Hello from the Highlands

[Andygunn]

Hello from the Scottish Highlands.  I currently own a 2013 Forester XS 2.0 d.

I've been away from the brand for a few years. I've previously owned a hawkeye wrx wagon, a bugeye wrx wagon, a bugeye wrx saloon, 2x forester xts and an H6 Legacy estate. I'm hoping the diesel boxer will prove more reliable!

[Mr B]

The Boxer diesel is considered Subarus biggest engine failure .
You might get lucky as just past the worst production years with a 2013 but by design and emission regulations they all far from problem free .
I get loads of these with engine failure and end result is non viable repair costs and scrap metal value car .
They stopped making reliable cars 20-25 years ago lol .

[Rollercoaster]

What can be done to ensure or aim for a longer life of the motor please?

[Rollercoaster]

It would be great to know why they fail and what can be done about it

[littlehighland6]

Welcome!

[Tidgy]

On 8/31/2025 at 5:59 PM, Rollercoaster said:

It would be great to know why they fail and what can be done about it

have to say im not that up on subaru diesels, but i do remember crank issues being mentioned. tbh just keep up on top of maintenance and just drive it and not worry about it unless you need to.

[Justin Time]

On 10/22/2025 at 10:46 AM, Tidgy said:

have to say im not that up on subaru diesels, but i do remember crank issues being mentioned. tbh just keep up on top of maintenance and just drive it and not worry about it unless you need to.

I think it was often DPF and EGR value issues, but that's true for a lot of diesels. 

Subaru were late to the diesel engine building, after much encouragement from customers - but you sense that their heart wasn't really into it.  

A quick look on autotrader will show quite a few diesels having clocked up 100,000 plus.