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Subaru: reliability & common problems

#11 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~197k
~120k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
132
Subarus inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
62/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 132 used Subarus we inspected, they are in about average shape — average condition 62/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.

What we found

Most common faults

Oil leaks · Engine
64%
Cracked or torn suspension bushings · Suspension
36%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
27%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
23%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
19%

Share of inspected Subarus where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 27% Good 27% Mediocre 27% Poor 19%
Hidden history

What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on Subarus.

70%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
4%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
33%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 24%

Compare with another brand:

Cross-shopping? Subaru vs Toyota · Subaru vs Honda · Subaru vs Ford

How long does a Subaru last?

Across every Subaru body style we've inspected — sedans, SUVs and anything else pooled together — the average one's condition dips below decent (a 55/100 score) around ~120k miles. It ranks Subaru #11 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~197k. Shopping a Subaru near that mileage? Expect more wear ahead — see which makes give the best odds at your budget.



Good cars by mileage
0 25 50 75 100 20–40k mi: 86% in good shape (14 cars) 40–60k mi: 78% in good shape (18 cars) 60–80k mi: 89% in good shape (18 cars) 80–100k mi: 69% in good shape (16 cars) 100–120k mi: 47% in good shape (15 cars) 120–140k mi: 17% in good shape (18 cars) 140–160k mi: 11% in good shape (19 cars) 160–180k mi: 33% in good shape (6 cars) 40k 80k 120k 160k 200k mileage when we inspected it
Good cars by age
0 25 50 75 100 2 years old: 100% in good shape (6 cars) 3 years old: 91% in good shape (11 cars) 4 years old: 67% in good shape (6 cars) 5 years old: 83% in good shape (6 cars) 6 years old: 80% in good shape (10 cars) 7 years old: 60% in good shape (10 cars) 8 years old: 58% in good shape (19 cars) 9 years old: 40% in good shape (10 cars) 10 years old: 55% in good shape (11 cars) 11 years old: 20% in good shape (5 cars) 12 years old: 43% in good shape (7 cars) 13 years old: 10% in good shape (10 cars) 14 years old: 20% in good shape (5 cars) 16 years old: 20% in good shape (5 cars) 2y 4y 6y 8y 10y 12y 14y 16y vehicle age when we inspected it

Share of Subarus in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.



Subaru models we've inspected
Outback 40 cars · 61% good Forester 44 cars · 48% good Crosstrek 13 cars · profile soon WRX 10 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2018 Subaru WRX · 77k mi — flagged: abnormal noise, smoke, excessive vapor in exhaust, oil leaks. Inspected Sep 30.
2015 Subaru Forester · 144k mi — flagged: abnormal noise, low coolant / cooling system issues, oil leaks. Inspected Sep 24.
The bottom line

Don't get romantic about a clean Subaru until you've been under it. Oil seepage is the default, not the exception, and cooling issues pile on often enough that you should treat the whole engine bay as suspect. A quiet dash means less here because a third of them have had codes cleared—scan it yourself. Then crawl to the bushings; cracked ones are common. These cars generally stay decent until about 120,000 miles, after which the typical example slides. Use leaks, a wiped computer, or tired bushings as your negotiating chips, and walk if the engine is wet and the scan is messy.

FAQ
?
Is Subaru reliable?
54% of the 132 Subarus we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 62/100 — they are in about average shape.
?
What are the most common problems with a used Subaru?
Across the Subarus we inspected, the items we flag most often are oil leaks (64%), cracked or torn suspension bushings (36%), low coolant / cooling system issues (27%).
Thinking of buying a Subaru? Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 132 inspections · updated Oct 1, 2026