Disclosure: This content was produced by an independent editorial party for the purposes of educating our customers, and is not influenced by the other business operations of CARCHEX.
An extended car warranty is protection from the vehicle manufacturer against mechanical breakdowns. This term is sometimes incorrectly used to describe coverage from third-party providers, which offer similar protection plans called vehicle service contracts. CARCHEX is a vehicle service contract provider.
Subaru Extended Warranty Overview
For drivers who need coverage beyond the factory warranty period, there are three Subaru extended warranty options, called Added Security® extended service agreements.
- Gold Plus—This includes everything covered by the Classic plan and more. It’s similar to the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty and protects the majority of vehicle components, with some exceptions.
- Classic—This plan covers around 1,000 Subaru parts including the engine, transmission, drivetrain, suspension, steering, brakes, electrical, cooling system, fuel system, and air conditioning. It also comes with coverage for towing and rental car reimbursement.
- Powertrain—This plan takes care of your car’s engine and transaxle—the most vital components of the car.
All plans come with rental car reimbursement, and travel expense coverage if your Subaru breaks down more than 100 miles from your home. Pricing for a Subaru extended warranty is different at each dealership and is individually negotiated.
Most likely, an extended warranty from Subaru will cost more than a Subaru vehicle service contract with CARCHEX. We offer vehicle service contracts for Subaru vehicles that are dependable and affordable. We’ve been helping Subaru drivers find coverage for over 20 years.
Extras with Gold Plus Coverage
Gold Plus offers some additional technology protection that doesn’t apply to the other plans, such as:
- EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology
- Blind-Spit Detection
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Reverse Automatic Braking
- DriverFocus™ Distraction Mitigation System
- STARLINK® Multimedia
- STARLINK® Safety and Security
Your Subaru Factory Warranty at a Glance
All new Subaru vehicles come with a manufacturer-backed Subaru warranty package that includes:
- 3-year/36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty—Covers most components, barring a list of exclusions, and is commonly referred to as a bumper-to-bumper warranty
- 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty—A powertrain warranty covers the major power systems of the car, such as the engine block, timing belt, water pump, oil pump, front, rear, and all-wheel drive (but your transmission may not be covered depending on the year of your car)
- 3-year/36,000-mile wear item coverage—Covers repairs and replacements of brake pad and shoe linings, clutch linings, and wiper blades
- 5-year/unlimited-mileage rust perforation limited warranty—Covers rust-through that occurs to only a few parts of the original body of the vehicle
- Lifetime seat belt warranty—Covers seat belts that fail to function properly
- Added bonus—Subaru factory warranties are transferable, meaning that if you sell your vehicle while under the time/mileage limits, the new owner receives the remainder of the coverage
Subaru Factory Warranty Limitations
The Subaru warranty provides some limitations and exclusions, including:
- In order to receive coverage for repairs or replacements to your car, you must have your Subaru serviced at an authorized Subaru dealership.
- Only parts original to the vehicle or installed by an authorized Subaru dealer repair shop are covered under warranty.
- Once the time limits listed above expire, no matter who owns the car, the driver is on the hook to pay out of pocket for any vehicle repair costs.
- Subaru will only cover repairs or replacements that are due to faulty factory parts or workmanship, not normal vehicle use.
If you want to keep your Subaru on the road longer and save on expensive maintenance costs, a Subaru extended warranty can help provide extra coverage.
Is a Subaru Extended Warranty Worth It?
If you’re no longer covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, you’ll be responsible for paying the parts and labor costs of your repairs and part replacements. Subaru extended warranty prices are worth it for drivers who want to avoid paying for Subaru repairs out of pocket. In the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠, Subaru placed 14th out of 32 brands studied and below the industry average. RepairPal rates Subaru 3.5 out of 5.0 for reliability and ranks it 14th out of 32 brands.
According to CarComplaints.com, Subaru owners have reported problems such as:
- Excessive or high oil consumption in Subaru Foresters
- Excessive oil consumption and transmission failure in Subaru Outbacks
- Engine failure, excessive oil consumption, and stalling in Subaru Legacy vehicles
In addition, Subaru drivers have reported the following common repairs, according to RepairPal:
- Head gasket replacement—$1,967 to $2,277
- Clutch replacement—$676 to $2,281
- Timing belt replacement—$597 to $804
- Suspension ball joint replacement—$251 to $347
If these numbers would not comfortably fit into your budget, then you’re like most auto owners. Forking over the cash yourself can put a great deal of strain on your wallet and your peace of mind.
CARCHEX Subaru Coverage
Many drivers whose Subaru factory warranties have expired choose to cover their vehicle with an extended warranty. Vehicle service contracts* from third-party providers are often available at an affordable price and come with a number of added benefits.
At CARCHEX, we offer vehicle service plans for Subaru vehicles at a price that can fit into any budget. For more than two decades, we’ve been keeping drivers safe on the road. When you buy coverage with CARCHEX, you can count on the following:
- Affordable monthly payment plans—We offer affordable and flexible low monthly payments that can fit into any budget. CARCHEX also requires no down payment to get started, though a deductible may apply before coverage kicks in.
- Consultative customer service—CARCHEX Extended Vehicle Protection Plans allow you to customize the coverage and price of your coverage based on your budget, driving habits, and needs—and our specialists can help.
- Your pick of repair shop—We believe that you should have confidence in your mechanic. That’s why CARCHEX partners with more than 30,000 repair facilities nationwide.
- 30-day money-back guarantee—We stand behind our Extended Vehicle Protection Plans. If you’re not pleased with your warranty, just let us know within 30 days and we’ll provide a refund. After 30 days, you can still receive a prorated refund if you have yet to file a claim.
- Best-in-class customer service—Customer satisfaction is of utmost performance to us. We proudly boast an A+ score from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
- No-Haggle, Low-Price Everyday Guarantee™—When you call us for a free quote, we’ll provide a fair, competitive price up front.
- Extra benefits—All plans include roadside assistance, towing, rental car reimbursement, and other benefits.
All CARCHEX plan benefits carry terms and conditions. See your CARCHEX contract for more details or reach out to our team for answers to your questions.
*Any plans offered by CARCHEX are not extended warranties, but are often referred to by consumers as such. CARCHEX vehicle service contracts (also called “protection plans”) operate similarly to extended warranties and provide repair coverage for mechanical breakdowns after factory warranties expire.
CARCHEX Extended Vehicle Protection Plans
CARCHEX offers comprehensive coverage and affordable Subaru extended car coverage prices. Our five levels of coverage include: Titanium, Platinum, Powertrain Plus, Powertrain, and Extra Care. CARCHEX offers a number of protection plans within each level, so your plan can be customized to the best protection for your specific vehicle. Here’s a quick look at our extended vehicle protection plans:
- Titanium coverage—This CARCHEX plan covers nearly all major vehicle components with a few exceptions.
- Platinum coverage—You’ll receive our highest level of stated-component coverage with the CARCHEX Platinum plan, with conditional coverage for most vehicle systems.
- Powertrain Plus coverage—If your car has almost 100,000 miles on it, this could be the plan that best suits your Subaru warranty needs. Plans cover a large number of components in critical vehicle systems, including the powertrain and select additional systems.
- Powertrain coverage—This practical base plan was designed to handle stated essential engine and transmission repairs.
- Extra Care coverage—Designed to enhance existing powertrain protection, Extra Care adds stated-component coverage for select components in additional vehicle systems, such as the suspension and brakes.
Affordable Extended Coverage for Subarus
When you invest in a CARCHEX Extended Vehicle Protection Plan, you should know that we are dedicated to providing all of our customers with coverage that fits their individual needs and budget.
We work with top-rated companies to offer affordable payment plans with flexible terms, which is great for Subaru car owners who can afford a low monthly payment but not an unexpected $3,000 car repair. Deductibles can be as low as $0.
Subaru Extended Warranty: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Subaru extended warranty:
Sources:
Subaru:
https://cdn.subarunet.com/stis/doc/warrantyBooklet/2024_war_and_maint_041723.pdf
J.D. Power:
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-vehicle-dependability-study-vds
CarComplaints:
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Subaru/
RepairPal:
http://repairpal.com/subaru
RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/estimator/head-gasket-replacement-cost
RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/estimator/clutch-replacement-cost
RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/estimator/timing-belt-replacement-cost
RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/estimator/suspension-ball-joint-replacement-cost
Better Business Bureau:
https://www.bbb.org/greater-maryland/business-reviews/extended-warranty-contract-service-companies/carchex-in-hunt-valley-md-23015869