2002 SUBARU LEGACY GT

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Coolant seepage visible on lower engine block, especially passenger side, Sweet smell from engine bay, drips under car after parking, Gradual coolant loss requiring top-ups every few weeks, No overheating initially, but will progress if ignored

Fix: Requires engine removal or lifting on this platform due to tight bay. 16-20 labor hours for proper job including timing belt, water pump, all seals, resurfacing heads. Many shops pull the engine completely. Cannot cut corners or it will fail again within 20k miles.

Estimated cost: $2,800-4,200

Typical onset: 100,000-180,000 mi

Symptoms: ATF puddles under front of vehicle, near radiator area, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement when fluid gets low, Pink or red fluid mixing with coolant in overflow tank (cooler internal failure), Check Engine light with transmission temp codes

Fix: Steel lines rust through where they run along subframe, especially in salt states. Replace both hard lines and rubber sections, plus external cooler if equipped. If cooler failed internally and contaminated transmission, you're looking at full trans rebuild. 4-6 hours for lines only, 12-18 hours if trans needs flush or rebuild.

Estimated cost: $600-1,200 for lines, $2,500-4,000 if trans contaminated

Typical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi

Symptoms: Blue smoke on acceleration or at idle, Loud whistle or grinding noise from turbo area, Loss of boost, sluggish acceleration above 3000 RPM, Oil consumption increases dramatically (quart every 500-800 miles)

Fix: TD04 turbo dies from coking in oil feed lines or bearing wear. Owners who don't let turbo cool before shutdown accelerate failure. Replacement requires turbo unit, all oil feed/return lines, gaskets. 6-8 hours labor. OEM turbos are discontinued, aftermarket or used are the options. Must address oil consumption issues or new turbo will fail.

Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Sudden loss of compression, misfires on cylinder 2 or 4 most common, Check Engine light with multiple misfire codes, Rough idle, won't rev past 4000 RPM, Excessive blowby, oil in intake, Often happens after aggressive driving or boost spike

Fix: EJ25 turbo pistons crack around ring lands from detonation or overboosting. Requires complete short block replacement or engine rebuild with forged pistons. 20-28 hours for short block swap, more if machine work needed. This is the death sentence for most of these cars. Caused by lean conditions, bad gas, or previous owner modifications.

Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration at idle that changes when shifting into gear, Excessive driveline movement visible from underneath, Transmission shifter feels loose or sloppy

Fix: Rear transmission mount (crossmember mount) turns to mush. Front pitch mount also fails. Replace both at same time. 2-3 hours labor, straightforward job. Use OEM or quality aftermarket like Cusco, cheap mounts fail in 6 months.

Estimated cost: $350-600

Typical onset: 100,000+ mi

Symptoms: Stumbling under boost, cutting out at WOT, Hard starting when hot, Fuel smell from tank area, Check Engine light with lean codes under load

Fix: In-tank fuel filter clogs, starving the turbo of fuel under boost. Pump itself also fails. Requires dropping fuel tank. Many owners never change filter because Subaru calls it 'lifetime.' 3-4 hours labor. Turbo cars are especially sensitive to fuel delivery issues.

Estimated cost: $400-700

Symptoms: Turbo whine or squealing that comes and goes, Loss of power, turbo not spooling properly, Can happen at any mileage if oil changes neglected, May not throw codes initially

Fix: Tiny screens in turbo oil feed banjo bolts trap debris and restrict oil flow, starving turbo bearings. Remove screens during any turbo service or oil line work. 1-2 hours labor if caught early, but often discovered after turbo damage. Many experienced Subaru shops remove these screens preventively.

Estimated cost: $150-300 preventive removal, $1,800+ if turbo damaged