7.3
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $4,000
- Average Mileage:
- 71,300 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 3 complaints
Most common solutions:
- engine short block replacement (1 reports)
- head gasket replaced (1 reports)
- new short block (1 reports)
My car started smelling like burning oil, and the smell would come into the car if the windows were down. It was annoying. It turns out my engine was leaking oil and the oil was there burning off of some part of the engine. Because the engines in these years' models are sealed it was a $4,000 fix. Subaru assured me it would fix the issue. For two years it was fine, until I developed an oil consumption problem which Subaru now says is a $8,000 fix. What a POS lemon. Beware the 2011 Forester.
- Peter F., Takoma Park, MD, US
1/6/16: Burned oil/rubber smell. 1/7/19: Subaru Dealership 8am appt. 1/9/16: Found my car OUTSIDE & UNLOCKED after hours on Subaru Dealership lot. 1/11/19: Visited Subaru Dealership 2x (a.m. & p.m.) to speak w/ head of service. Salesman tried to sell us a new 2016 Forester @ a substantially higher monthly payment, knowing Husband was laid off work 3 months ago. 1/14/16: Subaru Dealership called to say that Warranty inspector said he won't OK repairs because 'it's not an active leak'. 1/22/16: Husband @ Subaru Dealership 5 hours to get ordeal resolved. 1/25/16: Subaru Dealership called: They persuaded Warranty company to pay for repairs. 1/29/16: NO WORD re: my car, so Husband went over in a.m. He found my car just sitting there; THEY HAD DONE NOTHING to repair it. 2/4/16: Husband Emailed Subaru Dealership owner re: call from service dept., saying it was going to be @ least another day or 2 to repair. 2/8/16: 2 Emails from Subaru Dealership: Apologizing but NOT Helping. 2/9/16: Subaru Dealership Contact Comment: ‘I am sorry to learn that your car was not ready to be picked up last night, as I was advised it would be by Service Dept.yesterday afternoon. I contacted them again now and was advised that it is now ready to be picked up.’ *We got my car, but they wouldn’t give us a copy of the paperwork re: repairs, even though it was available, so I contacted the BBB to get it. Took a awhile, but we now have the paperwork.
- izzyb, Glenwood, IA, US
click to see larger images
We started talking to Subaru of America about the oil consumption of our 2011 Forester when it was 98,100 miles (under 100,000 miles warranty). The dealer was booked two month out for an "oil consumption test", and by the time we got to our schedule "oil consumption test" appointment we had gone over 100,000 mile warranty! Now Subaru of America only want to pay for $2,500 of the $5,355 bill to change out our Forester's short block, not to mention that we already paid $3,861 (at 92,000 miles) to have the oil consumption resolved!
When does a person have to start a file for using the extended warranty? Is it when first contacting Subaru, or after they finish the "oil consumption test" to validate there is a problem?
Subaru of America said that they sent out a service bulletin for oil consumption to owners, but we never received the service bulletin (and many other online complain about the same "No Service Bulletin notice received!).
- Duane S., Kenai, AK, US