What's Included in the Subaru Warranty?
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If you’re thinking about buying a Subaru or are a current owner, you may have questions about the Subaru warranty and your extended coverage options. Subarus are known for their reliability and loyal customer base, but mechanical breakdowns are always a possibility.
In this article, we break down the Subaru warranty that comes with all new vehicles. We’ll also help you decide whether extended coverage from the best extended car warranty companies would be worth it to protect your vehicle long-term.
Table of contents
Subaru Warranty Overview
Subaru Warranty |
Term Length |
Coverage Details |
|---|---|---|
New Vehicle Limited Warranty |
3 years/36,000 miles |
Covers your vehicle bumper-to-bumper, paying for any damage due to defects in materials or workmanship |
Wear Item Limited Warranty |
3 years/36,000 miles |
Replaces worn brake pad and shoe linings, clutch linings, and wiper blades |
Powertrain Limited Warranty |
5 years/60,000 miles |
Protects essential car parts like the engine, transmission, drive axles, and more |
Seat Belt Lifetime Limited Warranty |
Unlimited |
Protects the safety restraint system |
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty |
5 years/unlimited miles |
Covers body panels that have been perforated by corrosion |
Hybrid System Limited Warranty |
8 years/100,000 miles |
Covers repairs for various plug-in hybrid electric vehicle components, including the high-voltage battery pack |
The Subaru warranty terms aren’t as long as some of the best new car warranties, which can last up to 10 years/100,000 miles. However, one impressive Subaru warranty feature is the Wear Item Limited Warranty. Many new vehicle warranties and extended car warranties do not cover wear-and-tear item replacements.
What’s Not Covered Under the Subaru Warranty?
No car warranty covers all repair costs. Examples of Subaru warranty exclusions include:
- Regularly scheduled maintenance (including oil changes)
- Damage caused by improper repairs or parts
- Damage from abuse, neglect, fire, accidents, or extreme weather conditions
- Damage caused by lack of maintenance
- Repairs needed due to racing or reckless driving
- Collision damage
Certified Pre-Owned Subaru Warranty
Do You Need an Extended Subaru Warranty?
Lengthening your Subaru warranty coverage can be a good idea to get peace of mind on the road. As your car ages, expensive mechanical repairs become more likely, and an extended warranty ensures you’re covered if your car breaks down.
Understanding Subaru reliability is key to deciding whether an extended Subaru warranty could be right for you. To get a clearer look at your car’s reliability, take a look at RepairPal, an online repair cost estimation service that releases an annual Reliability Rating for 345 car models across 32 brands.
See more about how Subaru ranked in RepairPal’s 2020 Reliability Rating:
Subaru Reliability Rating |
Average Vehicle Reliability Rating |
|
|---|---|---|
Reliability Rating |
3.5 out of 5.0 |
3.0 out of 5.0 |
Average Annual Repair Cost |
$617 |
$652 |
Frequency of Annual Trips to Repair Shop |
0.3 trips per year |
0.4 trips per year |
Likelihood That Repairs Will Be Severe* |
13 percent |
12 percent |
*Severe repairs are classified as costing more than three times the average annual repair cost.
If you think your Subaru is reliable or if you’d be able to easily pay for unexpected repair costs out of pocket, a Subaru extended warranty might not be necessary. However, if a major repair could deplete your savings or leave you stranded without a working vehicle, it may be useful to finance the cost of repairs with an extended Subaru warranty.
Subaru Extended Warranty Overview
Subaru extended warranty plans are as follows:
- Classic: Covers nearly 1,000 vehicle components, including parts of the engine, transmission, drive axles, front suspension, steering, brakes, electrical, air conditioning, and cooling and fuel systems
- Gold Plus: Provides essentially the same coverage as the bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty
Both plans come with roadside assistance, towing coverage, and rental car reimbursement. The Gold Plus plan also includes trip interruption coverage that reimburses you for lodging and meals if you break down while traveling far from home.
To be eligible for a Subaru extended warranty, your vehicle must still be covered under its factory Subaru warranty. Coverage is transferable, and $0 deductibles are available.
Benefits of a Third-Party Extended Subaru Warranty
Weigh the pros and cons of choosing a third-party Subaru warranty below:
Third-Party Subaru Extended Warranty Pros |
Third-Party Subaru Extended Warranty Cons |
|---|---|
Plans may be less expensive, and pricing may be more negotiable. |
Plans aren’t customized to the specific needs of Subarus. |
You can take your car to any certified repair shop or dealership for Subaru repairs. |
You may not get genuine Subaru parts with repairs. |
Third-party coverage is often more flexible. |
When looking for an extended warranty for your Subaru, we recommend getting quotes from reputable extended car warranty companies. Once you have multiple quotes, you can compare rates to see which provider offers the best deal for you and your Subaru.
Methodology
- Price: Comparing providers can be difficult due to the many factors that influence cost. To determine this score, we employ a secret shopper analysis using different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations.
- Coverage: A wide variety of coverage is essential to support the differing needs of customers. We take into account the number of extended car warranty plans available, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Customer Service: The level of customer service and care provided by an extended warranty company is an important consideration. Our review team sifts through customer reviews and complaints from reputable sources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. We also consider the responsiveness of each company’s customer service team based on our secret shopper analysis.
- Reputation: Good extended warranty providers consistently provide quality experiences. Our team takes into account BBB ratings and the company’s history of reliable service when giving this score.
- Transparency: Customers value a commitment to open and honest communication when it comes to vehicle service contracts. Our team of experts takes into account the availability of money-back guarantees and sample contracts.
Stephen Kenney is a writer and editor who focuses on car insurance, auto financing, and vehicle shipping services. He's a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and has experience covering categories ranging from travel to sports to environmental sustainability. In his free time, Stephen enjoys going on long-distance runs, trying out new recipes, and exploring his adopted hometown of Cincinnati.
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