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Subaru: reliability & common problems

#7 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~189k
~123k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
123
Subarus inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
63/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 123 used Subarus we inspected, they are in about average shape — average condition 63/100 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
63%
Cracked or torn suspension bushings · Suspension
37%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
28%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
24%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
20%

Share of inspected Subarus where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 28% Good 28% Mediocre 26% Poor 18%
Hidden history

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

69%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
4%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
31%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 23%

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 ~123k miles. It ranks Subaru #7 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~189k. 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: 75% in good shape (16 cars) 60–80k mi: 94% in good shape (17 cars) 80–100k mi: 69% in good shape (16 cars) 100–120k mi: 50% in good shape (14 cars) 120–140k mi: 18% in good shape (17 cars) 140–160k mi: 13% in good shape (16 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: 90% in good shape (10 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: 65% in good shape (17 cars) 9 years old: 40% in good shape (10 cars) 10 years old: 60% in good shape (10 cars) 12 years old: 43% in good shape (7 cars) 13 years old: 13% in good shape (8 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 40 cars · 51% good Crosstrek 10 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2017 Subaru Impreza · 114k mi — flagged: low coolant / cooling system issues, oil leaks, fault codes recently cleared. Inspected Aug 21.
2015 Subaru Forester · 147k mi — flagged: abnormal noise, oil leaks, fault codes recently cleared. Inspected Aug 18.
The bottom line

When you're standing next to a used Subaru, drop to the ground first and look for oil leaks around the engine — they turn up on 63 percent of them — then check the coolant and those cracked suspension bushings. Codes get wiped often enough that you should insist on a full scan even with a clean dash. These generally stay decent until around 123,000 miles, so anything past that or already leaking becomes a hard negotiate or a walk if the car otherwise looks worn.

FAQ
?
Is Subaru reliable?
56% of the 123 Subarus we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 63/100 — 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 (63%), cracked or torn suspension bushings (37%), low coolant / cooling system issues (28%).
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Based on 123 inspections · updated Aug 22, 2026