Subaru added a 7 year 100,000 mile warranty on the head gasket years ago.
Head gaskets are a maintenance item on many alloy engines. Because the Subaru has two heads, it’s more expensive than an in-line 4 or 6. Neither the H6 nor turbos experience any unusual head gasket problems: it’s mostly 2.5L Outbacks. A lot of those cars are treated like rented mules and that’s probably part of the problem.
We had two 2.5L Outback’s. We replaced the head gaskets on one at 140,000 miles as a precautionary measure along with other precautionary maintenance like the water pump, oil pumps-ring seal, front camshaft seals etc. These were all well-known maintenance points. We sold that car to a relative running perfectly with 189,000 miles, who traded it in, still running, on another Subaru at 245,000 miles. Our 2006 has 230,000 and runs like a champ.
Subaru is now the 9th largest brand in the US market, despite selling most of their cars in the snow belt. If Honda or Toyota ever make an AWD system that actually works, that might change. But it hasn’t yet.
We’ve owned or own Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Nissan, and Subaru in the last 10 years. None of them are perfect: pay your money, take your choice.
