Subaru Warranty Review

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Last Updated: December 25, 2022

During my time in the state of Washington, I realized that Subarus are overrunning it. Every parking lot of REI stores was filled with Subaru cars. Due to its extreme popularity in the Western states of the United States of America, I became curious about how reliable these cars were. Subaru maintenance costs should stay within the bank since there are factories in the US that produce these vehicles. However, is it truly the case?

If you're looking for a reliable extended car warranty to save on out-of-pocket repair and get the most out of your vehicle, then the Subaru warranty can be your top preference. Like many manufacturers, Subaru offers comprehensive extended warranty options to give drivers the peace of mind they deserve.

You must be interested to know more about Subaru extended warranty coverage. This article will review all the extended car warranty plans offered by this company. Our unbiased review will also give insights into Subaru's specific range and limitations. We will also compare the average costs of Subaru warranty plans with some other reputable brands.

Subaru Warranty: An Overview

According to industrial studies, Subarus are one of the most reliable vehicles. However, once your new car warranty is about to expire, you can lengthen its interval by signing up for an extended car warranty. Like other reputable brands, Subaru offers extended warranty options to help you avoid expensive repair bills.

A Subaru car extended warranty, known as "Added Security," can extend your new car's warranty by up to 120,000 miles for covered repairs. These warranty plans are available for all Subaru vehicles, but the company has one main requirement. Your vehicle must be within three years per 36,000 miles of Subaru's original warranty. Your original warranty expires once your car has reached the specific mileage. After that, you can't purchase an Added Security plan from Subaru.

Unlike most extended warranties, Subaru car warranties use genuine parts of the brand during repair and maintenance. Because of this, the company costs more for non-covered parts that need to be replaced with a covered repair.

Subaru allows you to choose between a range of mileage intervals and years for each coverage option. Even you can customize your car's mileage to complement your driving style-meaning you drive a little or a lot.

The best thing about Subaru is that it lets you cancel your service contract for a prorated refund. You can also transfer your coverage plans if your Subaru vehicle is sold.

Subaru Extended Warranty Coverage

Subaru offers three different levels for its extended warranty. Read below to get more details about the Subaru extended warranty plans.

Powertrain Extended Warranty

Subaru powertrain warranty plan covers all the essential components of your vehicle's powertrain needed to keep it running. It is a base-level program designed to cover some of the costlier parts of your cars. This plan covers the transaxle, drive system, engine, and transmission.

Subaru Classic Extended Warranty

Subaru classic warranty is a mid-tier package that provides more coverage than basic powertrain options. This plan also encompasses a wide variety of parts in several component areas. Along with covering the critical powertrain components, the classic plan covers almost 1,000 additional Subaru parts. This plan covers front suspension, air conditioning, steering, transmission, fuel, and electrical systems. The classic warranty plan covers components such as cooling, fuel system, brakes, drivetrain, and engine.

Subaru Gold Plus Extended Warranty

The Subaru gold plus warranty plan offers the highest level of coverage. In addition, this plan has bumper-to-bumper protection that is comparable to the manufacturer's warranty. Gold Plus plan entails all the components of the classic program plus hundreds of different systems and parts.

The company claims that the gold plan virtually covers almost every component of your Subaru vehicle. Although this plan is similar to the factory's limited warranty, it may have some exclusions.

Subaru Warranty Plan	Gold Plus	Classic	Powertrain
Description	Essential coverage for some critical Components that are needed to keep your vehicle running	Powertrain plus level coverage that covers Some of the major components	The bumper-to-bumper protection Plan that covers most of the mechanical and electrical breakdowns
Maximum mileage	Ten years/100,000 miles	Ten years/100,000 miles	Ten years/100,000 miles
Eligibility	Three years/36,000 miles	Three years/36,000 miles	Three years/36,000 miles
Coverage	Engine, transaxle, and differential parts	Powertrain coverage plus coverage for the fuel system, air conditioning, suspension, electrical, steering, and brakes	Powertrain and classic plus some additional components
Deductibles	0 or $100	0 or $100	0 or $100
Benefits	Towing coverage, Rental car reimbursement	Towing coverage, Rental car reimbursement	Towing coverage, Rental car reimbursement, Trip interruption reimbursement, 24/7 roadside assistance

Additional Benefits of Subaru Extended Warranty

In addition to comprehensive warranty plans, Subaru offers some additional perks such as:

You can get rental car reimbursement of up to $40 per day for five days.
The company will reimburse up to $100 per day for towing to a dealership
Trip interruption is another added perk of the Subaru warranty that comes with only the Gold Plus warranty plan. The company reimburses you up to $500 for food and lodging if a covered repair happens about 50 miles from your home.
24/7 roadside assistance is also only available for the Subaru Gold Plus warranty plan. Roadside assistance covers concierge services, fuel delivery, lockout services, towing, jump-starts, and spare tire installation.

Things That Subaru Warranty Does Not Cover

Although the Subaru warranty is similar to the manufacturer warranty, it may have the following exclusions:

Regular maintenance items such as oil changes, wiper blades, hoses, brake pads, and belts
Cosmetic items such as upholstery, glass, and exterior trim
Use of unauthorized parts or improper repairs
Damage from collision an accident
Damage from environmental factors
Damage from lack of maintenance, misuse, or abuse
Items that are covered by specialized warranties, such as tires

Cost of Subaru Extended Warranty

Depending on specific coverage terms, you may need to pay between $1,500 and $3,000 for Subaru extended warranty. The average cost of a Subaru extended warranty may vary depending on numerous factors, such as:

Subaru model
Coverage level
Mileage
Location

The ultimate price of the Subaru warranty is determined by the local Subaru dealers, which is negotiable. From our research, we found some specific prices for the Subaru warranty. The below table will give you a clearer picture of the estimated warranty costs of Subaru plans. These prices may vary because local dealers may charge less or more depending on your specific terms.

Subaru Extended Warranty Length	Classic with $100 deductibles	Gold Plus $100 deductibles	Gold Plus with $0 deductibles
Three years /45,000 miles	N/A	$960	$1,000
Four years/60,000 miles	$980	$1,080	$1,320
Five years/60,000 miles	$1,010	$1,260	$1,460
Six years/ 60,000 miles	$1,050	$1,500	$1,710
Six years/80,000 miles	$1,260	$1,770	$2,140
Seven years/70,00 miles	$1,280	$1,790	$2,150

Subaru Prepaid Maintenance Plans

Apart from extended warranty options, Subaru offers a prepaid maintenance plan for three years per 45,000 miles. This plan covers all the regular maintenance services, such as a thorough inspection, tire rotation, and oil change.

Limitations of Subaru Extended Warranty

Though the Subaru car warranty is one of the best-extended warranties in the automotive space, it has certain limitations.

As mentioned earlier, a Subaru warranty can only be purchased before your manufacturer's limited warranty expires. In addition, Subaru's factory warranty has a short-term length compared to other manufacturers.
Another limitation of the Subaru warranty is that it can only go to local Subaru dealers. At the same time, independent extended warranty providers enable car owners to visit any mechanic certified by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

If you don't want to purchase a Subaru warranty directly from the manufacturers or don't have time to decide if you need an extended warranty, you can go with the third-party warranty providers. Purchasing a Subaru warranty from an independent provider can provide you with some exclusive perks, such as:

It gives more flexibility and coverage options.
You can choose any ASE-certified mechanic shop in the United States
You can purchase warranty coverage at any time, even if your car's original warranty has expired

Third-Party Company Options for Subaru Warranty

My top recommendations for Subaru extended warranty include:

Third-party companies offer more flexibility and coverage options than manufacturers. For example, CarShield has six main warranty plans with different contracts in each category. Third-party warranty providers also have long-term contracts. For example, a popular warranty provider, CARCHEX, can provide used car coverage for a vehicle with 250,000 mileage.

Pros and Cons of Subaru Warranty

Pros

Use of original manufacturer parts
Factory-trained technicians to have your vehicle worked
The smooth and more straightforward claims process

Cons

Fewer coverage options
Higher costs
You can get your vehicle repaired only at a dealership
Limited covered repairs

Subaru Warranty Review - The Bottom Line

Subaru is a reliable vehicle brand that typically does not require any costlier repairs. But Subaru's extended warranty plans provide excellent coverage at affordable rates. In addition, the company offers a few unique coverages that you need help finding. For example, Subaru's Added Security plan covers some gradual performance reduction parts. The company will also pay for repairs to non-covered components if a covered part caused the damage.

Unlike other manufacturers, Subaru's warranty covers some unique items, such as high-tech components, onboard computers, gaskets, and seals. Therefore, it would help if you went to a local dealer to get the exact cost of Subaru warranty plans. A local dealer will estimate the price of a Subaru warranty depending on your car's mileage, model, age, and selected deductible.

The Car Data Review Methodology

Our expert review team is committed to providing honest and objective information. Based on consumer data, we identified the following rating categories and did extensive research to determine the top extended auto warranty providers.

Affordable: Many factors influence the cost of a service, making it difficult to compare prices between providers. Our secret shopper team analyzes different vehicles, mileages, and warranty plans to give you this rating.
Coverage - Each consumer has different needs. Every car warranty company must offer a variety of coverage options. We consider the number of plans available, terms limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB), ratings, availability, years in business, and other factors when determining this score.
Customer Services: Trusted extended car warranty companies provide a level of customer care. We consider customer reviews, BBB complaints, and responsiveness to customer service.

Steven Dillon

Author

Steven is the founder and product tested for The Car Data, that has extensive knowledge in automotive industry. While most of his free time he participates in typical "car guy" activities, his passion for cars, data analytics, and tech, always has his looking for the next cool tool, software, trend, etc. to share with his audience on The Car Data or on his Instagram.