2002 Subaru Outback Limited from North America - Comments

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.

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?

"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.