Subaru 2.5L EJ25 BOXER (non-turbo and turbo): years, specs & known problems

By CarWhere Research · Updated November 5, 2026

The EJ25 is Subaru's earlier 2.5-liter BOXER four. Non-turbo versions powered Legacy, Outback, Forester and Impreza models from 1996 until the FB25 took over (2011–2013). Turbo EJ25s ran in the Forester XT, Legacy GT, Outback XT, WRX and WRX STI; the last, the STI, ended with the 2021 model at 310 hp.

Subaru uses the EJ25 code itself in its own STI S209 materials and in a Fuji Heavy Industries release recording Ward's 10 Best Engines awards for the EJ25 turbo in 2004 and 2010. EPA listings show a 2.5L Subaru four from the 1996 Legacy and the 1998 Impreza, and turbocharged 2.5L versions from the 2004 Forester and Impreza STI, the 2005 Legacy and Outback, and the 2006 Impreza WRX.

The non-turbo engine was a single-overhead-cam design; Subaru's 2010 Legacy release rates it at 170 hp and 170 lb-ft. Subaru replaced it with the DOHC, chain-driven FB25 in the 2011 Forester and the 2013 Legacy and Outback, and the 2012 Impreza moved to a 2.0L. Turbo versions ranged from 224 hp (2011 Forester 2.5XT) to 305–310 hp in the WRX STI, plus 341 hp in the limited 2019 STI S209.

Head gaskets: CarWhere checked the NHTSA recall dataset for every Subaru campaign, and none covers head gaskets on any Subaru engine. The Subaru releases and court records CarWhere reviewed for this page don't address EJ25 head gaskets either, so this page makes no claim about failure rates. A pre-purchase inspection and the car's service history remain the best evidence for a specific car.

2.5L EJ25 BOXER (non-turbo and turbo) at a glance

Subaru EJ25 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder, naturally aspirated and turbocharged, US 1996–2021: model years, fuel and peak Subaru-published output by version
Engine	Model years	Fuel	Peak hp	Peak torque (lb-ft)	Documented problems	Recalls
Naturally aspirated EJ25 (1996–2012)	1996–2012	Gasoline	170	170	0	0
Turbocharged EJ25 (2004–2021)	2004–2021	Gasoline (premium on STI)	341	330	0	1

CarWhere lists 0 documented problems and 1 NHTSA recall for the 2.5L EJ25 BOXER (non-turbo and turbo), each with a source. Part of the Subaru BOXER engines (EJ25, FB25, FA20, FA24) family.

Naturally aspirated EJ25 (1996–2012)

The non-turbo 2.5L in the Legacy, Outback, Forester and Impreza. Subaru rated the final SOHC version at 170 hp and 170 lb-ft before the FB25 replaced it.

Naturally aspirated EJ25 (1996–2012) specifications

Naturally aspirated EJ25 (1996–2012): design facts (1996–2012)
Specification	Value
Layout	Horizontally opposed four-cylinder, single overhead cam (SOHC) in its final form[2]
Displacement	2.5 L (EPA listing)[3]
EPA listing, 1996 Legacy AWD	2.5 L four, four-speed automatic[3]
EPA listing, 1998 Impreza AWD	2.5 L four, four-speed automatic[4]
Replaced by	DOHC, chain-driven FB25 (Forester 2011, Legacy/Outback 2013)[5]
EPA listing, 1998 Forester AWD	2.5 L four[6]
EPA listing, 2010 Forester AWD	2.5 L four and 2.5 L turbo four[7]
EPA listing, 2011 Impreza AWD	2.5 L four and 2.5 L turbo four[8]
2010 Outback 2.5i transmissions	6-speed manual or Lineartronic CVT[9]
EPA listing, 2012 Outback	2.5 L four (CVT or 6-speed manual) and 3.6 L six[10]

Naturally aspirated EJ25 (1996–2012) horsepower and torque by year

Naturally aspirated EJ25 (1996–2012): Subaru-published horsepower (hp) and torque (lb-ft) by model year and application
Model years	Application	Horsepower (hp)	Torque (lb-ft)	Source
2010	Legacy and Outback 2.5i170 hp at 5,600 rpm	170	170	[1]
2012	Legacy 2.5i (SOHC)Figure Subaru gives for the outgoing engine in its 2013 release	170	170	[2]

"—" means we could not confirm the figure from a primary source.

Which vehicles have the Naturally aspirated EJ25 (1996–2012)?

Models and model years offered with the Naturally aspirated EJ25 (1996–2012)
Model	Model years	Notes
Legacy	1996–2012	2.5L from 1996; 2.5i through 2012
Outback	1996–2012	2.5i; replaced by FB25 for 2013
Impreza	1998–2011	2.5L from 1998; replaced by a 2.0L for 2012
Forester	1998–2010	2.5X; FB25 from 2011

Turbocharged EJ25 (2004–2021)

The turbocharged and intercooled 2.5L in the Forester XT, Legacy GT, Outback XT, Impreza WRX and WRX STI. The STI kept it through the 2021 model year.

Turbocharged EJ25 (2004–2021) specifications

Turbocharged EJ25 (2004–2021): design facts (2004–2021)
Specification	Value
Engine code	EJ25 (Subaru's designation in STI S209 materials)[16]
Induction	Turbocharged and intercooled[12]
Awards	Ward's 10 Best Engines, 2004 and 2010 (EJ25 turbo)[18]
2010 Legacy 2.5GT turbo position	Mounted below the engine[1]
EPA listing, 2004 Forester AWD	2.5 L turbo four, five-speed manual[19]
EPA listing, 2021 WRX STI	2.5 L turbo four, six-speed manual[20]
EPA listing, 2005 Legacy AWD	2.5 L turbo four, five-speed manual[21]
EPA listing, 2005 Outback Wagon AWD	2.5 L turbo four, five-speed automatic[22]
EPA listing, 2008 Impreza AWD	2.5 L turbo four, five-speed manual[23]
EPA listing, 2012 Legacy AWD	2.5 L turbo four, six-speed manual[24]
EPA listing, 2013 Forester AWD	2.5 L turbo four, four-speed automatic[25]
EPA listing, 2014 Impreza AWD	2.5 L turbo four (WRX five-speed, STI six-speed manual)[26]
2011 Forester 2.5XT	2.5L intercooled turbo, automatic only[27]
EPA listing, 2004 Impreza AWD	2.0 L turbo (WRX) and 2.5 L turbo six-speed manual (STI)[28]
EPA listing, 2006 Impreza AWD	2.5 L turbo four (5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 4-speed automatic)[29]
EPA listing, 2013 Legacy AWD	No turbo version listed (2.5 L and 3.6 L only)[30]

Turbocharged EJ25 (2004–2021) horsepower and torque by year

Turbocharged EJ25 (2004–2021): Subaru-published horsepower (hp) and torque (lb-ft) by model year and application
Model years	Application	Horsepower (hp)	Torque (lb-ft)	Source
2010	Legacy 2.5GTUp from 243 hp and 241 lb-ft for the previous model	265	258	[1]
2010	Impreza WRX	265	—	[11]
2011	Impreza WRX244 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm	265	244	[12]
2011	Forester 2.5XT224 hp at 5,200 rpm; 226 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm	224	226	[5]
2011	WRX STI	305	—	[13]
2014	WRX	265	244	[14]
2015	WRX STI305 hp at 6,000 rpm; 290 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm	305	290	[15]
2019	STI S209341 hp at 6,400 rpm; 330 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm	341	330	[16]
2021	WRX STI	310	290	[17]

"—" means we could not confirm the figure from a primary source.

Which vehicles have the Turbocharged EJ25 (2004–2021)?

Models and model years offered with the Turbocharged EJ25 (2004–2021)
Model	Model years	Notes
Forester XT	2004–2013	FA20 turbo from 2014
Legacy GT	2005–2012	EPA lists the 2.5L turbo through 2012
Outback XT	2005–2009	Subaru says 2009 was the last turbo Outback until 2020
Impreza WRX	2006–2014	EPA lists the 2.5L turbo Impreza from 2006 (2.0L turbo before); FA20 turbo from 2015
Impreza WRX STI / WRX STI	2004–2021	EPA lists a 2.5L turbo six-speed Impreza from 2004; last EJ25 in the US lineup
STI S209	2019	Limited edition, 341 hp

Turbocharged EJ25 (2004–2021) recalls

NHTSA safety recalls related to the Turbocharged EJ25 (2004–2021) (campaign numbers link to NHTSA)
NHTSA campaign	Reported	Vehicles	Summary
08V460	2008-09-11	2007–2008 Legacy, 2008 Impreza, 2009 Forester16,715 vehicles	The cylinder-head-side and turbocharger-side oil supply pipes may have been assembled improperly; vibration can crack the pipe and leaking oil could start an engine-compartment fire. Dealers inspect, add a bracket and fit a modified pipe. The recall covers the turbocharger oil feed, which on these model years belongs to the 2.5L turbo engine.

Related Subaru research

Confirm a car really has the 2.5L EJ25 BOXER (non-turbo and turbo).

The engine a Subaru left the factory with is part of its build record. The CarWhere Subaru build sheet reconstructs factory colors, options and packages from licensed VIN-level build data — availability is checked free, and it is $9.99 only when detailed build data is found for that VIN.

Subaru build sheet by VIN

Frequently asked questions

Does the Subaru EJ25 have a head gasket recall?

No. CarWhere checked every Subaru campaign in the NHTSA recall dataset and none covers head gaskets on any engine. Recalls tied to EJ25-era turbo cars cover other parts, such as the 2008 campaign 08V460 for the turbocharger oil supply pipe.

Which Subarus have the EJ25 engine?

Non-turbo versions were in the Legacy and Outback through 2012, the Forester through 2010 and the Impreza through 2011. Turbo versions were in the Forester XT (2004–2013), Legacy GT (2005–2012), Outback XT (2005–2009), Impreza WRX (2006–2014) and WRX STI (2004–2021).

How much horsepower does the EJ25 make?

Subaru rated the last non-turbo version at 170 hp and 170 lb-ft. Turbo versions ranged from 224 hp in the 2011 Forester 2.5XT to 265 hp in the WRX and Legacy GT, 305–310 hp in the WRX STI and 341 hp in the 2019 STI S209.

What replaced the EJ25?

The FB25, a DOHC 2.5L with chain-driven camshafts, replaced the non-turbo EJ25 in the 2011 Forester and the 2013 Legacy and Outback. Turbo duty moved to the FA20 2.0L turbo (2014 Forester XT, 2015 WRX) and later the FA24 2.4L turbo.

Is the EJ25 timing belt or chain?

Subaru's 2011 Forester material says the earlier 2.5L used belt-driven camshafts, and that the new FB25 moved to chain drive to cut servicing costs.

Sources

Ratings are Subaru-published figures as cited; descriptions are CarWhere’s own summaries of the sources below. Repair costs appear only where a source states them and vary by shop and region.

Subaru to Introduce All-New 2010 Legacy at New York International Auto Show (Mar. 30, 2009) — Subaru of America, Inc. (media.subaru.com)
2013 Subaru Legacy Debuts New Powertrain, EyeSight and Revised Styling (Aug. 2012) — Subaru of America, Inc. (media.subaru.com)
EPA fuel economy: 1996 Subaru Legacy AWD (2.5L) — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
EPA fuel economy: 1998 Subaru Impreza AWD (2.5L) — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
Subaru Forester Gains New Infotainment Refinements for 2012 — Subaru of America, Inc. (media.subaru.com)
EPA fuel economy: 1998 Subaru Forester AWD (2.5L) — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
EPA engine listings: 2010 Subaru Forester AWD — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
EPA engine listings: 2011 Subaru Impreza AWD — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
Subaru Announces Pricing on All-New 2010 Outback (Apr. 28, 2009) — Subaru of America, Inc. (media.subaru.com)
EPA engine listings: 2012 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
Subaru Announces Pricing on New 2010 Impreza (July 28, 2009) — Subaru of America, Inc. (media.subaru.com)
Subaru Introduces 2011 Impreza WRX Models With New Wide-Body Designs (Mar. 21, 2010) — Subaru of America, Inc. (media.subaru.com)
Subaru Announces Pricing for 2011 Impreza WRX and STI Models (July 22, 2010) — Subaru of America, Inc. (media.subaru.com)
Subaru Announces Pricing for 2014 WRX and WRX STI (Aug. 6, 2013) — Subaru of America, Inc. (media.subaru.com)
All-New 2015 Subaru WRX STI Debuts at North American International Auto Show (Jan. 13, 2014) — Subaru of America, Inc. (media.subaru.com)
Subaru Tecnica International Unleashes Most Powerful Model Ever With Limited-Edition STI S209 — Subaru of America, Inc. (media.subaru.com)
Subaru Announces Pricing for 2021 WRX and WRX STI Performance Cars (Dec. 10, 2020) — Subaru of America, Inc. (media.subaru.com)
Fuji Heavy Industries news release on the WRX FA20 DIT Ward's 10 Best Engines award (Dec. 12, 2014) — Subaru Corporation (subaru.co.jp)
EPA fuel economy: 2004 Subaru Forester AWD (2.5L turbo) — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
EPA engine listings: 2021 Subaru WRX and WRX STI — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
EPA fuel economy: 2005 Subaru Legacy AWD (2.5L turbo) — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
EPA fuel economy: 2005 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD (2.5L turbo) — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
EPA fuel economy: 2008 Subaru Impreza AWD (2.5L turbo) — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
EPA fuel economy: 2012 Subaru Legacy AWD (2.5L turbo) — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
EPA engine listings: 2013 Subaru Forester AWD — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
EPA engine listings: 2014 Subaru Impreza AWD (incl. WRX and STI) — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
Subaru of America, Inc. Announces Pricing on 2011 Forester (Nov. 23, 2010) — Subaru of America, Inc. (media.subaru.com)
EPA engine listings: 2004 Subaru Impreza AWD (incl. WRX and STI) — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
EPA engine listings: 2006 Subaru Impreza AWD (incl. WRX and STI) — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
EPA engine listings: 2013 Subaru Legacy AWD — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)

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