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Brogan Woodburn is a writer for USA TODAY Homefront and has read dozens of extended auto warranty contracts, including the fine print that will tell you whether your car insurance covers slashed tires or can get you a new engine replacement. His editorial experience in the auto industry includes work that appears on MarketWatch and Motor1.com.
Brogan is based in Prineville, Oregon, and enjoys exploring the outdoors in his free time. Having studied guitar at Berklee College of Music, he also performs classical guitar for local events and weddings.
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Subaru extended warranty plans cover numerous components and can last up to 120,000 miles.
You can choose between Classic and Gold Plus warranty plans.
Subaru plans come with extra benefits such as roadside assistance and rental car coverage.
Whether you want the thrill of a WRX or the reliability of an Outback, Subaru has a lot to offer. That said, the factory warranty of 3 years/36,000 miles is fairly short. You can get a Subaru extended warranty to cover up to 120,000 miles total, but is that your best option?
In this article, we’ll cover Subaru’s extended warranty plans in detail from your coverage options to pricing. We’ve reviewed the best extended car warranty companies and will show you how Subaru compares, too.
Subaru’s extended warranty options are called Added Security Extended Service Agreements. Subaru offers two coverage levels: Classic and Gold Plus. Classic covers the powertrain and a few other systems, while Gold Plus is a bumper-to-bumper coverage plan that covers almost everything.
Here’s a breakdown:
Depending on the dealer, you might also find a powertrain warranty option that just covers the engine, transmission and drive axle.
Subaru Added Security plans can last up to 8 years/120,000 miles or 10 years/100,000 miles. (There is no 10-year/120,000-mile plan.) You also have multiple options for time and mileage to choose from within those limits.
Subaru’s extended warranty is different from other options in a few ways. For example, the plan covers wear and tear because it doesn’t exclude “gradual reduction in operating performance” like many plans do.
Also, Subaru covers cause and effect, which is when a covered component fails and damages a noncovered component. Most plans don’t pay for the noncovered component in this situation.
You can choose between a $0–$100 deductible for covered repairs. The plan is transferable to secondary buyers for a fee, though the amount isn’t disclosed on Subaru’s site. You can also cancel a plan at any time for a prorated refund.
Subaru’s extended service contracts come with a few benefits for extra peace of mind:
Subaru’s Classic plan only covers what’s written on the contract, so everything else is excluded. The Gold Plus plan works in the opposite way. It covers any automotive breakdown except for the exclusions that are on the contract. Here are a few examples:
Having a tampered odometer or a rebuilt/salvage title can void your car warranty with Subaru.
Subaru offers a maintenance plan that can cover regular services for up to two or three years. You can choose between 24,000, 36,000 and 45,000 miles for the term. Depending on the model, the plan covers services every 3,750 or 6,000 miles.
Subaru’s factory warranty includes bumper-to-bumper coverage for 3 years/36,000 miles and powertrain warranty coverage for 5 years/60,000 miles. These are standard warranty lengths in the industry, though the bumper-to-bumper plan is the shortest any company offers.
With the extended warranty, you get a good amount of coverage considering it lasts up to eight or 10 years and 100,000 or 120,000 miles.
According to New Motors Subaru in Erie, Pennsylvania, Subaru’s extended warranty costs can range from $1,140 to $4,080 in total depending on the plan and deductible option. However, extended warranty prices can vary depending on the dealer and your model, so you’ll have to get in contact with a Subaru dealership to see what you’d pay.
Below are some sample costs for different plans and warranty periods, according to New Motors Subaru:
The dealership also notes that plans for 70,000, 80,000 and 100,000 miles have the following surcharges:
The Subaru WRX and WRX STi are certainly fun to drive, and many owners enjoy pushing the car to its limit. The performance models trace their history to Subaru’s top-performing rally cars in the 1990s. The STi is more optimized for racing between the two production models, though both offer a heart-pounding ride.
Whatever your driving style, Subaru charges these fees to compensate for the higher-than-average wear and tear most drivers put the cars through.
Comparing Subaru to average costs from third-party providers shows Subaru’s plans can be affordable. Average costs from third-party companies range from $2,804 to $3,151 depending on the plan. That said, if you get a quote from Subaru above $3,500, then it’s worth comparing other options.
Based on our quotes from top third-party extended auto warranty providers, these are the average total costs by plan option:
Subaru reliability is about average compared with the industry. This means that from a financial standpoint, an extended warranty can be worth it if you get a good price. That said, many drivers appreciate the peace of mind that an extended warranty can cover unexpected expensive repairs.
Looking at different scores for reliability, Subaru ranks in the middle of the pack. The company ranks No. 14 out of 29 brands on the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. The study recorded 198 problems per 100 vehicles within the first three years of ownership, while the industry average was 190.
In the same vein, RepairPal ranks Subaru No. 14 out of 32 car brands. It’s not the best or worst rating. RepairPal notes Subaru owners visit repair shops slightly less often than average, but repairs are slightly more likely to be severe.
RepairPal data shows Subaru owners pay $617 per year for repairs and maintenance, which is just under the industry average of $652 per year. You can see a few Subaru service costs below.
Subaru of America has a 1.3-star customer score and an F rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). However, most customer reviews mention issues other than the extended warranty. The automaker has a low BBB rating because it has over 600 complaints and has not resolved or responded to some of them.
We did find a few comments about the warranty program on Google Reviews. For example, Henry D. said their Outback developed a touchscreen issue that was not covered by the extended warranty. On the other hand, a reviewer named Atlanta W. said their extended warranty covered many repairs. The downside was the car had many issues in a short period.
You can get an extended warranty from any Subaru dealer until the new car warranty expires at 3 years/36,000 miles. The warranty covers repairs with genuine Subaru parts at Subaru dealerships, not independent repair shops. For more flexibility, you can also get a plan from third-party warranty companies, which we’ll compare below.
While you can get 120,000 miles of coverage from Subaru, that plan only comes with an eight-year term. You’ll get 100,000 miles if you want to cover 10 years. Either choice is less coverage than what third-party companies offer. Some cover up to 200,000 or 250,000 miles.
Also, Subaru only offers two coverage levels. In contrast, you can choose between five or six with third-party plans. Subaru requires you to visit a dealer for repairs, while third-party plans work at any licensed facility and can cover more miles.
Subaru offers two choices for extended warranty coverage that can last up to 10 years/100,000 miles (or 8 years/120,000 miles). That’s pretty good for a manufacturer. However, many third-party extended car warranty companies offer four to six plans and can cover up to 200,000 miles or more. We recommend comparing Subaru to other options in the market.
Get started comparing extended warranty providers below.
Endurance offers coverage for up to 8 years or 200,000 miles, but it only offers long-term plans.
We analyze, rate and rank top vehicle service contract providers to help you discover the right one for your needs. The best auto service contract companies offer transparency, affordability and expansive coverage options, among other qualities.
We rate companies using our objective scoring methodology. We assess brands on factors that are important to consumers like you — including cost, coverage, market standing, trustworthiness and customer experience. After scoring companies on a 100-point scale, we simplify final scores into the 5-star ratings you see in our content.
BBB and Google scores are accurate as of March 2024.
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Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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