Why Subaru Remains Popular
People do love their Subarus. There are many good reasons for that and it’s no wonder they remain a popular brand. Subaru vehicles are well known for their safety, reliability, and fuel efficiency which are certainly what most people are looking for in their commuter vehicles. That’s not to say Subarus aren’t tough, either. Many people buy them because they can handle difficult terrain and can adjust to nearly any weather condition. In a place like Boulder, Colorado where the roads can get pretty perilous during the winter months, this excellent handling is essential. When you need a good all-purpose vehicle with four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, Subaru is a great choice. It’s the most popular brand sold in Colorado for a reason.
Common Subaru Repairs
You’ve got a car that has a great reputation for handling in inclement weather, being safe, being durable, and overall being a reliable vehicle. It sounds great. Your Subaru should last you for years to come. However, inevitably problems will arise. That’s just the nature of car ownership. Everything degrades eventually and it needs to be fixed. While making sure you’re getting routine maintenance done regularly will help prevent some of these major Subaru repairs, know that there is a distinct possibility at least one of these issues will pop up as the years go by. Once you hit a certain point in your mileage, wear and tear damage is inevitable. It’s unlikely you’ll have all or many of these problems, but it’s best to be prepared for the one or two that may strike. Here is what you need to know about the most common Subaru repairs.
Leaking Head Gaskets
The first of many issues common to some Subaru models that isn’t necessarily obvious at first. Make no mistake, though. Driving around for any significant amount of time with leaking head gaskets can lead to big problems. The major indicator that something could be wrong with a head gasket is the loss of coolant. Coolant can leak from anywhere and you may not see it. It could be leaking into the vehicle itself. Coolant that gets pulled into the engine can quickly cause damage due to overheating. Everything from spark plugs failing to corrosion and rust can occur depending on where the coolant leaks. If you’re noticing performance issues, particularly regarding overheating, bring your vehicle in for service right away.
Double Offset Joint Repair
Subarus have a reputation for developing joint issues, especially in the front axle. Many people end up bringing their vehicles in for exactly this type of repair when they start noticing a new clunking sound while driving. Always be sure to bring your vehicle in for service as soon as possible when new sounds begin to come up when driving. This is doubly true if you notice your vehicle is starting to handle differently. You don’t want to lose any precision when it comes to controlling your vehicle for safety reasons.
Constant Velocity Joint Repair
Here is another one of those issues that can get categorized in the “What’s that weird noise?” department. You may not think about it, but there are many joints under your vehicle that help turn your 3,000-pound machine effortlessly. Eventually, it becomes too much. When you start noticing clicking noises when you turn, it could be something wrong with a joint. Subarus are known for needing CV joint repairs regularly. Any changes in handling or new noises when turning need to be investigated by a mechanic.
Worn Axle Bearings
You may be starting to sense a pattern here. It’s hard to say why there are so many common issues regarding Subarus and the wheels/axles. One reasonable theory could be that people often buy a Subaru vehicle to deal with tough terrain and inclement weather. Driving over all of that with regularity comes at a cost. Axle or wheel bearings going bad give some telltale signs. Again, a lot of it comes down to sound. That clinking, humming, rumbling, and grinding is always a sign of something bad. It just may be hard to tell what joint or bearing is making it. The worst part about worn axle bearings is they may give few signs of anything being wrong until real damage is done. So, don’t delay on getting it looked at.
A/C System O-Rings
Air condition leaks aren’t uncommon in any kind of vehicle, really. It’s one of the more common reasons why someone brings their car into the shop. However, one specific cause of issues in the air conditioning system in Subaru vehicles is the failure of the A/C system O-ring. It’s not an expensive part and it can be replaced by your mechanic relatively easily. However, despite it not being a major fix, a broken o-ring causes the leaking of refrigerant which can have far reaching consequences like causing the compressor to overheat and fail. If you notice any kind of leakage, get it checked out right away.
Oil Issues
A few years back, Subaru had a big problem on its hands with certain models having an oil consumption problem. Essentially, what was happening was the piston rings in these models were failing. This caused the vehicle to consume far more oil than usually necessary. Not only did this necessitate frequent repairs, but it also required an unusually high number of oil changes/replacements for the vehicle. The issue seems to have been settled, and Subaru made concessions like extended warranties for its customers. But, if you’re driving a 2013 or 2014 model, you should be aware of this problem.
Timing Belt Replacement
The timing belt is one of those issues that you will one day have to face, but you kind of dread it because when a timing belt fails, it can mean the end of the engine. That’s why mechanics often recommend replacing it as you approach 100,000 miles rather than waiting for an issue to arise. That’s because when a problem actually occurs, it’s too late. For a while, Subaru vehicles developed a reputation for having earlier timing belt failures in comparison to other brands. This seems to be isolated to vehicles from the early 2000s, but you should never take timing belt issues lightly. If your mechanic recommends replacing your timing belt during a routine maintenance session, you should seriously consider it, especially as you near that 100,000 miles mark.
Conclusion
When you purchased your Subaru, you did so with the expectation that you’d be able to keep driving it for many years to come. You can, but it will take a little work sometimes just like with all vehicles. If one of the common Subaru issues strikes your vehicle, you want to bring your car into the professionals you can trust to do the job right. At Independent Motors, we have decades of combined experience servicing Subaru vehicles of all kinds. If you need repairs done or just some routine maintenance, call us today to schedule an appointment to come in. We’re dedicated to providing you with excellent service at a great price. Our team of experts will make sure you can get your Subaru back on the road.
