Last updated: 2026-10-10
Subaru Reliability Ratings — Every Model Ranked
Good reliability runs through the whole Subaru lineup. All eight models rate good, and the brand sits close to average against other brands on the site. The WRX ranks first and the Ascent last, but the Ascent still rates good, so the gap between them is narrow. Model year matters more than model. The 2019 year is the one to skip on several models.
Windshields that crack with no impact are the most common complaint. Owners find cracks on parked cars, on cold mornings, or at highway speed, and a small crack can spread fast. On cars with EyeSight, the glass must be replaced and the camera recalibrated. Batteries that go dead after the car sits for a few days come next. Some owners also report bucking or shuddering under light acceleration. Check the glass, ask about the battery, and test light throttle before you buy.
Subaru Best Year Score Comparison
Each bar shows the best single model year score for that Subaru model. Longer bars indicate higher peak reliability.
Subaru Model Rankings
Scores below are averaged across all tracked model years. The “Best Year” column shows the highest-scoring model year that has been on the road for at least two years, where available.
| # | Vehicle | Best Year | Score | Rating | Recalls | Complaints / 10k | Maint. Rating | Est. Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subaru Legacy | 2024 | 75/100 | Good | 19 | 21.2 | 4 | $563/yr |
| 2 | Subaru WRX | 2024 | 75/100 | Good | 8 | 7.9 | 3.5 | $682/yr |
| 3 | Subaru Forester | 2023 | 74/100 | Good | 13 | 17.7 | 3.5 | $632/yr |
| 4 | Subaru Impreza | 2022 | 74/100 | Good | 18 | 13.5 | 3.5 | $653/yr |
| 5 | Subaru Crosstrek | 2023 | 73/100 | Good | 19 | 96.3 | 4.5 | $492/yr |
| 6 | Subaru Outback | 2024 | 72/100 | Good | 22 | 27.6 | 3.5 | $607/yr |
| 7 | Subaru Solterra | 2024 | 71/100 | Good | 6 | 48.5 | 3.5 | |
| 8 | Subaru Ascent | 2024 | 69/100 | Good | 16 | 33.1 | 3 |
Subaru Models
Subaru Legacy
7th gen (2020–present)
Reliability is good overall and above average among sedans. Windshields that crack with no impact are the biggest complaint, followed by touchscreens that bubble and register phantom touches.
Subaru WRX
5th gen (2022–2023)
Good reliability and an above-average standing among sedans make the WRX a sound used buy, with 2024 the year to favor and the earliest years the ones to inspect hardest. The serious risk is rod bearing failure, where knocking, smoke, and sudden power loss end in a replacement engine.
Subaru Forester
6th gen (2025–present)
Good overall and above average among SUVs, the Forester holds up well, though windshields that crack with no visible impact are the most common complaint by far. Some owners also report batteries that drain after the car sits.
Subaru Impreza
6th gen (2024–2023)
Reliability is good overall and close to average among sedans, with 2022 the pick for a used buy and 2019 the year to skip. The recurring headaches are windshields that crack with no impact and a headlight recall repair that owners say cannot be finished because parts are unavailable.
Subaru Crosstrek
3rd gen (2024–2023)
Used Crosstrek buyers get a model that holds up well, with repair costs a little under the compact SUV average. The main watch item is windshields that crack with no impact, along with battery drain on some cars.
Subaru Outback
7th gen (2026–2023)
Used Outbacks hold up well, with a standing close to average among midsize SUVs. Windshields that crack with little or no impact are the top complaint, and batteries that die after the car sits come second.
Reliability is rated good and close to average among SUVs, but the complaints that do exist are serious. Owners describe sudden, forceful acceleration at parking speed and adaptive cruise control that speeds toward traffic it has lost track of.
Subaru Ascent
1st gen (2019–2023), facelifted 2023
Used Ascents rate good for reliability and sit close to average among SUVs. The 2024 model is the safer pick, while 2019 is the one to avoid.
Common Subaru Problems
Top complaint categories across all Subaru models, based on owner-reported issues to NHTSA.
Subaru by Category
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the most reliable Subaru model?
- The WRX ranks first among the eight Subaru models tracked. It rates good, with 8 recalls and 139 owner complaints. Its best used year is 2024. The serious risk is rod bearing failure, which owners say ends in a replacement engine, so inspect early cars closely.
- Which Subaru models and years should I avoid?
- The Ascent ranks last, though it still rates good. By year, skip 2019 on the Crosstrek, Forester, Impreza, and Ascent. Skip 2019 and 2020 on the Outback and Legacy. On the Solterra, avoid 2023. The 2025 Solterra has too little road time to judge.
- Are Subarus expensive to repair?
- Independent repair-cost data puts yearly costs between about $492 for the Crosstrek and $682 for the WRX. The Forester runs about $632, the Outback $607, and the Legacy $563. The Impreza costs about $653, above the $526 compact average. No cost figure is available for the Ascent or Solterra.
- Why do Subaru windshields crack so often?
- The data does not give a cause. Owners report cracks with no impact, and dealers usually cannot explain them. Replacement can be costly. One dealer quote reached $1,400, and glass is sometimes out of stock. On EyeSight cars, the camera must be recalibrated after replacement.
- Do Subarus have battery drain problems?
- Yes, battery drain is the main electrical complaint across the lineup. Owners report dead batteries after the car sits for a few days, and several say new batteries did not fix it. One dealer traced a parasitic drain to the DCM. Ask a seller whether the battery has been replaced.
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How we score Subaru models
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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