Reviews of OEM Subaru head gasket

had three head gaskets done over a couple of years, second one told the put in a new timing belt while there in there , mechanic said it looked good , third time they finally used the correct gaskets, had heads surfaced, new head bolts, a few months later started leaking oil from the head gasket, they tightened 2 head bolts to fix it, poor fix but it worked

I spent 10k for a head gasket/clutch/belts/pully's etc. for my 06 wrx wagon with 170k. Sometimes cars aren't logical.

2015 Outback head gasket failed @ 194k miles last year.

My 2008 STi made it to 150k before needing them done, aftermarket buffer ones are on now and my poor 2010 2.5i had it's done at 35k under warranty but hasn't had an issue so far at 85k so we'll see I guess.

I'm on my seventh Subaru (all bought used), and I've never had a single head gasket issue.

2005 Impreza 225K miles. Original head gasket.

I had an 07 Outback that always leaked oil even after I replaced the head gasket…which I did every 50k miles.

Yes, I replaced the head gaskets in our 2008 2.5 non turbo Outback at 120k miles. They started leaking oil externally at probably 80k miles.

Had 4 Subarus. 3 of them failed - head gaskets of course - the one that did not...lo and behold, was a 6 cylinder! What are the odds? Back at the time I had looked it all up and knew exactly what the situation was.....a defective engine. My vehicles were far enough apart in years and types that I know the defect spanned many more years than initially claimed. I wish my experience was an anecdote. What are the odds, tho....then, that my SIL bought one 7 years later and THAT head gasket went too!

Mainly the EJ25 Outbacks have problems due to the failure of their head gaskets being pretty much inevitable. Also 2012+ Outbacks have a bad rep for their CVTs, not because they're bad, but because Subaru America stated that the CVT fluid is a lifetime fluid when every other country recommends replacing it every 50,000 kms, causing US models to blow up their transmission after just over 100,000 miles. This isn't a problem if you service your CVT regularly.