Subaru maintenance: cost, plans and service schedule

Are Subarus expensive to maintain?

All cars cost a fair amount of money to maintain, so whether a given make is expensive to drive really depends on how it compares with other automakers.

Subaru vs. competitors

RepairPal estimates that, across all models, average maintenance and repair costs for Subaru vehicles are $617 per year, which is slightly lower than the industry average.

Subaru maintenance and repair costs by model

As you can see, some Subaru models have lower annual repair and maintenance costs than others.

Maintenance vs. repairs

The above estimates include both maintenance and repairs, but it’s important to understand the difference between them.

• Maintenance refers to any service that’s part of the vehicle’s recommended upkeep schedule. These services keep your Subaru running as intended and aren’t performed because of a failure or any mechanical fault.
• Repairs, on the other hand, are needed when a component malfunctions or breaks.

Author’s note

In my time as a mechanic, I’ve met a lot of Subaru owners who push their vehicles to the extreme in outdoorsy, adventurous pursuits. However, if you're pushing your Subaru to its limits, it’s important to do more frequent maintenance.

» RELATED: Best states for summer road trips

Subaru maintenance schedule and costs

Subaru publishes a different maintenance schedule for each of its models, so we can’t include every detail here. You can find the recommended schedule for your vehicle by talking to a local dealer or looking in your owners manual.

Essential Subaru car tips

• Every 6,000 miles: Oil change, filter change and tire rotation
• Every 12,000 miles: AC filter replacement and multipoint inspections
• Every 30,000 miles: Brake fluid replacement and drive belts, engine coolant system and fuel system inspections
• Every 60,000 miles: Wheel bearing inspection and spark plug replacement

Typical maintenance costs for Subarus

Subaru repair costs

According to RepairPal, the most common recurring problems reported by Subaru drivers include:

• Catalytic converter malfunction: A failing catalytic converter can cause your vehicle to fail emissions tests. Catalytic converter replacement costs range from $900 to $4,500.
• Blown head gasket: Subaru has received a bad rap in the past for failing head gaskets, but most of the design problems were reportedly fixed in 2014, so older models are usually the most susceptible. Head gasket replacements can range from $3,400 to $5,500.
• Front O2 sensor issue: The front oxygen sensor on some Subaru vehicles can suffer from a crack, which prompted a recall. Luckily, that recall means you can get this issue fixed for free.

Common Subaru problems

Subarus are known for being reliable and safe vehicles, but they don’t always live up to those expectations. For instance, Judy in Texas wrote in a review, “In the past year I have had three different occasions where a wheel stud failed and had to be replaced during basic tire rotation and maintenance. According to my tire store this is a very common complaint about Subarus.”

Similarly, C. in California has had “nothing but problems” with their 2017 Subaru Outback. “Also, the amount of maintenance this car requires is absolutely the worst in my experience. There always seems to be a problem that costs tons,” C. told us.

Subaru recalls and safety notices

In early 2025, Subaru recalled 20,000 vehicles for defective wheels. The problem was related to a manufacturing error on the 2025 Subaru Forester. You can enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) directly on Subaru’s site to see if your specific vehicle has any open recalls.

Subaru service vs. independent shops

Subaru service centers employ factory-trained technicians who undergo continuous, Subaru-specific training. Unlike general mechanics at independent shops, these experts are:

• Certified by Subaru to understand the unique engineering of Subaru vehicles.
• Kept up-to-date with the latest service protocols, diagnostic methods and technical bulletins issued directly from the manufacturer.
• More likely to accurately diagnose issues quickly and correctly the first time, reducing guesswork and avoiding unnecessary repairs.

This level of specialized expertise results in higher-quality service, better reliability and peace of mind, especially for Subaru owners who plan to keep their vehicles for the long term.

What to know about Subaru warranties

Subaru’s factory warranty protects you from expensive repair bills, but the coverage doesn’t last forever. At the time of publishing, Subaru offers three years or 36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and five years or 60,000 miles of powertrain coverage on new vehicles. This is about average for the industry but far short of what the best new car warranties offer.

Subaru does not offer free maintenance plans nationwide. It also doesn’t offer prepaid maintenance service plans in every market. Regardless, your local Subaru dealerships may have plans available, and third-party companies may offer maintenance plans for your vehicle.

How can an extended warranty help?

If you’re looking to avoid paying full price for maintenance and repairs, you might want to research prepaid maintenance plans and extended warranties. Prepaid maintenance plans can offer discounted rates on maintenance services, and extended warranties give you coverage once your vehicle’s factory warranty runs out.

Extended warranties are available from both Subaru and third-party warranty companies.

Because repairs tend to be more expensive than maintenance, extended warranties generally have more potential upside than prepaid maintenance plans. However, there is some risk involved. The money you spend on your extended warranty could be a waste if your vehicle doesn’t need big enough repairs to outweigh your warranty’s cost.

Subaru offers extended warranties through its Added Security program, but you may be better off with another extended warranty provider.