Faults:

This car started off satisfactorily with a comfortable and dependable drive and has always been well maintained.

Starting around 120,000 km. the problems escalated from the usual wear on a car.

First was the head-gasket, (120,000 km), which I found out later was a known issue with this car, followed by a water pump, wheel bearing replacements, engine over heating and now serious engine problems.

I had expected to get 250-300,000 km out of this car per dealer statements on a maintained car. I will be getting rid of it and will not buy a Subaru again - just too many major and expensive repairs.

General Comments:

I am getting rid of this car and will not buy a Subaru again - too expensive to maintain with many serious faults.

Faults:

Check engine light goes on and then goes off the next day, only to return on again the following day. Could be faulty knock sensor, according to Subaru dealer. Driver-side power window button beginning to come loose.

Replaced engine in 2007 with a 1995 Subaru engine, after original engine blew. This is when CE light began its dance.

General Comments:

Can't pass IL EPA test due to CE light. Looking to sell car.

Have loved this car and would buy again if we could afford a new one. Handles very well in all weather and just hums along.

Faults:

Little over a year and a half ago, car started overheating after having timing belt, thermostat and water pump replaced.

Immediately had new thermostat replaced.

Car started overheating two weeks later.

Replaced thermostat again and had water lines bled.

Car fine until last week when it started overheating again.

Replaced thermostat with dealer thermostat.

Replaced radiator cap.

Bled water lines.

Car still overheating intermittently.

Fearing a blown head gasket.

General Comments:

I love this car except for what is going on with this over heating problem.

Car has been a great car and handles very well in snow.

This is my fifth Subaru, but the other four cars were much older than this one and I put very high miles on the previous Subaru's.

Faults:

Oil pump screws backing out by themselves, resulting in poor oil pressure.

Engine has ran noisy and rough since 8500 miles; continually worsening, almost non idle-able until next issue.

My head gasket blew at 138,000 miles.

General Comments:

Fasteners on oil pumps should not back out.

Head gaskets should not fail in huge multiples as these.

There have been countless complaints on the same issues. Action for problem engines needs to happen.

The vehicle has been near perfect; Subaru of America (SOA) lacks responsibility in this regard.

Faults:

Oil seals (twice)

Engine - loud knocking, mechanic says must be replaced, $5.5K (US)

General Comments:

Oil seals are a chronic problem. Have had these replaced twice, once at ~50K miles, again at around ~100K miles. Did preventive timing belt at same time.

Had valve cover gasket replaced at ~100k miles.

Otherwise just normal stuff. Got car new and kept regularly maintained, am not hard on a car (e.g., has original clutch at 125K miles with no problems there yet.)

After having radiator flushed winter 2007, and thermostat replaced, surprisingly it began to run hotter than previously, but not actually overheating.

Summer 2007 check engine light came on, knock sensor problem. But no knocking heard. Ran it on premium gas for about 3 weeks until had time to have car in shop, then sensor replaced. Check engine light off after replacement.

Dec 17 2007, heard what sounded like very loud valve noise until well warmed a couple of days in a row. Stopped doing it when took to mechanic, so unable to diagnose. Had oil changed anyway. Ran OK until last week when suddenly knocking became overwhelmingly loud. No check-engine light! Took next day to mechanic, this time it was still banging, only worse. He said sounds like oil starvation happened, sounds very bad, serious engine damage, needs new engine, at least $5K. Despite the $ he stands to make on the repair, and fact the car is otherwise in very good condition, he says don't put any more $ into it. still trying to figure out what to do. Very disappointed in this engine, was waiting until more advance on alternative fuels prior to making another purchase.

AS far a going ahead with another... Apparently Subaru has done work to correct engine problems, so that issue might be gone in newer years. The car & options packages are best for price, but Subaru has not improved fuel economy, which is a major downside in deciding if I will get another at this high-fuel-cost point in time.