10.0
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $6,300
- Average Mileage:
- 101,450 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 8 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace engine (8 reports)
Vacation in Texas, and while driving lost of power related to engine problems. Truck towed to Subaru in Texas, who stated when you get back to Memphis take it for service. Kept truck for a week and stated engine problems - replace the whole engine for 6000.00 dollars out of pocket.
- Wanda M., Memphis, US
car felt a bit slow, brought in for oil change and checked transmission (no codes) and when i picked up black smoke was coming from exhaust pipes. brought regular mechanic who recommended I bring the car to warranty people he said engine had no power, brought to warrenty people and they said turbo killed engine and there was actually less than a quarter liter of oil. Warenety people refused to cover because there was no oil which had just been changed and eaten by turbo.. dead end!
- Vera K., Manteno, US
Subaru placed a stop sale on thousands of cars identified in a VIN range due to a manufacturing problem that causes turbo and catastrophic engine failure. I purchased my car 4 days before the stop sale was issued. My car showed turbo and transmission problems immediately. The dealer replaced the turbo but never informed me of the stop sale. Just out of warranty, at 89,000 miles the engine suffered a catastrophic engine failure. When I found out about the stop sale both the dealer and Subaru of America denied the stop sale. I eventually got them to admit my car was in the group of stop sale cars but because I bought it 4 days before they announced it, they refused to repair it or buy it back.
Subaru does not stand by their cars of their customers. Both the dealer and Subaru of America were deceptive and dishonest. Subaru has a number of class action lawsuits for catastrophic engine failure. The first replacement engine also had a defect and failed within 2 weeks. The second replacement engine failed a year later. All forester turbo models come with automatic transmissions and as a result are prone to failure.
- David L., Marietta, GA, US
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Well, this was my first Subaru. We do a lot of highway driving and I change the oil every 3-5 k. Doing 70 on the interstate and then BOOM the hood shot up, engine shut off, a large plume of smoke poured out behind us. Luckily we were able to get to the side of the road where I found this piece and all the oil all over the engine and pouring out the bottom of the car. We paid $220 in towing (thanks AAA) and we are waiting to see what the mechanic to look at it but, there isn't much hope with a hole the size of a kiwi in cylinder # 1.
- Fred A., Tarentum, US
Had >$2000 maintenance work done at dealership in February, 2018. Had oil changed at 84,829 miles at dealership when recall air bag recall was completed 4/23/2018. On 7/22/2018 filled tank w/ gas. Mileage 87,659. On drive home engine began loosing power when passing, oil engine light flashed. Check engine light came on. Pulled over, checked gas cap. Checked oil level. No oil showing on dip stick. Added two quarts of oil! (First time additional oil needed since car purchased new in 2009.) All codes/light cleared. Took car for 10 mile drive to town. Upon return, engine noisy, Car died. Pulled over. No oil registered. Called for tow. Assessment: blown engine. Mileage 87,708. Now what?!
- David T., Free Soil, MI, US
After spending thousands on various maintenance issues and getting head gaskets replaced, I noticed my Subaru was going through oil like crazy. I kept taking it in and my mechanic told me it's just a standard Subaru issue. Then one day it just started sputtering and died. Turned out the crank bearing was bad and that was the reason it was going through oil fast. The cost to replace the engine was twice what the car was worth and I had already put wasted money into it. I will NEVER buy a Subaru again!!!!
- chartley81, Ann Arbor, US
While on vacation my car just stopped working. No check engine light came on. No indication that there was an issue. I was able to pull over to the side of the road but once we got the towed to the repair shop they explained me to that the engine had seized. So we had to tow it 400 miles home. Once we got it home the shop we use was able to get it open and found metal shavings all over and said that everything was toast. And that it would be well over $6000 to put in a new long block engine AND turbo. I contacted Subaru to find out why my 6 year old car with under 95,000 miles had a seized engine. They informed me that there was nothing they could do and it was out of warranty. I then contacted Zurich... I purchased an extended warranty from them. The warranty expired 7/11/2016... this happened 9/11/2016!!! So frustrated that a fairly new car from a company that has a good reputation is now a paper weight.
- reinarm03, Star, ID, US
The car has less than 80,000 miles and has been regularly maintained often at a Subaru dealership. I am now being told I need a new short block and valve job for $6600 after paying Subaru $150 to diagnose.
We complained about clacking sound previously but were told that it didn't appear serious. Additionally that dealership wanted $600 to do further diagnosis.
After complaining to their national number, we were told it was out of warranty and the best they could do is give us $1000 off a new Subaru. I can't see buying another Subaru.
- Cheng W., Castro Valley, CA, US