Subaru Extended Warranty

The Gist:

• The average cost for a Subaru vehicle service contract is $640 annually.
• Deductible options are $0 or $100.
• A Subaru extended warranty isn’t your only option for long-term vehicle protection. Many third-party vehicle service contract providers offer competitive plans.

In this article, we’ll examine the reliability of Subaru vehicles, common issues, and the manufacturer’s basic factory warranty. We’ll also outline what is included in the Subaru extended warranty and see how it compares with one of the best extended car warranty companies on the market.

An extended car warranty refers to mechanical breakdown coverage offered by a vehicle manufacturer. However, this term is often mistakenly used to describe coverage from third-party companies. Independent providers offer similar protection through vehicle service contracts, but we’ve used the terms interchangeably in this article for convenience.

Subaru Extended Warranty Coverage

Subaru customers can choose from two coverage levels lasting 8 years/120,000 miles to 10 years/100,000 miles. The table below highlights components and systems covered in each of Subaru’s coverage levels.

Subaru Extended Warranties

Subaru’s extended warranty coverage is called Subaru Added Security^® and offers two levels of protection. The Gold Plus plan is a bumper-to-bumper warranty, and the Classic plan is a powertrain warranty. Unlike most automakers, Subaru offers a wear-and-tear warranty. Read on for a list of covered parts for each Subaru extended warranty option.

Subaru Added Security Classic

Classic coverage applies to nearly 1,000 parts in all component areas, including items often excluded from extended car warranties, such as wear-and-tear items and onboard computers. Additional covered components include powertrain cooling system, fuel system, steering, suspension, brakes, electrical systems, and air conditioning.

Subaru Added Security Gold Plus

The Gold Plus plan is Subaru’s most extensive extended warranty, providing bumper-to-bumper protection similar to the company’s new car limited warranty. Though similar to a manufacturer’s warranty, the Gold Plus plan has a more extensive list of excluded parts, including maintenance items and body parts. This plan covers most of your vehicle’s major components, including all the parts protected by the Classic warranty and hundreds more. 

This plan provides additional coverage for high-tech systems such as EyeSight^® driver assist technology, rear cross-traffic alert, DriverFocus™ distraction mitigation system, blind spot detection, reverse automatic braking, and STARLINK^® multimedia, safety, and security systems.

Subaru Added Security Terms and Conditions

Here are some additional details about Subaru Added Security plans:

• Eligibility: Subaru vehicles still under the new vehicle limited warranty period (3 years/36,000 miles) are eligible for Subaru Added Security
• Coverage Terms: Subaru Added Security provides coverage for up to 10 years/100,000 miles
• Covered Repairs: All repairs must be made by Subaru technicians at certified repair shops using genuine Subaru parts (either new or Subaru re-manufactured)
• Transferability: Remaining coverage is transferable to a private owner within 30 days of purchase

What Does A Subaru Extended Warranty Not Cover?

While Subaru warranties are extensive, they do not cover everything. Some components excluded from Subaru warranty coverage include:

• Glass
• Exterior trim
• Upholstery

Subaru Roadside Assistance

Subaru’s roadside assistance program includes fuel delivery and service for lockouts and flat tires.

Subaru benefits are standard for extended car warranties. All Subaru extended warranty plans include the following additional perks:

• Towing reimbursement: Up to $100 per occurrence
• Rental car reimbursement: Up to $40 per day for a maximum of five days

The company offers an additional perk for Gold Plus members that is better than the industry standard.

• Trip Interruption Reimbursement: up to $500 for meals and lodging if a breakdown occurs more than 50 miles from your home.

Subaru Vehicle Protection Plans

Following industry standards, Subaru also offers vehicle protection plans that cover scheduled maintenance costs, dent and ding repair, and more. Below are more details about these expanded coverage options.

Subaru Maintenance Plans

In addition to its basic extended warranty offerings, Subaru offers drivers prepaid coverage for regular maintenance, such as tire rotations and oil changes for up to 3 years/45,000 miles.

Subaru Wear And Tear Warranty

Unlike most automakers, Subaru offers extended coverage for wear and tear components. This plan also covers damage done to protected parts caused by non-covered components. Wear and tear items covered by this plan include:

• Brake pads
• Shoe linings
• Clutch linings
• Wiper blades

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Subaru Extended Warranty Price

Ranging from $1,500 to $3,000, the average cost of a Subaru extended warranty is roughly $2,600. This breaks down to an annual cost of around $640 for comprehensive coverage from the automaker. In addition, Subaru has two deductible options of $0 and $100.

Dealerships may charge different prices for the same amount of coverage, and the final price is sometimes negotiable. For this reason, you’ll need to contact a dealership for a free quote to determine what a Subaru extended warranty would cost for your vehicle.

Higher coverage levels are generally more expensive, especially if you choose a $0 deductible. With lower deductibles, you pay less out-of-pocket when your vehicle needs a repair, increasing the cost of your extended warranty contract.

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Is A Subaru Extended Warranty Worth It?

A Subaru extended warranty can pay for itself if the price is right. It can also give you peace of mind that you’ll be protected against high-cost repair bills, which are rare for Subarus.

That said, before purchasing an extended warranty, it’s good to consider the potential value of the investment. You’ll want to know how reliable your vehicle is and what is already covered by your factory warranty.

If you don’t intend to own your Subaru for long, you might not need an extended warranty. However, because extended warranties are transferable, they may increase the resale value of your car, provided you sell it privately. If you trade your Subaru back to a dealership, an extended warranty is unlikely to increase your trade-in value.

Subaru Warranty Check

When determining whether a Subaru extended warranty is worth the money, it’s best to begin by finding out whether your vehicle is already covered by a new car or certified pre-owned warranty.

If you are still determining whether your Subaru is covered under its original factory warranty, the easiest way to check your warranty status is to call a local Subaru dealer and give them your vehicle’s identification number (VIN).

New Subarus have a 3-year/36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty. In addition to the new vehicle warranty, Subaru vehicles have several factory warranties, including coverage for the powertrain, hybrid systems, rust perforation, wear and tear, and seat belt restraint systems. Below are each plan’s coverage and term lengths:

Subaru Certified Pre-Owned Warranty

Certified pre-owned Subarus come with a 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty with a $0 deductible and 24/7 roadside assistance.

Subaru Reliability 

After you’ve determined whether you have existing factory coverage from Subaru, the next step in deciding whether a Subaru extended warranty is worth it is assessing your vehicle’s reliability and expected maintenance cost and comparing them to the price of a Subaru extended warranty.

Compared to most vehicle brands, Subaru cars have high reliability scores, low annual repair costs, and do not subject owners to many inconveniences and expenditures. According to RepairPal, Subaru has an average reliability rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars. RepairPal reliability ratings and average yearly repair costs for popular Subaru models are outlined below.

As the table above shows, the reliability of Subaru vehicles varies by model. For example, the Subaru Impreza has the lowest rating of 3.5 stars and the highest annual repair cost–averaging $653 annually. On the other end of the spectrum, the Subaru Legacy has a reliability rating of 4.0 stars and the lowest annual repair cost, with an average of $563.

Subaru Repairs

Even though industry studies show that Subarus are reliable vehicles, even the most dependable cars break down sooner or later.

According to RepairPal, the annual repair cost for Subaru vehicles is $617, which is a little lower than the industry average of $652. Below is a chart with the price ranges for common repairs Subaru vehicles often require.

Ultimately, your final price for repairs depends on your vehicle's make and model. Labor costs vary across dealerships. That is why it is essential to consider how much the dealership you purchased your car from charges drivers for labor.

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Subaru Extended Warranty Review

Overall, Subaru extended warranties provide excellent coverage at a low price. The automaker’s extended warranties are generally cheaper than average due to the brand’s low maintenance and repair costs. 

In addition, Subaru offers drivers more flexibility when it comes to coverage lengths. Some manufacturers offer only one or two options.

One feature that stands out about Subaru’s extended warranties is the Gold Plus plan’s trip interruption coverage, which reimburses drivers for lodging and meals if their vehicle breaks down more than 50 miles from home. Most extended warranties provide reimbursement only if you break down more than 100 miles from home.

Aftermarket Subaru Warranty

While we’ve looked at Subaru factory extended warranties in detail, an extended warranty from the automaker is only one way to lengthen your warranty coverage. You can also purchase an extended Subaru warranty from third-party providers.

Although these companies do not always provide the same level of coverage as manufacturer-backed warranties, they usually offer longer coverage terms, more flexible plan options, and lower prices. Third-party extended warranty coverage is often available for vehicles with over 100,000 miles. It’s wise to compare Subaru’s pricing and coverage against free quotes from third-party alternatives to ensure you get the best deal.

Best Extended Warranty For Subaru

We conducted a comprehensive review of every industry-leading third-party provider and determined that an Endurance extended warranty offers the best coverage on the market. In the chart below, see how the Subaru extended warranty compares to an Endurance vehicle protection plan.

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Subaru Extended Warranty: Our Take

This article reviewed Subaru’s extended warranty costs, coverage, term lengths, and plans. While Subaru’s Gold Plus plan is impressive by industry standards, it does not allow drivers to customize their extended warranty coverage for their specific needs; some comprehensive warranty companies, such as CARCHEX, offer up to 16 plans. We recommend third-party vehicle service contract providers if you want customizable coverage options.

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Extended Warranty Subaru: FAQ

Bellow are common questions asked about Subaru's extended warranties.

How We Rate Warranty Providers

Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of extended auto warranty providers. While multiple qualities make a warranty company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers.

• Reputation: An extended car warranty company must be able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a long history of reliable service score well in this category. We also evaluate the availability and transparency of each company’s contracts and whether each provider offers a money-back guarantee.
• Coverage: Our team of experts looks at the number of extended warranty plans available, as well as term limits, exclusions, and added benefits, such as roadside assistance. Ratings also take into account the availability of maintenance coverage.
• Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between providers because so many factors impact vehicle service contract pricing. To determine our cost score, we perform a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and plans and consider available deductibles.
• Customer Experience: We listen to real customer sales calls and comb through reviews on sites such as the BBB to learn about customer experiences. Warranty companies with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the availability of mobile apps and chat features.