SOT: Subaru engines known for being problematic?, Sure seems to go against what I thunk... Options

[horizontally-opposed]

Can you Subie experts weigh in on this? Got a letter from someone blasting Subaru engines as "unreliable" and "problematic" and poorly designed.

He also blasts Subaru and Fuji for ignoring the problems, then tells me to Google "Subaru Problems," which leads me to:

http://subaruproblems.com/

Thoughts? Alarmist? Accurate? Possible, but not likely?

I know a few of us have spent the kind of time on the Subaru boards to know more than I do. I've always heard Subies are quite reliable and my 2003 WRX seemed to be bulletproof, but then I sold it at 30,000 miles and thus lost to the chance to prove it...

Thanks!

pete

[TonyAKAVW]

I had heard that the DOHC (pre 2000 I think) were prone to head gasket leaks. Moreso than the later SOHC version (like what I have). So yes I think there is a known problem with those motors. how widespread I don't know. I bought my engine with 41,000 miles on it and have probably put another 3,000 miles on it since then with no coolant leak problems at all (knock on wood).

As far as Subaru engines in general, I have never heard that they are unreliable. Subaru engines probalby get blown in general more than other makes simply because of the type of people who buy WRXs. The same goes with crashes. There's a reason that the Mitsubishi Evo and the WRX are among the most expensive cars to insure.

-Tony

[DBCooper]

Personal experience, we replaced the head gaskets in my son's 97 2.5, but only because of a broken timing gear from a collision. It's still going fine 100K miles later. My problem with Subaru engines, when I was trying to buy one for a conversion, is that the engine in every wrecked car I could find already had 160-190K miles on it. Can't see that it's THAT big a problem.

[Jeffs9146]

My mom had a 1999 subie wagon that blew up twice with less than 40,000 on each engine! She properly maintained everything and never missed an oil change either!

[carreraguy]

The engine used for my swap was a 2004 2.0 WRX turbo with 30K miles on it and I've had zero issues since installation, about 3,000 miles.
Later,

[PRS914-6]

Pete, I think the problems were pretty much solved in the later engines. They did have head gasket issues in the early models and I don't feel the "conditioner" was a good fix. It just saved them warranty work.

I'm a ski bum and almost everyone I ski with owns a Subie and they get a lot of hard mountain use. None of them have a complaint. Again, they are all late model cars though.

I almost bought an STI. My check book was out but decided to build the 914 instead. The STI would have been cheaper...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Justinp71]

Pete, I think the problems were pretty much solved in the later engines. They did have head gasket issues in the early models and I don't feel the "conditioner" was a good fix. It just saved them warranty work.

I'm a ski bum and almost everyone I ski with owns a Subie and they get a lot of hard mountain use. None of them have a complaint. Again, they are all late model cars though.

I almost bought an STI. My check book was out but decided to build the 914 instead. The STI would have been cheaper...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

But your car will be faster and cheaper on insurance (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Plus anyone can go out and get an STI.

On the topic... A few of my family members have had subaru's... always reliable.

[Mueller]

Rich Herzog (sp??) had a head gasket issues with his Suby, more than once I think....it was an older motor which I think was mentioned earlier.....

I'm guessing the letter writer had a bad experiance and has no idea or even cares if quality has gotten better.....he'll forever say they are junk or problematic....

I'm guessing a 911 owner that got beaten by a WRX (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hide.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[VaccaRabite]

I've had mine now for 75K miles. Its an 04. Nary a hiccup. The only time that I was stopped was for a dead battery.

The 04 imprezas were rated the most reliable cars for thier first model year, bumping Honda and Toyota. Pretty much, they run forever, unless you abuse them. The 02 WRX trannies got a bad name from kids doing big clutch dumps. Not a drag car.

Zach

[ws91420]

I believe the problems w/ the heads and gaskets wer the 80' and into the 90's. I think now the problems are gone unless you do something stupid.

[drewvw]

my brother and dad both have high mileage subie wagons and nary an engine problem. They do seem to eat mufflers and brakes fairly often though...

[Chris Pincetich]

Yeaaahhhh right. I would NEVER buy a Boxter because the engines are soooo unreliable, leaking all over the place. Ha ha (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

So which pile is bigger, the letters that LIKE the 914 WRX or the letters that HATE it???

I really liked the article myself, very well approached and written. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

My 1999 Legacy Outback has needed nothin but fresh oil and a little coolant from 125K-150K and counting. The auto trans on mine seems to be the weakest link.

[RoninEclipse2G]

04 wrx wagon, 110k miles (yes I know that's a lot) nothing but regular maintenance, runs like new.
87 xt, 300k+ miles, finally ate the headgasket and valve stem seals.

Every manufacturer is bound to have a few hiccup cars now and then (usually friday afternoon cars (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ) unfortunately for them it's the people with the ones that slip through the cracks that tend to open their mouths the widest.

[fiid]

My stepfather in the UK has had Subaru's for years (he's the reason I started buying them).... He usually gets told by the MOT (annual inspection) inspector that the body is too rotted to hold the engine/suspension in place and the car is structurally unsafe. This usually happens because the car is uh like 10 years old, and worth about $50 - i.e. he's run it into the ground.

My stepfather, btw uses his 1.8 subaru for things like towing 3 ton loads up 3 mile dirt tracks, and similarly stupid stunts. THey get a lot of offroad time, as well as a lot of driving in icy or snowy conditions on salted roads and the like, and the rest of the time - it's raining (he lives in the UK)...

I don't consider them to be unreliable at all - quite the opposite.

[Dave_Darling]

So far, everyone I (personally) know who owns a 90s-vintage 2.5L four-banger Scooby has had the head gasket go. Granted, that's only three cars--but that's all of the 2.5L Scooby owners I know!

No problems reported with the other Scooby engines, and that's a much larger number of people. (Hmmm, about 10?)

--DD

[project-914]

I have had no problems whatsoever with my 2002 2.0l turbo engine in my wrx...I'm not sure about older models though

but, all I've ever heard in the suby community is they run forever

[aircooledboy]

Lets see, we've had an '83 wagon, and 88 wagon, a 91 Legacy and a 98 Impreza. Put over 150,000 on each (220k on the Legacy),except the Impreza, which I sold to my brother w/ 60K on it, and he has put another trouble-free 60k on it since. Other than maintenance, the most expensive repair I ever made on any of them was rebuilding the carb on the 83 2x in 6 months.

Yep, freaking hunks of crap. Not sure why I kept buyin' the damn things. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)



I take your post to mean some self-important douche bag took the time to write you a letter busting your balls not only because you did the conversion article, but because he couldn't enjoy his glass of merlot or brie after he was unable to shield his eyes from the sight of the impure and notoriously unreliable Subaru engine.
Good lord the world is full of ass hats.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[RoninEclipse2G]

the coolant leaks that person is talking about at the web page is a defective seal on the radiator endtank, nothing to do with the actual engine itself, and applied to the 02 WRX only IIRC. When I worked for Checker auto parts we sold a couple radiators for this problem. not a mechanical issue. don't listen to this crackpot that sent you the letter.

[sww914]

02 WRX, 85,000 miles.
I put rear brake pads and a wheel bearing on it last week.
I change the oil. I don't drive it nice, I wring it's neck.
End of story.

[RoninEclipse2G]

02 WRX, 85,000 miles.
I put rear brake pads and a wheel bearing on it last week.
I change the oil. I don't drive it nice, I wring it's neck.
End of story.

precisely! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/boldblue.gif)