Subaru engine reliability?

[cptbarkey]

there is no cutoff for HG failures and subaru's. 98-04 were plagued with them, but i've read plenty of years afterwards having issues. that said, turbo models do not have HG issues. They have outright turbo failures instead, usually around the 100-120k range, and obviously they are beat on.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

I loved my 2001 Impreza RS. Two wheel bearings, questionable head gaskets, leaking valve covers, leaking coolant pipe, bad catalytic converter, rusting quarters and all. But the rod knock it developed at a too-young 114k was kind of a deal breaker.

Are they great cars? For what they can do, absolutely yes. Do they have their share of not-insignificant problems that 'Subaru people' tend to gloss over? Absolutely yes.

BTW, nice necro-bump, Jim.

 

[krismoriah72]

Forester: I own a 2001, and have owned a 1998, 2000, another 2001 and also a 2004.
Impreza: have owned a 1998
Legacy- have owned a 1990, 1991, and 1992.

Forester- 1998 was a bad year with the Dual Overhead cam.. i would avoid it. The 2000 and 2001 that i owned were only plagued with the failed head gasket. The 2004 is leaking at the head gasket and has the piston slap.

Impreza- EJ22 is bulletproof Made in Japan.. good bang for the buck.

Legacy- My 1990 was much better than the 90 and 91. 1990 was made in japan, was built like a tank. 1991 and 1992 were not that desirable to me, stuff fell off inside, had alot of sensor issues, wheel bearing issues etc.


I will stand tall and say that i think Subaru Foresters in the 2000-2002 with an EJ25 phase 2 engine with head gaskets repaired are nearly bulletproof.

Avoid- EJ25 with phase 1 engines, avoid engines with piston slap at cold startup (this is unproven to deal with reliability though).