Subaru Outback: Timing Belt Or Timing Chain? (2000 - 2024)

Subaru Outbacks with 4 cylinder engines from 2000 to 2012 have timing belts and the 4 clinder engines from 2013 to 2024 have timing chains. From 2001 to 2019 the 6 cylinder Outbacks had timing chains. All Subaru Outback engines are interference.

Scroll down to see detailed timing belt data for your particular model year of the Subaru Outback.

Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Year	Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference
2013-2024	4 cylinder	Timing Chain	Interference
2001 - 2019	6 cylinder	Timing Chain	Interference
2000 - 2012	4 cylinder	Timing Belt	Interference

Check out the Belt Or Chain specifications for other makes and models.

2024 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2024 Subaru Outbacks have timing chains and are interference engines.

2024 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.4L 4 Cyl. Turbo	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2023 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2023 Subaru Outbacks have timing chains and are interference engines.

2023 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.4L 4 Cyl. Turbo	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2022 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2022 Subaru Outbacks have timing chains and are interference engines.

2022 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.4L 4 Cyl. Turbo	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2021 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2021 Subaru Outbacks have timing chains and are interference engines.

2021 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. Turbo	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2020 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2020 Subaru Outbacks have timing chains and are interference engines.

2020 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. Turbo	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2019 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2019 Subaru Outbacks have timing chains and are interference engines.

2019 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L (H6)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2018 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2018 Subaru Outbacks have timing chains and are interference engines.

2018 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L (H6)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2017 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2017 Subaru Outbacks have timing chains and are interference engines.

2017 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L (H6)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2016 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2016 Subaru Outbacks have timing chains and are interference engines.

2016 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L (H6)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2015 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2015 Subaru Outbacks have timing chains and are interference engines.

2015 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L (H6)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2014 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2014 Subaru Outbacks have timing chains and are interference engines.

2014 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L (H6)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2013 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2013 Subaru Outback is a interference engine and has a timing chain.

2013 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L (H6)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2012 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2012 Subaru Outback has an interference engine and the 2.5L has a timing belt while the 3.6L has a timing chain depending on the model.

2012 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L (H6)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	Lifetime

2011 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2011 Subaru Outback has an interference engine and the 2.5L has a timing belt while the 3.6L has a timing chain depending on the model.

2011 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L (H6)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	Lifetime

2010 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2010 Subaru Outback has an interference engine and the 2.5L has a timing belt while the 3.6L has a timing chain depending on the model.

2010 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L (H6)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	105k

2009 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2009 Subaru Outback has an interference engine and the 2.5L has a timing belt while the 3.6L has a timing chain depending on the model.

2009 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L (H6)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. Turbo	Timing Belt	Interference	105k
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	105k

2008 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2008 Subaru Outback has an interference engine and the 2.5L has a timing belt while the 3.6L has a timing chain depending on the model.

2008 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L (H6)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. Turbo	Timing Belt	Interference	105k
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	105k

2007 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2007 Subaru Outback 4 cylinder engines have a timing belt while the 6 cylinder engines have a timing chain. Both are interference.

2007 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.0L 6 Cyl.	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. Turbo	Timing Belt	Interference	105k
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	105k

2006 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2006 Subaru Outback 4 cylinder engines have a timing belt while the 6 cylinder engines have a timing chain. Both are interference.

2006 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.0L 6 Cyl.	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. Turbo	Timing Belt	Interference	105k
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	105k

2005 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2005 Subaru Outback 4 cylinder engines have a timing belt while the 6 cylinder engines have a timing chain. Both are interference.

2005 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.0L 6 Cyl.	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. Turbo	Timing Belt	Interference	105k
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	105k

2004 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2004 Subaru Outback 4 cylinder engines have a timing belt while the 6 cylinder engines have a timing chain. Both are interference.

2004 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.0L 6 Cyl.	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	105k

2003 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2003 Subaru Outback 4 cylinder engines have a timing belt while the 6 cylinder engines have a timing chain. Both are interference.

2003 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.0L 6 Cyl.	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	105k

2002 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2002 Subaru Outback 4 cylinder engine has a timing belt while the 6 cylinder engine has a timing chain. Both are interference.

2002 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.0L 6 Cyl.	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	105k

2001 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2001 Subaru Outback 4 cylinder engine has a timing belt while the 6 cylinder engine has a timing chain. Both are interference.

2001 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.0L 6 Cyl.	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	105k

2000 Subaru Outback - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2000 Subaru Outbacks have timing belts and are interference engines.

2000 Subaru Outback Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.5L 4 Cyl. NA	Timing Belt	Interference	105k

Timing Belt Basics

The primary purpose of the timing belt or timing chain is to maintain the timing (syncronization) between the crankshaft and the camshaft(s).

A timing belt is made of a rubber compound while a timing chain is made of chain similiar to a bicycle chain.

A timing belt wears out over time and must be replaced at the manufacturer's specified interval. Timing belt failure can result in serious engine damage.

Although a timing chain will wear over time it is usually good for the lifetime of the engine but it should be routinely inspected.