Despite many good reputations for their powerful performance, there is another reason why Subaru is known to automobile enthusiasts though it is rather an infamous one. And that is the Subaru head gasket problem, which is a stain on the company’s impressive record of manufacturing first-class vehicles.
Contents
Subaru Head Gasket Problem: The Faulty Models
If you consider the Subaru head gasket years, you can pinpoint the problem to distinct groups of production years.
The Group 1 head gasket issues
The Group 1 or first-generation models include Impreza, Forrester, Legacy G.T., and Outback between 1996 and 1999. These cars face the problem of an internal leak in the head gasket that causes the engine to overheat.
The major source is that the engine overheated as a result of coolant loss caused by the leak head gasket. If the cooling system fails to function effectively, the engine cannot manage the quantity of heat produced, resulting in overheating.
Visible symptoms of this leak include an oily residue in the coolant overflow bottle and a probable exhaust, gasoline, or Sulphur odor in the overflow coolant bottle.
Other indications include high coolant temperature gauge readings and sporadic overheating during extended rides. In severe circumstances, you may even notice a damaged radiator.
The Group 2 head gasket issues
The Group 2 or second-generation models are the Legacy and Outback from 2000, the Forrester from mid-1998, and the mid-1998 Impreza. These cars develop an external oil leak at the head gasket and a coolant leak at the gasket’s left side. Both problems lead to engine overheating recurrently.
This type of head gasket rupture does not usually result in engine overheating. However, due to the engine location and coolant system, there may be concerns with coolant mixing with the oil.
When coolant leaks and mixes with oil, it dilutes the oil and impairs lubrication, ripping up other parts like a rod bearing or causing the whole engine to seize.
Here is a summary table of the Subaru head gasket problems of some first and second generation models.
| Subaru head gasket issue | Car Models |
| Internal head gasket leaks | Subaru Legacy LSi,
Subaru GT 1996 – 1999 Subaru Outback 1996 – 1999 Subaru Impreza 1998 Subaru Forester 1998 |
| External leaks between the engine block and the cylinder heads | Subaru Impreza (from 1999 to 2011)
Subaru Forester (from 1999 to 2010) Subaru Legacy (from 2000 to 2009) Subaru Outback (from 2000 to 2009) Subaru Baja (from 2003 to 2006) |
Subaru Head Gasket Problem: Why Did It Start?
The problems started when Subaru started using a composite head gasket in some of their car models from 1997 to 1999. The device features a multi-layer steel shim coated with a graphite layer. It was not up to the mark and allowed coolant to leak into the exhaust pressure and combustion chamber.
There was no Subaru head gasket recall but the company redesigned the cylinder heads and configurations of the camshaft. However, it only led to the coolant and oil leak at the external head gasket.
>> See more: Honda Recalls Odyssey Minivans for a Latching Problem
The Symptoms of Subaru Head Gasket Problem
So as recorded, there are 2 main problems for the Subaru head gasket, which are internal head gasket leaks and external leaks between the engine block and the cylinder heads. However, this part may also be prone to severely leaking or blown issues you can not even anticipate.
Each kind of existing problem with specific Subaru models has its recognized signs as we mentioned above. But the overall symptoms can be more than anything that you’ve seen before.
To sum-up, these are the general easy-to-notice signs of gasket failure:
- Oil trickling down between the head and block surfaces. The leak will get bigger with time and possibly lead to a coolant leaking.
- The Sulphur or fuel smell from the coolant reservoir. At this stage, you will also notice higher readings in the coolant temperature gauge.
- Recurrent engine overheating during a long drive.
- White smoke and sweet-smelling smoke come from your exhaust pipe. This happens when the coolant leaks into the cylinders and turns into streams.
- Oil or coolant leakages outside of the engine
- Engine power decreases as the broken head gasket affects engine combustion.
Although these head gasket issues are quite visible and can significantly affect the performance of the car, Subaru have never recalled any production.
They only began equipping all of their vehicles with pellets to drop into the radiator antifreeze in 2014 and then issued an extended warranty of 100,000 miles on their head gaskets.
Is There Any Solution For The Subaru Head Gasket Issues?
Early detection of the Subaru head gasket problem and repair it will solve the issue altogether. In fact, a properly maintained vehicle after the repair will run for thousands of miles without any hitch.
Just so you know, related to this issue, a warranty for head gaskets is covered by Subaru. But many reports state that this issue generally occurred between 120,000 or up to 150,000 miles.
So to be sure, before your car’s original warranty expires, get your Subaru thoroughly inspected to verify everything is functioning properly. If a fault is detected, it can be rectified before the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) expiration date while you are still in warranty.
In case you have an older-line Subaru or are thinking about purchasing one, investing in an extended warranty can give safety in the case of a breakdown or repair.
Overall, early detection of the head gasket Subaru problem and repair of it will solve the issue altogether. In fact, a properly maintained vehicle after the repair will run for thousands of miles without any hitch.
The things you can do to keep your Subaru in a good health are:
- Changing the oil on a regular basis.
- Clean the battery terminals and surroundings at regular intervals so that there is no accumulation of rust and corrosion.
- Checking the coolant cylinder and changing the fluid when it’s dirty.
- Take the maintenance service from a reputed shop or experienced mechanics who are specialized in Subaru models.
FAQs on Subaru Head Gasket Problem
1. What is the cost to fix the failing head gasket?
The work required to repair a blown head gasket is highly expensive since the engine and cylinder blocks must be lifted apart to access the gasket. A head gasket replacement costs around $1,000 on average but can range between $1,500 to $2,000, depending on the models and engine types.
If you are curious, learn more about how to fix a blown head gasket in less than an hour at low prices with Oxmanagain!
2. Will the Subaru head gasket problem be completely solved by replacing a new OEM gasket?
It depends on the OEM quality you choose. If you have a high-qualified OEM gasket, that’s all good.
But if you are not lucky, the poorly designed gaskets you get may break after 80,000 to 100,000 and much quicker when used as a replacement due to the differing expansion rates of the metals used in the case and the head.
As the alternative, you can opt for other gaskets designed for high-performance engines. They may cost nearly twice as much as OEM ones, but the labor savings from performing the work correctly the first time is well worth it.
3. What year did Subaru solve the head gasket problem?
Subaru began employing a multi-layered steel cylinder-head gasket in 2009, therefore newer cars with the EL25 2.5-liter engine should have considerably fewer head gasket problems.
4. Do Subaru engines still have head gasket problems?
It is not true that all Subaru models are affected by the problem until today. Moreover, there is a widespread saying that all models were affected by the same head gasket problem. And it is also not true.
Beware of the models we’ve listed above and try to find as much information as you can on your next Subaru purchase to avoid issues in the future.
5. How long will a Subaru last after head gasket replacement?
After replacing the Subaru head gaskets, on average, it can last from 100,000 and 160,000 miles.
6. Can I drive my Subaru with a blown head gasket?
Is driving with a burst head gasket safe? No, the sooner you repair it, the better. Not only cause engine damage but going with a blown head gasket might be risky.
Conclusion
Hopefully this piece of information on the Subaru head gasket problem will be helpful to you to some extent. If you have any questions about this topic, leave a comment in the box below.
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You missed the early 70’s Subaru engine head gasket failures. The lower portion of the head gasket would split and extrude from the joint area, resulting in external oil leakage. Fortunately coolant loss did not occur, but many owners faced this engine repair about the same time they were learning about the cost of CV joints.
Hi have a Subaru legacy year of manufacture is 2000 and its a 2000cc,what could be the cause of it losing power all of a sudden, what is the solution to it
Hi Eugene, If your car continues losing power while driving, you can check out this article to understand the possible causes and solutions:
https://carfromjapan.com/article/car-maintenance/car-loses-power-while-driving-causes/
Subaru has always had head gasket leaks. I owned a 1974 model and it leaked like a sieve until the engine slung a rod. I also owned a 1980 or 81 model and it leaked despite rigorously following a instructions in a technical service manual calling for tightening the head in a specific way every 6 months/6,000 miles. When the making surfaces become distorted a new gasket will only last a short time. There may not be enough metal in the engine to maintain structure (so I think I was told).
Hey writer, this article is about the head gasket issue. Cleaning battery terminals has nothing to do with it. As for changing oil at regular intervals, in my 56 years of life, i have owned 30ish vehicles. I have never maintained regular oil changes. In fact I usually go close to 10,000 miles between changes. Using cheap walmart conventiinal oil and filter. I dont however let it get below 1/2 a quart low. With my current lineup, I have put 340,000 plus on my ram. 250,000 plus on my subaru and 260,000 plus on my tahoe. All still pass smog and all pur like kittens. Oil changes are a panic button they instill to keep you coming back. Drive easy, accelerate easy and brake mild and you too wont need to waist good money on way too recurrent oil changes.
You couldn’t be more wrong about this. Do some research, before you spread false information please. There are very good reasons why it’s important to clean the battery, and change the oil that are directly related to head gasket failures in these vehicles. It’s fairly complicated, so I’m not going to explain here. But this info is readily available on the web.
Cough cough idiot
Maybe the reason you’ve gone through 30 vehicles is cause you didn’t maintain them properly….
reading this made me cringe
Personal experience is not equal to good science. Oil changes are important and please don’t encourage everyone to neglect them.
-Big Oil
Should the head gasket problem keep me from purchasing a 2008 Subaru Legacy which falls in problem date range? I’m looking at a used one but now wondering if that would be unwise. What is the cost of repairing the head gasket problem? Thanks
My 2008 legacy blew its head gasket last winter. It has been nothing but expensive, time guzzling problems that no subaru dealership has managed to permanently fix so far. The repair for the head gasket was about $5k. I wish I had just used that as a down payment on a new model instead. Since the “repair”, I can’t get heat in the car and a mess of other problems are coming down the pike.
I love subarus, but the legacy lines tend to have a 7-year life span for being awesome. After that, unless you have a forester, it tends to be the end of the happy trail.
I’ve got a highly modified 06 Legacy GT on stock headgaskets and engine internals pushing 320AWHP and 360AWTQ (dyno’d to prove it) on a VF52 with every bolt-on tuned to 21psi. Just beat a stage II 2018 STi today on the highway. Take care of your Subaru and will continue to serve you.
$5,000 for a head gasket? I think you got more that a simple head gasket. It is not that big a job.
I have a 2002 Forster and at 140,000 replaced the head gaskets on both sides at the first sign of coolant leaking. Also had the valves checked.
Had replaced the water pump, belt and timing group at 125K. Do not let this slide as the Boxer is an interferance engine which means if the belt fails and it gets out of time the pistons hit the open valves and now you get to do major work!
Now have 222,500 and she’s still puring. Oil at 6 to 8K. Tx fluid and filters every 100,000 or so as well as flushing the power stearing fluid and break fluid at the same time.
I maintain my wife’s car to the same standard.
This may sound like a lot of maintenance cost, but I have never been left sitting on the road waiting on a tow. Seems breakdowns happen at the absolute worst time too.
I prefer to replace a part with some life left in it when I want to instead of when I’m on the way to the lake etc.!
I do my own work with help from a REAL mech friend when I need it.
Grandad onwned 2 Justies and an ugly green Subaru wagon and I do not remember the model. No break downs and he maintained his own too.
If you do not maintain the car, any car, expect trouble. Just because the dealer or shop does it does not necessarly mean it is done right. I recently caught a major tire shop torquing lug nuts at 150% of the standard. Why? Lazy and in a hurry. Turn the impact wrench wide open and if you wring one off the coustomer is told it is a wear item and get to pay for it. Met with the manager and shop forman with my torque wrench and theirs, used their impact wrench as well to prove it was their fault. A “torque stick” has to be used properly. They pled no contest so to speak and replaced all of my wifes lugs. They had done her tires for 4 sets and with rotations that was enough cyloic loadign to finaly pop one.
Just bought another Forester, a 2001, with 135,000 and will bring it up to current maintenace.
If I did not trust them I would not have got another one.
But, as they say, your milage may vary.
A Spectator
Does the 2005 Forester have a timing belt or chain? I am considering buying one. After I look at engine for oil and coolant leaks of course.
I would steer away from purchasing any Subaru my friend. At 50k miles both head-gaskets failed on my 09 WRX. Luckily it was under warranty, but now at 70 something, there are signs of it burning antifreeze. Labor is not cheap. All maintenance has been maintained according to Company recommendation.
In all my years of owning vehicles, i have never ran into such an unreliable vehicle such as Subaru. Keep digging online about Subaru’s unreliability, you will find plenty of stories. Best of luck!
In all my years of owning 3 Subaru’s, the first of which lasted 300k miles before it “died” (replaced the fuel filter again and it continued to run just fine), I’ve never had a problem as long as I looked after them like I gave a shit. Guess I did. Guess you didn’t.
You right, your three vehicles are proof that the millions of former Subaru owners whose head gaskets blew did, in fact, not give a shit about their cars.
Millions? You have no idea what you are talking about.
Are there still head gasket issues in newer Subarus such as the Crostrek?
I have a 2016 crosstrek with 65,000 miles on it. I have not had any issues with oil leaks or head gasket issues. The crosstrek seems to be a pretty reliable car.
Not enough miles to tell on this one
My 2015 Subaru Foresters has head gasket issues at 85000
My 2011 Outback blew the head gasket yesterday. They have obviously not fixed the problem with the new engine. This is our third Outback with this issue. No more Subaru’s for us.
I got two 2011’s. One 102000, one 53 thousand. I was worried about the Transmission. Wonder if i should dump the one with 102,000.
20 months ago, my 2011 Outback blew a head gasket at 112k miles.
This vehicle just blew another head gasket at 150k miles. That’s 38k miles between head gasket jobs. Is my gripe with Subaru HQ? The dealer who fixed it? Or both?
Any suggestions are welcome, folks.
My mechanic, who only works on Subarus said Subaru has been providing faulty head gaskets and they finally have resorted to using OEM parts instead. The head gaskets on my 2006 Outback are leaking after being replaced at 40,000 miles.
Can anyone explain what it is specifically about the Boxer engine that makes it prone to head gasket failure?
It’s the poor design of the engine! They have high cylinder pressure and poor crank case vent system. They also have to run hotter to meet the ulev ratings. They are also underpowered tourque wise so you gotta Rev compared to competition.The head bolts are cheap as well. Hyundai and Kia make better vehicles then the Fuji industry junk.
Wow. Stupid much?
Almost everything you said is BS.
The ‘poor design” Subaru engines is very similar to that of the Porsche engines. But, I guess you think that Porsche is “junk” too.
BTW – my sister-in-law just had her 2013 Sorento V6 engine grenade on her after 78k miles, and she practically lived at her Kia dealer’s service department. Found out that the Kia ’13-’14 V6 engines are splattering anywhere from the upper 60k – 90k mileage.
Must be because they’re “better vehicles”, right?
And you think Porsche is good?? who’s the dumb ass here? Wow…just wow.
What car companies use boxer engines?
Boxer Engines:
Historically they could be found in cars manufactured by companies such as Porsche, Lancia, Benz, Ford, Tatra, Citroen, Alfa Romeo, Jowett, Rover, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, and Ferrari. The most prominent manufacturers currently using a boxer engine as their primary engine configuration are Porsche and Subaru.
Because the head gaskets are always exposed to coolant, with the horizontal cylinders and heads. Cannot fix the problem due to the design of the motor.
I have a 2016 crosstrek with 65,000 miles on it. I have not had any issues with oil leaks or head gasket issues. The crosstrek seems to be a pretty reliable car.
I noticed an oil leak on my 2006 Legacy with only 84K on the clock about a week ago. The dealer said it’s the head gasket issue. I contacted Subaru to at least help with the cost of the repair, but no luck, even for a loyal customer (this is my second Legacy). They spend all that money on advertising but don’t care if a customer spreads the word the company doesn’t stand by their product.
I thought Subaru gave customers 1 major support on a car in the lifetime of the vehicle? Perhaps they have changed that policy. Subaru has never really solved the head gasket issues as you read the posts there are still 2011 vehicles experiencing head gasket failures. Subaru has also had problems with the new design engines that switched to a timing chain in 2013 I believe.These vehicles have excessive oil consumption issues and the issue requires a new short block replacement. Great if you are covered under warranty but if not that would be a very expensive repair.There is a class action suit on that issue in the US. I have a 2006 Subaru Outback (140,000 KM) and have not had head gasket issues but I have had to replace the oil pressure sending units ,one twice. They leak oil all over the engine and onto the exhaust ,messy to clean up.The timing belt kit, I replaced mine at 95,000 km.That is about $1000.00. Subaru recommends using their blue coolant as a way to extend the head gasket.So I do that. The front half shaft boots seem to go more often than other cars ? I have replaced mine twice.It did that myself.Had Subaru dealer replace the rear rubber bushings ,they said they were cracking $800.00. I like the car but Subaru’s are not a low maintenance vehicle. The catalytic converter also seems to be a big issue with Subaru’s and O2 sensors. There are also issues with many Subaru Outbacks cars with the car engine just cutting out as you are driving.Some say replacing the gas pedal assembly solves that issue but frankly why is Subaru not recalling their cars for this issue? Many other car manufacturers have recalled their cars for new gas pedal assemblies.Toyota and Infiniti has ,as I have one of each.The one company I find that re-calls for everything is Toyota. More and more people are leasing Subaru’s not buying them,due to reliability issues. The inability of Subaru to fix the head gasket issues is concerning as this has been an issue with Subaru’s since 1998.They say it is fixed but when you look at all the posts of people having to replace head gaskets it makes you wonder. I have to look at the Toyota Corolla my daughter has and at 210,000 km the only major component I have replaced is and alternator at 200,000 km.Plus it is an easy DIY job. Plus Toyota recalls for everything and are very reliable vehicles. Subaru’s are well built but they seem to not recall readily for issues and that frankly makes me wonder about the ethics of the company. The two companies that seem to take care of consumers are Honda and Toyota these days. Most of the rest have an attitude of you bought it it’s yours you pay to fix it. cars are not cheap these days. If a company has a known defect ,my feeling is they should re-call and fix it.
Has the issue been solved ? If so, what did they do to remedy this ? Looking to buy crosstrek 2019 ! 😉
This issue has been resolved on late model Subarus, why this article does not go past those specific years. The third generation they changed the composition of the head gasket which solved this problem. Unfortunately, there is a new problem impacting about 10% of the cars sold. They are high on oil consumption now. If you monitor your engine like I do you are fine. Mine consumes 1 quart every 4000 miles, so I put 0.9 extra quarts in (6.9 as Subaru recommends) and I can go close to 5000 miles when I change the synthetic oil. I still check it in case it increases, but besides that, the car is fine with nearly 80,000 miles (2013 Legacy).
Thanks
Not really ,as you look at posts of people having to replace head gaskets even in 2017.Also major issues with 2013-14 Subaru’s with the 2.5 SOHC that switched to a timing chain design. The issue seems to be a problem with the short block design and if oil consumption is excessive an engine rebuild is needed.
Update: I couldn’t see paying for a repair that was more than the cars value, so I traded in my 2006 Legacy for a Honda CRV. I would have considered a Forester if Subaru showed any support for loyal return customers. I have purchased two new Subaru’s in the past.
Good luck with your CRV….
You may want to keep a very close eye on your Honda’s oil… as in “sniff, sniff”.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I suggest you did an internet search on the newer CRV’s oil problems…
you must be a subaru mechanic.,,..thou protest too much
“pal” if all these people would just stick to toyota and honda
they would not need all these “handkerchiefs” ha ha
You have done the right thing mate. I have a 2012 Forester which I have treated like a precious and now having head gasket leaking issues after only 40000km!!! always serviced in the dealership and never been off road…they reported the leak first service after warranty was finished. Now call me cynical but I have a feeling that they kindda ignore it while it was under warranty…I’m gonna stay away for from Subarus for the rest of my life and advise everyone I love to do the same. So much for 6m expensive service…
I am thinking of getting the Crosstrek 2019 but this is stopping me, Do you think the Crosstrek has or might have thus issue ? Thanks.
Stupid Me.
I had a 2009 with 110k and blew a head gasket . The vehicle broke down on the highway ‘
with the engine full of anti-freeze in the crankcase. I blamed the folk’s that change my
oil . I felt the filters were defective and oil was dripping the filter and hitting the exhaust.
Now I have a 2009 with a blown head gasket with 104k . This car was driven 10k yearly .
So now Subaru is giving the run around . I’ll never enter a Subaru dealership again.
They lied when I complained about a oil smell and new darn well about the design problem. Just retired and very Pissed Off.
I’m waiting to find out about my 2010 Forester. I am reading up about the Head Gasket issue. The heat light just blinked a couple of times and I took it to the dealer. I thought it might be a coolant issue or something “simple.” It’s a leaky head gasket on my well maintained under 70,000 miles Forester. I called Subaru who called my service people. It could be 2000-5000 dollars. I’ll wait and see what happens.
My 2009 Subaru needs the head gaskets replaced AGAIN! I had them changed at 90,000, and now they leak again at 120,000. Ridiculous. The dealer sold us the car in 2013, KNOWING of course about this problem. We only had the car a few months when the first leak happened. At that time the dealer split the cost of the repair – we paid $1700. This time? Who knows. I am still in negotiations with them. My wife loves the car, but we will never get another Subaru. Back to Toyota Rav4 for us.
The head gasket repair has to be done with precise accuracy. I am told by my 30+ yr mechanic hubby that if they are not honed right, (I think that is the word), they will leak again. Very important to take to someone who knows what it takes to do it right and many do not know (including dealerships).
Yes. Proper cleaning of all surfaces is vital, AND the installation of the three ply steel head gasket that was/is used in the turbo-charged 2.5’s. I’ve read and heard that this fixes the issue permanently. The problem in head gasket replacements comes from shoddy cleaning or excessive cleaning that scores or leaves surfaces that aren’t dead flat, and, putting the same defective head gaskets back on the car. I would absolutely insist that the better head gasket be used, and that the heads be cleaned and/or machined flat….and get the work done in writing. From what I’ve read, it isn’t really the engine that is at fault…it’s the stupid graphite coated OEM head gasket. I can’t believe that Subaru even allows its dealers to use them.
Hi All, I have a 2014 Subaru Legacy 2.5. with 100,000 miles on it. So far this has been a very reliable car. the head gaskets are fine, no leaks. I will be doing ALL required maintenance that is required since the car turned 100,000 miles. The car does burn some oil, but not a big issue. Just change the oil every 5 k miles and you will be fine.
Ugh. Our 2011 just blew a gasket. I am not sure if we are under a warranty. Waiting for a call from the dealer. Is the gasket under the 100,000 warranty does anyone know?
The fix is $3-$5000.
hey I have just brought a 2000 Subaru impreza wrx 2.0L Non turbo with 121 000 ks i had a vehicle inspection done on the car before i brought it off the previous owner and was told the car was good and everything was fine but i have noticed that when i drive up a hill on the motorway the heat gauge begins to climb at one point almost at the red line not sure whether this is something to do with this head gasket issue or whether it may have been maybe something the inspector did when he was testing the radiators could he have broken the heat gauge or done something to the radiators or does it sound like something else? if anyone can help please reply to this thanks
go easy if this sounds like I dont know what im talking about because I dont really im 16 and this is my first car and i just want to know what the problem is.
I’ve also noticed after a drive when i open the bonnet the hose connected to the radiator has sort of suctioned together and there is a lot of water in the overflow tank and it doesn’t seem like its being sucked back in could it just be an airlock? we have tried getting some air out and got a bit more out the other day and the heat gauge didn’t seem to climb as much as it did other times but i dont think it should be climbing anyway
please if anyone can help please reply thanks
Sounds like a bad thermostat which is a very cheap and easy fix that you can do yourself but I’m by no means an expert.
our 2011 is having the same issue. replaced the thermo stat ($250 with labor) but it still over heated. We’re getting the head gasket replaced now… our mechanic has quoted us ($1800) is that a fair price?
That is a good price.
While he is in there, you did not state milage, but if these are getting close, go ahead and check the valves and change the timing belt and pullies it touches, including the water pump. Also plugs. You will get more bang for your buck while it is already on the rack!
This depends on how you mainatain your car and how long you intend to keep it.
Blown Head Gasket. I think the sucking in of the hose is a clue.
What did it turn out to be?
Will it be solve by replace a new OEM gasket ?
The OEM head gaskets are the problem. I replaced the OEM head gaskets with SIX STAR MLS (Multi Layered Stainless) gaskets which have solved the problem. Because of the different expansion rates of the metals used in the case and the head, the poorly designed OEM gaskets fail after 80-100K and even faster when they are used as a replacement. The Multi Layered Stainless gasket are designed to compensate for the different rates of expansion. These MLS gaskets are commonly used on high performance engines so they cost about twice what the OEM ones do, but the savings in labor cost doing the job (RIGHT THE FIRST TIME) once is well worth it. Also, at a minimum, the heads should be surfaced at a machine shop to ensure a perfectly flat mating surface before reassembly. My cost was about $700.00 for parts and machine shop work. I provided all of the necessary labor. By the way, this was the easiest motor I’ve ever worked on. Didn’t even have to pull the engine to do the job!
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My story is so much bigger than head gaskets but it is a BIG part of why I now am so incredibly ill at ease with all things Subaru.
My husband (2008 Forester) decided early last year that we needed to get divorced. This has been devastating, gut wrenching, heart breaking. In June my 2003 Forester blew the head gasket and the engine was ruined. Six weeks later my husband’s car experienced EXACT SAME FATE! His car need problems were solved more quickly and more easily than mine. It would be 6 months before I would get wheels again. The purchase of my next can had to come out of an advance on the eventual divorce settlement which really should have been used to pay housing expenses for the coming year once the divorce is settled.
$19,000 that I can no longer use for rent, utilities, unpaid bills.
Subaru isn’t, of course, responsible for our divorce but with the brand so heavily marketed to lgbtq families and the slogan, “Love: it’s what makes a Subaru a Subaru.” The brand had become a fixture in my identity as an out gay man.
I now drive a Buick Encore. I like it a lot but I don’t have any particular thought of it being an important fixture of my identity as a 53 year old out gay owner.
In Sept. 2018, I had an oil change, they found my head gasket was “seeping”. However, just a couple of weeks ago, I found my coolant extremely low. don’t know if mechanic did not fill, on previous service. But I brought it in for a check today. (1/10/19) and all fluids are ok now. But they checked the head gasket and it now shows it is “leaking”. They have told me it is not too bad and that I can wait until 6-8 months to fix it. Is this a correct answer? Or do I have to fix it right away? Thanks for you help.
I have a 2004 OB that has been “seeping” for going on 6 months now and is still running fine so your mechanic isn’t necessarily wrong by any means but I would recommend that you watch your oil, coolant and temp gauges very religiously as I have. Mine is starting to show signs of a more serious leak so it is likely time to pay the piper. You can certainly stretch it but it if you ignore the obvious you might end up needing a whole new engine so walk that line very carefully.
If you know the head gasket is leaking you don’t wait at all. You are taking a chance that further deterioration/leaks will ruin the engine completely.
My 2013 WRX with 60K miles on it engine seized on sat (due to the gasket leaking). I’m now out $5,800. This is my second WRX, sold my old one (still working) that had over 200,000 miles on it.
I won’t buy another Subaru after this.
Subarus are so over rated. I had a 1998 Legacy GT Limited I bought new which at the time was their premier top of the line car and a 2012 Outback. Both were leakers. These boxer engines run way hotter than other car engines. And Subaru knows it. This is why they don’t put engine temp guages in any of their cars. They don’t want you to know it. t is also why gaskets go bad fast and they leak. I’ll never buy another Subaru.
I have a _2011 Forester. 150k miles.. went in for oil change, they said they found cam leak, valve cover leak & timing cover leak… they also know said when they pulled the engine they also see a head gasket leak!
Im planning on having Subaru dealer fix everything they say is wrong, but wonder now… how long those gaskets on everything there changing going to last??? Can Any onePlease advise! Feel like a woman getting raked over the coals here!!
2015 Legacy with 107K miles, carefully maintained, mostly highway travel, never roughed up. Blown head gasket. Very disappointed. Will probably go back to Honda.
I unfortunately purchased my first Subaru Outback, in July of this past year. It’s a 2018 , and replaces a very reliable Toyota 4 runner, that still ran hard and strong at 282,000 miles. It was a 2005, and never gave me any issue, but for the normal maintenance of brakes, tires and tune ups. At the time I traded it, little did I know the nightmare I was saddling myself with. Since the purchase of the Subaru in July, I’ve had 3 episodes of the car letting me know I have low engine oil, so I drive to the dealer and in fact, its low each time, usually between 2000 and 3000 miles, well before the reccomended oil change at 5000 miles, which I’ve kept up with diligently. I’ve had oil consumption tests, which show no problem according to the dealer. I’ve visited the dealer 6 times for a problem with my liftgate, opening randomly, sometimes while I’m in a store, sometimes while I’m driving. Thankfully I didnt lose my dog forever as a result of it opening in a parking lot. She was still sitting in the front seat when I walked out and discovered the liftgate open yet again.
On another occasion, my liftgate completely broke, and it wouldnt close at all. Subaru, fixed it, but they seem unable to fix the random opening issue. I also smell radiator coolant in the car and outside of it about 80% of the time. I’ve been told by Subaru that it’s an open system and it’s normal to smell it. Funny, I never ever smelled coolant in my Toyota, nor did I EVER run low on oil. Even with 282,000 miles, it never burned oil, and here I am with a 2018 Outback that’s been burning oil since 3100.00 miles, has left me stranded 3 times because the car wouldnt start. That was a problem with the battery. They replaced that, after my head unit went completely black and left me without music, messaging and a back up camera. I’ve also had 3 separate issues with my high beams not working, and many other issues that come and go every time I push the button to start the car. Sometimes my lights wont go out out, so I have to re start the car until they do, oh and yeah I still smell coolant all the time. So I drive, and wait for the next problem, and for the reliable ” low engine oil ” alert to come on again, so I can go back to the dealer for them to tell me that its indeed low, and I pay my bill each month for privilege of driving this frustrating, time consuming peice of garbage. I now dream of the days, just 6 months ago, when I owned a low maintenance, extremely reliable, hard working Toyota, that NEVER left me stranded in 13 years.
I dont feel the love, I feel the HATE, and if you research, and I wish I did……you’ll find Subaru’s long history of head gasket failures, the class action lawsuit they settled in 2016 for head gasket failure, and also a long history of people just like me who’ve posted their complete dissatisfaction with Subaru’s, not just the Outback. We’re a growing populace of people who dont feel the love, but rather feel betrayed by a company who preys on people who love their pets, adventure and the outdoors. They market their unreliable cars to us, and we buy them, hook, line, and sinker. I’ve requested a buyback on my car. I’m sick and tired of of being told, they dont know why my liftgate keeps opening, and have no fix for it, I’m tired of all the other issues that come up from day to day, tired of the stench of coolant, and low oil in an almost brand new car, and tired of wasting my time at the dealer, so i hired a Lemon law attorney. According to NJ Lemon law, if you hire an attorney, and win your case, the manufacturer has to pay the legal fees. If you lose, this attorney charges nothing. So….for all the disgruntled Subaru drivers out there, here you go
LEMON law attorney Timothy Abeel is in Philadelphia Pa. You can contact him at timothyabeel.com. Hes taken on my case, and I’ve been very impressed with his constant updates, and attention to detail. For those of us who’ve purchased Subarus that are a nightmare, there is help !!!
Thanks for the info. My story is below. I will have to see about the class action lawsuit for my 2010 Forester leaking cylinder head gasket, which is now leaking oil and coolant.
I have a 2010 Subaru Forester. During an oil change, the mechanic told me to contact Subaru to see if there is a recall because my Cylinder Head Gasket was leaking oil. My Forester has 83K miles at that point. I called the Subaru dealer and they told me there was no recall. I had been on LTD at the time and money was tight so I kept an eye on my oil and all my fluids and it seemed OK. I took my Forester to a different dealer for an airbag recall this week and mentioned it to them and told them I just recently started to smell coolant. They checked it out and confirmed my Cylinder Head is leaking both oil and coolant. I called Subaru home office and was told to go back and have it checked and they most likely will NOT cover a repair, but offered me a $500 discount on a new Subaru.
I have owned the following Subrau’s. 1980 1984 1985 turbo and 1988 hatchback and a 2002 wagon. The 1988 was 1.8 liter like the 1980 and the 1984 Subaru. The 1980 1984 and 1988 were bulletproof. The 1985 turbo was crappy. The 2002 had piston slap, sounded like an old diesel and rusted in 5 years.
I decided to buy a Toyota, wonderful ! Then I purchased a late model 2005 Lexus RX in 2010. No problems with the RX which is now 15 years old and, no rust! The money saved from buying the Toyota products saves a lot of money and gives you peace of mind.
2007 Subaru Tribeca head gasket leak started at 90,000 miles. They did not fix the problem he just lie about it more. My friend has a 2011 Subaru legacy head gasket problems…… It’s sad because the rest of the car is awesome. It is 2019. My Subaru Tribeca has no rattles nothing is broken is an awesome car except for that engine repair that would cost $4,000.
Wow! I just bought a 2009 outback with 111,000 miles about 3 weeks ago from a subaru dealer. After reading all these comments, I’m really nervous my car is going to have head gasket problems now!
I have owned a few Subies, (that’s what we call them), One of the keys to engine life is when the head gaskets start leaking (and they all do) do not wait, get it fixed. Do not let them do the repair in the car. It takes about 45 minutes to remove the engine, this allows access to any other leak issues, seals etc.. When replacing the head gaskets, I recommend to use Felpro brand gaskets and also have the heads machine surfaced at a reputable machine shop. Some of the newer Subies need new “torque to yield” head bolts which are also available from Felpro. Some of the older models, head bolts can be reused. When the engine is out, also replace the timing belt, water pump and tensioner pulleys which are sold in a kit. This is not a job you want to do twice. Also don’t wait till 8,000 miles to change your oil, oil is cheap, change your oil and filter every 3, 500 miles and your Subie will love you back. Currently do to the head gasket fiasco there are many shops that specifically cater to Subaru’s. One shop in my area does about two head gasket jobs daily! Costs vary from $1800 to $2300 for the job to be done correctly. Dealerships may charge way more.
Overrated junk engine.
Honda. TOYOTA..BEST
Subaru knows of this flaw in design ! They should be made to put this problem on the recall list ! Bad wheel bearing , faulty air conditioner, exploding air bags that cause serious injury or dealth ! Etc , but this head gasket known to be a bad design , subaru should own up. Or offer to pay half if not more of cost of repairs
2015 Outback – three bad wheel bearings under 50,000K . Covered all under warranty.
2010 Outback – 80K miles – blown head gasket – $2300
Moving forward – sell and buy anything but Subaru
I’m almost convinced your on to something..Going to give the dealer a chance to do whats right. If not, going back to Toyota.
I purchased a 2007 sub leg sedan 2.5 off a person on craigslist who posed as a private seller but upon my purchasing the car he produced dealer papers. Buyer beware. The head blew a week later. I had asked about the head specifically and he’d shown me the carfax on his phone showing it repaired at 66k and 100k so I assumed both heads had been done but I later purchased my own carfax and saw a completely different report showing only 1 head done at 76k. My car had 131k. Scammers can be showing buyers a different carfax for the same year make model car on their phone! I had spoken to this guy and he’d said he wanted to save the car for me because I was disabled. All my little bit of cash savings gone. I don’t even have his real name, and he won’t return my calls. All I know is he sells cars in Albany, NY and is from Pakistan. He owns an LLC with no contact info called Super Auto World in Miami, FL.
Isn’t it possible that the Subaru cars with non interference engines have less chance of having head gasket problems than the interference engines do? I have read that all SOHC Subaru engines built before 1997 are non interference. I would like to know if they have been shown to have less problems with their head gaskets ?
Not one on this post has questioned—-“After so many blown headgaskets, why did Subaru not fix their head gasket problem early on?” I remember Subaru back in 2004 issuing pellets to drop into the radiator antifreeze; an apparent fruitless attempt to prevent their head gaskets from leaking. And rather than a recall, Subaru issued an extended 100,000 mile warranty on their gaskets. Why has there not been a class action suit? I am really surprised the lawyers did not drool all over themselves while this significnt problem persisted for over 10 years.
I bought my 2007 outback , my 4th Subaru with 64000 miles on it. 2 years ago my timing belt broke and the mechanics dicked with $1200 then nothing worked so I decided to put in a used engine and it already had a head gasket problem. Then I put in another used engine. it lasted 3 months. We are now doing another used engine with a 12 month warranty. I live on $1003/month and have spent $9000.
I have a 07 legacy 2.5i with 168k on it. I purchased it from a small private auto sales location. I saw a pretty clean carfax report at the time of purchase. Well… I find out when the head gasket failed 4.8k later that they are no longer in business and was stuck without a vehicle. I bought it at 139k I find out from doing research on it that it had the head gasket replaced 3 times before I bought it! All of those times I believe it was done still in the engine bay. I have a home shop so I pulled the engine and did the repair myself. I find that the head and block surface had been rounded off due to improperly doing the job. I had the heads milled flat and I did the best I could do to the block on my own. It lasted 6k and popped again. This time i had the block and the heads milled. It lasted 14k after that repair. After much research I discovered that subarus need too have coolant sealant additives to seal the heads due to the excessive compression and heat build up. the aluminum engine and steel gaskets expand and contract at different rates the coolant tablets help to seal the gaps that are created but can only do so much. This time I used a brand new turbo block and reused the old heads. At 4k again it is showing signs of a leak again. I believe the heads have been milled way too far and are causing extreme compression and over whelming the gasket. Time to use new heads on the rebuild. The car is still in mint condition with no rust and I have easy to much into it to scrap it but… when does a person give up? Subarus main problem is the design of the matting surface. The block needs to be a closed deck on the matting surface at production to just let the coolant passages through. There is not enough surface on the block to properly seal the combustion chamber on the production. Due to the design it will fail on all models in their line up on all years. Not sure why they haven’t just fixed this issue by by closing the deck of the block at the factory. A simple solution to a long list of problems that have put a large stain on their reputation. If you drive your subie slow and gentle never letting it go over 3.5k rpms you should be ok for the life of your car. If you try to accelerate like other vehicles in their class you will see rpms up to 5.5k which will shorten the life of your head gasket. Back to the garage to work on the subie again.
Legendary Subaru Owner ~
I own a 2011 outback. Just recently at 97,000 miles the internal head gasket failed and caused overheating , warped heads, burnt cylinders and valve damage.
The vehicle has been religiously maintained at the dealer for scheduled maintenance service levels 1,2,3&4. at suggested intervals.
The damage done from the head gasket estimated @$4600 dollars. WOW! Shocked and disappointed. Even pissed off at first.
The Surprise~ Even though the vehicle was out of warranty at 97,000 miles. Subaru backed they’re product by fixing ALL the engine damage at no cost.
Note: this was only due to having had ALL maintenance records from time vehicle was purchased.
Why they did this~ They had no stand with saying it was due to neglect. Regular Oil changes and recommended service is important. Wonder if they would have done this if it had 250,000 miles with perfect service records?
Subie 2007 Outback owner, yes replaced head gaskets at 65,000 ($2,000) struts etc. at 120,000($1400) security module at 130,000, when they have to pull out your dash/speedometer etc. ($1500) head gasket/timing chain etc. again at 150,000 ($4,000). The car has been a workhorse and fun to drive everywhere, but hard to be faithful and buy another. Doesn’t sound like they have fixed the gasket problem (research that I’ve done). They sell like crazy (10,000 a month I’ve read) but they would prob. double sales if they covered gasket replacement for 150,00. Many people I talk to already know, “Subarus…head gasket problems.”
Just traded in a 2011 OB with 112k miles. Was going to keep it “forever” but then my MIL’s 2010 OB with 120k blew a head gasket and I panicked. She had all recommended maintenance done at dealer and had just put $2,00 into it on struts, wheel bearing and 4 tires; normal maintenance, but a complete waste in retrospect
At about 40k miles, my car had repeatedly deadsticked on me; after 5 trips to dealer it turned out to be the computer, which they replaced. Oh, and that problem burned out the catalytic converter, which they also replaced (both are mandatory 150k mile emissions warranty items for federal PZEV designation so not like they were doing me a special favor). This was all after I’d spent maybe $900 elsewhere trying to suss out the problem. Converter rusted through at about 100k miles, again replaced under federal emission swarranty. Subarus certainly have their rabid fans, though I never fully trusted mine. Maybe it will go to 200k plus, but I don’t need the grief and have moved on. Horizontal/boxer engines will always be prone to these issues. Oh, and if you have the head gaskets replaced, use the opportunity to sell it quickly. Most of the repairs are done poorly and you will be lucky to get 50k out of the repair, probably much less.
The advice I give people is that the newer Subarus are less likely to have head gasket problems than the 2000’s crop, but any Subaru is more likely to have a head gasket problem than any of the other common makes.
Check out Honda, Toyota. I am driving my first Honda and find it to be an excellent vehicle.