160 mi
C $285
oil light came on. Had been leaking oil. Replaced a rusty leaking oil pan.
79360 mi
C $40
Another heat shield began to rattle. The mechanic removed it rather than clamp it.
84246 mi
C $165
Exhaust was corroded on joint. A sleeve was welded over it to keep it from breaking apart
120900 mi
C $500
Car stopped being able to accelerate under pressure (passing). Turned out to be the oil pressure sensor.
124000 mi
C $10000
Entire exhaust system from catalytic converter to muffler needs to be replaced. Quoted just under $10,000 parts and labour.
Opted not to get the work done.
Car dies sometimes when the clutch is engaged. Mechanic stated Subaru aware and ecu reflash is needed, but his computer has not been updated.
4000 mi
Dealership got the download to update the ecm. The ecm was reflashed the third week of August, and the car no longer dies when the clutch is engaged. The car drives much better.
16700 mi
US $150
Car intermittently stalled at idle when clutch was depressed. Dealer flashed ECU update. Appears to be OK.
10000 mi
Engine stalls when A/C is turned on.
30380 mi
C $85
Associated with the PZEV feature? An oxygen sensor somewhere triggers the check engine light, parking brake and traction lights. No apparent effect on performance, but means no cruise control or auto-disengage on parking brake.
99000 mi
US $675
Head Gasket replaced.
3900 mi
US $35
Vehicle sent in for stalling at idle, dealer reprogrammed ECM. Also first oil change.
See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how
frequently 2010 Subaru Outback problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.