7.6
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $40
- Average Mileage:
- 23,200 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 10 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (4 reports)
- replace engine short block (2 reports)
- watch oil level (2 reports)
- add a quart of oil mid-way between changes (1 reports)
- told by the service manager at the dealership to wach the oi (1 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Subaru dealer.
This has been the third time I ran out of oil while away from home, and on the open highway, with a small child in the car. It's frightening to think my engine could blow up at any time. I had the oil consumption test done three months ago. They said it passed. They put in a new PVC joint in case that was the problem, and advised I have it changed yearly. Since it passed the test I was lead to believe the problem was over. However two weeks ago on August 12, 2016, I once again ran out of oil. They said they would run another oil consumption test. They said to call Subaru of America and I was shocked at how I was treated by them. She said if it passed the test once, then it's on me from now on. I told her this is a problem with the car, that needs to be fixed. It is not something I should have to deal with. They need to give me a new engine block, or recall this car.
- subaru willow , St Paul, MN, US
I have had excessive oil consumption since I purchased the car. The car had around 22k miles and the light has turned on every 3500 miles. This light shouldn't be doing this being the model it is and how new it is.
The light should turn on every 5000 miles and I've reported it. I've had three oil consumption tests but had to keep restarting them for various reasons. I guess I'll see how it works out. It's been reported to Subaru Corporate and they basically have a file folder about this car.
No oil stains on the floor the oil just disappears. When the light comes on there is no oil on the dipstick.
- sst6894, Watertown, CT, US
Subaru of America knew about this problem because I use to work for a Subaru dealership as the Service Director and they wouldn't do anything about it saying it's normal for their engine to burn oil what a load of crap. I own a 2012 Impreza and they want me to jump through hoops before they even consider replacing anything and I use to work for this company. Subarea (Fuji Heavy Industry should be ashamed for lying to customers.thy should recall all of the affected 2012-2014 Imprezas and Foresters and give us a new engine.
- Joe S., Sanmateo, US
I have spent the last year going back and forth to the Dealership with my car every 1000km for oil consumption tests. I am a 5 hour drive away from my family, so I do quite a bit of driving every few months. This has been so incredibly frustrating and inconvenient!! The last time I went in for a oil consumption test they told me that they did not need to add oil and they told me nothing. 3 weeks later the Dealership calls me to say they have parts in for my car. I called to find out what it was and they are replacing the short block in my car. I am really hoping that this is the end of my problems with my Subaru!
- Lisa S., Nepean, Ontario, canada
Yes, our Impreza was a victim of the oil consumption issue. Luckily, our our Service Rep, Ben Rogowski of Bloomington, MN Subaru, is an EXCELLENT service rep and he helped us through the process painlessly. We love our Subaru and we are so grateful to have such an awesome dealership to work with. We have a new short block for about a month now and so far, so good.
- Alicia M., Minneapolis, MN, US
Obviously Subaru is aware of this problem. One of my friends bought a 2014 model almost identical to my 2012. His Subaru has been back to his dealer and he got the same result as me "You need to watch the oil". Since when do you have to 'watch the oil" in a brand new car? Elsewise I think this is a pretty good car with great gas milage. Come on Subaru, fix the problem.
- pnh, Greenville, NH, US
Subaru knows about this problem and needs to recall all of these 2012 Impreza's for replacement of the engine short block. FYI I used to work as a Parts Service Director at a Subaru Dealership in Calif and the manufactures know about this engine problem and is just starting to replace some engine short blocks. But you have to contact Subaru of America in Cherryhill, New Jersey for them to investigate their problem of releasing this car with the defected 2.0 engine.
- Joe S., Foster City, CA, US
I now top off the oil mid-way between changes.
E.g. oil changed at 30,000 miles, top off with a quart at 33,750
Definitely annoying!
- Dillon H., The Woodlands, TX, US
Car continualy needs oil added between oil changes. When traveling on long trips I have to carry several quarts of oil so when low oil light comes on along the way I have oil to add. I have never owned a new car that consumed that much oil without having to replace the engine. The owners manual says every 1200 miles expect to have to add oil. Why can't they increase viscosity to 5W20.
- jeasley, San Antonio, TX, US
My 2012 Impreza needed a quart of oil added every 2,000-3,000 miles starting when I bought it brand new in 2012. Subaru did an oil test and replaced the short block at 50,000 odometer miles. That fixed the problem temporarily until I got to 70,000 odometer miles and now the same thing is happening again. It started taking a quart of oil at 3,000 miles and gradually needs more, so now at 79,000 odometer miles I am adding a quart every 2,500. Subaru did another oil test and said they will replace the short block again. I told them I don't want another short block - I want a different car. I had read on other posts that some people received trade-in assistance on their oil consuming Subarus. I called Subaru and my call was escalated to a manager who told me the same thing as the first rep - there is no other recourse available because of the class action lawsuit. Replacing the short block is the only thing they will do. I am not happy about this because it does not solve the problem permanently. When my car goes bad again in another 20,000 miles then I will be out of warranty.
Obviously Subaru has not figured out the solution to the oil consumption. I have noticed that when my car started taking oil again at 70,000 odometer miles, I would often hear a strange gurgling sound from the engine when accelerating and it seemed like the engine was struggling to get going. This same gurgling sound used to happen a lot before the first short block replacement also. So I'm wondering if the gurgling has something to do with the oil consumption. Just before my first short block replacement, the gurgling got so bad that my car lost acceleration power and my engine light came on. I had it towed and Subaru said an oxygen sensor had caused the problem. However the problem wasn't happening after the tow (because the tow truck driver knew how to probe a certain place to reset the sensor), so I never had the sensor replaced. So I think I will pay to have the sensor replaced when they do the second short block, and maybe that will help.
- lbnovak, Winona, MN, US