The Subaru Outback is beloved for AWD and outdoor capability, but the EJ25 boxer engine has a long history of head gasket failures, the CVT can fail, and oil consumption is a persistent issue. The newer FB and FA engines have improved things, but the platform still has quirks.
The 2010-2014 Outback with the EJ25 has documented head gasket failure (external coolant leak) and the CVT can fail. The 2013-2017 with FB25 has an oil consumption class-action history.
External coolant leak from the head gasket is a long-running Subaru issue on the EJ25. Common between 100,000-150,000 miles. Always check for coolant leaks at the head.
View P0128 Diagnosis →The FB25 boxer engine has a piston ring design that causes excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 1,000-2,000 miles). Subaru extended warranties under a class-action settlement.
Run free diagnosis →The Lineartronic CVT can fail, especially when fluid is neglected. Symptoms: shudder, juddering, and eventually loss of drive. Subaru extended warranty to 100K miles on many.
View P0700 Diagnosis →Subaru Starlink head unit freezes, reboots, and loses Bluetooth pairing. Software updates available but issues persist on some.
Run free diagnosis →Wheel bearings (especially rear) tend to fail around 80-120K miles. Symptoms: humming or growling that changes with speed.
Run free diagnosis →Excessive oil consumption contaminates the catalytic converter, causing P0420 codes and replacement.
View P0420 Diagnosis →Run a free AI diagnosis tailored to your exact vehicle. Get the most likely cause and repair estimate in under 30 seconds.
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2010-2012 (EJ25 head gasket peak), 2013-2017 (FB25 oil consumption class action), and 2010-2014 CVT failures
2018+ Outback with the FB25 oil consumption fix and refined CVT software. The 2020+ all-new generation is the most reliable Outback to date.
$700-1,100/year for routine. With CVT and head gasket risk, lifetime non-routine can hit $7,000-12,000 unless avoided. 2020+ models are tracking lower.
If your Outback is throwing a check engine light, these are the codes most often associated with the problems above. Click any code for full diagnosis steps and typical repair costs.
Yes, but research the specific car. Avoid 2010-2012 unless head gaskets have been done, and 2013-2017 unless the oil consumption fix has been completed. The 2018+ models are much more reliable.
The 2020+ Outback (BT generation) is the most reliable. For older, look at 2018-2019 with the updated FB25 (post oil consumption fix).
The EJ25 boxer engine had a head gasket design that was prone to external coolant leaks, especially after 100,000 miles. Subaru changed the gasket material multiple times. Newer FB engines do not have this issue.
With head gaskets and CVT addressed, a maintained Outback can reach 200,000-250,000 miles. The newer FB-engine Outbacks (2018+) are tracking better.
It depends on year and maintenance. The 2010-2014 TR690 CVT has documented failures. Newer ones (2018+) are improved but still need fluid service every 30-40K miles to last.