Subaru Outback Extended Warranty: Cost, Coverage and Plans

Subaru Outback extended warranty coverage

An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Outback comes with. For context, Subaru Outbacks come with the following warranties from the factory:

A ConsumerAffairs investigation found most drivers couldn't afford to cover a $1,000 repair bill with cash, and 13% had no way to pay a bill that large, even with credit.

• A 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
• A 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty

Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 2-year-old SUV with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 16,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.

For an extended warranty on your Subaru Outback, you have two options:

1. Buy the official Subaru extended service agreement, called Subaru Added Security. Subaru offers two plan tiers: Classic and Gold Plus.
2. Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which typically allows you to take your vehicle to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.

Subaru Classic plan coverage

The Classic plan covers dozens of parts across your Outback’s major systems, making it ideal for drivers seeking essential protection at a lower cost than comprehensive coverage.

Here’s what’s covered:

• Engine and transmission
• Drivetrain and front suspension
• Steering and brakes
• Electrical systems
• Cooling and fuel systems
• Air conditioning

Additional benefits include:

• Towing and rental car reimbursement for covered repairs
• $100 deductible per visit ($0 option also available)

Subaru Gold Plus plan coverage

The Gold Plus plan includes all Classic coverage plus hundreds more parts, providing bumper-to-bumper protection comparable to your Outback's original factory warranty. This is Subaru's most comprehensive extended warranty option.

Here’s what’s covered:

• Everything in the Classic plan
• Additional air conditioning components
• Expanded electrical systems
• Extra steering components
• More front suspension parts
• Additional brake systems
• Wear-and-tear issues on covered components
• EyeSight driver assist technology
• DriverFocus distraction mitigation
• Blind spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert
• STARLINK multimedia and safety systems
• Reverse automatic braking
• Rear cross-traffic alert

Additional benefits include:

• Trip interruption reimbursement up to $500 for meals and lodging when breakdowns occur more than 50 miles from home
• 24-hour emergency roadside assistance
• $100 allowance for "Sign & Drive" dispatched towing
• Jump-start service
• Tire change assistance
• Gasoline delivery
• Locksmith service
• Computerized trip routing
• Dealer locator service
• Travel assistance
• Towing and rental car reimbursement for covered repairs
• $100 deductible per visit ($0 option also available)

Subaru extended warranty vs. Subaru maintenance plan

Subaru’s Added Security plans and its prepaid maintenance plans are separate products with separate pricing. Added Security service agreements provide repair coverage for unexpected breakdowns, while the carmaker’s maintenance plans allow you to prepay for scheduled service visits. Subaru offers maintenance plans at a variety of levels based on time and mileage.

Bumper-to-bumper vs. powertrain plans

Regardless of whether you go with an extended warranty from a dealer or a third-party provider, you’ll typically get the most value by purchasing whichever plan offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection. For Subaru, that’s the Gold Plus plan. For third-party warranty providers, it’s often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum.

These plans cover 90% or more of the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive midlevel and powertrain-only plans are less expensive, but the coverage they provide may leave you no option but to pay out of pocket for pricey repairs.

Auto warranties only pay for repairs and replacements of specifically covered parts that fail from normal wear and tear, not from damage or accidents. Repairs generally aren’t covered under warranty if you don’t properly maintain the vehicle or you make aftermarket modifications.

Bumper-to-bumper coverage and exclusions

In general, here’s what’s covered under a bumper-to-bumper warranty:

• Engine
• Drive axle
• Differential assembly
• Transmission and transfer case
• Steering
• Seals and gaskets
• Air conditioning/heating
• Core electrical components
• Front and rear suspension
• Brakes
• Cooling system
• Fuel delivery system

And here’s what’s excluded:

• Spark plugs
• Battery cables
• Tires
• Fluids and lubricants
• Upholstery
• Paint
• Handles

Powertrain coverage and exclusions

For a powertrain plan, coverage is pretty simple. Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels are covered. Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle aren’t.

Note that some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.

» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties

Extended warranty coverage for a used Outback

Whether you have a used or new Outback, Subaru Added Security plans are available as long as the vehicle is within its factory warranty period. All certified pre-owned (CPO) Subarus also come with an enhanced powertrain warranty that extends powertrain coverage to 7 years/100,000 from new. That’s already included in the CPO price, but you can add Gold Plus coverage at the dealership if you choose.

However, all CPO Subarus must be no more than than five years old and have less than 80,000 miles on the odometer, so these benefits are only available if you’re looking at relatively new, lower-mileage models. If you want extended warranty coverage for an older or higher-mileage used Outback, you’ll typically need to rely on third-party plans that may have higher costs and won’t be able to guarantee OEM parts or factory-trained technicians.

How much does a Subaru Outback extended warranty cost?

We found that prices for Subaru extended warranties typically range from about $1,000 to $4,000. However, that range contains a lot of variation based on plan length, vehicle specs and a host of other considerations. In the next section, we’ll explore what factors affect the total cost of a Subaru Added Security agreement and provide example pricing for a 7-year/100,000-mile Gold Plus plan and Classic plan.

In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2023 Outback with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2021 model with 50,000 miles, for example.

When evaluating costs, keep in mind that some extended auto warranties start from the original owner's purchase date of the vehicle. For instance, Subaru’s factory warranty lasts for 3 years/36,000 miles, so a 6-year/80,000-mile extended plan only provides 3 years/44,000 miles of additional coverage.

It’s also important to note that you may encounter dealer-specific and regional pricing differences. Factors such as sales tax and dealer fees can noticeably change your out-the-door price depending on where you live and what dealership you’re working with.

We got pricing for Subaru’s Added Security plans and third-party extended warranties. Let’s see how the costs and coverage stack up.

Subaru Added Security costs

The in-house Subaru extended warranty may cost less than a third-party option. Many Added Security plan types cost less than the $1,000-per-year industry average cost for extended warranties. Be sure to get a quote from your local Subaru dealer to compare your options, as dealership pricing varies.

We saw plans as low as $1,165 for a 4-year/60,000-mile Classic plan with a $100 deductible and as high as $4,080 for an 8-year/120,000-mile Gold Plus plan with a $0 deductible. 

These plans count coverage from when the car was new, so the $1,165, 4-year/60,000-mile Classic plan would add one additional year of coverage. On the other hand, the 8-year/120,000-mile Gold Plus plan we saw adds five years to your Outback’s original 3-year factory warranty for $4,080, which works out to $816 per year.

Subaru Added Security plan costs vary based on factors such as your Outback’s age and mileage, but also because of dealer markup. Since this cost is subject to the dealer’s discretion, it may give you some room to negotiate.

You’re not obligated to return to the Subaru retailer where you purchased your Outback. Since pricing varies between dealerships, it pays to compare multiple quotes from different dealers. Providing your vehicle identification number (VIN) ensures that each itemized quote you receive is tailored to your car, and having several VIN-specific quotes in hand may give you some extra leverage when you negotiate the warranty price.

Here’s some example pricing for a 7-year/100,000 miles extended plan with a $100 deductible in the Classic and Gold Plus plan tiers. (Remember that with a seven-year agreement, you’ll get four years of coverage on top of the vehicle’s manufacturer warranty.)

Classic plan pricing

• Plans typically cost around $2,265
• Approximately $570 per year of added coverage
• $0 or $100 deductible options (higher deductibles lower the total cost)

Gold Plus plan pricing

• Plans typically cost around $2,900
• Approximately $725 per year of added coverage
• The $0 deductible option adds roughly $500 to the total cost

Third-party extended warranty costs

We were quoted $1,701.94 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Subaru Outback registered in Austin, Texas, with 40,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,039.80 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible.

Extended warranty pricing varies significantly among providers. Compare quotes from multiple companies to ensure you're getting a good deal.

The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 Subaru Outback were more expensive than the industry average — but they were for comprehensive coverage. If you just need a powertrain warranty, the annual price will be lower.

» LEARN: How to choose an extended car warranty

Is a Subaru Outback extended warranty worth it?

Yes, a Subaru Outback extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:

• Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability
• The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs
• A big repair bill could hurt you financially
• You don’t mind paying for peace of mind

ConsumerAffairs reviews from real customers mentioning issues with Subaru Outback maintenance suggest that an extended warranty is a good idea. The likelihood of needing repairs and the prices we found for Subaru Outback extended warranties means you’re likely to come out ahead by purchasing a protection plan.

Subaru Outback reliability

Subaru as a brand has above-average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Subaru sixth out of 28 car brands for overall dependability in its 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. The study found that Subarus experienced 181 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) after three years of ownership, compared to the study average of 204 PP100.

As for the Outback specifically, RepairPal gave it a 3.5 out of 5 for reliability, which is considered above average. Of 26 midsize SUVs, RepairPal ranks Subaru Outback at No. 10. The average annual repair cost is $607, which is about average — compare it to $573 per year for midsize SUVs and $652 per year for all vehicle models.

Subarus are generally reliable up to 200,000 to 250,000 miles but are prone to issues with CV axles, transmissions, transfer cases, starters and head gaskets, especially in certain Outback V6 models. Regular maintenance, including timing belt replacements, is essential, as neglecting this can lead to severe engine damage.

What Subaru Outback drivers say

Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their Subaru Outbacks.

Tim in Halifax noted issues with the brakes: “After about 33,000 km the car started to shake at braking. Their own service people said that the rotors were warped and needed replacement. However, since it was 'more than 1 year old' they refused to replace the defective parts, and quoted me over $700 for parts and labour."

Note that damage to rotors and pads comes down to normal wear and tear, so it’s doubtful that you would get most dealers to replace them under warranty.

“At only 50,000 miles, had to replace two front wheel bearings,” said Randall in Tennessee. “At 105,000 miles, just out of warranty, had to replace the catalytic converter and the $8,000 CVT Transmission! Then, just a bit later at 115,000 miles, another wheel bearing went bad.”

Oil consumption is also a commonly reported issue with Outbacks, as J. in Colorado experienced: “After driving the car 500 miles I learned of a nasty OIL consumption issue with this model. Subaru claimed the only repair was $5,500 short block replacement. This was an official recall however my mileage was just over the 125K thresh-hold. Subaru would not work with us.... not half price. Nothing. I did replace the short block issue on my own ($5,000).”

This is a common issue with 2011–2018 Subaru 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engines due to the horizontal cylinder layout, which keeps piston rings constantly exposed to oil. Subaru’s oil consumption threshold, like other manufacturers, sets a standard for "excessive" oil use — meaning it must exceed their limit to qualify as a warranty issue.

Many engines consume some oil without being faulty, so only significant consumption beyond the manufacturer’s standard would be covered by warranty.

» LEARN: Pros and cons of extended auto warranties

FAQ