Subaru Warranty: What’s Covered, How Long It Lasts, and Whether to Extend It
A new Subaru comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. It also includes rust perforation coverage, a lifetime seat belt warranty, and an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on hybrid systems. When those run out, Subaru Added Security extended plans can stretch coverage to as much as 8 years/120,000 miles or 10 years/100,000 miles. This Subaru warranty guide covers each warranty, what it protects, what it excludes, and how to decide whether extra coverage is worth buying.
Subaru Warranty at a Glance
The table below summarizes every part of the Subaru warranty at a glance.
| Coverage | Term | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| New Vehicle Limited (bumper-to-bumper) | 3 years / 36,000 miles | Factory defects in materials or workmanship across most of the vehicle |
| Powertrain Limited | 5 years / 60,000 miles | Engine, transmission, drive axles and other major drivetrain parts |
| Wear Item Limited | 3 years / 36,000 miles | Brake pad/shoe linings, clutch linings, wiper blades |
| Rust Perforation | 5 years / unlimited miles | Original body sheet metal rusted completely through |
| Hybrid System Limited | 8 years / 100,000 miles | Hybrid components such as the battery pack and electric motor |
| Seat Belt Limited | Lifetime | Seat belts and related restraint components |
| Roadside Assistance | 3 years / 36,000 miles | Towing, jump-starts, flat-tire changes |
| Certified Pre-Owned Powertrain | 7 years / 100,000 miles | Powertrain coverage on Subaru Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, counted from original sale date |
Coverage runs until whichever limit, time or mileage, comes first. It starts on the date the vehicle is first sold or put into service.
New Vehicle Limited Warranty (Bumper-to-Bumper)
This is Subaru’s most comprehensive coverage and the centerpiece of the Subaru warranty. It lasts 3 years or 36,000 miles and protects against defects in materials or workmanship from the factory. It applies to most parts, including electrical systems and the infotainment system.
It is not a maintenance plan. Normal wear, damage from accidents or misuse, and routine service items such as oil changes, filters and tire rotations are not covered. Check your Warranty & Maintenance booklet for the full exclusion list.
Wear Item Limited Warranty
Many automakers exclude wearable parts entirely. Subaru covers a short list for the first 3 years or 36,000 miles: brake pad and shoe linings, clutch linings and wiper blades. That is useful if you find premature wear in the first few years, though it won’t cover normal wear from hard driving.
Powertrain Limited Warranty
The powertrain warranty lasts 5 years or 60,000 miles on all models. It covers the parts most expensive to fix:
- Engine (including cylinder heads, oil pump, timing components and water pump)
- Transmission, including the CVT on most models
- Transfer case and drive axles
- Other internal drivetrain components, as listed in your booklet
Subaru has occasionally extended CVT coverage on certain models through service campaigns. If you own an older Outback, Legacy, Forester, Impreza, Crosstrek or Ascent and are having transmission trouble, ask a Subaru retailer whether a campaign applies to your VIN.
Rust Perforation Warranty
Subaru covers original body sheet metal that rusts all the way through for 5 years, with no mileage limit. Surface rust, bubbling paint, stone chips and cosmetic corrosion don’t qualify. This matters in snowy states where road salt is heavy.
Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Coverage
Subaru’s hybrid system warranty runs 8 years or 100,000 miles and covers components like the high-voltage battery pack and electric motor. Battery electric models such as the Solterra have their own battery and electric drive unit warranty, with the rest of the powertrain covered for 5 years/60,000 miles. Because terms differ by model and year, confirm the details for your vehicle in its supplement booklet.
Emissions Warranties
Emissions coverage is separate from the basic warranty and comes in federal and California versions:
- Federal emissions performance warranty: 2 years/24,000 miles if the vehicle fails an emissions test
- California emissions performance and defect warranties: 3 years/50,000 miles
- Extended emissions coverage: longer terms, generally 8 years/80,000 miles for major emissions components such as the catalytic converter and engine control module
Several states follow California standards, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, so a Subaru bought there gets the California version.
Seat Belt Lifetime Warranty
Seat belts and related safety restraint components are covered for the life of the vehicle, which most automakers don’t offer.
Roadside Assistance
New Subarus include 3 years/36,000 miles of roadside help, including towing, jump-starts and flat-tire changes. Keep the number in your phone before you need it.
What the Subaru Warranty Does Not Cover
- Routine maintenance (oil changes, filters, fluids, tire rotation, alignment)
- Tires, which are covered by their manufacturer
- Damage from accidents, collisions, floods, fire or misuse
- Normal wear and tear, other than the listed wear items
- Cosmetic issues like paint chips and scratches
- Problems caused by non-genuine parts, neglect or unapproved modifications
- Commercial use, in some cases
A salvage or branded title can end factory warranty coverage, so check the title history if you’re buying used.
Does the Subaru Warranty Transfer to a New Owner?
Yes. The factory Subaru warranty stays with the vehicle, so remaining coverage generally passes to the next owner at no cost. Subaru Added Security agreements can also be transferred to a new private owner for a small fee, but the transfer must happen within 30 days of the sale.
Subaru Added Security: Extended Warranty Plans
When the factory coverage ends, Subaru Added Security extended service agreements can continue it. They are backed by Subaru of America rather than a third-party company.
Plan options:
- Gold Plus: Subaru’s most comprehensive plan. It covers everything except a short list of maintenance items and body parts. That includes wear and tear and advanced technology such as EyeSight and DriverFocus. Towing, rental car reimbursement and trip interruption benefits apply to covered repairs.
- Classic: Covers many major mechanical components, with fewer items than Gold Plus.
- Powertrain: Covers major drivetrain components. It isn’t available in all areas.
Key details:
- Terms run up to 8 years/120,000 miles or 10 years/100,000 miles, with eight plan options in total
- $0 or $100 deductible, and a deductible is paid once per repair visit rather than per part
- Repairs use genuine Subaru or Subaru re-manufactured parts, done by factory-trained technicians
- Towing and rental car reimbursement during covered repairs
- Eligible while the vehicle is still under the basic factory warranty, unless it’s used commercially or has a snowplow
- Pricing varies by plan length, deductible and vehicle, so ask a Subaru retailer for a quote
Is Added Security worth it? It makes the most sense if you plan to keep the car well past 60,000 miles, if repairs on a feature-heavy model would strain your budget, or if you want coverage for sensors and driver-assist systems like EyeSight. Buying while the car is new locks in today’s price. If you trade in every few years, you may never use it. Compare the contract terms, the exclusions and the total price before signing, and don’t feel pressured to decide at the dealership.
Subaru Maintenance Plans
Subaru also sells prepaid maintenance plans for 2 or 3 years and 24,000, 36,000 or 45,000 miles. They lock in the cost of scheduled service and can be rolled into a lease. They are separate from the warranty, but keeping up with scheduled maintenance helps if a claim is ever disputed.
How to File a Subaru Warranty Claim
- Confirm coverage. Check your purchase date, mileage and the warranty type that fits the problem.
- Contact a Subaru retailer. Warranty repairs are done at authorized Subaru retailers, and you don’t need to use the one that sold you the car.
- Describe the symptoms. Note when the problem started, warning lights and any sounds or smells.
- Bring your records. Maintenance receipts show you’ve kept up with service.
- Approve the diagnosis. If the issue is a covered defect, the retailer handles the claim with Subaru and you pay nothing, apart from any deductible on an extended plan.
- Ask about loaner options. If a needed part is unavailable, Subaru’s Owner Assistance Alternate Transportation program may apply within the basic warranty period.
- Escalate if needed. If the retailer denies a claim you believe is covered, contact Subaru of America customer support.
If the car can’t be driven safely, call roadside assistance for a tow rather than risk further damage.
How to Keep Your Subaru Warranty Valid
- Follow the maintenance schedule in your booklet
- Keep receipts, whether work is done at a Subaru retailer or an independent shop
- Use quality parts and fluids that meet Subaru specifications
- Avoid unapproved modifications that could cause the failure
- Address warning lights promptly
You don’t have to service the car at a Subaru retailer to keep the factory warranty, but records are your proof if a claim is questioned.
Subaru Warranty vs. Other Brands
Hyundai and Kia offer longer powertrain coverage, at 10 years/100,000 miles. The Nissan warranty matches Subaru’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain terms. Subaru’s strengths are the wear item coverage, the lifetime seat belt warranty and a factory-backed extended plan that includes advanced driver-assist features. A Ford warranty comparison shows similar trade-offs between coverage length and breadth of items.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Subaru warranty?
New Subarus have a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Rust perforation is covered for 5 years with unlimited miles, hybrid systems for 8 years/100,000 miles, and seat belts for life.
Does the Subaru warranty cover oil changes?
No. Oil changes, filters and other routine maintenance are the owner’s responsibility. A Subaru prepaid maintenance plan can cover scheduled service.
Does Subaru cover rust?
Only rust that perforates original body sheet metal, for 5 years with no mileage limit. Surface rust and paint corrosion aren’t covered.
Is the Subaru warranty transferable?
Yes, remaining factory coverage stays with the vehicle. Added Security plans can transfer to a new private owner for a small fee, within 30 days of the sale.
Is Subaru Added Security worth it?
It can be if you keep your car long-term or want coverage for tech like EyeSight. If you sell within a few years, you may not use it. Get quotes and compare terms first.
Does Subaru offer roadside assistance?
Yes, for 3 years or 36,000 miles on new vehicles, including towing, jump-starts and flat-tire changes.
Does a salvage title void the Subaru warranty?
It can. A salvage or branded title typically ends factory coverage, so check the vehicle history before buying. Our used car warranty guide can help if you’re shopping for a pre-owned Subaru.
Do I have to service my Subaru at a dealer to keep the warranty?
No, but keep records of all maintenance as proof that the schedule was followed.
Bottom line: For most buyers, the Subaru warranty is a strong factory package: a full bumper-to-bumper warranty, a long powertrain warranty, rust perforation coverage, a lifetime seat belt warranty and a factory-backed extended plan that covers driver-assist tech. Keep your maintenance records, use the wear-item coverage early, and price Added Security before your basic coverage expires.
Related Warranty Guides
Check the Latest Official Manufacturer Warranty Before You File
Warranty coverage periods, required proof-of-purchase documents, eligible defect categories, and claim handling times vary by region, model, and authorized seller. Always check the official manufacturer’s latest support portal before filing a claim to confirm your product's eligibility.