Subaru Head Gasket, Will Subaru pay for repair?
Have you been a victim of this?
Many Subaru owners have been faced with the dreaded head gasket failure on their Subaru. There has been much discussion about what the problem is, why it happened etc. I would like to discuss another subject that doesn’t come up often.
Is there any way Subaru will pay for my head gasket repair and how do I get them to do it?
Let’s start out with a few basics and work from there. When you first purchase your Subaru it comes with a factory backed warranty. A 3 year/36,000 mile bumper to bumper and a 5 year 60,000 mile powertrain warranty is standard. If you have head gasket failure within that time you are one of the lucky ones. Once that warranty expires you’re on your own.
Now I would like to share some of my experiences on how Subaru owners whose warranty expired did their homework and were fortunate enough to have Subaru pay for the repair.
For the most part I’ve found that dealing with Subaru of America is a pleasant experience. They are very straight forward reasonable people that want you to be happy with their Subaru. Unfortunately they have to draw a line somewhere or Subaru would have limitless requests of persons wanting their Subarus repaired way outside of warranty.
In the old days of the automotive industry, we wouldn’t think twice if a car had a major mechanical failure at 60,000 miles or more. At 100,000 we thought it was a major milestone and were ready to trade it in on the next car before it broke down.
With advancements in engineering and higher quality control, we’re seeing Subarus and many other makes go well over 300,000 without any major failures as long as a person has kept up on their maintenance.
Now that our expectations have been raised on how long a car should last, we’re thrown a bit of a curve ball when our head gaskets fail before we think they should. Especially if one has been meticulous about their maintenance.
If you happen to be a victim of failing head gaskets on your Subaru there are some things that some of our customers have shared with us that were helpful in getting Subaru to pay for the repair even though the cars were technically out of the warranty period.
1. Check with the dealer for any outstanding campaigns or recalls.
A simple call to any Subaru service department with your VIN # will reveal if there are any outstanding recalls or campaigns relating to your head gaskets. There was a campaign ( WWP-99 ) in which Subaru added a coolant additive and would then provide a 8 year 100,000 mile warranty for external head gasket coolant leakage. Most of those cars are now beyond the limits of the campaign but it never hurts to check.
2. Keep your Subaru maintained and save every receipt.
Even under the factory warranty, Subaru can deny a claim if they believe lack of maintenance contributed to the problem. It’s within your rights to have your maintenance done anywhere you like so don’t let them use that as a reason, but you must be able to provide them with documentation that you have met their minimum maintenance requirements as defined in the warranty manual that came with your Subaru.
3. Put together a history of all the Subarus that you and your family may have purchased over the years.
This may be very good leverage to show them that you are a very loyal client. It may even help on a local level with a Subaru dealer you’ve purchased your car through.
4. Call 1-800-SUBARU3
This is the customer service hotline to begin your effort to get help from Subaru. Once you’ve done all of the above, call Subaru and explain your situation. They will likely refer you to a local Subaru dealer to confirm the issue before discussing things further. They will also likely be in close contact with that dealer.You may even want to ask for an appointment with the regional Subaru rep. for that dealer. It may make sense for him/her to be present when your car is being looked at.
From there things can go in many different directions. Here’s a few examples I’ve heard of.
A customer schedules their appointment with the dealer. The dealer confirms the issue then relays the info to Subaru. From there a decision is made whether or not Subaru the dealer will participate in the repair.
Whether they offer to help will usually be related to all of the above items I discussed. Once it’s been decided you’ll either be told no, or they will offer to fix the car. The level of participation can vary . In some cases the whole repair will be covered by Subaru. In other cases Subaru may say no but the dealer decides to use some of their own discretionary good will fund to help you out. Most dealerships have a fund set aside just for this kind of situation. You may be offered some kind of partial help also. An example may be either a discounted price or a split between you and the dealer.
Keep in mind that if they do opt to help, they will only repair the very minimum that is necessary. If only one head gasket is failing they will only repair one. If that is the case you might inquire how much it would be to add in the second head gasket and timing belt since things will be partially apart anyway and the second gasket may fail in the future.
Smart Service will always be there to repair Subaru head gaskets and we even carry a gasket that we believe is Superior to what Subaru has to offer. If that time comes give us a call and we’ll take good care of you but if there’s a chance that you can get it done and paid for by Subaru it’s worth a little effort.
Based on our customer reports, Subaru is choosing to opt out of helping in most cases but I am writing this because there have been a few that actually did get help from Subaru. The information above is what helped them sway Subaru into partcipating.
If you were successful for you in getting help from Subaru in an out of warranty situation, please share it with us. We’ll pass it on.
Cheers,
Mike Corbin
Hi there,
So i was given a forester by my mother and it has under 100,00 mile on it and i have been told that i need new gaskets on the passenger side of the car since i know that there are two heads in the type of car. I had a quote of 1900 to get that done might you be cheaper. my car is not using any oil but i can every once in a while smell some burning after i driven the car. Thank you for your time. Nancy Knuckles
My 2004 Subaru outback with only 46K miles went in for a diagnostic (they offer to check everything for you), and the result was a head gasket problem that would cost roughly $3000. I called the service manager and told him this was outrageous in a car with only 46,000 miles. He looked in his system and saw that: I had purchased this car and two others from his dealership; I had performed all the scheduled maintenance religiously, including the 45,000 service within the past 6 months; I had also purchased the extended warranty, which was expired by time but not by mileage. He said he would “help me” and did. Subaru covered 100% of the repair cost. He also got me a free loaner car.
Hi Nancy,
$1900 is a reasonable quote depending how much is being done and what kind of parts are being used. Our price on that job ranges from a bare minimum of $1599 all the way to $2600 if you add all the bells and whistles during the job.
Mike
I’m glad to hear your situation had a happy ending! It was smart to point out your relationship and history to the dealership. It’s too bad that that what it takes to get something done on something we all probably agree is happening too soon and too often.
Good job!
Mike Corbin
Hey Mike,
You site is VERY helpful. Thank you for this great service.
On the market for a used Subie and while doing my research, the head gasket problem is something that keeps coming up. First of all, I am looking to buy a used Subie (Outback or Forrester) for $5K, which puts me right in that sweet spot for the head gasket problems on most subies I’ve been checking out (100K – 150K).
A couple of questions:
1) Approx how frequent is this HG prob in the 2.5L engines? 5 out of 10 cars? less? Happy w/ a guestimate.
2) Are there any steps I can take PRIOR to purchasing my used Subie? Besides taking it to a mechanic of course…
3) 2000-2004 Impreza’s will have the same prob? correct?
THANK YOU in advance
-Claudio
Hi Claudio, Here’s a few answers to help you in your quest to find a Subaru to fit your needs.
1. Depending on how old the Subaru is you are purchasing, if it has never had head gaskets replaced yet, I would budget for it in your future. The best situation is if you can buy a Subaru that’s had them done already. With the phase 1 and phase 2 2.5 L. engines and the changes we’ve seen in the Subaru headgasket over the years it’s hard to even make a guestimate on what the failure rate is.
2. Get a carfax first. If that is clean, have it checked out at a mechanic, have him look visibly very closely at the head gaskets and the coolant level. Also have the cooling system checked for the presence of hydrocarbons (exhaust getting into the coolant from failing headgaskets). Last but not least, call the local dealer with the VIN # and ask if there are any outstanding recalls or campaigns on that particular Subaru.
3. We do head gasket replacements on 2000-2004 Imprezas as well (with the exception of the WRX). The 2.0 turbo motor is appearing to have a much less frequent failure rate than the non-turbo Subaru engine based on the cars we’ve had come through our shop.
Take care,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert
Hi Mike,
Thanks for answering these questions. I recently bought an ’06 Legacy, and love it. But the last few days I’ve noticed that the engine has been running hot (thought the temperature gauge says cool) and I’ve smelt burning coming from the engine. Yesterday, the CEL came on. I checked the engine, and the coolant level was very low, so I replenished it. But reading the commments above, I’m now worried it might be a HG issue. Do these sound like symptoms for the HG issue? I plan to bring it to your shop in a few days to get the CEL diagnosed.
Thanks,
Greg
I would be surprised if it were actually a head gasket issue on a Subaru that new, but the evidince should be obvious once we diagnose it. My concern is finding out why the coolant was low. Did a prior owner not properly top up the radiator? Subarus are a but finicky burping out the coolant during a coolant change and that could explain it. There are other possibilities too which all involve diagnosing why it became low on coolant.
See you soon at the shop,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert
Just ran across this website trying to get some info on Subaru service. My daughter and I bought her a used 2009 Legacy with a 2.5L GT LTD engine, with 26,000 miles. First, after a couple of months, it started running badly and we took it in. First time, they said nothing, the oil had been changed it was smoke from spillage. Kept running funny. Took it in again. Told us it was the oil sending valve. They fixed, and on the way home ti started smoking again. Took it right back. This time, after a week, we were told it was the turbo and it would have to be replaced, but was under original factory warranty. They took about 2 weeks but fixed it, gave us a loaner in the meantime, and it ran well for a couple of months.
Recently, it lost power when she was driving and stopped running. NO warning lights, no smoke, no pinging, no noise, just stopped. When she tried to start it, it sounded like a jackhammer. Towed to a dealership and the service guy told us that a rod had been thrown. They made us dig up all the receipts we had for oil changes. We could find the last four, including one done just 3 weeks prior, but could not account for a period of about 10-12,000 miles. Daughter said she paid cash, and in one case they didn’t ask her name at the Subaru dealership, just did the oil change, in and out.
The service manager contacted SOA for warranty (we had 60,000 and extended warranty, and Gold Plus coverage). They denied liability based on no maintenance records from 26,000 to 40,000. Daughter is trying to get those from the places she had the oil changed, but being young and naive, she paid cash and doesn’t have receipts.
I saw that this exact engine, 2.5 L Turbo – had a stop sale in 2008 and 2009, and have had several friends tell me of cases of getting new engines when they heard a noise. Looking it up on the internet, my daughter’s car’s VIN is JUST after the stop range.
What should I do next? We are trying to get the other records. I believe my daughter when she says she went in every 4-5000 for an oil change, although not always at a dealership. I don’t believe for one second that this was caused by lack of maintenance or anything else – I beleive this is the same probloem I have been reading about with 2008 and early 2009 engines.
One service manager (where we bought the car) suggested calling the regional Subaru service manager first. I have not been able since then to get the number. I have tried calling SOA 3 times, and all 3 times on hold for over an hour.
Do you have some advice?
Frustrated father, Larry Ellis
Hi Larry,
I sympathize with your dilemma on your daughters Subaru. I know how difficult it can be to straighten out a situation when you’re not in the middle of it.
The first part of the question I’d like to address is the failure of the turbo. I have seen the 2005 and newer Subaru Legacy GT’s develop an issue in the oil supply line to the turbocharger and AVCS (active valve control system). Due to oil sludge buildup in the fine mesh of the screen, the oil supply to the turbo is restricted thus causing the turbo bearing to fail from lack of lubrication. In my experience, most of these turbo failures result in the metal particles of the bearing circulating throughout the engine. These screens seem to plug up more frequently on vehicles have had their oil changed less often than manufacturer recommends. I’m sure other items contribute also but in most the cases we’ve seen the oil change frequency was much less than what Subaru recommends (3750 miles or 3.7months-whichever comes first).
Once the turbo bearing fails and metalic particles are circulated through out the engine, (evident when draining the oil of a Subaru whose turbo has failed) there is a possibility that metal causes subsequent damage to the engine bearings, cam bearings and or oil pump. Also, if the oil was not changed as often as required or allowed to be driven with a low oil level, internal engine damage can occur.
I’ve seen situations during a turbo replacement that resulted in metal in the oil that the customer opts to take their chances and just install the new turbo, change the oil and hope for the best. For some cars this has worked fine but others were back within weeks with lower engine bearing knocking as the rod bearings had worn excessively.
Were you advised to change the engine oil and clean out the turbo oil supply lines,screens etc when they first repaired the turbo? What was the condition of the oil? This might be a point to bring up in your discussions. Calling 1-800-Subaru3 is the best way to get things accomplished even if you are put on hold.
If you can find your records that would be greatly to your benefit. I recommend your daughter goes to each business she had the oil changed and request the record. Even if a person pays cash for an oil change but lost their receipt, the business should still have the record on file and can usually find it by just entering the license plate in their system. From there they can reprint you receipt of the service. Even hand written work orders are made in triplicate and saved for the companies records.
Subaru as well as other manufacturers don’t have the same ability to good will repairs in todays economic climate and are very specific on their requirements in order to provide repairs under warranty. They will stand behind their vehicles 100% but they expect a Subaru owner closely follows the service intervals recommended in the owners manual.
I hope this helps you out Larry. If you have any other concerns or questions, please call me at 206-417-0880.
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert
I have a 2001 Subaru Legacy with a leaky head gasket (oil leakage, aroma of burnt oil, slightly less power when driving, etc). Because of the high cost of HG replacement ($3,000), I have decided to do it myself. I have some mechanic experience, evening classes, etc. I have replaced a gasket on a honda (didn’t need to take out engine, because HG on top). I have the service manual for my 2001 Subaru Legacy and have been studying it. I also youtube for subaru engine swap. Any suggestions for other resources on I have should best prepare myself for this job. This is my third Subaru I have owned. Signed, a heart broken Subaru, that is seeking desperate means to keep my beloved Subaru. Thanks.
If you don’t have the genuine Subaru manual, I’d consider purchasing an individual subscription to Alldata.com.
This will give you step by step procedures, torquing sequence etc. If you have the genuine Subaru shop manual then just use it and follow it to the letter.
Take your time and stay very organized. Pre-read the procedure fully before starting.
Good luck,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert
Hi Mike;
I have a couple of questions.
I bought a 2001 subaru Legacy L last year, with 98k miles, now it has 106K. Shortly after I bought it the CEL came on P420 code. Over the year I had o2 sensors checked, they said normal range, Cat converter checked, no rattling, mechanic said do not replace, just put seafoam product in engine to blow out gunk. I did not have him do it as he had trouble putting the air filter back on. yikes ;(. It is still on intermittley, well mostly on. What do I do?
Now I have a bigger problem, the engine overheated, and the verdict is head gasket, because there is exhaust in the antifreeze. Estimates are $1500-$1600.00, ouch. I called Subaru3, they said to take it to dealer for diagonstic check. then call back. I will have it towed there as it heats up in just a few miles. The dealer said the recall is only for external leaks, and mine is internal. In my opinion a bad head gasket is a bad head gasket, internal or external. Is a dealer the best option or another mechanic that is a subaru specialist. I do not want to get ripped off. Is this going to be a money pit? I switched from Toyota to subaru, and with these expensive problems, not impressed.
Thanks,
Debbie
Per our discusson over the phone about your Subaru head gaskets, please let me how it works out in the end Debbie.
Thanks,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert
Hi Mike;
SOA came thru, and covered $500.00 of the bill because it was an external as well as an internal leak. He checked the timing belt as well as water pump and did not need replacing as they looked new. So I hope this will be the end of major repairs for my car. Well, except for the CEL p0420 code.:( Any suggestions on that?
Thanks Mike,
Debbie
Glad to hear you got some help Debbie! On your PO420 code… I’d suggest having your your catalytic converter tested with a Subaru select monitor scan tool (actually monitor the oxygen sensors) to see if the cat is truley worn out. It would not be out of the question for the catalytic converter to be showing signs of age by now.
Cheers,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert
2006 Subaru Outback rough idle and stalling
have a 2006 subaru outback2.5L XT that idles rough pretty much all the time and the rpm gauge fluctuates at stop lights. The car also stalls at low speeds and almost always about 1/2 a mile from my house when the engine is cool and seems to not do it as much when the engine is warm. No mechanic can figure out what it is yet. Gas mileage is getting bad, check engine light is on. One mechanic thought it was the fuel injector, then an engine coil (although diagnostic does not point here). Now they think it is a head gasket. Any help?
Did the check engine light coincide with the problem? A bit more info on what the diagnostic code was for the check engine light may help me understand the problem a little better. Your Subaru has AVCS or Active Valve Control System which can become stuck if the oil is cold and sludgey. It’s common on turbo equiped Subarus of your model year when the oil system has been neglected. It’s not as common on a well maintained Subaru but can still happen.
Send me more info on the check engine light when you can.
Mike Corbin
Smart Serivice
Independent Subaru Expert
I have a 2004 Outback that I purchased used in 2005. Last winter I had the oil changed and they accidentally drained the transmission fluid. Since then the oil temp sensor light has flashed on periodically. This summer I used it to tow a trailer that was on the upper end of the max recommended weight. It was a very hot day and I had to keep my speed under 55 mph to keep the engine temp down.
Recently I have been going through coolant at an alarming rate. My local repair guy put the car on a lift and said the leaks are at the water pump and head gasket. He wants to replace both for $2500. He did not pull the head gasket or water pump out to look at them. Instead he is assuming they need to be replaced based on where he saw leaking coolant.
The car now has 100k miles on it and I am trying to decide whether or not to go ahead and do the repairs or trade it in. If I can’t afford to fix both at once, can the water pump wait?
I thought they had fixed the head gasket issues in the 2004 models?
Hi JP
Well, if you’ve kept the car well maintained I’d probably opt to repair the head gaskets and waterpump at the same time since there is overlapping labor. The quote seems reasonable. They don’t necessisarily need to remove the water pump or head gaskets to confirm that they are leaking. If there is visible coolant leaking externally from either that is enough to go on.
As far as the transmission goes… One would need to see if the AT temp light is storing a fault code or actually getting hot. The AT Temp light is to alert you about temperature of ATF but also serves as the “check engine light” for the transmission and usually has a fault code associated with it.
Good luck,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert
I have at 2002 impreza with 103,000 miles. I love this car and have kept her well maintained. Just today I was told that I need to replace my head gaskets as they are starting to leak and it will cost about $1100. I just had her serviced at 100,000 miles (and at a cost of $1500 -new struts) and the gasket issue was not noticed. While looking back at my service records I noticed that at 59000 miles I had the head gasket replaced. This seems strange to me to have to do the same major (and pricy) repair again on a well maintained car. I bought this car brand new and am the only driver. Any advice?
Well, if you like the car you are going to have to fix it. Not necessarily right away though. You want to ask the shop,” How bad are they leaking?” and “What type of fluid is leaking”
If they are only leaking oil, you may not need to do anything for quite some time. It’s when they find a coolant leak that immediate action has to be taken. Just beware that some shops may be a bit overly agressive in recommending gaskets due to the public knowledge of the Subaru head gasket issue. When in doubt, get a second opinion or even have them raise it up in the air so you can see for yourself.
Take care,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert in Seattle
206-417-0880
hi Mike:
appreciate your website … having head gasket issues on a 2002 outback with 66K. Anti-freeze coming out of the back of the drivers side cylinder head …
This is a well cared for, well serviced car that’s been in my family its entire life … Its painful to think that this known factory defect has to be fought over.
Are there any magic words to use with the Subaru Service Person to get them to do a fix on it?
Thanks
I think you included the magic words in your post. I think showing a history of the service records, along with the low mileage would be a great start. Hopefully you had the Subaru coolant conditioner recall done also.
Last but not least, don’t be afraid to call 1-800-SUBARU3 and see what kind of help you can get directly from the manufacturer.
Good luck,
Mike
I bought new my 2002 Outback. All the maintenace has been done by authorized Subaru dealerships. I keep strict records and I change oil every 3K miles. I put about 8K miles a year on the car. At 50K miles, in 2006, the Left head gasket was leaking and the engine was over-heating.
I never received the W-99 recall notice covering the LHG. Subaru paid for the repair under warranty recall.
Then in July 2010 at 80K, during a routine oil change, it was noted the LHG was leaking (that is 30K since the fix).
The garage was hesitant to help as I was over the 60K miles the warranty. All my extended family own Subaru’s,
I wanted to talk with the district rep. The serive manager said he would. It was also documented in all services that the lubricant was added to the coolant.
The agreement was Subaru would cover the LHG again, and I paid the additional cost for the RHG. On the bill it states the repair covered as a goodwill gesture as per Subaru District Service Manager.
I also had the timing belt and 90K service done at the same time.
Now I wonder how long the “fix” will last.
hello mike: I took your advice, made nice with the dealer and they replaced the head gasket on both sides of my 2002 outback. I asked them to put in a new timing belt even though the car only has 67,000 miles on it. They charged me $200 for everything.
150 miles later, I was driving on the expressway, when I heared a slight clicking sound which sounded like a lifter ..and then it went to a loud clacking ..the car began slowing and I pulled over as soon as I could get out of the traffic. The engine did not overheat or the CEL did not come on,
I shut the engine down and it would not re-start for a couple of hours .. it turned over slowly but it would not fire… 3 hours later, when it ws towed to the dealers lot, I then was able to start it briefly and it clacked away like crazy. Sounds to me like a rod bearing or two is going.
The question: who is on the hook for this? Could something the dealer did on the top end cause these kind of problems or am I on the hook with a lunched engine?
thanks
frank
I think the fact that it happened within 150 miles could mean it has something to do with the repair. Hopefully if they are honest, they will assess the damage and look for anything they could have done to cause it. (not enough oil, oil loss etc). It does sound like a rod type of failure at this point and although not a common failure on Subarus there is still a slight chance it did fail on it’s own.
I hope the dealer gives you the cause of failure.
good luck,
Mike
I have A 2006 B9 Tribeca with 104,000.00. At the 100,000 mile service my mechanic found a “clean” spark plug, low coolant and diagnosed a bad head gasket. They didn’t do the whole 100,000 mile service as part of it was easier to do with the engine disassembled. It was all fixed, but now I am still smelling that sweet syrupy smell again. Heater is not working correctly and car is overheating again. Cooland was almost empty. Oh my! This is so discouraging after all the trust I have had in my Subaru. I have had all scheduled maintenance and oil changes done. Very expensive with gas prices and bad economy. Have you heard of other Tribecas with this problem?
Hi Shelly,
I’m sorry to hear of your Tribeca problem. We rarely if ever deal with failing Tribeca head gaskets. Hopefully whoever did them last used genuine Subaru head gaskets on that particular model and did them with attention to detail. I also hoped they closely inspected the cylinder heads for any imperfections that would necessitate machining.
The heater isn’t working because there is no coolant circulating through it. Once the head gasket issue is resolved it will work again.
Good luck, Mike
Hi Mike,
I’m going to go look at a 1998 Legacy Outback 2.5 with 123,000 miles. If i check the carfax and see that the HG has been replaced would you recommend purchasing it?
It would certainly be one I would consider strongly over one that has never had the head gaskets done. It really depends on who did the head gasket work and what kind of quality gasket they used in the process. I would also suggest having the vehicle thoroughly inspected by a professional before making the purchase.
Good luck,
Mike Corbin
Independent Subaru Expert in Seattle
I own a 2003 Subabru Outback limited. Great car but at 65,000 miles and never having had the head gaskets replaced, should I worry that that car is a time bomb? How likely is this and if so is there anything I can do to keep it from happening sooner?
Thanks,
Andy
Hi Mike,
I recently purchased an 06 Tribeca from a non-subaru dealership. We have only been in possession of the car for 5 days. When the car sits overnight, and then I start it in the morning, there is a cloud of white smoke that comes out of the exhaust and quickly blows away. I haven’t seen any issues with overheating at all. This only happens when the car has been sitting for a while.
Is that an early sign of a leaking head gasket? Please advise.
Hi Andy,
Sounds like you have a very nice Subaru with only 65k on the odometer. Odds are in your favor that you’ll see many more miles before the head gaskets become an issue. Although I’ve seen some of the low mileage Oubacks have head gasket failure it’s been very rare. I would suggest staying on top of the maintenance, using genuine Subaru coolant (change every 30k) and use the Subaru Coolant conditioner every time it is changed.
Other than that… it may someday need head gaskets so it doesn’t hurt to set some money aside for the repair. It’s not usually a time bomb (unless a person just ignores the obvious signs of coolant leakage, coolant smell etc).
Take care of it and even if some day they need replacement, it should still easly go 200,000 miles or more with proper care and maintenance.
Happy motoring,
Mike Corbin
Independent Subaru Expert
Seattle, WA
Hi Chris,
Contratulations on the purchase of your Tribeca. Your concern with the smoke out the tailpipe is a valid one. It may be normal condensation evaporating out of the exhaust when it heats up, It may be oil smoke, or coolant evaporating.
You will need to smell the exhaust when it first starts. If the only thing you smell is fuel and exhaust smell then it’s probably fine. If it’s coolant it well produce kind of a sickly sweet smell. Oil has a burned oil type smell.
I would also check your coolant level under the hood. If it’s level stays consistent it’s probably ok. Thus far we’ve seen very few Tribecas with any engine mechanical issues whatsoever. The 6 cylinders have had dramatically less instances of head gasket failure than the 4 cylinder 2.5 engines.
Good luck,
Mike Corbin
Independent Subaru Expert
Shoreline, WA
Hey Mike,
This site is very informative, Thanks very much for your time and effort.
I’ve recently purchased an 02 Legacy GT (4 cylinder) with 121K, all three of the factory recall/campaigns were completed. (Engine Cooling System Conditioner, Rear Suspension Sub-frame Corrosion, and Automatic Transmission Parking Rod).
The car has run very well for the first 4k miles I’ve given it, this was summer time driving in the heat. Just the other day though amidst the heatwave on a 100 degree day, my girlfriend told me the “At Oil Temp” light popped on, and the car took two tries to start.
After some research I’ve found that this could be anything from just the heat, to an early HG problem symptom. I started the car up again the other day, after letting it cool, and it started fine, and i only saw the light when engaging the battery but not the engine. After flicking the key, it started fine, and sounded the same as it always has.
Do you recommend that I take some preventative measures? Hang tight to see if this type of incident reoccurs? Sell the car? [;) i hope not].
Thanks! Aaron
HI Aaron,
Congratulations on your purchase of the Legacy GT. That’s a great car and with that mileage, you should have many good years ahead of you. It’s glad to see that the Subaru dealer performed all the needed recalls.
As far as your symptom of the hard start and AT Oil Temp light, I would have some diagnostics performed on the transmission control module.
The AT Oil Temp light is similar to the check engine light for the engine computer. If it notices a fault that can have an affect on the transmission system, it sets off the light to alert you of the possible problem.
A scan tool can then be hooked up to see what fault code has been generated. Then you’ll know more. Even if the light is no longer on and the car runs fine, the code will still be registered in the transmission computer’s memory.
Good luck,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert
hi mike,
i recently bought a used 2003 subaru forester with 173000 km on it. and few days ago i notice some oil leaks on my drive way. it definitly leaking from the under the driverside engine part, right above the steering rack intersection. i don’t see any coolant or green stuff leaking, all i find is 4 to 5 oil drops night. its not the power steering fluid coz its level stayed same.
so mike could it be a HG leak or something else. Please help me….thank you
Hi Tom,
From the area you are describing, it does sound like the leak is from the same area that we see the head gaskets leak.
The drivers side head gasket is the one that usually fails first. If you are only seeing oil and not coolant and have not needed to add coolant it may not be in need of immediate repair. I would consult with a shop that has a hoist so you can get a better look at things to be sure. Eventually you may see coolant coming from that same area of the head gasket. You can either do them now as more preventive work or later once coolant begins to leak. Just keep a close eye on the oil and coolant level and make sure to re-check the leak area from time to time.
Take care,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert in Seattle
Hi Mike,
Thank you so much for the prompt reply.
Currently i am looking for someone to fix this problem on much cheaper price coz the dealer over charges u alot. And i don’t trust them much.
So is it ok to drive the vehicle? as i saw some oil drips on the exhaust pipe and i am being scared of catching fire.
With best regards
Tom
And Mike,
Is there anything i can add in the oil or coolant to stop the leak for a timebeing?
Thank you
Tom
If the car has never had the Subaru Coolant Conditioner you may try adding a bottle of it. In a few cases I’ve seen it help. (it’s basically a stop-leak). Nothing to stop the oil though.
Mike
There is always a chance that oil dripping onto the exhaust could ignite but in my years around Subarus I have yet to see it and I’ve seen some pretty bad leaks.
The best option is just to perform the repair as soon as it’s financally possible to minimize risk.
Take care,
Mike Corbin
Independent Subaru Expert
Thanks alot …. Mike
Getting ready to do it myself starting next week.
Hopes everything goes fine.
Tom
Hi Tom, Sorry to hear of your Forester woes.
It is possible to bend one valve if it was open and the engine was rolled over and stopped immediately after hitting that valve. If the engine was cranked over with the timing belt off, you’d have more than just one bent.
Valves certainly can leak to varying degrees. A leakdown test (performed prior to the disassembly) can be a valuable tool in determining the leakage. Also, make sure they check the pistons. They have been known to break the ring lands and create idle issues as well as oil consumption.
Good luck,
Mike
Mike, My wife has a 2004 Outback Wagon with 71K miles that now needs head gaskets. Dealer told me that they should be replaced in 2 months or less and no long trips. After following your step-by-step, I called SOA and provided the rep with all the info. She told me she would call the dealer where I bought car new and discuss with them to see if they can provide any help. I told her that we’ve owned 7 Subby’s since 1984 and all service was done at dealer. Supposed to hear from the SOA rep (Barbara) in a few days.
Thanks to you I did not go into this blind.
Dick,
I hope Subaru does something for you in the end. I’m glad to hear they are at least open to discussing it.
Take Care,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Hi! I purchased my Subaru Forester S with 145,000 miles 2 years ago. Since that time I have had to replace the right wheel bearing, the struts, the radiator, and now the head gasket went out (apparently for the 2nd time). It also needs the 02 sensor and knock sensors replaced. All together the repairs are going to cost $2600, and I’m wondering if it’s worth putting that much money into a car with (now) 190,000 miles on it? What do you think?
Thanks!
Erin
Hi Erin,
Considering the price of new Subarus, if that’s all that is wrong with the car and $2600 will take care of it I would tend to want to fix it. (assuming you like the car and it fits your needs). The exception would be something like the car burns lots of oil or has other immediate issues beyond the head gaskets.
Take Care,
Mike Corbin
Independent Subaru Expert
Hi Mike,
I was searching the internet with regard to Subaru head gasket problems and stumbled upon your site. I have a 2004 Outback with 67,000 miles and was told by the dealer’s service dept. that I had 2 leaking gaskets which needed repair for $1800. I had a 6yr/60,000 warranty that had expired due to the years not miles. I took your advice and contacted Subaru to advise them that I have been a loyal customer for 16 years, have had all service done at the same dealer and that my extended warranty had expired. I asked if there was anything they could do to help me out.
They opened a case, agreed to contact the dealer and have a field rep get involved and get back to me in 24hrs. Within 36 hours, I got a call from the dealer telling me they had been in touch with Subaru and they were going to help me out since I was a loyal customer and they agreed to do the job for free. They also suggested replacing the timing belt for $90 since it would save me money on the labor at a later date if it needed to be done separately.
So, thank you for the excellent advice regarding how to approach Subaru — it worked! As we speak, I have a loaner car and my Outback is being repaired at the dealer.
Wow, that is GREAT! Well done.
It is always nice to hear when someone steps and just does what is best for the customer. I wish more stories ended like this one.
Take care,
Mike
Mike: I have a 2004 subaru legacy wagon with 191,000 kilometers. It has been perfectly maintained by me through my dealership. Just before it went off warranty at 100,000 kilometers they replaced the head gaskets under warranty. Now several years later they advised me the head gaskets are leaking. The service rep says he has never heard of this repair being required twice but they are only offering me a 15% discount on the repair. Is this normal that head gaskets go every 100,000 kilometers on Subarus. This is my second Subaru and I had a similar problem at 100,000 kilometers with the first but traded it at about 150,000 kilometers. It seems all the comments relate to head gaskets.
What do I do?
Hi Mike,
I have read through all your posts and the information is great! I look forward to your advice about my Subaru.
I have a 2005 Subaru Forester with just over 90,000 miles. I bought the car “new” with 5000 miles. “New” meaning never taxed or tagged, supposedly it was the manager’s car and I guess it was the test drive car. Not sure if the money I saved when I bought it is coming back to bite me now.
I relocated about a year ago, and I recently started noticing weird things with the car. I took it to my new local dealership. The car is shaking when making tight turns, especially pulling in and backing out of parking spaces. The technician concluded that the valve body in the transmission has an internal failure causing incorrect transmission performance. Estimate cost is $1300.
The technician also came back and said that both head gaskets are leaking and estimated cost for repair is $1355 including drive belts (ac and alternator). The service manager said the head gaskets are leaking coolant externally. I am a little skeptical because I have not noticed any syrupy smell, over heating or low coolant levels.
I have already called Subaru of America and they have agreed to pay for half of the head gasket repair but nothing for the valve body. The dealership also said they would charge warranty rate for the HG so I would end up paying about $440 for HGs and belts in the end.
Sorry for the long post but here are my questions for you:
1. Do I go ahead and have the dealership replace the HGs and belts for $440 or do I get a second opinion since I never noticed any problems? I do not know enough about engines to look myself. Also, does the water pump need to be replaced too, as I have read in other posts?
2. Do you have experience with the valve body in the transmission problem? I spoke with my service manager at my old dealership where I bought the car, and he said to take the car to an empty lot and do figure-8′s because sometimes that will fix the valves that are stuck. And, if that doesn’t work, change the transmission fluid and do figure-8s.
I am also wondering if the dealership can charge warranty rates for the HGs, is it too much to ask for warranty rate on the valve body?
I love my Subaru, and I want it to last (without nickel-and-diming me). Oh yeah, the struts were replaced at about 60K and completely covered by Subaru even though the warranty expired.
It can’t be a lemon,
L
Hello Lindsay,
I think I would tend to have the dealership replace the head gaskets on the Forester. It isn’t a bad idea for you to have them point out to you what and where the leak is if possible. I would just let them know that you are just curious and would like to have a better understanding of what a head gasket actually is and how they leak. While it is apart you definately want to request a new timing belt. The water pump is an option that is a good idea to replace as a preventitive maintenance item while everything is apart. It’s just much easier to get to when the engine is apart.
The transmission issue is not one we’ve run across yet nor heard of as a common issue. Sometimes things just happen.
Good luck,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert in Seattle
206-417-0880
Hi John,
I’m sorry to hear you are having a repeat failure on your Subaru Legacy. We have seen a some of the head gaskets that have been replaced in the past fail again. Although the Subaru offering in head gaskets has improved it can still have a repeat failure. We have used a head gasket called the “Six Star” head gasket and from our experience, it seems to be having fewer repeat failures than the Subaru gasket.
I do believe that if you like your Subaru and it is still in good condition that it is worth fixing. You may inquire if they would install Six Star gaskets for you during the process.
Take care,
Mike Corbin
Independent Subaru in Seattle
206-417-0880
425-315-9999
Mike: Subaru and my dealership have worked out what I consider to be a fair resolution. Subaru are paying for the parts in the head gasket repair and the dealership is providing the labour at 15% off. I will get it repaired and keep on driving.
Thanks for your website
John
Hi John,
I’m always glad to hear when Subaru and or a dealer gets involved with any kind of help or discount.
Good job,
Mike Corbin
Independent Subaru Expert in Seattle
I have a 2006 Subaru Tribeca with almost 88k miles on it. I have it serviced regularly and this summer it nearly overheated a few times and both times the coolant was very low even though I had gotten it services about a month before the problem. I had the mechanic check for a coolant leak but he didn’t find one. This week, the check engine light came on and I started having smoke that smelled like burning coolant and took it to the dealer here in San Antonio (we only have one – I usually don’t go there for service). They said the head gasket is failing and I need to replace it but they quoted $4500 which seems much higher than what I’m seeing quoted here. Is it more on a Tribeca? They did say this included all new gaskets, replacing the timing chain and tensioners (sp?) and I believe he said new spark plugs (I admit I was in shock form the high quote so I may not have the spark plug part correct). Is this a reasonable quote considering the work they quoted?
I need to give them an answer Monday on what I want to do so I’m hoping you can give me some guidance.
Grace
Hi Grace,
I’m sorry to hear of your Tribeca problems. Unfortunately it is quite a bit more to replace head gaskets on a Tribeca. The engine is a 6 cylinder which just has more to disassemble than a 4 cyl. The price of $4500 sounds in the ballpark for most dealerships. I would also suggest they install a new water pump when it is disassembeled since it costs much less to do when it’s apart.
Take care,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Experts
Hi Mike-
I have a 2002 Forester with almost 130,000 miles and found out recently that it has the dreaded head gasket problem. Since I can’t afford to have it fixed (it’s either this or my overdue property taxes), I keep an eye on the coolant and fill it when necessary. Unfortunately, the time between fills is shrinking. This is my second Subaru and I bought it new and it has always been serviced properly. I have two questions. How long do you think I can get away with only filling the coolant? My luck usually stinks, but I’ll ask anyway: do you think there is any way that Subaru would help fix my car?
Dear Mike,
I recently bought a 2001 Subaru Outback for $6700. Car had only one owner prior to my purchase at 97,000miles I have receipts from this previous owner. I bought it because I have heard of the subaru name from several friends and since I am required to drive in snow conditions it seemed the way to go. Car engine starts up every time and drives strong, though lately at 105,000 miles, I have noticed green coolant leaking from engine and at the same time white smoke. The engine still is driving without problems and has not had any signs of overheating. I took it into a independant auto shop and was told that it is the head gaskets. He told me it would be $1500.00 to fix. He told me he would put a bandaid on the car now if I absolutely needed to drive it. He told me to stay local only. This was because he couldn”t work on it for about 2 more weeks. This auto shop has come recommended to me. I opted to leave to car there and find alternate transportation until repair is done. Start of repair is to be done this Monday. Is there any thing I should mention regarding type of gasket(six-star), warping, bearings? He did tell me repairs included water pump, timing belt, wires, thermostat and head gasket. I don’t want to sink alot of money into a car if it is not worth it!
Dear Mike,
Is it really necessary to use genuine Subaru coolant and conditioner?
Hi Resa,
It is something Subaru suggests on all of their vehicles every time the coolant is changed. It’s not necessary if your car has the Six Star head gaskets but otherwise I’d use it. (of course if you have a 1995 or earlier Subaru you may not have any benefit from it)
Take care,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru in Seattle
Hi Theresa,
Looks like I may have seen this post later than when the repair was being done but I would certainly advise using Six Star gaskets if possible and if not my second choice is the Genuine Subaru gasket. $1500 seems like a great price to me if it’s done properly. Also it may make sense to have any other seals and gaskets that are easy to get to when the engine is out done at the same time. (not to mention a timing belt and possibly a valve adjustment that is due at 105k anyway)
Good luck,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert
Hi Peg,
Just keep adding coolant every morning when the car is cold to stay ahead of things. If the car hasn’t had Subaru coolant conditioner, do put some it. This sometimes will help slow the leak. As far as Subaru participation… I haven’t heard of it happening on a car of that age with that many miles but it never hurts to call and ask them.
Good luck and remember if it goes too long and overheats the price of the repair just about doubles.
Mike Corbin
Independent Subaru Expert
Seattle, WA
Hello, Mike -
Clearly, you are the expert.
I am considering purchase of a used Subaru Impreza Outback SE, to replace my 1992 SAAB 900, which was whacked recently. Two options:
(1) a 2005 car, 60k miles, manual 5 sp….brakes replaced last yr (not sure – disks, pads?), but otherwise no serious repairs or improvements (private seller)
(2) a 2006 car, 120k miles, auto trans…dealer replaces HG, brakes, etc & warranties for 30 days.
I really prefer manual trans, but car #1 sounds a bit noisy in the back, as if the rear gears are “busy.”
.
an advice is much appreciated ! Thanks !
I’d go for car #1 and have it checked before the purchase. Your loud sound from the rear is probably a rear wheel bearing beginning to fail.
Take care,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert
I am the second owner of a 2000 Subaru Outback. From 51k miles (at purchase) until a year or so ago, it was problem free. I now have about 111,000 miles on it and just noticed the coolant leak. I am told that it needs a head gasket at about $2600. I have recently (in the last two years)done the brakes, timing belt, battery, new tires, oil change, new windshield, fluids flushed and a couple of other things. I have never owned a Subaru before, but am wondering if it is financially worth it to hold on to this one or maybe to buy another one that is a 2005 or 2006. I cannot afford the gasket, much less many more costly repairs. Do you suggest any particular years for Outbacks? Thanks so much.
I think it’s financially more affordable to repair the Subaru headgaskets than to replace the whole car. $2600 is not even a down payment these days not to mention you’d be paying years of payments after that if you upgrade now. If the rest of your Outback is in good condition I think it’s well worth the repair. Even if you decide to sell it a month later, it’s worth more than it is now if you fix it.
Good luck in your decision,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Expert
Seattle, WA
Hi, Mike.
Your advice site is great. I’m looking to buy a used wagon and was planning to look at Subarus. But Consumer Reports didn’t give the 2000-2006 models in price range a good rating on engines because of the head gasket problem. Given the problems, would you even recommend buying a used Subaru? Should I be looking at Toyota wagons instead? If I can scrape together the money, have the head gasket problems been fixed in the 2008 and newer models?
Thank you!
Hi Julie,
Depending on if AWD is important to you or not Toyota wagons have a pretty good track record. I still think Subarus have a very good track record other than the fact that sometime during the car’s life it will need to have it’s headgaskets replaced. The AWD is second to none and for that alone it may be worth choosing a Subaru. Basically, the newer the Subaru, the fewer head gasket problems we see. Also if you choose to get a Subaru that is the 6 cylinder equipped model we rarely see any head gasket issues with these until well over 200000 miles.
Make sure whatever you purchase, do your research, do your carfax, and have a qualified shop check it over thoroughly before purchasing it.
Take care
Mike Corbin
Independent Subaru Expert at Smart Service in Seattle
We have a 2000 Subaru Legacy wagon. At 52K mi. the dealership added the coolant conditioner per Subaru (WWP99). At 62K (12/06) our head gaskets were said to be leaking. We were not aware or made aware that Subaru had possibly issued a voluntary recall on the head gaskets, extending the warranty to 8yrs or 100K mi. The dealer said the leak was light and probably slow and that we could probably get by with watchful waiting. Subsequently, head gasket leaks were noted at most followup repairs, with no recommendation to repair until 12/10 at 103K. It was the first time the dealer wrote needs to have the cylinder head gaskets resealed and a new timing belt. We had the work done and we paid the dealer, still unaware of the voluntary recall. In hindsight, should the dealer have made the repairs under warranty sooner? What is the likelihood that the dealer or Subaru would reimburse us for the work ALREADY completed?
Hi Susan,
My first advice is to compile your records/receipts that have any notations about the head gasket condition on them. Keep in mind that Subaru was only willing to pay for external coolant leakage so if it was an oil leak they were mentioning Subaru would not have covered it. After you compile and organize a timeline of the head gasket related receipts from the dealer, call 1-800-SUBARU3 with the information. If a Subaru dealer is abusing the system then Subaru customer service will probably get involved and help you. If they have merely been telling you about an oil leak from the head gasket but no coolant then it may just be a bad coincidence.
Please let us know how it works out,
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Experts
AAA Top Shop
Mike,
Thank you for manning this web site and offering your experienced input. I have a 2006 2.5i Outback Wagon with 75K miles. A couple of months ago, we noticed small drops of oil leaking from the lower driver’s side of the engine onto our garage floor. Took it to our local dealer, and they said it was a head gasket repair…$1900 total to replace both head gaskets. I called SOA and complained. They have offered to reimburse $750 after we have the repair done. I guess that’s better than nothing, but it still leaves us with an $1156 balance…a rather substantial amount of money we never expected to have to pay so soon in the game with a Subaru (this is our first Subaru, and we had never heard about the head gasket issue). I’m trying to determine wheter to accept the $750 offer or to contest it further. It seems I read somewhere that Subaru had cleared up the issue in 2006 and newer vehicles…is that correct? If so, then I shouldn’t even be experiencing the problem. If not, it just seems a bit strange to me that this head gasket failure has been going on for many years, yet Subaru has done nothing to remedy the situation. Mike, in your experience, would you suggest that I try to protest this further with SOA, or do you think I’ve hit the max assistance I should expect from them? Any chance the dealer might discount their price a bit as well? Also, I’m concerned about the fact that it sounds like they have to literally lift the engine out of the car to get to those gaskets. Is that correct? What kind of impact will that have on the original fit and drive of the vehicle (any vibration issues, etc.) once the engine is placed back in position? Is there a particular type of Subaru dealer or independent Subaru service center that would be better to do the work than others (we currently go to Subaru of Gwinnett here in Atlanta for all of our service)? Lastly, you have suggested timing belt replacements, etc. during such a repair. What other repairs would you suggest we do at the same time on this specific 2006 Outback to save future expenditures. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
Hi Ken,
From what I’ve seen, although not completely leakproof, the 2006 and newer vehicles seem to be leaking less often than their predesessors. If Subaru is offering $750 to help out it may be best to take the offer. Of course, if you are a good negotiator you may be able to get more so I’ll leave that part up to you.Depending on your relationship with the dealer, you may get them to throw in some assistance also beyond what Subaru corporate is offering. If the engine repair is done properly, there should be no concern about removing the engine. While it is apart you may as well spend the money for the timing belt (since it’s due at 105k anyway).
Good luck and let me know how it turns out.
Mike Corbin
Smart Service
Independent Subaru Repair
Seattle
Thank you Mike for your rapid and helpful response! My records say the head gaskets were leaking oil (or a few times early on simply “head gaskets are leaking” — in the future I will ask for more clarification) with no mention of leaking coolant. I believe I overlooked the warranty point about external COOLANT leaks only. Your blog is much appreciated. At some time I may just travel the 60+ miles to visit your Mulkiteo shop! Susan