Purchased new. I don't recall the exact date, but it was in 2020. I have regular maintenance, don't make sudden starts, drive speed limits. About half on city streets and half on Interstate. Have tired "babying" it taking it slow, coasting, turning off AC, etc. Nothing improves gas milage. 17 to 18 mpg. I have complained to dealer service dept. Say I haven't driven it enough to 'break it in". Makes me furious. Just like the used car salesman that used to sell hail damaged cars saying just park it in the sun on a hot day and the dents will just 'pop out.". Just another excuse to avoid an obvious problem that I am sure Subaru knows about.
There may be a fix with some computer adjustments or maybe a poorly machined part or just plain deception. May be due to the Engine Stop/Start feature or some other fuel/engine controller. I don't know. There is no way I can get even close to the minimum EPA MPG of 26 mpg city driving. The 33 MPG Highway is fantasy. Total rip off by Subaru and the dealer. I've got a new $36,000 car that barely gets 18 mpg. Posting a window car sticker advertising EPA MPG Ratings that the car doesn't achieve under any circumstance for the purpose of enticing buyers is consumer fraud.
I had an earlier problem with the battery in my new Forester not holding a charge. I had to disconnect the battery to keep it from draining. Turned out it was due to a Central Area Network Controller failing to shut down various computers when the ignition was turned off. Now there is a court settlement regarding the problem. Just illustrates how crooked Subaru has become. They lie and won't do anything until forced.
Update from Oct 11, 2022: Made an appointment to have car checked out at (only) Subaru Dealer within 100 miles. Before appointment stopped at dealership to talk with service tech assigned to my appointment. He no longer worked there. Talked to another who said he'd discuss with service foreman but not available. No bulletins re any fuel system and/or MPG problems. According to him, no one but me complains about their poor MPG. Tech said they may have to keep my car a few days to see if they can find anything. Car was recently in for oil change, tire balanced, rotated, and 3,000 mile service. It was inspected and all systems checked out okay. Really? Don't think it is going to be any different this time, so I canceled appointment.
My wife is disabled and needs car. I can't leave my car for one or more days, and maybe weekend. I can't believe owners comments who say there is a "break in" period before before anything close to EPA MPG can be expected and getting 8 MPG lower than the sticker EPA City MPG and 15 MPG lower than the EPA Highway MGP is "normal". Gas mileage ratings are scientifically measured and controlled. Models of cars are supposed to meet standards for all, not just some and not just some of the time. Whether or not a car is "broken in" has no significant effect on over all gas milage. Unless you are drag racing your car, it still should be within the 'ballpark' when it comes to numbers, not glaring discrepancies. Subaru has been getting away with this for a lot of years. It doesn't seem to affect every car, but enough of them to matter. It's like the battery problem that dragged on for years from about 2015 to 2020 before a small group of people got a class action court settlement this year.
Purchased new. I don't recall the exact date, but it was in 2020. I have regular maintenance, don't make sudden starts, drive speed limits. About half on city streets and half on Interstate. Have tired "babying" it taking it slow, coasting, turning off AC, etc. Nothing improves gas milage. 17 to 18 mpg. I have complained to dealer service dept. Say I haven't driven it enough to 'break it in". Makes me furious. Just like the used car salesman that used to sell hail damaged cars saying just park it in the sun on a hot day and the dents will just 'pop out.". Just another excuse to avoid an obvious problem that I am sure Subaru knows about.
There may be a fix with some computer adjustments or maybe a poorly machined part or just plain deception. May be due to the Engine Stop/Start feature or some other fuel/engine controller. I don't know. There is no way I can get even close to the minimum EPA MPG of 26 mpg city driving. The 33 MPG Highway is fantasy. Total rip off by Subaru and the dealer. I've got a new $36,000 car that barely gets 18 mpg. Posting a window car sticker advertising EPA MPG Ratings that the car doesn't achieve under any circumstance for the purpose of enticing buyers is consumer fraud.
I had an earlier problem with the battery in my new Forester not holding a charge. I had to disconnect the battery to keep it from draining. Turned out it was due to a Central Area Network Controller failing to shut down various computers when the ignition was turned off. Now there is a court settlement regarding the problem. Just illustrates how crooked Subaru has become. They lie and won't do anything until forced.
Update from Oct 11, 2022: Made an appointment to have car checked out at (only) Subaru Dealer within 100 miles. Before appointment stopped at dealership to talk with service tech assigned to my appointment. He no longer worked there. Talked to another who said he'd discuss with service foreman but not available. No bulletins re any fuel system and/or MPG problems. According to him, no one but me complains about their poor MPG. Tech said they may have to keep my car a few days to see if they can find anything. Car was recently in for oil change, tire balanced, rotated, and 3,000 mile service. It was inspected and all systems checked out okay. Really? Don't think it is going to be any different this time, so I canceled appointment.
My wife is disabled and needs car. I can't leave my car for one or more days, and maybe weekend. I can't believe owners comments who say there is a "break in" period before before anything close to EPA MPG can be expected and getting 8 MPG lower than the sticker EPA City MPG and 15 MPG lower than the EPA Highway MGP is "normal". Gas mileage ratings are scientifically measured and controlled. Models of cars are supposed to meet standards for all, not just some and not just some of the time. Whether or not a car is "broken in" has no significant effect on over all gas milage. Unless you are drag racing your car, it still should be within the 'ballpark' when it comes to numbers, not glaring discrepancies. Subaru has been getting away with this for a lot of years. It doesn't seem to affect every car, but enough of them to matter. It's like the battery problem that dragged on for years from about 2015 to 2020 before a small group of people got a class action court settlement this year.
- JACK P., Little Rock, AR, US