How many miles are subarus good for

Subarus have a reputation for lasting a long time and rarely breaking down.

Their high-quality design has stood the test of time, with many Subaru owners claiming their car runs better than any other. 

The claim has some substance, as Subarus will run for hundreds of thousands of miles.

How many miles do Subarus last?

A Subaru lasts about 200,000 to 300,000 miles. With proper care and regular maintenance, a Subaru will last just over 300,000 miles. One of the most reliable cars available, Subarus will keep running for hundreds of thousands of miles, especially if the owner makes regular repairs.

Properly maintaining your Subaru and achieving a high mileage is relatively inexpensive compared to other cars. 

Be sure to check fluid levels and regularly make repairs.

Taking good care of your cars or SUVs will help them last as long as they can and run reliably.

Caring for a Subaru

Caring for a Subaru isn’t difficult.

The cars are relatively low-maintenance, and the cost of maintenance is inexpensive.

The average Subaru requires about $300 worth of maintenance for every 7,000 miles. 

Keeping up on this maintenance will extend the lifespan of your car.

Follow a checklist and a regular maintenance schedule to make sure your Subaru gets all the care it needs. 

To best care for your Subaru, regularly:

• Change your oil
• Check tire pressure
• Consider replacing belts, air filters, and brake fluid
• Check CV boots
• Monitor fluid levels
• Check valve cover gasket
• Check the power steering pump

This video from Groove Subaru explains how you can gauge the maintenance needs of your car. 

The major points involve checking your oil and tire tread.

A well-cared-for Subaru can last, on average, about 13 years, with some owners reporting their car lasted 18 years. 

This is a long lifespan for a car. 

The long lifespan can be attributed to regular repairs.

Regular repairs on your Subaru aren’t as expensive as they sound. 

According to RepairPal, the yearly cost for repairs on a Subaru is about $617. 

For other cars, this cost is about $652. Compared to other brands, Subarus have low repair costs and require little maintenance.

It is easiest to keep up on repairs and maintenance by sticking to a schedule and knowing when your Subaru needs a check-up. 

Here are the best schedules for keeping up on repairs:

• Oil changes: Every 3,000-5,000 miles, your Subaru should get an oil change. This amount applies to conventional oil. For synthetic oil, get an oil change every 7,000-10,000 miles. Oil changes are vital to ensuring your Subaru runs for a long time. Spending money on oil changes is well worth the expense and time. Your engine will run smoothly with regular oil changes, and will likely blow out if you don’t keep up on oil changes.
• Check-ups: Take your Subaru in for a check-up twice a year, or every 6,000 miles. Even if you aren’t driving your vehicle a lot, and you aren’t scheduled for maintenance on any specific parts, checking in on your car is important. Make sure you check for leaks. Some car parts age over time whether they’re being used or not. Make sure your car is running smoothly, even when you aren’t driving it often.
• Power Steering Pump: A power steering pump lasts about 100,000 miles. While your power steering pump may only need to be replaced about twice in your vehicle’s lifespan, it’s still important to get it checked. Plan on replacing it at 100,000 miles and at 200,000 miles.
• CV Boots: The CV boots on your Subaru will last about 75,000 miles. However, CV boots are vital to your Subaru running smoothly for a long time, keeping grease and water out of the wheels. Check your CV boots often to prevent damaging your tires and replace them when necessary.

Best Subaru Models

The best Subaru models tend to last the longest and require fewer repairs. 

Their engines and parts are durable and need little maintenance. 

The Subaru engine is generally safe and reliable, with the best Subaru models being the safest and most reliable on the market.

The 2021 Forester is one of the best Subaru models available. 

With all-wheel drive and a 1,500-pound towing capacity, the Forester can adapt to a variety of environments and needs. 

Even better, JD Power rated the car 83/100 for reliability.

The 2021 Legacy is another one of the best Subaru models. 

The Legacy includes safety and security systems, as well as crash protection. 

While JD Power rated the reliability at 76/100, a lower score than the Forester, the Legacy is still a great option.

The 2017 Crosstrek, though older, is the best Subaru model to buy used. 

Reliable and durable, the Crosstrek will hold its value for many years.

Worst Subaru Models

While Subarus are usually safe and reliable, some are prone to breaking down and having issues.

Among the least reliable Subaru models are the 2021 WRX, the 2019 Ascent, and the 2013 Impreza.

These models have had recalls in the past, especially the 2019 Ascent. 

The 2013 Impreza has been reported to have engine problems, some major and some minor.

The important thing to watch out for in Subaru models is the 2.5 Turbo Engine. 

Models with this engine report lots of problems, including issues with the transmission, head gaskets, and timing belt. 

The cost to fix the engine is very expensive, as the entire engine has to be broken down to fix it.

One thing to watch out for when buying a Subaru is high oil consumption. 

New Subarus typically burn 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles. 

That’s a lot of oil for a newer car.

For an older car, using 1 quart of oil for every 1000 miles of driving is relatively normal.

Be sure to check that your Subaru is consuming a normal amount of oil for its gas mileage.

Avoid Subarus that are known to consume a lot of oil. 

These models include the second and fourth-generation Foresters and the fifth-generation Legacy.

Another issue that the Subaru Legacy has, while rare, is a melting dashboard. 

Left in the sun, the dashboard of a legacy has been known to melt and crack. 

Legacy Subarus made from 2005-2009 have this issue most often.