Subaru Warranty Overview
Under the Subaru warranty, the engines and transmissions of new cars are covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. The rest is covered for 3 years or 36,000 miles.
With our #1 rated provider, 
Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- Subaru offers a new vehicle limited warranty that ends after 3 years or 36,000 miles – whichever comes first.
- The company also offers a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
- Subaru’s extended warranty options can last up to 10 years/100,000 miles or 8 years/120,000 miles.
- Subaru has average annual repair costs, but doesn’t rank highly in J.D. Power reliability studies.
Every new Subaru includes a 3-year/36,000-mile Subaru warranty intended to guarantee all included parts are free from defects. But what exactly does this warranty cover? Below, we discuss the benefits and limitations of Subaru’s factory warranty, as well as where to find the best extended vehicle protection.
If you’re interested in extending the warranty on your Subaru, you might consider a contract with an extended auto warranty provider. Click on the buttons below to request free quotes from several providers and compare rates.
Subaru Warranty Coverage For New Cars
A total of five warranties come with the purchase of your new Subaru, including the 3-year/36,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Different parts of the Subaru warranty have varying term lengths:
| Warranty | Terms | Coverage Details |
|---|---|---|
| New Vehicle Limited Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | This comprehensive, bumper-to-bumper warranty covers your entire vehicle, with a small list of exceptions. |
| Powertrain Limited Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | This warranty covers the major powertrain systems in your Subaru, including the: Engine Engine block and all internal parts Cylinder heads and valve trains Oil pump, oil pan Timing belts or gears and covers Water pump Flywheel Intake and exhaust manifolds Oil seals and gaskets |
| Wear Item Limited Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | Subaru covers the replacement of worn brake pads/shoe linings, clutch linings, and wiper blades. There may be a limit to the number of wear items you can have replaced. |
| Seat Belt Lifetime Limited Warranty | Lifetime | This coverage is the only lifetime warranty offered by Subaru. It covers your car’s seat belts and related components that may fail to function properly. It doesn’t cover fading or other cosmetic damage. |
| Rust Perforation Limited Warranty | 5 years/unlimited miles | This warranty covers body panels that have been perforated by corrosion from the inside out. |
| Hybrid System Limited Warranty | 8 years/100,000 miles | Covers repairs for various plug-in hybrid electric vehicle components, including the high-voltage battery pack. |
All Subaru warranty coverage is transferable if you sell your car, so long as the factory warranty is still in effect. You’ll need to contact Subaru customer service to update the details of vehicle ownership.
What’s Not Covered By Subaru’s Warranty?
Like all manufacturers’ warranties, Subaru’s warranty mostly provides coverage for faulty or defective parts and workmanship. This means you can’t have your vehicle repaired due to normal wear and tear from everyday driving.
Additional exclusions are:
- Regular maintenance such as oil changes
- Damages caused by improper repairs or unauthorized parts
- Damage from abuse, neglect, fire, or accidents
- Repairs needed due to racing or off-roading
- Damage due to lack of maintenance
- Damage caused by the environment, including hail, flooding, windstorms, and other incidents
Is An Extended Warranty Worth It?
While the Subaru warranty will help pay for unexpected repairs for the first few years of car ownership, it will eventually expire. An extended warranty is one of the best ways to get near-lifetime protection for your Subaru.
There are generally two types of extended warranties: dealership service contracts and protection plans offered by third-party warranty companies.
Why Would I Need An Extended Warranty?
Despite the name, an extended warranty isn’t technically a warranty. Instead, it’s a vehicle service contract that offers protection for an agreed-upon number of years or miles. Your contract details what is and is not covered, as well as any exclusions or limitations.
Some of the reasons you may want to get an extended warranty include:
- You want peace of mind that you won’t be paying out of pocket for common major repairs to your vehicle.
- You plan to keep the car for a long time.
- You have had several car issues with past vehicles that would have been covered by a warranty and want to protect your current car.
In October of 2023, our team conducted a survey for extended warranty buyers, of which 1,000 people responded. Of those 1,000, 57 percent of respondents said that coverage was the most important factor to consider when choosing a company. The coverage your Subaru needs depends largely on how likely it is to break down further down the road.
What Subaru Customers Say
Also in 2023, our team surveyed 1,000 people from across the country who had purchased an extended warranty from their car’s manufacturer (not a third-party company). Out of the total, 21 respondents purchased a Subaru extended warranty. Here are a few things they said about their satisfaction:
- “I’m extremely satisfied. It has saved me thousands.”
- “I’m pretty satisfied actually. They contacted me for maintenance and fixed things without me even knowing the light was out or I needed to have wiper blades. They just proactively put new ones on and when they were done they washed the car and made it look fresh from the dealer.”
- “I am completely satisfied with my warranty coverage. I just so happened to need it.”
While it’s a small sample size, no Subaru owner on our survey said they were unsatisfied with the extended warranty.
Subaru Vehicle Reliability
The J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM puts Subaru below average in reliability ratings. Subaru ranked in the bottom third of 31 auto brands with 214 problems per 100 vehicles. This study evaluated the issues car owners face after three years of ownership, with an average of 186 problems per 100 vehicles.
With drivers starting to keep their cars for longer, it becomes even more important to protect your vehicle. As vehicles age, they tend to need more repairs. High mileage and extended time on the road wear out the essential parts of your vehicle. Extended warranties cover repairs needed from mechanical breakdowns and sometimes due to the normal wear of parts.
When To Buy An Extended Warranty For Your Subaru
You’re usually first offered an extended warranty for your Subaru when you purchase it from the dealership. Contrary to what the dealer might tell you, you’re not required to add extended warranty protection the day you buy the car. However, it’s important to note that you must buy a Subaru extended warranty before your basic factory warranty coverage has expired.
Extended warranties from independent companies can be added almost any time throughout the life of your Subaru. Endurance, for example, has protection plans to cover cars up to 200,000 miles. Those with vehicles like the Subaru Forester may want to add an extended warranty later on, as this model ranks 10th for cars kept for over 15 years.
Common Repair Costs For Subarus
Based on data from RepairPal*, Subaru vehicles have an average annual repair cost of $617 per year. This falls just below the average $652 repair cost between all makes and models. Some of the most common repairs for popular Subaru models are listed below.
| Subaru Model | Repair Needed | Cost of Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Subaru Forester | Transmission fluid change | $212 to $229 |
| Subaru Outback | Clutch hydraulic system bleed | $52 to $66 |
| Subaru Legacy | AC Recharge | $193 to $226 |
| Subaru WRX STI | Drive axle assembly drain and refill | $60 to $70 |
*RepairPal is a trusted site that analyzes average repair prices, part replacement costs, maintenance costs, recalls, and mechanical problems across many auto manufacturer brands and models.
Protect Your Subaru With An Extended Warranty
Choose an extended warranty to protect your Subaru even before the manufacturer’s warranty expires. Subaru offers an extended service contract for new vehicles, but you may find that a third-party warranty gives you more coverage options for a better price.
Subaru Added Security® Extended Service Agreements
Subaru extended warranties are called Added Security® Service Agreements and can be broken down into three levels of coverage. Below is a breakdown of these plans:
| Subaru Added Security Gold Plus | Subaru Added Security Classic | Powertrain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Comprehensive bumper-to-bumper protection that covers any mechanical breakdown except for a list of exclusions | Provides a powertrain plus level of protection that covers most major components with some added benefits | Basic coverage for critical components needed to make the vehicle run |
| Max Time/Mileage | Up to 10 years/100,000 miles or 8 years/120,000 miles | Up to 10 years/100,000 miles or 8 years/120,000 miles | Up to 10 years/100,000 miles or 8 years/120,000 miles |
| Coverage Eligibility | Prior to 3 years/36,000 miles | Prior to 3 years/36,000 miles | Prior to 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Deductible | $0 or $100 | $0 or $100 | $0 or $100 |
| Coverage | Powertrain and Classic coverage plus almost every other part of your Subaru | Powertrain coverage plus coverage for major systems, including the air conditioning, electrical, brakes, steering, suspension, cooling and fuel | Major engine, transaxle, and differential components. |
| Perks | Rental car reimbursement, towing coverage, trip interruption allowance and roadside assistance | Rental car reimbursement and towing coverage | Rental car reimbursement and towing coverage |
While an extended service contract from Subaru offers long-term coverage compared to the factory warranty, there isn’t much flexibility in customizing plans. You can, however, choose from various term lengths and deductibles.
Some restrictions to the Subaru extended service plans include:
- Only Subaru parts: Repairs must use genuine Subaru parts. If you have a repair that isn’t covered or doesn’t meet your deductible, you’ll need to pay the premium price for Subaru parts.
- Limited repair shops: You’ll need to have repairs completed at a Subaru dealership. If you move to an area without a nearby dealer or want to use your favorite local shop, you’re out of luck.
- Expensive cost: Subaru dealerships may encourage you to roll your service contract into your new car financing, adding interest charges to an already expensive service contract. In our team’s 2023 survey of 1,000 owners of manufacturer extended warranties, 52 percent of respondents paid between $1,000 and $3,000 for their plans.
- Vehicle restrictions: You can only purchase an Added Security plan if your Subaru is still under the initial New Vehicle Limited Warranty. That gives you only 3 years/36,000 miles to decide if you need an extended warranty.
For further context of Subaru extended warranty options, the graphic below shows the major differences between the two most popular coverage choices in the extended warranty industry: the bumper-to-bumper contract and the powertrain plan.
The Best Way To Take Care Of Your Subaru Vehicle
Looking for more coverage on your vehicle? Your warranty will run out, and even if it’s still in place, it may not cover what you need. Get a free quote from our highest recommended extended warranty providers by calling or clicking below.
Subaru Warranty: Bottom Line
Subaru offers average bumper-to-bumper coverage and powertrain protection with its new vehicles. Three years of coverage for wear items like brake pads and wiper blades represents a nice bonus. If you plan to keep your Subaru for the long haul, extending your factory warranty coverage is probably a good idea.
Subaru Warranty: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about the Subaru warranty:
How long is a Subaru under warranty?
New Subaru vehicles come with a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. The automaker also includes a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty that covers the engine, transmission, and drive axles.
Does Subaru have a 100,000-mile warranty?
Yes. Through Subaru Added Security extended coverage, you can purchase coverage for your vehicle for 8 years/120,000 miles or 10 years/100,000 miles.
Is buying the extended warranty on a Subaru worth it?
Subaru vehicles have average annual repair costs, but they don’t perform well in J.D. Power reliability studies on vehicle dependability. This indicates that Subarus are more likely to break down in time compared to other auto brands. If you want to keep your Subaru long past its factory warranty coverage term, buying an extended warranty may be a solid investment.
Methodology
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
- Industry Standing: Warranty providers with a history of strong business practices and endorsements from experts receive the highest scores in this category.
- Coverage: This rating is based on types of extended warranty plans available, coverage terms, and added benefits like roadside assistance.
- Cost: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of plans and vehicles. Companies with lower prices per year of coverage receive the best scores.
- Transparency: This score takes into account contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
- Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and perform our own shopper analysis to get a sense of the responsiveness and helpfulness of each warranty company.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
