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Subaru: reliability & common problems

#8 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~197k
~122k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
136
Subarus inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
62/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 136 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
35%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
26%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
22%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
18%

Share of inspected Subarus where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 27% Good 28% Mediocre 26% Poor 18%
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%
34%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 ~122k miles. It ranks Subaru #8 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: 79% in good shape (19 cars) 60–80k mi: 89% in good shape (19 cars) 80–100k mi: 69% in good shape (16 cars) 100–120k mi: 50% in good shape (16 cars) 120–140k mi: 17% in good shape (18 cars) 140–160k mi: 15% in good shape (20 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 (7 cars) 3 years old: 91% in good shape (11 cars) 4 years old: 71% in good shape (7 cars) 5 years old: 83% in good shape (6 cars) 6 years old: 80% in good shape (10 cars) 7 years old: 64% in good shape (11 cars) 8 years old: 58% in good shape (19 cars) 9 years old: 45% in good shape (11 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 41 cars · 61% good Forester 46 cars · 50% good Crosstrek 13 cars · profile soon WRX 11 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2019 Subaru Outback · 109k mi — flagged: fault codes recently cleared, flow distribution, air conditioning control module. Inspected Oct 10.
2017 Subaru Forester · 143k mi — flagged: abnormal noise, oil leaks, oil sludge. Inspected Oct 9.
The bottom line

Start under the hood, not at the paint. Oil leaks show up on roughly two-thirds of these cars, and cooling-system trouble is common enough that you should check for residue and low coolant before you negotiate. Scan for live and recently cleared codes—wiped codes are unusually frequent here—and inspect the suspension bushings while you are underneath. These typically stay decent until around 122,000 miles, so a dry engine with a clean scan in that range is the smart buy; leaks plus cooling neglect or a suspiciously blank computer is your cue to hammer the price or walk away.

FAQ
?
Is Subaru reliable?
55% of the 136 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 (35%), low coolant / cooling system issues (26%).
Thinking of buying a Subaru? Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 136 inspections · updated Oct 11, 2026