Actually, according to Consumer Reports, Subaru reliability rates in the average to above average category.
I crunched the numbers on my 2009 Subaru Outback and found that I spent around $4,000 on items that would have been covered by a 10/100 extended warranty. In light of that, buying an extended warranty for my Crosstrek made sense. YMMV.
There is a lot of misinformation reported about what Consumer Reports finds on reliability and frequency of repair and even on the conditions for which it recommends extended warranties.
Actually, Consumer Reports has clearly evolved in its thinking and now recommends extended warranties as qualified in its recent Road Report entitled:
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM PRICEY REPAIRS published in its Road Report, June 2021 (p. 58). It states: " Although it usually isn't worth buying an extended warranty to cover a reliable car, a warranty plan for an unreliable vehicle may save you money if it costs less than a few fixes. Remember that you can negotiate for price for an extended warranty just like you can a car's price and, be sure you understand what the warranty covers and where the work can be performed."
Also, they list the cars that are the least expensive to repair and the most expensive (p. 56). The
least expensive list includes: Toyotas, Hondas, Hundais and Kias. The
most expensive list includes: Subaru Legacy, Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback.
No Subaru made the least expensive list and no Toyota, Kia or Hundai made the most expensive list. Further, the overall reliability of the three Subarus was in the middle or worse (see left column). This was based on 2011 model year data.
If you look at more data, based on 5 and 10 year old models, by brand, Subaru does relatively poorly, coming in 17th out of 27 brands. This is based on a snapshot of one-year repair costs for 5 and 10 year old models by brand, according the Annual Survey of CR members (June 2021, p. 57). Based on Consumer Reports data of June 2011, Subarus are clearly not the cheapest nor most reliable vehicles out there and it appears a far stronger case can be made for an extended warranty for a Subaru than the other more reliable and thrifty to repair brands if you consider Consumer Reports credible and accept the validity of Consumer Reports data (p. 52-58).
Subaru makes great cars which is why I have purchased three of them and two in the past year-- but I think they have to be carefully maintained sticking closely to the Subaru Manual if you expect to get great service out of them. I'd say they are great cars-- but if you do not do the preventive maintenance and take reasonably good care of them you may well get bit in the *** with a pricey repair, which I think a lot of Consumer Reports subscribers have found.