Subaru Liberty Buying Guide

2 Known Issues to Check

We track 2 known issues for the Subaru Liberty in the Australian market. 2 of these are high severity and could result in significant repair costs. Check the details below before buying.

Known Issues

Head gasket external coolant leak (EJ25 engines)

HIGH

Affected Years

2004–2009

Typical Repair Cost

$2,000–$4,000

Ask the Seller

"Has the head gasket ever been replaced? Any coolant loss or overheating history?"

Petrol

CVT shudder or valve body issues (Lineartronic CVT)

HIGH

Affected Years

2010–2018

Typical Repair Cost

$2,000–$6,000 (up to ~$9,000 if full replacement)

Ask the Seller

"Any shudder or hesitation when accelerating from low speed? Has the CVT fluid ever been serviced?"

CVT (Continuously Variable)

Transmission Notes

The Subaru Liberty uses different automatic transmission types depending on the model year:

2010–2023 CVT (Continuously Variable)

Questions to Ask the Seller

Use these questions when inspecting a Subaru Liberty:

1 Has the head gasket ever been replaced? Any coolant loss or overheating history?
2 Any shudder or hesitation when accelerating from low speed? Has the CVT fluid ever been serviced?