Subaru durability

[BRTreedogs]

We really don't have that much rust problem here, I feel like anyways.

It was just a known problem that they did a recall on, and seeing some I was like WTF?

Typically they have 200k plus on them as well and I feel like possibly had met there life span.

And some clean then and apply fluid film at beginning of winter.

I've seen some terrible ones as well but 97 trucks are pretty old. I think they covered them for 20 years.
How many times would a competitor have had mechanical problems in 20 years?

 

[Billy Goat]

Typically they have 200k plus on them as well and I feel like possibly had met there life span.

And some clean then and apply fluid film at beginning of winter.

I've seen some terrible ones as well but 97 trucks are pretty old. I think they covered them for 20 years.
How many times would a competitor have had mechanical problems in 20 years?

They were rusting out in as little as 7 years, they did cover them, but I know several people who had it done and said truck was never the same. That's likely from the quality of the tech that worked on it.

I know of a bunch of little for rangers and s10's from the 90's that had very little mechanical problems, aside from needing auto trans in s10's around the 200k mark. Very few Tacos that I knew of with auto trans to compare to. Most of those trucks were beat on pretty good, which brings me back to the point of not making enough power to break stuff.

 

[BRTreedogs]

They were rusting out in as little as 7 years, they did cover them, but I know several people who had it done and said truck was never the same. That's likely from the quality of the tech that worked on it.

I know of a bunch of little for rangers and s10's from the 90's that had very little mechanical problems, aside from needing auto trans in s10's around the 200k mark. Very few Tacos that I knew of with auto trans to compare to. Most of those trucks were beat on pretty good, which brings me back to the point of not making enough power to break stuff.

If you compare say an 05 corolla to and 05 focus tho.
Not even close.
Or a 97 rav 4 to a 97 explorer.

Lol. Sorry to derail

 

[Billy Goat]

If you compare say an 05 corolla to and 05 focus tho.
Not even close.
Or a 97 rav 4 to a 97 explorer.

Lol. Sorry to derail

I'll give you that one.

 

[np307]

Sometimes brand reputation is self-fulfilling too. My 2005 Camry that has 260k miles on it and has been a great car has an almost identical oil burning problem to the Subaru problem. Its not a one off issue, Toyota had a TSB about it. Nobody wrote off Toyota over that issue. On a Subaru though, plenty of people point and go "see, it's not a reliable brand"

 

[5MilesBack]

Tundras are dumb in that they don't have an auto 4wd (all wheel drive) setting for the highway. I was going to get one, but won't because of that.

I don't need to run the truck in full 4wd on slick roads for 100k miles getting 13 mpg.

Who makes a truck with an AWD setting that isn't 4-hi?

 

[PNW bow hunter]

Chevrolet has had it in multiple years

It is usually labeled as “auto” on those trucks

 

[PNW bow hunter]

I believe Dodge and ford have had it in many different years

It’s fairly common with electronic transfer cases

 

[BRTreedogs]

Trucks are supposed to be trucks.
Stick shift and manual fwd.

None of that electronic bs that leaves you stranded.

 

[gbflyer]

Your response seems a little vague.

What does “bumped a curb” mean, and what is “basically totaled”?

What had to be repaired?

They had to use an aftermarket adjustable rear control arm to get it back into alignment after sliding into a curb with the right rear on a slick 90 degree turn into a parking lot. When the repair requires aftermarket parts because the unibody structure won’t allow for factory to fit, it’s done.

 

[Patriot2]

I had one subaru, a 2006 Outback. Will not buy another one. Newer vehicles may be better, but then again my buddy has a 4-5 year old Crosstek and it drinks oil.

 

[roosiebull]

I live in Montana and drive a lot for work in the snow. I'm considering getting a Subaru. I will put 200,000 or 300,000 mi on this vehicle.

I don't know what to believe reading reports of Subaru reliability. Some people say they are unreliable. Others say that that is nonsense.

Any feedback? Would you be comfortable driving a Subaru 200,000 to 300,000 mi as a work vehicle 7 hours away from home?

Thanks!

We have had 2, both have been pretty bad in terms of reliability… there will never be a third

 

[roosiebull]

We really don't have that much rust problem here, I feel like anyways.

It was just a known problem that they did a recall on, and seeing some I was like WTF?

And crappy leaf springs.. I broke 2 on my 98’ taco. I have primarily driven Toyota pickups, and feel fortunate I avoided the bad frames by luck.

I have generally had good luck with Toyotas, but I’m hoping my zr2 continues to be reliable, because I like it way, way more… but sway bar endlinks are toast, and when I start it cold, it sounds like it’s going to rattle apart for about 30 seconds… not sure if it’s a loose heat shield, or gravel trapped in them or what… it’s almost as annoying as a week old taco trd with leaf springs squaking like a dying parakeet on a paved parking lot, haha

 

[Billy Goat]

And crappy leaf springs.. I broke 2 on my 98’ taco. I have primarily driven Toyota pickups, and feel fortunate I avoided the bad frames by luck.

I have generally had good luck with Toyotas, but I’m hoping my zr2 continues to be reliable, because I like it way, way more… but sway bar endlinks are toast, and when I start it cold, it sounds like it’s going to rattle apart for about 30 seconds… not sure if it’s a loose heat shield, or gravel trapped in them or what… it’s almost as annoying as a week old taco trd with leaf springs squaking like a dying parakeet on a paved parking lot, haha

Well I drive Rams, they have a good enough stereo you don't hear all that stuff.

 

[Montero]

2006 Subaru Tribeca with the H6 engine just crossed the 250,000 mark. Our high school kid now drives it to class and hockey practice. No big issues and we bought it used with 28,000 miles years ago. We liked Subaru enough the we how have 48,000 on a 2020 outback. They handle the snow here in Colorado real well and the wife feels comfortable driving in some pretty bad conditions. We would buy again as long as it has the turbo to power up the passes.

 

[KChunter71]

Working it like my diesel! Oil change, tires, brakes/rotors, ball joint (curbed and blew the tire), and transmission replaced under warranty (issue with the 19 & 20, chain breaking in the trans). 2020 with 80k, wives grocery getter.

That boat was never pulled with it. Over gross weight.

Look at getting adding a forester!

 

[fngTony]

I didn’t have my forester for too long three years 20k miles, 46k total. Sold it back to the dealer I bought it from, it was towed there for engine harness that was chewed by rabbits. That’s not really a sign of poor durability as most newer cars have the soy based wires and I have an insane amount of rabbits in my neighborhood.

Here’s why I didn’t keep it.
1. At 46k miles it was due for its third set of tires. Unless you live in winter wonderland I don’t think the constant awd is worth the tires being eaten away.
2. Constant awd costs about 1.5 mpg. They really should have a front or rear wheel bias that it goes into once up to speed. Ford has a really nice system like this.
3. Constant awd can cause a weird crab walk sensation when on ice. It just takes turns over gripping at each wheel.
4. Cvt did great keeping it in its power band (which isn’t much) but borderline dangerously slow at times.

 

[PNW bow hunter]

Dang, did Subaru change?

Back in the day most of the power always went to the front, unless there was slippage , then it shifted power to the back.

Last one I had was a 2012 I think, so things have probably changed since then

 

[KChunter71]

I’ve had several Subarus from an old GL wagon up to newer foresters. I stumbled into the Toyota RAV4 several years back, and I’ll be honest, I wish I’d have gotten one many years ago. 160k, gas, oil, brakes, and one oil pan from an over zealous oil plug torque by some kid

I like that it’s 2wd unless you put it in AWD. Better mileage due to this. I now use this as my daily driver in Montana as well, leave the truck parked as much as possible. Planning on replacing it with another around 225-250k miles.

Even up Cooper AT3 on it this year and took it hunting, save on gas. Got a little sketchy on some gumbo on a 2 track that was supposed to be frozen but got me through haha!

Pictures of the rav4 gumbo? Haha

 

[treillw]

I think some guys just don’t find Subarus to be “alpha” enough for them. They don’t wanna be mistaken for a crop-cut rock climbing gal with an Australian shepherd in the back. To those guys I say, you can still put a punisher sticker on a Subaru. A pair of truck nuts would be fine, too.

If I go the Subaru route, I'm going to find a nice save the whales sticker.