1999 Subaru Outback review from North America
"Great winter car, if you can afford the repairs."
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The front heated seats needed to be replaced 3 times when the car was just purchased. Since then they have continued to work wonderfully.
The front brake rotors performed poorly. They needed to be machined within the first 6 months and frequently, needed to be re-machined every few months until they were replaced with after market rotors.
The clutch also seems to be of poor quality, needing frequent adjusting until they now need to be replaced at 71k miles.
An overheating problem also at 71k miles, has been costly to diagnose. The head gasket was the cause and needs to be replaced. However, my VIN number is not on the Subaru recall list. If I did not have a extended warranty, it would be a $2400+ repair.
General comments?
This is an expensive car to have so many problems and lacking quality in the specific problem areas.
It is great in the snow and changing winter conditions.
Recommended reviews
| C/C+ |
|
| 1998 - Outback Limited 30th 2.5 I love my car. Can't go far, but still going |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model year | 1999 |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.5L Phase I Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 4 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 18 miles |
| Most recent distance | 71000 miles |
| Previous car | Honda Prelude |
| Date of Entry | 3rd May, 2005 |