| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2010 Subaru Outback repairs by problem area
Engine (25%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (8%)
Brakes and Traction Control (4%)
Suspension and Steering (17%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (25%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (15%)
Other (6%)
Chart based on 346 repairs.
2010 Subaru Outback engine repair cost distribution
$2500+ (3%)
$1000 - $2499 (13%)
$500 - $999 (14%)
$100 - $499 (18%)
< $100 (53%)
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.
2010 Subaru Outback 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 148hp 2.0L H4 Diesel 6-speed manual AWD
| 105400 mi A $4100 |
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. |
2010 Subaru Outback 4dr Wagon
256-horsepower 3.6L H6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 20000 mi | 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 |
2010 Subaru Outback 4dr Wagon
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| 119000 mi US $500 |
Radiator replacement |
| 142000 mi US $1000 |
Head gasket |
| 10000 mi | 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. |
2010 Subaru Outback 4dr Wagon
170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD
| 3000 mi | 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. |
| 76880 mi C $500 |
Oil pressure switch failed causing slow oil leak. Replaced OPS. |
2010 Subaru Outback 4-door
turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel manual AWD
| 74400 mi A $380 |
Diesel particulate filter blocked, required manual regeneration |
| 77500 mi A $470 |
Split coolant hose causing DPF error. Coolant hose replace, manual DPF regen performed |
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