On modern Subarus, preventative matinance is essential. You can easily keep one running for years. I have never missed dealer required service on my 2011 Subaru Legacy and it has never let me down in 10 years.
That's largely true, but certain types of catastrophic failures simply shouldn't happen in vehicle's. Maintenance is crucial but in terms of powertrain CVT's are absolute shit. The principle of less moving part's equaling higher reliability doesn't seem to hold true when comparing CVT's to automatic or manual transmissions.
I truly love this generation of Outback. I remember when I got a 13' facelift as my first car, with all the bells and whistles. I drove that car like the mad kid I was, and when it was totaled due to circumstances out of my hands, the car saved my life. RIP Rumbleru you will be missed.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think my gen is particularly handsome. I was a big fan of the second generation, the first generation of Outback we had in my family, which also saved my life. Overall though, I just love the outback, and the 4th gen has a special place in my heart. I was a kid with a dream of making a noisy mom wagon, haha.
When I bought my Subaru Outback 3 years ago my buddy who is a mechanic recommended it as long as I was willing to do the maintenance. I keep up on the maintenance and I drive 18,000-20,000 miles on it a year. Thanks Car Wizard!
From what I've seen, the EyeSight cameras don't just lose calibration over time, rather they need recalibration when the windshield is replaced (as with other cars that have LKAS systems).
@@Captain_Jack514 Every time an insurance company replaces certain parts, they put the cheapest part they can find and screw you over. For example, if you get in let's say a front end collision and they decide to fix it, they put CAPA certified body parts which is NOT factory parts. When aftermarket body and structural parts are installed in a car, the car fails both the NHTSA and IIHS safety test even if it has a 5 star safety rating. Always replace damaged body and structural parts with new or used OEM factory parts. This is a dirty secret to the collision repair industry when dealing with insurance companies.
My dealer told me that an EyeSight Calibration is around $800 if you didnt get a windsheild replaced. If you just want it done cuz its acting werid or anything out of warrenty you gotta pay sadly.
I found a 2007 Forester for my younger sister, with a little over 50,000 kms on the clock. I told her that they can burn a little oil, and as such to check it regularly, but other than that they're very good cars. She didn't check, or even bother to change the oil, and ran it dry to the point that it completely locked up. She then decided to buy a junkyard engine which I swapped for her, after telling her she should do a proper rebuild on her original engine...the junkyard engine lasted about 15,000 kms before developing rod knock...she then decided to actually do a proper rebuild, which is just as well because that engine was able to be saved...her original one got so hot and fused together so badly that the mechanic couldn't separate the two halves to be able use it for a core charge. Fortunately, it's one of the easiest engine swaps ever...not sure I'm going to volunteer for a fourth time though...
I've heard of this type of story several times of people locking up or overheating their engine because of bad maintenance up keep. I think an EV would be the ideal car for those types of people.
Nice to see the Car Wizard is aware of the difference between the diff and trans drain and fill plugs. Too many driveway mechanics don't, and even some shops, and I've heard of several diffs or transmissions that were destroyed as a result. As for the Eyesight units "dropping like flies", the Subaru forum I follow hasn't had any large number of people with issues (or any at all that I've seen). My 21 Outback has been SOLID since I got it in May.
I agree. Up here in Canuckistan, I’ve had a 2017 legacy 3.6R since new. Absolutely zero issues. Even had the windshield replaced. No problems after either. All is good.
Yep, I made that mistake once. Drained the Differential but the fill was on the passenger side but there is also a very similar plug on the driver side. So I filled from driver and it actually ended up over filling the CVT. Needless to say had to get it towed to dealer to clean out.
I took over Dads 2011 Forester at 120,000km. Australian RHD. I was checking all the fluids not long after and realised it had the front diff dip stick and found it dry. It takes 2.2 litres of oil from memory and I used 2 litres to top it up. It was a regularly serviced car. I suspect someone has drained the diff by mistake at some point and not topped it off. The diff ate itself by about 180,000 so I swapped in a second hand low KM diff/gearbox.
Car Wizard once had a mechanic working for him that got the transmission and differential ports mixed up. It cost the Wizard like $10k or some huge amount. He talked about it on VinWiki. So yeah, I don't think he's gonna let any of his guys make that mistake again.
2010 Outback, 115k miles, two changes of CVT fluid. Biggest pain is sunroof leaks / drain clogs and the driver's seat leather / vinyl is quite thin. Subaru fixed the head gasket issues in 2010 for the Legacy / Outback line, a bit later for the Impreza line. Oil filter on the 2010 is on the bottom surrounded by exhaust pipes. There's plenty of room for passengers and gear along with great gas mileage (for it's size). I've gotten 28-29 MPG on long road trips. I actually like the CVT (and yes, I also like the manual in my Miata). Getting parts in for front lower control arms (100k replacement item due to bushing tears). Anything I don't want to handle goes to a trusted independent Subaru mechanic. Sometimes I gulp a bit at the bill, but never complain as I know they know what they're doing.
Agree on the thin leatherette on drivers side and the sunroof drain issues. I have both a 2012 and 2014 outback. Both are kept outdoors and also under some trees. It apparently is the tree pollen that accumulates in the sunroof gutter drains and eventually cloggs them , creating havoc when it rains and the water ends up inside your car. A real pain in the a--. I have suun the drain cleaning videos on the "Mrsubaru" channel and have cleaned the drains myself but it does not last for long. My subaru dealer says they "blow" the drains clean but this still has to be repeated every year or two.
The back seat on these Outbacks is like a limo. The seatbacks recline and they have tons of room. A past co-worker of mine had a 2013 and it was one of the few vehicles I'd been in that I could easily squeeze my 6'5" frame into. Thumbs up to Subie for that.
Eyesight saved my life multiple times on one drive in October 2020. I worked all day, then flew to Phoenix where my wife and I have a home and she was having a medical emergency. She, somehow, picked me up at the airport and I rushed her directly to Mayo from the airport. I was there until 330am and they wanted me out of there, exhausted or not. (I have nothing good to say about the Mayo in Az) I had a 52 mile drive to our home and I fell asleep 5 times. I had all the safety equipment on and it kept me on the road, centered in my lane and away from others. Unfortunately, it will not override throttle inputs. I woke up one time, finding myself traveling over 100mph, in an Outback! That was an adrenaline rush and kept me awake for the next several miles. Anyway, our 2016 Outback kept me safe and is an invaluable feature.
Thank you. I have a 09 Forester 2.5 NA NT 4cyl with 209k miles I try to change oil every 3k miles. I keep up with owner manual recommended major services done by dealership. Car has been very dependable. Just saving up for next major services at 240k miles. Some surface rust in some spots. Thank you Car Wizard and Mrs. Wizard.
I owned a '14 Outback 6/MT and drove it from new to 45k miles (sadly, had to trade it as it couldn't pull my 16k lb horsetrailer). It had the FB-series 2.5 (chain cam drive vs belt of the EJ-series) the same as the vehicle in your video. No head gasket issues with this engine (nor any since 2010 including those EJ's) but '13s and '14s experienced high oil consumption due to the thin 0W-20 oil and low tension oil rings used for higher MPGs. Not all but some - mine was one of the "some" and had the entire short block replaced by Subaru at no cost to me with 18k miles on it. Consumption was 1 quart per 3000 miles before/ not detectable after short block replacement 5k miles after oil changes. Great cars (I still own two, one '10 6/MT with 99k miles and an '11 CVT with 173k miles). I change the CVT fluid every 60k miles and have had/have no issues with it at all. My $0.02 worth.
My mom's '14 Outback has the same oil consumption issue you've described. She and my dad bought it used at 90k miles. Still runs great as we speak, now at 120k-ish miles. No CVT issues. A/C compressor went out at 99k miles. They've done all the dealer-recommended maintenance items, and the previous owner did too.
I love my 07 Forester. I want a new one but have always been a little bit leery of CVTs. Gotta say thanks Wizard for all the tips and advice and making me think I can still buy one of these 😁
AFAIK the problematic Subaru CVTs where in the 10-14 year range, because when they came out they where supposed to have "lifetime fluid" so this fluid change, now part of the scheduled maintenance, was worked in, and they found out the hard way that these units occasionally needed fresh fluid. At least in outbacks, since 2015 they either come with the second gen 4cylinder compatible CVT or a heavy duty unit for turbo engines or the flat 6. In my research for buying a 2015 Outback with the flat 6, I never found conclusive lots of evidence issues of that unit, and at this point I still see plenty on the road so, I think they have it mostly sorted out as long as it's serviced properly. Just my 2 cents, love my outback.
Hey Wizard & Mrs Wizard, you're right all cars look alike anymore & they all have either gray, tan or black interiors!!! You can tell a 58 Cadillac from a 58 Lincoln, cars of yesteryears had personality!!! Happy Holidays!!! 🎄🤶
Love the Car Wizard. I've had two Outbacks--a 2005 with 185K miles and a 2006 with 227K miles, both with the metal timing chain 3.0L. Thirsty engines but bullet proof. Bought the 3.0 instead of the dreaded 2.5 with the chronic head gasket issues. For those who have the pre 2010 2.5l engines I found out that a main culprit is the cooling jackets are too close to pistons chambers which changes the PH levels of the coolant, making the coolant acidic. What Subaru made, but they won't come out and tell you because that implies they knew of the problem, was a special coolant additive that they add during coolant service in order to balance the PH and stopping the acidic aspect which eats head gaskets. The additive costs about $15. But Subarus are maintenance hogs. If you're on top of the maintenance (change coolant, all oils, stay on top of sticky caliper pins, change bearings--which are easy to do--etc) then they are wonderful cars. Tanks in snow and my car is rated to tow almost 3000 pounds. Not as reliable as Toyota or Honda, but not far off. Still have major concerns of CVT knowing that they're basically throw away trannys. Not really repairable. Replacement cost in Canada is $9000!!
I would not recommend towing anything with a vehicle equipped with a CVT transmission. CVTs are not strong enough and are prone to overheating when there is a load placed on them.
I’ve towed thousands of miles with the car in the video at its max rating of 2700. Thousand lb trailer 1700lb polaris. Never any issues, just power lacking lol.
I bought an older Subaru a few years ago that was well maintained mechanically. Runs and drives like a champ but unfortunately didn’t have any rust prevention before I obtained it which is making it harder to work on and it is slowly getting eaten alive every year. I will definitely be getting another. Love these things, the perfect daily driver for Canadian winters.
That’s the story of my first car. 2000 Subaru Forester I bought in 2019 and had for 2 years. Throughout its whole life it only ever had preventative maintenance and a serpentine belt. However I had to get rid of it due to rust issues, I was told the brake lines were a hazard and suspension components were rusting through and it would leak gas when filling it. I’m in Michigan where winter and therefore rust kills cars
@@mikeL5183 It was, but instead of head gasket issues it has carbonation problems (related to the direct ignition) and the push rods to the rockers went bust. Also the EE20 (diesel) has been having a lot of problems. Too poor oil lubrication combined with poor crank shaft bearings and a weak crank shaft. A lot of warranty errands is said to have almost make the company go bust due to the EE20.
My wife and I love our respective Subarus and have had zero issues in about 35k miles, but we're sticklers for regular maintenance. She had a 2018 Outback she got new and I have a 2018 Impreza hatchback I picked up off lease. We live in South Eastern PA and never had to call out of work due to weather conditions.
Funny. I have had two Subarus with EyeSight and after 61k miles on my Forester XT it has never had any calibration issues. The same is true for my mom, SO, and a half dozen friends who have cars with EyeSight. Not one problem with it other than the occasional mistaking of lettering on the road like SCHOOL as an object or not working in full sun. Both of which are to be expected from any camera based system. The only times I've heard about needing a recalibration is when the windshield is replaced with aftermarket ones that have waviness.
2017 Forester with 100k miles and only time it needed calibration was because we had the windshield replaced. Safelite did replaced the windshield and did the calibration.
Subaru requires calibrations anytime the windshield is replaced, whether it's oem glass or aftermarket. No 2 windshields are identical for light refraction or distortion, and every curved piece of glass has distortion. That's why it requires calibration every time is to make sure with the new windshield it's still looking in the same place
I have a '15 with about 85k and doing the spark plugs is a bit annoying until you get to cyl #4, then it becomes REALLY annoying since the cylinders on the driver's side are staggered further back and are closer to the frame rails. If the spark plug socket I got actually gripped the insulator, I would never have been able to get it in or out. Make sure you have a stick magnet for the several hundred times you drop tools since everything has to go into or out of that hole in pieces, one at a time. That being said, after it was all said and done, I bought a '21 STI because after working on the EJ253 ('08 Impreza 2.5i) and the Outback's FB25, I never want to see another transverse FWD/AWD setup ever again.
Thank you for including Mrs Wiszard! She's an absolutely gem! I own a 2016 Outback, love it, which has 158k Kilometers haha, keep up the fantastic work! With love from Nova Scotia ❤
Haaahaa "has really nice wood from the best plastic trees on the planet" - fantastic. You guys could probably put that on a t-shirt and add it to the shop.
I have a 2014 Subaru Outback that I bought new and has ISight. This is a great system that works flawlessly and has never given me a problem or required calibration. This is a fantastic car I have had for seven years with no issues atb
I am very glad that I got one of the last 2014 Manual Transmission Outbacks. I intend to keep it for a long time. Subaru has replaced the short block twice due to oil consumption but the third one seems to be working fine.
Did you have the consumption test done after SOA's deadline, by any chance? My '13 has always burned a lot of oil but somehow passed the consumption test. I've now got 104k miles in it and it's as bad as ever. Wondering if I could push them to redo the test and replace the short block if it fails this time.
I have a 2018 Crosstrek. The manual states the CVT has “lifetime” fluid. Which of course isn’t true. The dealer said it’s not serviceable which of course is also not true. Then they tried some scare tactic saying the CVT fluid was like $150 a quart. I do tow with my CVT. Less than a 1000 pounds. So I want to take care of the CVT the way this gentleman has. Since I can’t rely on my dealer to do that for me I need to find a shop that knows these things as well as you do.
Your videos are interesting, and helping to keep me educated about car maintenance, thank you! I've driven a 2019 Crosstrek with Eyesight, the automatic cruise control was quite nice. A few times at night it would get temporarily blinded by headlights of oncoming cars, and needed to reset itself.
I had a 2003 Subaru Legacy GT fully loaded with naturally aspired 2.5L and a manual transmission. I drove it all the way to 2018 without one single major issue, including no head gasket issue. Did all the recommended maintenance, and it ran like brand new, even 15 years old. It was an excellent vehicle and got thru many colorado blizzards without getting stuck once. Even the leather interior held up extremely well despite being parked outdoors in cold Colorado winters.
I wonder how many owners have actually read their owners manual and are actually familiar with their vehicles maintenance schedule? My father and grandfather were both engineers at Opel for their entire careers. They maintained their vehicles meticulously and when my siblings and myself became drivers they reminded us of the importance of maintenance and weekly checks. We were also told to follow the "SEVERE SERVICE SCHEDULE" because that represents the most realistic driving conditions of a majority of vehicles. I have owned numerous vehicles over the last 40 years , some of them according urban legend as very problematic like high mileage BMW's and Renault's, and have driven tens of thousands of trouble-free miles following their advice.
The problem is that Subaru claims that it's a closed system, and that they advise NOT replacing the CVT fluid ever. Car Wizard had a problem with that in his Nissan CVT video. It makes it tough, because Subaru dealerships don't want to replace the fluids, and even Subaru specialty mechanics get weird with it too. I only have 30k miles on my Subaru on 50/50 city/highway miles, and I'm getting ready to find someone to do fluid changes.
Yeah, it’s sealed for “the life of the vehicle,” which Subaru internally thinks is 125,000 or something. So you have to just go and get it done. 90,000 is a good time, I would think. Mine was done a bit later. ALSO Coolant flush/fill would be good at this age or soon because the coolant also cools the trans, and you will start seeing A/T Temp warning light on hot days at highway speeds. I had coolant replaced and have not seen that light since. But it does need about a half quart of oil every month - but I drive over 2000 miles per month, so with 130K I presume this is (sadly) normal…
Subaru Eyesight is one of my favorite safety feature. Had it on my 2015 Outback Limited - no issues after 145k miles, including a lot of washboarded dirt roads.
I had a 13 Outback same color as the one in your shop. It was the first Subaru I had ever owned, and will most likely be the last. I did end up trading it in for a Toyota, and it was with out a doubt a good decision. I was driving my Outlook just over 10,000 (That I had purchased brand new) down Interstate 10, and to my shock the low oil light came on, I immediately pulled over and shut the car off, and assessed the situation. This brand new car was 1 quart low on oil. To make a long story short Subaru said my Outback didn't qualify for the recall. So Subaru, if your reading this, I generally purchase a new car about every 5 years, but it won't be a Subaru; because you don't stand behind your customers or your products. Mine was part of the 12' and 13' models that had the defective piston rings. Some folks were burning up engines with only 1000 miles on the clock. It was actually my wife's car that I bought her, but I felt it needed to go so she could have something better.
Thanks for the car info Wizard! In 2014, we were looking for a smaller SUV/CUV/Crossover. We tested every make from the domestics, Japan, Germany, Sweden, and Korea. We had a budget, and certain wants and needs. Liftgate height was a big factor, both of us are tall and well, this is often a problem. The Subaru was a front runner, but the dealer was set in stone on pricing and we weren't really sold on the CVT. Also, it seemed very plain compared to the car we decided on which was a Hyundai Tucson. We've fortunately not had any engine issues that others have, but I don't go by the extended oil change recommendations.
Nice to see a Subaru in the shop! My last vehicle purchase is a 2016 SUBARU Forester 2.0XS with a manual transmission and no EyeSight. I went for reliability when I bought it. With about 44500 miles (72000 km) on the clock I did not want to gamble. I changed all the fluids and it is driving very well. Being a Toyota fan boy I still don’t feel that the vehicle is as reliable as I am accustomed to, but I hope it will be. In one of your shop stories videos recently I believe you told us about a mishap with a CVT fluid change on a SUBARU? I am glad that you solved it with the customer.
I traded in a Nissan Rogue with 90000 miles and it was incredibly reliable. And yes, I had the cvt serviced. It was a great car and ran as good when I traded it in as it did new.
I’ve got a ‘16 and ‘17 Outback. Been happy with both of them except the ‘16 had a rear wheel bearing go bad with only 32000 miles. Otherwise, not a single other issue. Mileage is great. I often get in the low 30s. I once got 36. Probably had a tailwind on that trip.
A person crossing a 45 mph road in the middle of the block crossed in front of me where there was no streetlight. Literally didn't even see the guy and my car nearly stopped itself cause of eyesight. Yeah it's an annoyance but it saved me from potentially hurting someone so its well worth it.
@@bikeman1x11 I live in Europe and I can't tell you how many people cross the street on red lights, Red light for the car, red for the pedestrians. But the worst are Bicycle Riders, riding on sidewalks once I hit one with my back-bag I was taking down, while he wanted to pass me on my left side. I couldn't hear him, since I used over-ear Headphones on. He complained a lot until I took him by his hand walked a few feet to our left, and showed him the *BICYCLE-PATH* on the street he could use. His excuse: He lives in a house just a bit further down, and didn't want to push the bicycle that short distance..
I have 2 Subaru Foresters. 2003 XS and 2015 XT Touring. happy with both of them. I think I'm going to do the CVT service on the 2015 as you suggested ahead of schedule. thanks Mr. Car Wizard !
I got lucky with my 2000 that I bought in 2019 and had until last year, it only ever had preventative maintenance and a new serpentine belt in its entire life. It was also great in the winter, kind of regretting getting rid of it because I now drive a car that’s horrible in the winter. Very reliable and practical and even a bit fun and off-road capable but I had to get rid of it because it was rusting so horribly that the mechanic told me to get rid of it before brake lines burst and the fuel filler line rusted through and it would leak gas when you filled it.
We have a great ale golden chonk of an 2016 (I thiiiink...) Outback. She has been such a champ ever since we got her. Good economy and regular servicing has been rewarding as she just soldiers on! Good thing is that she's got a CNG conversion that really gives us superduper milage when it comes to fuel. Luckily we have the original gasoline tank of 65 liter as well. She pulls like a champ and tackles rough terrain with gusto! We could not be happier. 😃
It has been suggested to recalibrate the EyeSight system after any suspension work has been done and after EVERY wheel alignment. $$$. That’s what the dealership never really discusses with their customers. Thanks for the video.
Its a car I seriously considered, and im sure I'd be perfectly happy with one, but ultimately I found the Skoda Octavia 4x4 2.0 Tdi more refined and a lot more economical on fuel. On quality maybe Subaru has the edge, but after five years the Skoda has only had one failure...the clutch slave leaked on the clutch. I get my auto shop to clean the filter and change the transmission fluid on the Haldex unit. We did nearly 800 miles last week and the trip computer said we had averaged 53mpg which is amazing. I'd rather not have an "eyesight" unit whilst my own still works reasonably well.
That is NOT the front differential fill! The diff fill is on the right (passenger) side just above the inner cv joint. Many people fill the plug which you pointed out and this will add gear oil to the transmission and will destroy it. You should pull this video down and correct it. Please also point out the differential oil overflow plug, as you fill this diff until fluid pours out the overflow. Someone might follow your incorrect information and destrou their CVT. Fluid changes done wrong are the most common way the Subaru CVTs get destroyed. There are rebuild parts for the u joints. Uses the same parts as the Highlander and Lexus RX.
I don't know where you hear about the eyesight calibration issues. I've worked at a dealer for years and we only recalibrate the eyesight when the windshield is replaced, since the optics of the new glass will be different. They don't go out of calibration on their own. On the other hand, some glass companies*cough*Safelite*cough* have tried to recalibrate the eyesight themselves and ruined the camera computer, hardly a Subaru issue. Also, super cheap glass like Fuyao are so warped from the factory that eyesight will not calibrate. Glass so bad that it looks like you put on someone's prescription glasses.
Had a vertical crack right down the centre of the windshield and had to have the windshield and eyesight calibration done at the dealership body shop. It’s an excellent system and has prevented a couple of incidents that could have been far more expensive. Automatic emergency braking and automatic high beam dimming. It even tells you when the traffic ahead has started to move and it dips the headlights when stopped behind another vehicle so you don’t blind the other driver in their mirror. It’s the safest car we’ve ever owned. In fact we’re on our second Forester.
+1. Absolutely agree. Had to replace windshield on 2019 Crosstrek Limited. There is no way I would trust non-OEM windshield or a non-dealer install which would otherwise compromise the degree of safety that Subaru engineers incorporated into eyesight. The decision to use OEM Subaru windshield with an authorized dealer install is a no-brainer.
I have seen plenty of problems with oem glass as well as aftermarket. That being said often they are made in the exact same glass plants and the just have a different stamp on the glass. Have replaced many broken oem windshields with aftermarket ones and they both have the same DOT codes on the glass. Now I have only done dynamic calibrations of the lane departure systems and not the static calibrations that the Subarus require. But seeing that the eye sight system isn’t even attached to the windshield like most others I would have to lean towards a over durability problem with the system (hardware/software) that is burning then out. I have seen the static calibrations set up in the shop and how the tablet walks you through the calibrations on the dynamic. It should be as straight forward as following the directions on the tablet on how to set up the grid and run the rest of the calibration.
True about the styling. I said to my wife the other day, that American, Japanese, and all the other newer cars look like they were all designed by the same team. If you doubt this just look at the rear window styling or other specific features.
Great content Wizard.👍Preventive maintenance should be common sense and yet so many people fail to follow manufacturer maintenance schedule or any preventive maintenance at all and then wonder why their vehicles self destruct way before they should... But on the plus side, at least I keep busy thanks to those customers!😁👍🇺🇸
When I did oil-tech at a dealership I checked Everything as I'd learned at 11yo what Wizard is showing people to check.I serviced a fleet for a particular company that used Diesels and they asked why I kept insisting on changing their air-filters.I Always put parts,except oil filters,in the replacements box,and bagged them.The guys picking up were throwing them out.Diesels clog so badly in service vans left idling.When any customers filter was 1/2 clogged or less I'd blow it out,but note it for them to watch.The fleet manager sent others to us.Their fuel bill had dropped more than the filters cost over time.
I learned my lesson with Subaru CVTs when I had a 13' Legacy...most annoying thing about the whole thing was Subaru corporate would not recommend a CVT fluid change interval and the local dealers were very vague and basically said they were not responsible if the trans blew after a change. I eventually dumped the car at about 145k a year after replacing CVT fluid when trans noise was slowly getting worse. At least with my current Honda they clearly have service intervals to change fluid etc. around every 45k-55k miles or so
This just happened to my mother's 2013 outback. I asked her when she last did a fluid change on the CVT and she said the dealer would tell her if she needed it. All of this when she's giving me grief for setting aside funds for getting it the fluids changed in the diff and transmission of my 14 compass that just hit 120k miles - no idea what the previous owners did to it maintenance wise.
@@HaddaClu I thought the whole thing was ridiculous, the owners manual claimed lifetime fluid which we all know is false. Many independent shops locally won’t touch those CVTs either but the fact Subaru themselves wouldn’t give a straight answer was the worst.
We have Eyesight on our Outback and don’t trust the lane centering at all. Twice it has crossed the plainly bright white line allowing our Subie to drift off the road. The eyesight does very well while using the cruise control, even bringing our Subie to a complete stop. The eyesight will NOT work when it’s snowing.
Interesting. I purchased my 2015 without Eyesight and I have always regretted not having this feature. In fact it's one motivation for replacing my Outback at 105k miles. But the car is absolutely flawless in every way
@@kippywylie My 19 Forester is miles ahead of my wife’s 19 Outback when it comes to the eyesight. We almost bought the 20 Outback but not even the salesman could figure out the infotainment system. The 19 is much easier. I hear that the 23 infotainment system is way easier
You cant trust manufacturers routine maintinance schedules anymore. Subaru says these cvts are sealed for life, they ARE NOT. Honda says my odysseys 6 speed is 100k atf and its NOT, it started shuddering at 57k miles and a tsb said atf flush. Did it, fixed. But if Honda said atf at 50k it wouldnt have been a problem. Heres my advice, do service intervals at half the miles the manufacturer says to.
My Subaru dealer said same, but would u risk warranty. mine is covered to 100,000 miles. I bought the fluid and gaskets and scan tool to see temp. on fluid. But now i am hesitant to do it. Mechanic down the street said he wouldn't touch it if it was him, due to warranty.
3:45 Definitely not 250 lb-ft of torque. That's not the H6. The H4 has 174 lb-ft. Maybe you got the torque number accidentally mixed up with the H6? Those have about 250 lb-ft.
Safelite does windshield replacements when you need them and they also have the calibration tools for those safety camera sensors you talked about. That has to be done whenever you replace the windshield.
I bought my outback 3.0 because it was seemingly the perfect car for me. Not too expensive, good looks and has the power of the 2.5 turbo (still not as fast unfortunately) with none of the headgasket issues... Or so I thought. I'm now faced with failing headgaskets on my EZ30 and it's a lot more expensive than the EJs. Such a shame, beautiful car, one of the cleanest I've ever seen to this day, quick and they sound better than 95% of cars. It hasn't blown completely yet, so it's still on the road.
50 something bolts holding the timing cover on is a bit excessive. I got an 06 ll bean that needs a water pump. I'm saving up the $2k+ that is gonna cost to do it and have the head gaskets done as well since they wanna pull the engine out just for the water pump.
'05 Outback H6 with 125K miles still going strong, but service is essential. Change ALL fluids every three years (trans, rad, diffs). Nobody repairs components anymore. Modern cars designed to replace major assemblies only (CVT, driveshaft, complete suspension linkages).
I've had 2 subaru i would have got a 3rd but i wasn't impressed with the new ones the new impreza was quite chattery, and i couldn't find a manual ( i don't want a cvt ) I sorta looked at outbacks never drove them because they turned into an suv but the price scared me away they'd be like 23,000$ have 80,000 miles on it and be like 3 years old So I turned around and bought a Corolla hatch 6 speed
I have the oil changed every 4K miles with Mobile 1 full synthetic and the front and rear differential, transfer case and a transmission flush every 30K miles. This is how we can get 300K+ miles from our vehicles
Had a 2010 Outback, first yr of the “big” Outback. Had to almost fight the dealer to flush the CVT at 50k. Everybody ….just do the fluids and filters. I can’t afford what I’d “save” by skimping…when the trans blows up. Too bad that it was a terrible launch…4 recalls in first two years, water leaks, full center stack would be dead once or twice a month….and some dodgy part quality, struts replaced in warranty at 30k, rear shocks DEAD at 45k…
FYI the eyesight problems usually are the result of a windshield replacement without recalibration. Third party windshield repair companies will do it like safelight. As for cost, my insurance company (progressive) has an option for a $100 glass deductible and they will pay for the windshield replacement and recalibration. It added $2.50 per month to our policy, well worth it.
My cheap 2011 Ford Escape hybrid does the same thing as a Subaru without the Duratec blowing head gaskets nor CVT issues. Doesn't have the status of Subaru, but it's been reliable in the 65,000 miles I've had it. 140,000 miles, no oil usage, zero gaskets replaced. New shocks, struts and control arm assemblies, but it drives like new again, and Ford uses a durable/reliable E-CVT similar to Toyota hybrids which have no belts or clutches to ever wear out.
Mr Wizard, the 4 cylinder engine has only 174 lbft torque. It is the 6 cylinder engine that has 250 lbft torque. Why the towing capacity 3500 lbs for the Outback, but only 1500 lbs for the Forester, when they have the same engine?
A lot of factors go into a manufacturer calculating a vehicle's towing capacity. It's not just the engine. It's also the load rating on the transmission, and it's reasonable that the smaller vehicle likely doesn't have the same load carrying capacity as a larger one. I'd say if you need that much towing capacity, you're looking at the wrong vehicle.
Preventive maintenance has its place but can turn into a rabbit hole. Especially if it's cheap parts that are inferior to OEM replacing perfectly functional OE parts. Most parts store shocks and struts are junk. I leave the factory ones on until they are dead. Some brands that used to be "name" brands have been sold down the river and no longer have the quality to match their previous reputation.
I do not have a vizsla but just read a book (Kingdom of Shadows by Alan Furst) where they play a role so its funny to see them mentioned in your video because I don't think they get mentioned much. I am a Labrador guy myself. Nice to see a Subaru video they are practically the state car of Washington and Oregon.
I’ve owned Vizslas my whole life. My grandfather was the owner of a male bred from the first female imported from Hungary in the 60’s. The wirehaired are much more rare and more relaxed. They have an off switch, while the smooth V’s are hard to keep exercised enough to keep from wanting to kill them their first two years of life (sarcasm-but maybe not 😂).
My 2011 Forester with FB25 engine and 4 speed standard auto box burned a set of lower control arms (rubber bushes) every 100,000km (62,000 miles) It finally died when the head gasket did go at 317,000km and on it's 4th set of lower control arms.
My mom bought a 2011 outback with 170k (and a CVT) sight unseen for me. It had an illuminated CEL for the majority of the time I had it. I took it into a dealer for recall airbag replacement and they gave it a free inspection quoting what I paid in repairs needed. Not even 6 months later it kicked the bucket hard and I haven't wanted a subaru since. This 2006 TSX has treated me nicely ever since though 😎
They did solve that problem. Id like people to remember they weren't known for the correct thing. They were known for cooling issues actually that leads to blown head gaskets. To the point that subaru used to put from the factory, coolant conditioner, which us actually subaru rebranded stop leak. Sooooooo, this is what caused some of the issues as well. Theyd get u past the warranty by slapping some stop leak in and then they'd f u in the end by not replacing the water pump or thermostat or head gasket before it was an issue which always led to a problem. These 2.5's are awesome little engines to work on too. I prefer the 2.5l to 3.6 but thats me. The 3 6l had more issues
On modern Subarus, preventative matinance is essential. You can easily keep one running for years. I have never missed dealer required service on my 2011 Subaru Legacy and it has never let me down in 10 years.
Honestly that’s true for most modern day cars
That's largely true, but certain types of catastrophic failures simply shouldn't happen in vehicle's. Maintenance is crucial but in terms of powertrain CVT's are absolute shit. The principle of less moving part's equaling higher reliability doesn't seem to hold true when comparing CVT's to automatic or manual transmissions.
What do you mean by preventive maintenance what exactly does that include? Just regular oil changes and transmission fluid changes? What else?
@@M447DT that’s it really. Coolant Brake fluid
@c s I really want a Crosstrek or Outback because i love them but i just dont trust Subaru
Sign of a good mechanic - the CVT pan is SPOTLESS after servicing. Amazing work!
I have and I have had 2 Subarus with Eighsight, both worked flawlessly, never an issue!!!
I truly love this generation of Outback. I remember when I got a 13' facelift as my first car, with all the bells and whistles. I drove that car like the mad kid I was, and when it was totaled due to circumstances out of my hands, the car saved my life. RIP Rumbleru you will be missed.
Subaru owners are a special bunch that are passionate about their cars and truly miss them when they have to let them go.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think my gen is particularly handsome. I was a big fan of the second generation, the first generation of Outback we had in my family, which also saved my life. Overall though, I just love the outback, and the 4th gen has a special place in my heart. I was a kid with a dream of making a noisy mom wagon, haha.
When I bought my Subaru Outback 3 years ago my buddy who is a mechanic recommended it as long as I was willing to do the maintenance. I keep up on the maintenance and I drive 18,000-20,000 miles on it a year. Thanks Car Wizard!
From what I've seen, the EyeSight cameras don't just lose calibration over time, rather they need recalibration when the windshield is replaced (as with other cars that have LKAS systems).
Is that part covered by insurance if the windshield replacement is covered?
@@Captain_Jack514 Every time an insurance company replaces certain parts, they put the cheapest part they can find and screw you over. For example, if you get in let's say a front end collision and they decide to fix it, they put CAPA certified body parts which is NOT factory parts. When aftermarket body and structural parts are installed in a car, the car fails both the NHTSA and IIHS safety test even if it has a 5 star safety rating. Always replace damaged body and structural parts with new or used OEM factory parts. This is a dirty secret to the collision repair industry when dealing with insurance companies.
@@atx-cvpi_99 Thanks! That’s really good to know. I’ve never had to have a windshield replaced.
@@Captain_Jack514 Probably depends on the insurer, I can think of arguments both for and against coverage.
My dealer told me that an EyeSight Calibration is around $800 if you didnt get a windsheild replaced. If you just want it done cuz its acting werid or anything out of warrenty you gotta pay sadly.
Dentist's channel: We have a patient today who's opting for some preventative maintenance on his teeth...
You mean the twice yearly cleaning you should be doing
😂
I found a 2007 Forester for my younger sister, with a little over 50,000 kms on the clock. I told her that they can burn a little oil, and as such to check it regularly, but other than that they're very good cars. She didn't check, or even bother to change the oil, and ran it dry to the point that it completely locked up. She then decided to buy a junkyard engine which I swapped for her, after telling her she should do a proper rebuild on her original engine...the junkyard engine lasted about 15,000 kms before developing rod knock...she then decided to actually do a proper rebuild, which is just as well because that engine was able to be saved...her original one got so hot and fused together so badly that the mechanic couldn't separate the two halves to be able use it for a core charge. Fortunately, it's one of the easiest engine swaps ever...not sure I'm going to volunteer for a fourth time though...
Oil is what drivers need to watch for in subarus otherwise engine will overheat. I suggest oils need to be check at least once per month.
I've heard of this type of story several times of people locking up or overheating their engine because of bad maintenance up keep. I think an EV would be the ideal car for those types of people.
Nice to see the Car Wizard is aware of the difference between the diff and trans drain and fill plugs. Too many driveway mechanics don't, and even some shops, and I've heard of several diffs or transmissions that were destroyed as a result.
As for the Eyesight units "dropping like flies", the Subaru forum I follow hasn't had any large number of people with issues (or any at all that I've seen). My 21 Outback has been SOLID since I got it in May.
I agree. Up here in Canuckistan, I’ve had a 2017 legacy 3.6R since new. Absolutely zero issues. Even had the windshield replaced. No problems after either. All is good.
I hope your 21 model is still ok .
Yep, I made that mistake once. Drained the Differential but the fill was on the passenger side but there is also a very similar plug on the driver side. So I filled from driver and it actually ended up over filling the CVT. Needless to say had to get it towed to dealer to clean out.
I took over Dads 2011 Forester at 120,000km. Australian RHD. I was checking all the fluids not long after and realised it had the front diff dip stick and found it dry. It takes 2.2 litres of oil from memory and I used 2 litres to top it up. It was a regularly serviced car. I suspect someone has drained the diff by mistake at some point and not topped it off. The diff ate itself by about 180,000 so I swapped in a second hand low KM diff/gearbox.
Car Wizard once had a mechanic working for him that got the transmission and differential ports mixed up. It cost the Wizard like $10k or some huge amount. He talked about it on VinWiki. So yeah, I don't think he's gonna let any of his guys make that mistake again.
2010 Outback, 115k miles, two changes of CVT fluid. Biggest pain is sunroof leaks / drain clogs and the driver's seat leather / vinyl is quite thin. Subaru fixed the head gasket issues in 2010 for the Legacy / Outback line, a bit later for the Impreza line. Oil filter on the 2010 is on the bottom surrounded by exhaust pipes. There's plenty of room for passengers and gear along with great gas mileage (for it's size). I've gotten 28-29 MPG on long road trips. I actually like the CVT (and yes, I also like the manual in my Miata). Getting parts in for front lower control arms (100k replacement item due to bushing tears). Anything I don't want to handle goes to a trusted independent Subaru mechanic. Sometimes I gulp a bit at the bill, but never complain as I know they know what they're doing.
Agree on the thin leatherette on drivers side and the sunroof drain issues. I have both a 2012 and 2014 outback. Both are kept outdoors and also under some trees. It apparently is the tree pollen that accumulates in the sunroof gutter drains and eventually cloggs them , creating havoc when it rains and the water ends up inside your car. A real pain in the a--. I have suun the drain cleaning videos on the "Mrsubaru" channel and have cleaned the drains myself but it does not last for long. My subaru dealer says they "blow" the drains clean but this still has to be repeated every year or two.
The back seat on these Outbacks is like a limo. The seatbacks recline and they have tons of room. A past co-worker of mine had a 2013 and it was one of the few vehicles I'd been in that I could easily squeeze my 6'5" frame into. Thumbs up to Subie for that.
Eyesight saved my life multiple times on one drive in October 2020. I worked all day, then flew to Phoenix where my wife and I have a home and she was having a medical emergency. She, somehow, picked me up at the airport and I rushed her directly to Mayo from the airport. I was there until 330am and they wanted me out of there, exhausted or not. (I have nothing good to say about the Mayo in Az) I had a 52 mile drive to our home and I fell asleep 5 times. I had all the safety equipment on and it kept me on the road, centered in my lane and away from others. Unfortunately, it will not override throttle inputs. I woke up one time, finding myself traveling over 100mph, in an Outback! That was an adrenaline rush and kept me awake for the next several miles. Anyway, our 2016 Outback kept me safe and is an invaluable feature.
Why didn’t you just sleep in the car?
Holy shit get a hotel in that case dude
Thank you. I have a 09 Forester 2.5 NA NT 4cyl with 209k miles
I try to change oil every 3k miles. I keep up with owner manual recommended major services done by dealership. Car has been very dependable. Just saving up for next major services at 240k miles.
Some surface rust in some spots.
Thank you Car Wizard and Mrs. Wizard.
I owned a '14 Outback 6/MT and drove it from new to 45k miles (sadly, had to trade it as it couldn't pull my 16k lb horsetrailer). It had the FB-series 2.5 (chain cam drive vs belt of the EJ-series) the same as the vehicle in your video. No head gasket issues with this engine (nor any since 2010 including those EJ's) but '13s and '14s experienced high oil consumption due to the thin 0W-20 oil and low tension oil rings used for higher MPGs. Not all but some - mine was one of the "some" and had the entire short block replaced by Subaru at no cost to me with 18k miles on it. Consumption was 1 quart per 3000 miles before/ not detectable after short block replacement 5k miles after oil changes. Great cars (I still own two, one '10 6/MT with 99k miles and an '11 CVT with 173k miles). I change the CVT fluid every 60k miles and have had/have no issues with it at all. My $0.02 worth.
My mom's '14 Outback has the same oil consumption issue you've described. She and my dad bought it used at 90k miles. Still runs great as we speak, now at 120k-ish miles.
No CVT issues. A/C compressor went out at 99k miles. They've done all the dealer-recommended maintenance items, and the previous owner did too.
The best plastic trees on the planet!! NICE Mrs. Wizard!
I love my 07 Forester. I want a new one but have always been a little bit leery of CVTs. Gotta say thanks Wizard for all the tips and advice and making me think I can still buy one of these 😁
AFAIK the problematic Subaru CVTs where in the 10-14 year range, because when they came out they where supposed to have "lifetime fluid" so this fluid change, now part of the scheduled maintenance, was worked in, and they found out the hard way that these units occasionally needed fresh fluid. At least in outbacks, since 2015 they either come with the second gen 4cylinder compatible CVT or a heavy duty unit for turbo engines or the flat 6. In my research for buying a 2015 Outback with the flat 6, I never found conclusive lots of evidence issues of that unit, and at this point I still see plenty on the road so, I think they have it mostly sorted out as long as it's serviced properly. Just my 2 cents, love my outback.
Hey Wizard & Mrs Wizard, you're right all cars look alike anymore & they all have either gray, tan or black interiors!!! You can tell a 58 Cadillac from a 58 Lincoln, cars of yesteryears had personality!!! Happy Holidays!!! 🎄🤶
It's not easy finding a good honest mechanic that doesn't complain about subarus. Keep up the good works! Thank you.
Love the Car Wizard. I've had two Outbacks--a 2005 with 185K miles and a 2006 with 227K miles, both with the metal timing chain 3.0L. Thirsty engines but bullet proof. Bought the 3.0 instead of the dreaded 2.5 with the chronic head gasket issues. For those who have the pre 2010 2.5l engines I found out that a main culprit is the cooling jackets are too close to pistons chambers which changes the PH levels of the coolant, making the coolant acidic. What Subaru made, but they won't come out and tell you because that implies they knew of the problem, was a special coolant additive that they add during coolant service in order to balance the PH and stopping the acidic aspect which eats head gaskets. The additive costs about $15. But Subarus are maintenance hogs. If you're on top of the maintenance (change coolant, all oils, stay on top of sticky caliper pins, change bearings--which are easy to do--etc) then they are wonderful cars. Tanks in snow and my car is rated to tow almost 3000 pounds. Not as reliable as Toyota or Honda, but not far off. Still have major concerns of CVT knowing that they're basically throw away trannys. Not really repairable. Replacement cost in Canada is $9000!!
I would not recommend towing anything with a vehicle equipped with a CVT transmission. CVTs are not strong enough and are prone to overheating when there is a load placed on them.
Could be for a bike rack.
I’ve towed thousands of miles with the car in the video at its max rating of 2700. Thousand lb trailer 1700lb polaris. Never any issues, just power lacking lol.
I bought an older Subaru a few years ago that was well maintained mechanically. Runs and drives like a champ but unfortunately didn’t have any rust prevention before I obtained it which is making it harder to work on and it is slowly getting eaten alive every year. I will definitely be getting another. Love these things, the perfect daily driver for Canadian winters.
That’s the story of my first car. 2000 Subaru Forester I bought in 2019 and had for 2 years. Throughout its whole life it only ever had preventative maintenance and a serpentine belt. However I had to get rid of it due to rust issues, I was told the brake lines were a hazard and suspension components were rusting through and it would leak gas when filling it. I’m in Michigan where winter and therefore rust kills cars
If you buy the H6 version you NEVER have to deal with head gaskets. Or timing belts, for that matter....
Great video!
After 2012 the 4 cylinder was redesigned with a timing chain.
The best is the 3.6 liter engine. It is fitted with a normal automatic transmission instead of the CVT.
@@yunus_aros on this generation, yes. In 2015 it was moved to a high torque CVT. It was dropped for 2020 and replaced with a 2.4 Turbo...
@@mikeL5183 It was, but instead of head gasket issues it has carbonation problems (related to the direct ignition) and the push rods to the rockers went bust.
Also the EE20 (diesel) has been having a lot of problems. Too poor oil lubrication combined with poor crank shaft bearings and a weak crank shaft. A lot of warranty errands is said to have almost make the company go bust due to the EE20.
@@mikeL5183 You’re correct. 👍🏻
My wife and I love our respective Subarus and have had zero issues in about 35k miles, but we're sticklers for regular maintenance. She had a 2018 Outback she got new and I have a 2018 Impreza hatchback I picked up off lease. We live in South Eastern PA and never had to call out of work due to weather conditions.
Funny. I have had two Subarus with EyeSight and after 61k miles on my Forester XT it has never had any calibration issues. The same is true for my mom, SO, and a half dozen friends who have cars with EyeSight. Not one problem with it other than the occasional mistaking of lettering on the road like SCHOOL as an object or not working in full sun. Both of which are to be expected from any camera based system. The only times I've heard about needing a recalibration is when the windshield is replaced with aftermarket ones that have waviness.
2017 Forester with 100k miles and only time it needed calibration was because we had the windshield replaced. Safelite did replaced the windshield and did the calibration.
Subaru requires calibrations anytime the windshield is replaced, whether it's oem glass or aftermarket. No 2 windshields are identical for light refraction or distortion, and every curved piece of glass has distortion. That's why it requires calibration every time is to make sure with the new windshield it's still looking in the same place
I have a '15 with about 85k and doing the spark plugs is a bit annoying until you get to cyl #4, then it becomes REALLY annoying since the cylinders on the driver's side are staggered further back and are closer to the frame rails. If the spark plug socket I got actually gripped the insulator, I would never have been able to get it in or out. Make sure you have a stick magnet for the several hundred times you drop tools since everything has to go into or out of that hole in pieces, one at a time.
That being said, after it was all said and done, I bought a '21 STI because after working on the EJ253 ('08 Impreza 2.5i) and the Outback's FB25, I never want to see another transverse FWD/AWD setup ever again.
My parents just ordered a new Subaru Crosstrek with a CVT. Ive been emphasizing the importance of regular services. 👍🇺🇸
Thank you for including Mrs Wiszard! She's an absolutely gem! I own a 2016 Outback, love it, which has 158k Kilometers haha, keep up the fantastic work! With love from Nova Scotia ❤
Great job Mrs. Wizard on the interior tour. Well spoken and I like the insertion of the occasional witty comment. 👍
MrsW is definitely cutting out her own niche 😃
Haaahaa "has really nice wood from the best plastic trees on the planet" - fantastic. You guys could probably put that on a t-shirt and add it to the shop.
I have a 2014 Subaru Outback that I bought new and has ISight. This is a great system that works flawlessly and has never given me a problem or required calibration. This is a fantastic car I have had for seven years with no issues atb
I am very glad that I got one of the last 2014 Manual Transmission Outbacks. I intend to keep it for a long time. Subaru has replaced the short block twice due to oil consumption but the third one seems to be working fine.
Did you have the consumption test done after SOA's deadline, by any chance? My '13 has always burned a lot of oil but somehow passed the consumption test. I've now got 104k miles in it and it's as bad as ever. Wondering if I could push them to redo the test and replace the short block if it fails this time.
I like that the rear seats recline a bit on these. Nice for long trips.
*174 lb-ft of torque 3:46 (love your content and knowledge, Car Wizard)
I have a 2018 Crosstrek. The manual states the CVT has “lifetime” fluid. Which of course isn’t true. The dealer said it’s not serviceable which of course is also not true. Then they tried some scare tactic saying the CVT fluid was like $150 a quart.
I do tow with my CVT. Less than a 1000 pounds. So I want to take care of the CVT the way this gentleman has. Since I can’t rely on my dealer to do that for me I need to find a shop that knows these things as well as you do.
Your videos are interesting, and helping to keep me educated about car maintenance, thank you!
I've driven a 2019 Crosstrek with Eyesight, the automatic cruise control was quite nice. A few times at night it would get temporarily blinded by headlights of oncoming cars, and needed to reset itself.
I had a 2003 Subaru Legacy GT fully loaded with naturally aspired 2.5L and a manual transmission. I drove it all the way to 2018 without one single major issue, including no head gasket issue. Did all the recommended maintenance, and it ran like brand new, even 15 years old. It was an excellent vehicle and got thru many colorado blizzards without getting stuck once. Even the leather interior held up extremely well despite being parked outdoors in cold Colorado winters.
I have a 2002 wrx that I still drive everyday. I really love it. I'll be sad when it goes away
I wonder how many owners have actually read their owners manual and are actually familiar with their vehicles maintenance schedule?
My father and grandfather were both engineers at Opel for their entire careers.
They maintained their vehicles meticulously and when my siblings and myself became drivers they reminded us of the importance of maintenance and weekly checks.
We were also told to follow the "SEVERE SERVICE SCHEDULE" because that represents the most realistic driving conditions of a majority of vehicles.
I have owned numerous vehicles over the last 40 years , some of them according urban legend as very problematic like high mileage BMW's and Renault's, and have driven tens of thousands of trouble-free miles following their advice.
The problem is that Subaru claims that it's a closed system, and that they advise NOT replacing the CVT fluid ever. Car Wizard had a problem with that in his Nissan CVT video. It makes it tough, because Subaru dealerships don't want to replace the fluids, and even Subaru specialty mechanics get weird with it too. I only have 30k miles on my Subaru on 50/50 city/highway miles, and I'm getting ready to find someone to do fluid changes.
Yeah, it’s sealed for “the life of the vehicle,” which Subaru internally thinks is 125,000 or something. So you have to just go and get it done. 90,000 is a good time, I would think. Mine was done a bit later.
ALSO Coolant flush/fill would be good at this age or soon because the coolant also cools the trans, and you will start seeing A/T Temp warning light on hot days at highway speeds. I had coolant replaced and have not seen that light since.
But it does need about a half quart of oil every month - but I drive over 2000 miles per month, so with 130K I presume this is (sadly) normal…
Those are just good looking cars. Great video man! You got me with the blown head gasket, I was shocked that it happened on a 2014
Subaru Eyesight is one of my favorite safety feature. Had it on my 2015 Outback Limited - no issues after 145k miles, including a lot of washboarded dirt roads.
New subscriber love your channel God bless you and your family and merry Christmas
It would have been nice to get some coverage on the CVT fluid change. I'd like to see the condition after 90k miles. Great video anyway!
I was thinking the same thing.
I had a 13 Outback same color as the one in your shop. It was the first Subaru I had ever owned, and will most likely be the last. I did end up trading it in for a Toyota, and it was with out a doubt a good decision. I was driving my Outlook just over 10,000 (That I had purchased brand new) down Interstate 10, and to my shock the low oil light came on, I immediately pulled over and shut the car off, and assessed the situation. This brand new car was 1 quart low on oil. To make a long story short Subaru said my Outback didn't qualify for the recall. So Subaru, if your reading this, I generally purchase a new car about every 5 years, but it won't be a Subaru; because you don't stand behind your customers or your products.
Mine was part of the 12' and 13' models that had the defective piston rings. Some folks were burning up engines with only 1000 miles on the clock. It was actually my wife's car that I bought her, but I felt it needed to go so she could have something better.
Low on oil after 10k miles? Most go low after 3k.
You do NOT have to go to dealer, Safelite can recalibrate when windshield replaced and certified
If you want to risk them ruining your eyesight computer, go for it.
Thanks for the car info Wizard! In 2014, we were looking for a smaller SUV/CUV/Crossover. We tested every make from the domestics, Japan, Germany, Sweden, and Korea. We had a budget, and certain wants and needs. Liftgate height was a big factor, both of us are tall and well, this is often a problem. The Subaru was a front runner, but the dealer was set in stone on pricing and we weren't really sold on the CVT. Also, it seemed very plain compared to the car we decided on which was a Hyundai Tucson. We've fortunately not had any engine issues that others have, but I don't go by the extended oil change recommendations.
Nice to see a Subaru in the shop!
My last vehicle purchase is a 2016 SUBARU Forester 2.0XS with a manual transmission and no EyeSight. I went for reliability when I bought it. With about 44500 miles (72000 km) on the clock I did not want to gamble. I changed all the fluids and it is driving very well. Being a Toyota fan boy I still don’t feel that the vehicle is as reliable as I am accustomed to, but I hope it will be.
In one of your shop stories videos recently I believe you told us about a mishap with a CVT fluid change on a SUBARU? I am glad that you solved it with the customer.
Just properly warm up the engine if in cold weather, change fluids etc... Subarus are quite reliable but way needier on maintenance than Toyotas
I traded in a Nissan Rogue with 90000 miles and it was incredibly reliable. And yes, I had the cvt serviced. It was a great car and ran as good when I traded it in as it did new.
ENCOURAGING THAT YOUR DENTIST HAS A CLEAN CAR
My family has three 2018 Subaru's with eyesight, not one issue so far.
I have never heard anyone on any Subaru message board complain of this.
"Wood from the best plastic trees on the planet" Mrs. Wizard! Outrageous! XD
Too many people buy into the filled for life or never needs service BS.
Great video Wizard.
The cvt fluid is lifetime fluid because the cvt transmission has such a short life span
Filled for life is actually very true!
'Cause when the transmission goes out thanks to not ever changing the ATF it's life is over...
Exactly guys!
I’ve got a ‘16 and ‘17 Outback. Been happy with both of them except the ‘16 had a rear wheel bearing go bad with only 32000 miles. Otherwise, not a single other issue. Mileage is great. I often get in the low 30s. I once got 36. Probably had a tailwind on that trip.
Sounds like you had a little too much fun
A person crossing a 45 mph road in the middle of the block crossed in front of me where there was no streetlight. Literally didn't even see the guy and my car nearly stopped itself cause of eyesight. Yeah it's an annoyance but it saved me from potentially hurting someone so its well worth it.
pedestrian error but thankfully your car wanst damaged
Yeah pedestrians are totally out of control these days.
@@compaqdeskpro5770 foolish laws empower them to cross badly
Meh, look both ways before you cross the street. Not my fault if you don't.
@@bikeman1x11 I live in Europe and I can't tell you how many people cross the street on red lights, Red light for the car, red for the pedestrians.
But the worst are Bicycle Riders, riding on sidewalks once I hit one with my back-bag I was taking down, while he wanted to pass me on my left side.
I couldn't hear him, since I used over-ear Headphones on. He complained a lot until I took him by his hand walked a few feet to our left, and showed him the *BICYCLE-PATH* on the street he could use. His excuse: He lives in a house just a bit further down, and didn't want to push the bicycle that short distance..
I have 2 Subaru Foresters. 2003 XS and 2015 XT Touring. happy with both of them. I think I'm going to do the CVT service on the 2015 as you suggested ahead of schedule. thanks Mr. Car Wizard !
That oil filter location.. My 2006 Accord cries in corner.. .. a corner of reliability!! hehe
Fluid changes as per the severe service interval schedule is the way to preserve the mechanical. CVT transmission fluid changes too.
2:08 With most modern cars you have to pay attention to subtle styling details, just about everything on the front-end screams Subaru.
I got lucky with my 2000 that I bought in 2019 and had until last year, it only ever had preventative maintenance and a new serpentine belt in its entire life. It was also great in the winter, kind of regretting getting rid of it because I now drive a car that’s horrible in the winter. Very reliable and practical and even a bit fun and off-road capable but I had to get rid of it because it was rusting so horribly that the mechanic told me to get rid of it before brake lines burst and the fuel filler line rusted through and it would leak gas when you filled it.
We have a great ale golden chonk of an 2016 (I thiiiink...) Outback. She has been such a champ ever since we got her. Good economy and regular servicing has been rewarding as she just soldiers on! Good thing is that she's got a CNG conversion that really gives us superduper milage when it comes to fuel. Luckily we have the original gasoline tank of 65 liter as well. She pulls like a champ and tackles rough terrain with gusto! We could not be happier. 😃
It has been suggested to recalibrate the EyeSight system after any suspension work has been done and after EVERY wheel alignment. $$$. That’s what the dealership never really discusses with their customers. Thanks for the video.
I work at a Subaru service department. What you heard is incorrect. The only time we ever have to recalibrate is after windshield replacement.
Some shops are money-grabbers. Will suggest "recommended" adjustments if they can make it sound believeable.
Its a car I seriously considered, and im sure I'd be perfectly happy with one, but ultimately I found the Skoda Octavia 4x4 2.0 Tdi more refined and a lot more economical on fuel. On quality maybe Subaru has the edge, but after five years the Skoda has only had one failure...the clutch slave leaked on the clutch. I get my auto shop to clean the filter and change the transmission fluid on the Haldex unit. We did nearly 800 miles last week and the trip computer said we had averaged 53mpg which is amazing. I'd rather not have an "eyesight" unit whilst my own still works reasonably well.
"Meant for the outdoors" 😃 damn, I do all my driving inside
That is NOT the front differential fill! The diff fill is on the right (passenger) side just above the inner cv joint. Many people fill the plug which you pointed out and this will add gear oil to the transmission and will destroy it.
You should pull this video down and correct it. Please also point out the differential oil overflow plug, as you fill this diff until fluid pours out the overflow. Someone might follow your incorrect information and destrou their CVT. Fluid changes done wrong are the most common way the Subaru CVTs get destroyed.
There are rebuild parts for the u joints. Uses the same parts as the Highlander and Lexus RX.
I don't know where you hear about the eyesight calibration issues. I've worked at a dealer for years and we only recalibrate the eyesight when the windshield is replaced, since the optics of the new glass will be different. They don't go out of calibration on their own. On the other hand, some glass companies*cough*Safelite*cough* have tried to recalibrate the eyesight themselves and ruined the camera computer, hardly a Subaru issue. Also, super cheap glass like Fuyao are so warped from the factory that eyesight will not calibrate. Glass so bad that it looks like you put on someone's prescription glasses.
Had a vertical crack right down the centre of the windshield and had to have the windshield and eyesight calibration done at the dealership body shop. It’s an excellent system and has prevented a couple of incidents that could have been far more expensive. Automatic emergency braking and automatic high beam dimming. It even tells you when the traffic ahead has started to move and it dips the headlights when stopped behind another vehicle so you don’t blind the other driver in their mirror. It’s the safest car we’ve ever owned. In fact we’re on our second Forester.
+1. Absolutely agree. Had to replace windshield on 2019 Crosstrek Limited. There is no way I would trust non-OEM windshield or a non-dealer install which would otherwise compromise the degree of safety that Subaru engineers incorporated into eyesight. The decision to use OEM Subaru windshield with an authorized dealer install is a no-brainer.
Yup I’ve worked on Subarus for 5 years and have replaced only 1 eyesight camera. They really don’t give much problems.
I had two viszulas
I have seen plenty of problems with oem glass as well as aftermarket. That being said often they are made in the exact same glass plants and the just have a different stamp on the glass. Have replaced many broken oem windshields with aftermarket ones and they both have the same DOT codes on the glass. Now I have only done dynamic calibrations of the lane departure systems and not the static calibrations that the Subarus require. But seeing that the eye sight system isn’t even attached to the windshield like most others I would have to lean towards a over durability problem with the system (hardware/software) that is burning then out. I have seen the static calibrations set up in the shop and how the tablet walks you through the calibrations on the dynamic. It should be as straight forward as following the directions on the tablet on how to set up the grid and run the rest of the calibration.
I've had 4 Subarus and all were good. The reason I don't have one today is they have CVT transmissions.
True about the styling. I said to my wife the other day, that American, Japanese, and all the other newer cars look like they were all designed by the same team.
If you doubt this just look at the rear window styling or other specific features.
Great content Wizard.👍Preventive maintenance should be common sense and yet so many people fail to follow manufacturer maintenance schedule or any preventive maintenance at all and then wonder why their vehicles self destruct way before they should... But on the plus side, at least I keep busy thanks to those customers!😁👍🇺🇸
When I did oil-tech at a dealership I checked Everything as I'd learned at 11yo what Wizard is showing people to check.I serviced a fleet for a particular company that used Diesels and they asked why I kept insisting on changing their air-filters.I Always put parts,except oil filters,in the replacements box,and bagged them.The guys picking up were throwing them out.Diesels clog so badly in service vans left idling.When any customers filter was 1/2 clogged or less I'd blow it out,but note it for them to watch.The fleet manager sent others to us.Their fuel bill had dropped more than the filters cost over time.
And some people just cannot afford maintenance, that's why they drive them until they breakdown! Sae, but true!
I learned my lesson with Subaru CVTs when I had a 13' Legacy...most annoying thing about the whole thing was Subaru corporate would not recommend a CVT fluid change interval and the local dealers were very vague and basically said they were not responsible if the trans blew after a change. I eventually dumped the car at about 145k a year after replacing CVT fluid when trans noise was slowly getting worse. At least with my current Honda they clearly have service intervals to change fluid etc. around every 45k-55k miles or so
This just happened to my mother's 2013 outback. I asked her when she last did a fluid change on the CVT and she said the dealer would tell her if she needed it. All of this when she's giving me grief for setting aside funds for getting it the fluids changed in the diff and transmission of my 14 compass that just hit 120k miles - no idea what the previous owners did to it maintenance wise.
@@HaddaClu I thought the whole thing was ridiculous, the owners manual claimed lifetime fluid which we all know is false. Many independent shops locally won’t touch those CVTs either but the fact Subaru themselves wouldn’t give a straight answer was the worst.
Only cvt i would touch is the B6 Audi A4. Never heard about any failures.
Eyesight and similar systems now mean that a cracked windshield costs $800+ to fix because you have to recalibrate when you change the glass.
Ours was covered by insurance
@@frankbier1690 and then your rates raise lol. Just like collision.
@@frankbier1690 Do that one too many times and they'll drop you just the same.
@@ZboeC5 Depends on the state. In TX, for example, they can't drop you for comprehensive claims, but they can force you to increase your deductible.
We have Eyesight on our Outback and don’t trust the lane centering at all. Twice it has crossed the plainly bright white line allowing our Subie to drift off the road.
The eyesight does very well while using the cruise control, even bringing our Subie to a complete stop.
The eyesight will NOT work when it’s snowing.
Interesting. I purchased my 2015 without Eyesight and I have always regretted not having this feature. In fact it's one motivation for replacing my Outback at 105k miles. But the car is absolutely flawless in every way
@@kippywylie My 19 Forester is miles ahead of my wife’s 19 Outback when it comes to the eyesight.
We almost bought the 20 Outback but not even the salesman could figure out the infotainment system. The 19 is much easier.
I hear that the 23 infotainment system is way easier
You cant trust manufacturers routine maintinance schedules anymore. Subaru says these cvts are sealed for life, they ARE NOT. Honda says my odysseys 6 speed is 100k atf and its NOT, it started shuddering at 57k miles and a tsb said atf flush. Did it, fixed. But if Honda said atf at 50k it wouldnt have been a problem. Heres my advice, do service intervals at half the miles the manufacturer says to.
My Subaru dealer said same, but would u risk warranty. mine is covered to 100,000 miles. I bought the fluid and gaskets and scan tool to see temp. on fluid. But now i am hesitant to do it. Mechanic down the street said he wouldn't touch it if it was him, due to warranty.
I used to own a Lincoln Ls with the manual transmission. I used to do preventative maintenance and the car never left me stranded.
3:45 Definitely not 250 lb-ft of torque. That's not the H6. The H4 has 174 lb-ft. Maybe you got the torque number accidentally mixed up with the H6? Those have about 250 lb-ft.
Correct
@@CarWizard Love your channel, Wizard! Been here since Hoovie just started his channel. You both are amazing!
Some Safelite locations can calibrate the Eysight since mine did it and mine has never gone out of calibration - it is an 18’.
Same
Safelite does windshield replacements when you need them and they also have the calibration tools for those safety camera sensors you talked about. That has to be done whenever you replace the windshield.
I used to have a 2014 Subaru Outback and I never had any problems with it mechanically, I sold it because I wanted something bigger and newer.
I'd love to see an H6 Subaru in your shop one day, I love my 08 Legacy 3.0R! The EZ30/36 motors are absolutely bulletproof if well maintained.
I bought my outback 3.0 because it was seemingly the perfect car for me. Not too expensive, good looks and has the power of the 2.5 turbo (still not as fast unfortunately) with none of the headgasket issues... Or so I thought. I'm now faced with failing headgaskets on my EZ30 and it's a lot more expensive than the EJs. Such a shame, beautiful car, one of the cleanest I've ever seen to this day, quick and they sound better than 95% of cars. It hasn't blown completely yet, so it's still on the road.
50 something bolts holding the timing cover on is a bit excessive. I got an 06 ll bean that needs a water pump. I'm saving up the $2k+ that is gonna cost to do it and have the head gaskets done as well since they wanna pull the engine out just for the water pump.
@@justinlewis420 yeah lol, the timing cover/bolts is one downside to the H6
'05 Outback H6 with 125K miles still going strong, but service is essential. Change ALL fluids every three years (trans, rad, diffs). Nobody repairs components anymore. Modern cars designed to replace major assemblies only (CVT, driveshaft, complete suspension linkages).
Everything works better if it’s maintained, people, cars, & any other equipment
Okay so I paused it at the start to take a guess: Timing chain cover leak is the most common problem for 2013+ models!
I've had 2 subaru i would have got a 3rd but i wasn't impressed with the new ones the new impreza was quite chattery, and i couldn't find a manual ( i don't want a cvt ) I sorta looked at outbacks never drove them because they turned into an suv but the price scared me away they'd be like 23,000$ have 80,000 miles on it and be like 3 years old
So I turned around and bought a Corolla hatch 6 speed
wizard! when are you gonna show off that chevelle more? I also see it on the lift looking proud! thanks for your videos. love from CO
I work at a Subaru dealership. Customer had a 2013
What do ya know. Headgasket leaking which is rare for an FB motor. But it can happen
I have the oil changed every 4K miles with Mobile 1 full synthetic and the front and rear differential, transfer case and a transmission flush every 30K miles.
This is how we can get 300K+ miles from our vehicles
I have a 15 Legacy without eyesight. All maintenence has been performed. I've never had an issue with it and I enjoy owning and driving it.
Had a 2010 Outback, first yr of the “big” Outback. Had to almost fight the dealer to flush the CVT at 50k. Everybody ….just do the fluids and filters. I can’t afford what I’d “save” by skimping…when the trans blows up. Too bad that it was a terrible launch…4 recalls in first two years, water leaks, full center stack would be dead once or twice a month….and some dodgy part quality, struts replaced in warranty at 30k, rear shocks DEAD at 45k…
FYI the eyesight problems usually are the result of a windshield replacement without recalibration. Third party windshield repair companies will do it like safelight. As for cost, my insurance company (progressive) has an option for a $100 glass deductible and they will pay for the windshield replacement and recalibration. It added $2.50 per month to our policy, well worth it.
My cheap 2011 Ford Escape hybrid does the same thing as a Subaru without the Duratec blowing head gaskets nor CVT issues. Doesn't have the status of Subaru, but it's been reliable in the 65,000 miles I've had it. 140,000 miles, no oil usage, zero gaskets replaced. New shocks, struts and control arm assemblies, but it drives like new again, and Ford uses a durable/reliable E-CVT similar to Toyota hybrids which have no belts or clutches to ever wear out.
after the experience of our 2002 with the head gaskets . 2x while under warranty no amount of praise can get me to consider another one.
SHOUTOUT TO THE CAR WIZARD FROM THE GANG INFESTED HOODS OF LOS ANGELES
WE LOVE YOUR CHANNEL OUT HERE BRO
I had a vizsla and I didn't even know there was a wire haired type.
The FB25 engine is known to not have a headgasket issues.
Nor do the EZ series of engines....
Mr Wizard, the 4 cylinder engine has only 174 lbft torque. It is the 6 cylinder engine that has 250 lbft torque. Why the towing capacity 3500 lbs for the Outback, but only 1500 lbs for the Forester, when they have the same engine?
A lot of factors go into a manufacturer calculating a vehicle's towing capacity. It's not just the engine. It's also the load rating on the transmission, and it's reasonable that the smaller vehicle likely doesn't have the same load carrying capacity as a larger one. I'd say if you need that much towing capacity, you're looking at the wrong vehicle.
@@houseofno I appreciate the detailed response. The Forester is only about 125lbs lighter.
Preventive maintenance has its place but can turn into a rabbit hole. Especially if it's cheap parts that are inferior to OEM replacing perfectly functional OE parts. Most parts store shocks and struts are junk. I leave the factory ones on until they are dead. Some brands that used to be "name" brands have been sold down the river and no longer have the quality to match their previous reputation.
I do not have a vizsla but just read a book (Kingdom of Shadows by Alan Furst) where they play a role so its funny to see them mentioned in your video because I don't think they get mentioned much. I am a Labrador guy myself. Nice to see a Subaru video they are practically the state car of Washington and Oregon.
I’ve owned Vizslas my whole life. My grandfather was the owner of a male bred from the first female imported from Hungary in the 60’s. The wirehaired are much more rare and more relaxed. They have an off switch, while the smooth V’s are hard to keep exercised enough to keep from wanting to kill them their first two years of life (sarcasm-but maybe not 😂).
My 2011 Forester with FB25 engine and 4 speed standard auto box burned a set of lower control arms (rubber bushes) every 100,000km (62,000 miles) It finally died when the head gasket did go at 317,000km and on it's 4th set of lower control arms.
Just bought a 2013 101,204 miles drives like new 👍🏾
My friend just got rid of her 2011 Outback... with 320k miles. It didn't leave her stranded once, since buying it in 2018.
My mom bought a 2011 outback with 170k (and a CVT) sight unseen for me. It had an illuminated CEL for the majority of the time I had it. I took it into a dealer for recall airbag replacement and they gave it a free inspection quoting what I paid in repairs needed. Not even 6 months later it kicked the bucket hard and I haven't wanted a subaru since.
This 2006 TSX has treated me nicely ever since though 😎
My house is dirty channel. Hold my short prank your twin Car Wizard is on there😀 0.35
That's a beautiful outback!
Looks better than my 2014 CX5
However, mine also has had all maintenance and services and then some.
CX5 looks better.
They did solve that problem.
Id like people to remember they weren't known for the correct thing. They were known for cooling issues actually that leads to blown head gaskets.
To the point that subaru used to put from the factory, coolant conditioner, which us actually subaru rebranded stop leak. Sooooooo, this is what caused some of the issues as well. Theyd get u past the warranty by slapping some stop leak in and then they'd f u in the end by not replacing the water pump or thermostat or head gasket before it was an issue which always led to a problem.
These 2.5's are awesome little engines to work on too. I prefer the 2.5l to 3.6 but thats me.
The 3 6l had more issues