Disappointing
The dealer told me that I have a bad head gasket leaking oil at 39,000.
I love my Subaru Outback Wagon, but now I am told it has a bad head gasket leaking oil.
The symptom was a bad smell when the heater was on.
I was wondering how many 2002 Outbacks have this problem. Subaru claims that it is uncommon.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 6th January, 2008
Very reliable and a great car, but would not buy again because of seat issue
Goes through headlights.
Had grounding issues on headlights.
This is my fourth Subaru. I had 2 jeep Cherokees after my third Subaru.
It is a good car overall and I like the way it drives and shifts (automatic). Fuel economy is around 29 mpg on trips with 31 mpg my best on a two lane mountains and curvy roads. No I was not just going down hill.
Things I do not like.
When you go to park it does not track correctly. In other words when you think it will go into a parking lot parking space it does not. Once you know this you can adjust.
The Seats are horrible after about two hours. I actually am in real pain by the 3rd hour. This was not the case in my old subaru's or jeeps. I tend to drive my Silverado on long trips now even with the price of gas being high.
After a year or so the window slips when you shut the door and at first you could fix it by rolling the window down and then back up, but no longer so wind noise is a problem. This is a known issue.
I would buy a new subaru, but not this model.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 4th December, 2007
Just say no to Subaru!
Timing belt tensioner failed at 34,000 miles and was replaced under warranty.
Incessant detonation (pinging) of the engine with all grades of fuel except premium.
Air conditioning improperly serviced at manufacture and was almost 12 ounces shy of full.
Front brakes worn out at 42,000 miles.
Head gasket blew at 77,000 miles requiring complete engine removal to repair ($2000 dollars). Oil pump and cam seals also discovered to be leaking during this procedure.
I am very unhappy with my first and only Subaru purchase. Numerous trips to the dealer with only some problems resolved was a waste of time and money.
The car, while comfortable on the road and handles well, is seriously underpowered and has abysmal brakes. If it were not for being my wife's car I would have gotten rid of it much sooner.
The factory paint on the hood and roof was also trashed after only a few years with hand washing and waxing. There were multiple cracks and pits in the coating surface which requires repainting-professional buffing only minimized them. I live in the state of Georgia and the car has never seen a salt environment!
I am an aircraft mechanic by trade and take my vehicle maintenance very seriously. In 25 plus years of multiple vehicle ownership I have never witnessed a car so poorly executed. For a MSRP of $29K this wagon should have been far better.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 13th November, 2006
If the brakes are so poor that you would not personally own it, then why pass it on to your wife?
Actually, that is the BEST reason to pass it on to your wife!!! Maybe an exploding gas tank or bomb under the front seat would be quicker, but then of course you would have to deal with that pesky police investigator! Job well done!
If the hand washing was done with a garden hose with cold water on hot summer days, that will damage the paint with thousands of micro-cracks. Commercial car washes use hot water so as not to damage the paint.
I bought a 2002 Subaru Outback base model with manual transmission 2.L 4 cyl boxer engine with 56,000 KMS. The car handles great, can never get it to spin it out. I was just starting to love the car with 867 KMS and 15 days later, now in my radiator fluid there is muddy gray gunk, and the motor oil is overflowing and is watery. Does anyone know what could the problem be?
Your coolant is mixing with your engine oil. I suspect a blown head gasket, and a real nasty one at that.
Just had to replace my brakes for the second time, and I only have 70,000 miles on the car. I love the car, but I'm finding that the maintenance costs are too high. I would not buy another one for this reason.
11th Jan 2008, 09:49
I have a 1997 Outback Subaru and it too had the same problem... leaking oil gasket from 30,000 miles. My dealer said that unless it leaked enough oil that I had to add a quart between oil changes, to let it go.
I followed their advice and changed the gasket at one of the major maintenances after 100,000 miles, and the problem has not returned.
More problematic has been off-and-on leaky oil pumps which produces the same smell and occasional smoke, and usually during the summer.
I'm still in love with my Outback and it has over 200,000 miles.