Faults:

Minor LED lights for switches, gear indicators, right side of speedometer.

General Comments:

I am amazed at the negative reviews on this vehicle. I live at 9000' in the Rockies and have commuted in this car to work in the city for almost 10 years. It is sure-footed, and even with an automatic transmission, if I drop it into a low gear to climb snow and ice-covered hills, it has never let me down. I have routinely bypassed Audis and other more expensive vehicles with all or 4-wheel drive, who have had to pull to the shoulder, and made it home in blizzards.

The boxer engine means that gas mileage is not as wonderful as for other small cars, but that same low heavy engine makes for stability in the mountains.

When I can afford to buy another one, my husband has "dibs" on this one. So, its trade-in value (nearly $5k after all these years and miles) is just a number, and I can't wait to be a 2-Outback family in the mountains.

Faults:

Frameless doors windows shake at speed.

Numerous interior rattles.

No torque at low RPM.

Sluggish tranny and low response for quick lane change.

Harsh suspension on bad roads and questionable chassis stiffness.

General Comments:

Their reputation seems to be based on short term ownership. They aged pretty fast.

AWD system is reliable, as are most units built by New Venture Gear (Venture = GM & Chrysler), and they are common in Jeeps, BMW and you name it. Subaru was late to switch from viscous coupling to Gerotor clutch type (2008 compared to 1999 for Jeep). Surabu's supremacy in rallies stands on their low center of gravity. Nothing to do with the symmetric thing...

Faults:

Front brake rotors warped.

Lost oil pan bolt & lost the oil pan cover.

Front axle boot had a leak, both axles had to be replaced at 80000 miles.

General Comments:

Interior access buttons to windows, door locks, etc. do not light up & this is extremely hazardous when trying to exit the vehicle at night.

Love the quick get up and go when getting on the freeway!

Handles GREAT in the snow. Better than on dry land or in the rain!

Faults:

Bought the car used and had a mechanic look at it with no major issues. Regular oil changes, check ups and all that. Next thing I know $2000 for a new head gasket. WTF.

Handling is great and the options are nice. I did not like putting in a new head-gasket on a car that does not even have 100000 miles on it. I know I bought it used, but that is a joke for a "reliable" car.

Contacted Subaru Customer Dealer services and they bought the head-gasket. Due to the fact that I had no history of the car, they did not forgive any price off the labor.

I just sold my Ford Ranger for $2000 and it would have probably lasted longer with less cost than the Subaru.

General Comments:

Interesting. I thought that Suburu was your typical, reliable Japanese car. Actually, you take your chances with most brands.

Nope, I'd never buy another Suburu. Too many issues to mention that the dealer can't seem to fix. Interesting also, if you listen to Click and Clack on NPR long enough you'll hear callers with an inordinate number of Suburu vehicles trying to get the Tappet Brothers to analyze the problem. The guys just chuckle a "knowing chuckle" as if to infer, "Yup! Another Suburu."

Suburu is living on their reputation. If you have a good one consider yourself lucky.

Faults:

Accelerator cable - high RPM.

Transmission replaced.

Dash Rattle.

Two bad tires.

Erratic - jerky at 62-67 mph on slight hill.

Excessive play in drive line when letting off and re-applying accelerator.

Increase engine RPM when letting off accelerator in 2 gear going down hill.

General Comments:

Excessive number of repairs needed.

Service people polite, but not good at solving the problem the first time.

If you do not mind sitting in the waiting room and want to know the service manager on a first name basis, then this is the car for you.