Head gasket failure. Problem has been well documented and known by the car manufacturer. $2,800 repair required; service done at carter Subaru, seattle.

- Seattle, WA, USA

I am the owner of a 2001 Outback, 2.5L engine, one of thousands of Subaru impacted by Subaru's bulletin for defective head gaskets. On Dec. 6, 2007, I paid the official Subaru dealer in Alaska, Continental Subaru, $1,330 to do a head gasket repair job (also a timing belt change). Go here for that bulletin: www.subaruproblems.com/index.htm. on Dec. 6, 2007, I called Subaru of America's corporate office in and spoke with a rep named "dave." (he would not give a last name.). he said his company would not cover this work (though it is part of Subaru?S response to a failure in potentially thousands of Subaru engines from 1999-2002). The car had little over 93,000 miles when the problem was discovered and serviced. The explanation that "dave" and Continental Subaru provided was that that the head gasket failure/leaking problem was inside the block, not an external coolant leak, and thus not covered by the service bulletin/recall. That a leak inside somehow is not considered impacted by this defect, rather than a leak outside seems spurious at best. I have no way of verifying that the Continental Subaru mechanic the corporate office spoke with was telling the the full story. All I can say is, I cannot trust the word of this dealer because they failed to raise the bulletin issue and the issue of well-known problem for this engine when I brought the car in. They barely acknowledged this warranty possibility only after I told them I knew about it. I'm waiting to see if Subaru's corporate office will reimburse me in part or full for the gasket job. I was told to send them every service record for the car that I have. I did. This problem with Subaru of this vintage is widespread. Go here: scott.mcgerik.com/2004/02/18/Subaru-Outback-head-gasket-leak/; and here: www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_56499.html.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

The car overheated. This is the 2nd time. I did not get any notice from Subaru regarding head gasket failures. I have a 2001 Outback limited sedan. And now I have over 100,000 miles and no chance of warranty. Subaru knows all along about this problem and yet no recall.

- Butler, NJ, USA