Types
Brands
- Acura
- Afeela
- Alfa Romeo
- Alligator
- Apollo Automobil
- Aprilia
- Arch
- Arctic Cat
- Aston Martin
- Audi
- Bentley
- BMW
- Bollinger
- Boss Hoss
- Buell
- Bugatti
- Buick
- Cadillac
- CanAm
- Caterham
- Chevrolet
- Chrysler
- Citroen
- Cleveland CycleWerks
- Curtiss
- Dacia
- Dodge
- Ducati
- Ferrari
- Fiat
- Fisker
- Ford
- General Motors
- Genesis
- GMC
- Harley Davidson
- Honda
- Husqvarna
- Hyundai
- Indian
- Ineos
- Infiniti
- Jaguar
- Janus
- Jeep
- Karma
- Kawasaki
- Kia
- Koenigsegg
- KTM
- Lamborghini
- Land Rover
- Lexus
- Lightning
- Lincoln
- Lordstown
- Lotus
- Lucid Motors
- Maserati
- Mazda
- McLaren
- Mercedes
- Mercury
- MG
- Mini Cooper
- Mitsubishi
- Moto Guzzi
- MTT
- Nikola
- NIO
- Nissan
- Pagani
- Peugeot
- Piaggio
- Polaris
- Polestar
- Pontiac
- Porsche
- Ram
- Renault
- Rimac
- Rivian
- Rokon
- RollsRoyce
- Royal Enfield
- Saab
- Saturn
- Scion
- SEAT
- Ski-Doo
- Skoda
- Smart
- Spyker
- Subaru
- Suzuki
- Tesla
- Toyota
- Triumph
- Vauxhall
- Vespa
- VinFast
- Volkswagen
- Volvo
- Yamaha
- Z Electric Vehicle
- Zero Motorcycles
Article Categories
- Acura News
- Alfa Romeo News
- Aston Martin News
- Audi News
- Bentley News
- BMW News
- Buick News
- Cadillac News
- Car News
- Chevrolet News
- Chrysler News
- Dodge News
- Fiat News
- Ford News
- GMC News
- Honda News
- Hyundai News
- Infiniti News
- Jaguar News
- Jeep News
- Kia News
- Lexus News
- Lincoln News
- Mazda News
- Mercedes News
- Nissan News
- Porsche News
- Subaru News
- Tesla News
- Tips and Tricks
- Toyota News
- Volkswagen News
- Volvo News
More Articles
9 Cars And SUVs We Just Cant Recommend

As car enthusiasts and reviewers, we're always disappointed when we can't find a reason to recommend a car.
No car is perfect, but we typically like to believe that every car has its virtues. However, there are some we come across where the cons outweigh the pros to the point it's hard to recommend to any demographic, and there's usually a better option. Aside from buying them for the sake of being different, some cars just don't really have a strong selling point, sadly.
We try to keep things positive here at CarBuzz, but these are cars we've driven and reviewed but just can't bring ourselves to recommend to anyone, knowing full well that there are better options to go with. Cadillac XT6rnThe Cadillac XT6 starts off well with what we described as an "authoritative and contemporary exterior design." The interior is spacious but doesn't live up to the promises the exterior makes, then mixes questionable build quality with low-grade materials. While the technology is the latest and greatest and the ride is Cadillac-standard, the four-cylinder engine is underpowered, and the V6 isn't as smooth and easy to drive as it should be. While not a terrible car, it's hard to recommend it based on the premium price and the strong competition it faces, particularly with its interior. With a starting price of $48595, a sport trim that isn't sporty, and a luxury trim that doesn't up the luxury with any satisfaction, something like the often underrated Buick Enclave is a better option in the same price range. Mini JCW Convertible.
A Mini with a John Cooper Works badge promises performance, which means the car will be quick, agile, and fun to drive. For the Hardtop and Countryman versions, that is the case. Unfortunately, the JCW Convertible is an exercise in style over substance. The problem is Mini didn't fix the one problem convertibles cause to performance cars. The roof is an important structural element, and torsional rigidity is essential for a vehicle that's supposed to grip and handle well. As a result, the JCW Convertible is a bit of a wet noodle compared to the Hardtop, and yet somehow, it's remarkably harsh and feels like the shocks are too stiff for the car they're in. If you want performance, get the JCW Hardtop. If you want a soft top, get the normal convertible. If you want both together, look elsewhere. GMC Terrain.
"The soft-roader market is hot right now," we said in our 2022 review of the GMC Terrain, "and GMC is perfectly poised to slip into it with the already aptly named Terrain." Unfortunately, the Terrain is woefully inadequate and massively overpriced. It starts at $29900 (including a mandatory OnStar subscription) and comes with a 1.5-cylinder engine making 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque, a dated interior, and a truck-like driving experience from a car-based chassis. The Terrain isn't as premium as its price tag suggests, and as a daily driver, you can throw a dart at a list of Japanese-brand SUVs and come away with something much better. Step up to the off-road AT4 trim, and you're spending $35859 for something that can't compete with an off-road trimmed Bronco Sport. We wanted to be impressed by the Terrain, particularly in AT4 trim, as we know what GMC is capable of. But we weren't. Subaru Impreza Sedan.
Once upon a time, the Impreza was a great family car and a fun daily driver. Now, it's still a great family car, but only an okay daily driver at best, and the fun is sucked out by an underpowered engine and a "whiny, dimwitted CVT auto." If you want what the Impreza was, you'll have to spring for the excellent WRX. Or, if you're not a performance hound but still enjoy driving, you could save your money and buy a Honda Civic. For now, the Impreza is an engine, a gearbox, and an infotainment system away from greatness, and you can get AWD plus turbo power from the Mazda 3. Infiniti QX80rnIf you're looking for a value contender for the more expensive large luxury SUVs, wait until the Infiniti QX80 gets its upcoming redesign. Its current old-school V8 is excellent but thirsty, the bodywork is showing its age despite a refresh, and its ride on the road is sea-sick inducing. With a starting price of $71950, it's just not competitive here in 2022. The good news is that Infiniti based the QX80 on the Nissan Armada, which is cheaper and better. If you're in a hurry, we recommend that instead. Jeep Renegade.
Despite its retro-Jeep looks, all-wheel-drive, and a 'Trail-Rated' badge, what you're looking at is a modified Fiat 500X. Not many owners will be off-roading, though, and for day-to-day driving, the 180-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.4-liter or 177-hp 1.3-liter turbo engines are not great matches for the dimwitted nine-speed transmission. As a result, like the Mini JCW Convertible, the Renegade is a case of style over substance. Unfortunately, the Fiat 500X it's based on is overpriced, so it's hard to recommend over the Renegade. For the same price as the Renegade's second trim up the ladder, Lattitude, you can get a base model Ford Bronco Sport. We would go for that. Mitsubishi MiragernEntry-level budget-friendly cars are not as popular as they once were, but that should mean the remaining ones are good, right? Right?
The Mitsubishi Mirage is a baby hatchback that weighs in at $16,245 (unless a dealer marks it up) and goes up against contenders including includes the Chevrolet Spark and Kia Rio. It comes with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine with 76 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque driven via either a five-speed manual gearbox or CVT automatic (CVT only from 2023 on) to the front wheels. It is one of the cheapest and most fuel-efficient cars you can buy new in 2022, but this is truly a case of cheap = cheap and nasty. Unfortunately for Mitsubishi, the Chevrolet Spark and Kia Rio exist. The Spark is cheaper and has more power, and the Rio has a better cabin and ride quality. Another option is the Nissan Versa, which is a sedan that starts at $15,580, comes with more pep, is surprisingly fun to drive, and has a friendlier and more spacious interior. Maserati Quattroporte.
Going in the opposite direction price-wise, the Maserati Quattroporte aims to be a large, opulent executive sedan to rival the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class and comes with a price tag to match. Unfortunately, the base Quattroporte GT trim costs $104,700 and has less power than a Chrysler 300S. The Trofeo trim with the 523 hp Ferrari-derived V8 engine is a powerhouse, but it doesn't have the ride quality or handling chops to justify the $151,500 price. We hate to say it, as we wanted to love the Quattroporte, but buy a BMW 7 Series or Audi A8 instead. It seems even Maserati realizes it's not in that category, as the next generation will shrink and replace the Ghibli, which is getting the axe. Chrysler 300rnDespite numerous updates, the Chrysler 300 has only aged well in its exterior looks. Inside, it's lagging in technology and build quality. It's also heavy on gas, and the base model is sparsely equipped. Sure, it's an old-school cruiser on the road, and nostalgia is a valid reason to choose a car, but you should not be getting that from a brand-new car. Apart from some light refreshes and special editions, it's the second generation car that went into production in 2011. That's a shame because a third generation with the 300s looks, but a turbocharged straight-six-based hybrid drivetrain would be a great American answer to something like the Genesis G80 or Lexus ES.
Reposted From Source: carbuzz.com.

As car enthusiasts and reviewers, we're always disappointed when we can't find a reason to recommend a car.
No car is perfect, but we typically like to believe that every car has its virtues. However, there are some we come across where the cons outweigh the pros to the point it's hard to recommend to any demographic, and there's usually a better option. Aside from buying them for the sake of being different, some cars just don't really have a strong selling point, sadly.
We try to keep things positive here at CarBuzz, but these are cars we've driven and reviewed but just can't bring ourselves to recommend to anyone, knowing full well that there are better options to go with. Cadillac XT6rnThe Cadillac XT6 starts off well with what we described as an "authoritative and contemporary exterior design." The interior is spacious but doesn't live up to the promises the exterior makes, then mixes questionable build quality with low-grade materials. While the technology is the latest and greatest and the ride is Cadillac-standard, the four-cylinder engine is underpowered, and the V6 isn't as smooth and easy to drive as it should be. While not a terrible car, it's hard to recommend it based on the premium price and the strong competition it faces, particularly with its interior. With a starting price of $48595, a sport trim that isn't sporty, and a luxury trim that doesn't up the luxury with any satisfaction, something like the often underrated Buick Enclave is a better option in the same price range. Mini JCW Convertible.
A Mini with a John Cooper Works badge promises performance, which means the car will be quick, agile, and fun to drive. For the Hardtop and Countryman versions, that is the case. Unfortunately, the JCW Convertible is an exercise in style over substance. The problem is Mini didn't fix the one problem convertibles cause to performance cars. The roof is an important structural element, and torsional rigidity is essential for a vehicle that's supposed to grip and handle well. As a result, the JCW Convertible is a bit of a wet noodle compared to the Hardtop, and yet somehow, it's remarkably harsh and feels like the shocks are too stiff for the car they're in. If you want performance, get the JCW Hardtop. If you want a soft top, get the normal convertible. If you want both together, look elsewhere. GMC Terrain.
"The soft-roader market is hot right now," we said in our 2022 review of the GMC Terrain, "and GMC is perfectly poised to slip into it with the already aptly named Terrain." Unfortunately, the Terrain is woefully inadequate and massively overpriced. It starts at $29900 (including a mandatory OnStar subscription) and comes with a 1.5-cylinder engine making 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque, a dated interior, and a truck-like driving experience from a car-based chassis. The Terrain isn't as premium as its price tag suggests, and as a daily driver, you can throw a dart at a list of Japanese-brand SUVs and come away with something much better. Step up to the off-road AT4 trim, and you're spending $35859 for something that can't compete with an off-road trimmed Bronco Sport. We wanted to be impressed by the Terrain, particularly in AT4 trim, as we know what GMC is capable of. But we weren't. Subaru Impreza Sedan.
Once upon a time, the Impreza was a great family car and a fun daily driver. Now, it's still a great family car, but only an okay daily driver at best, and the fun is sucked out by an underpowered engine and a "whiny, dimwitted CVT auto." If you want what the Impreza was, you'll have to spring for the excellent WRX. Or, if you're not a performance hound but still enjoy driving, you could save your money and buy a Honda Civic. For now, the Impreza is an engine, a gearbox, and an infotainment system away from greatness, and you can get AWD plus turbo power from the Mazda 3. Infiniti QX80rnIf you're looking for a value contender for the more expensive large luxury SUVs, wait until the Infiniti QX80 gets its upcoming redesign. Its current old-school V8 is excellent but thirsty, the bodywork is showing its age despite a refresh, and its ride on the road is sea-sick inducing. With a starting price of $71950, it's just not competitive here in 2022. The good news is that Infiniti based the QX80 on the Nissan Armada, which is cheaper and better. If you're in a hurry, we recommend that instead. Jeep Renegade.
Despite its retro-Jeep looks, all-wheel-drive, and a 'Trail-Rated' badge, what you're looking at is a modified Fiat 500X. Not many owners will be off-roading, though, and for day-to-day driving, the 180-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.4-liter or 177-hp 1.3-liter turbo engines are not great matches for the dimwitted nine-speed transmission. As a result, like the Mini JCW Convertible, the Renegade is a case of style over substance. Unfortunately, the Fiat 500X it's based on is overpriced, so it's hard to recommend over the Renegade. For the same price as the Renegade's second trim up the ladder, Lattitude, you can get a base model Ford Bronco Sport. We would go for that. Mitsubishi MiragernEntry-level budget-friendly cars are not as popular as they once were, but that should mean the remaining ones are good, right? Right?
The Mitsubishi Mirage is a baby hatchback that weighs in at $16,245 (unless a dealer marks it up) and goes up against contenders including includes the Chevrolet Spark and Kia Rio. It comes with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine with 76 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque driven via either a five-speed manual gearbox or CVT automatic (CVT only from 2023 on) to the front wheels. It is one of the cheapest and most fuel-efficient cars you can buy new in 2022, but this is truly a case of cheap = cheap and nasty. Unfortunately for Mitsubishi, the Chevrolet Spark and Kia Rio exist. The Spark is cheaper and has more power, and the Rio has a better cabin and ride quality. Another option is the Nissan Versa, which is a sedan that starts at $15,580, comes with more pep, is surprisingly fun to drive, and has a friendlier and more spacious interior. Maserati Quattroporte.
Going in the opposite direction price-wise, the Maserati Quattroporte aims to be a large, opulent executive sedan to rival the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class and comes with a price tag to match. Unfortunately, the base Quattroporte GT trim costs $104,700 and has less power than a Chrysler 300S. The Trofeo trim with the 523 hp Ferrari-derived V8 engine is a powerhouse, but it doesn't have the ride quality or handling chops to justify the $151,500 price. We hate to say it, as we wanted to love the Quattroporte, but buy a BMW 7 Series or Audi A8 instead. It seems even Maserati realizes it's not in that category, as the next generation will shrink and replace the Ghibli, which is getting the axe. Chrysler 300rnDespite numerous updates, the Chrysler 300 has only aged well in its exterior looks. Inside, it's lagging in technology and build quality. It's also heavy on gas, and the base model is sparsely equipped. Sure, it's an old-school cruiser on the road, and nostalgia is a valid reason to choose a car, but you should not be getting that from a brand-new car. Apart from some light refreshes and special editions, it's the second generation car that went into production in 2011. That's a shame because a third generation with the 300s looks, but a turbocharged straight-six-based hybrid drivetrain would be a great American answer to something like the Genesis G80 or Lexus ES.
Reposted From Source: carbuzz.com.
00 Outback wagon keeps on keepin on. Just flipped 220k and recently completed the dreaded head gasket job on this beast. Both drivers side cylinders were venting into the coolant and I took on this task very soon after diagnosing the blown head gasket. $300 and 40 hours later, mission accomplished...about $1,200 cheaper than having the dealership do it. This problem I anticipated and with this many miles, not a complaint. Things wear out...nuff said. I have two gripes, the first being the engine noise...the work I did had little impact on this embarrassing feature which is common on these cars. Second and biggest issue is the ho-hum mileage this car delivers... best Ive had was 25 mpg. Its just too heavy for the engine and the final drive ratio doesnt deliver what it should on the highway. Then again, this thing is a tank and considered a mid-sized car, pushing nearly 2 tons with a couple of passengers and a light load.
I was sold on Subaru after spending time in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana and seeing so many Subarus on the road. I traded my LR3 for the Crosstrek. Small, simple, sporty little car. I had been drawn in to the commercials selling love and tradition and warm and fuzzy emotions. I was told at purchase that the powertrain/drivetrain was lifetime. Besides the incredibly loud road noise and lightweight size of the vehicle it got great gas mileage. It was easy to zip around town and fit in any parking space. The look was sporty and cute. At 58000 miles both rear wheels had bearings go out, the alternator had to be replaced, the battery had to be replaced and I had just put new set of nice tires on it. Contacting dealer I purchased from I was told all under warranty except for battery. Upon taking to Subaru, told nothing under warranty. When purchased I was told this car would hold its value like a Jeep. I traded it yesterday and I owed 18577 on payoff and multiple dealers valued at 11,000. This was the most costly vehicle I ever owned and the most stressful. You do not want to drive near large pickup trucks or 18 wheelers. I was suckered in like a Hallmark card on a cold winter day.
Ive had my 2015 Forester for a year now. There are some things I like and some I really dont like. I have put 20,000 miles on the car and havent had any mechanical problems. It drives and handles comfortably, and did well with snow and ice last winter. However there are a number of small irritants. One of my biggest issues is the upholstery. I try to be careful, but it is already seriously stained and starting to show obvious wear. No other vehicle has ever shown wear like this. The panels on the doors look dirty and wont come clean. My dog stepped one time on the padded cover of the storage box between the front seats. He left several permanent dents and the plastic coating tore. Hes ridden in several other vehicles without anything like this happening. Also the finish on the steering wheel where I grip has worn off. I also find the headrests to be remarkably uncomfortable, and its not really possible to sleep in the seat. The worst problem is that when the air is dry, as it usually is in eastern Oregon, I cant get out of the car without getting a static electric shock, just strong enough to be mildly painful. Every single time. I try to slap the door as I get out to prevent it from hurting, but I sometimes forget. This happens occasionally in other vehicles, but rarely. As minor as this seems, its annoying enough that it may prevent me from owning another Subaru. Another thing that probably shouldnt matter is the mileage indicator. I really like this except for the fact that it always shows me getting 1.5 to 2.5 miles more per gallon than I really am. I find this extremely irritating. I also hate the fuel gauge, which is a line of small gray squares which are difficult for me to see. Also the speedometer is smaller than I like, with markings close together and the 5s not indicated. Also, the windshield has cracked all the way across even though I never noticed it being hit by anything, and there is no rock ding. I resent that Subaru did not give me the option of deciding if I wanted a fancy anti-theft system that requires a very expensive key and, if you try to use a duplicate, will cause the computer to crash and cost several hundred dollars to repair. I am cynical enough to think that this was not done for my benefit. I would be perfectly happy with an old unchipped key that costs $2 to duplicate. I also dont like that only one door on the car can be opened with the key and that if I use the spare key to unlock the door the alarm goes off. Every single time. There is supposed to be a way to prevent that but it doesnt work. I also have issues with the mileage. If I drive on the level at about 45 mph, I can get as high as 30 miles to the gallon. But if I get on the freeway and drive 65 mph to Portland and back I wont get over 25 and have gotten as low as 19. The sticker claimed 29 highway. Also, though I live in a town with no more than 10 stoplights, if I do any driving around town my mileage drops like a rock. Also if I go up even a moderate hill. Finally, the clock and temperature gauge are not consistently accurate, the speakers vibrate unpleasantly if you turn the bass up, and the cup holder has broken for no apparent reason.
I live on a gravel drive about 1/3 mile long and my Subaru keeps getting gravel up in the undercarriage. It is easy to remove but of course you need to take it to a dealer to do it and thus a service call of about $100. I have never had a car where living on a gravel road is a problem but Subaru says there is nothing they can do. I am selling my car and getting something else because I cant keep going to the dealer to get rocks (gravel) removed from my undercarriage. PS - the rocks sound like the car has a loose exhaust system.
Soon I will be rid of this 2012 Subaru Forester and will never buy a Subaru again. The oil consumption has been a quart per 1,000 miles. The manual said that this is normal. The dealerships have been unconcerned and unwilling to try to stop the consumption as it is normal. The car has 26,000 miles and 26 quarts of synthetic oil have been poured in it between the recommended oil changes. All sorts of excuses for the consumption have been given; however, I have owned very many other models of cars and trucks (probably over 50) and never had one that consistently used over a quart between changes even though some had over 200,000 miles on them. This poorly designed and supported car is unacceptable. Subaru got me once never again!
2014 Subaru WRX - Blown rod bearing at 8000 miles. Car was not modded in any way. Honestly, not sure what happened. I am 40, and do not race or mod cars. I had several cars, and never had any issues like this. Car is in the shop, and they replaced the short block only. I do not want the car any more, so will see if Subaru will do the right thing. Very disappointed in this brand. My first Subaru, and maybe the last.
I purchased a 2013 Subaru Outback with VST. One thing I noticed right away was that when I backed out of my driveway onto the road, when I put it into Drive, there was about a 3-second hesitation. Same happens when I go from Drive into Reverse. I complained about it a couple of times and they told me at Subaru that it was normal. They told me that several people have complained about it. I really like the car, but now there is the oil usage problem. It is happening to me, too.
After only 7k miles and 6 months owning a new Subaru Crosstrek the Check Engine light came on. Turns out the car has a failed Oil Control Valve. Been in the shop for 3 days. The car feels like an oversized toy. This looks like a sign of many more problems to come.
Purchased my 2017 Subaru Outback in May, 2017, and rear power liftgate has worked only intermittently since then. Dealer fix in June (Don Beyer Subaru, Alexandria VA) didnt help, and problem continues. Contacted Subaru USA about power liftgate problem, and they said that I had probably inadvertently disturbed the liftgate height control on the dash, and should fix it myself by consulting the Subaru manual, which I did, and the steps suggested in the manual again resulted in a continuation of the liftgate operating only intermittently, or not at all. This is not acceptable in a brand new vehicle. Subaru USAs answer shows that they are aware that there is a power liftgate switch problem and they dont have any corrective action, other than to fob off their problem on the unfortunate buyer. An inoperable rear liftgate is a massive inconvenience, since the rear storage/carrying area is rendered useless. Dont love a Subaru, will never purchase another or recommend to anyone.
We have a 09 Outback that has weather stripping falling off the back door. We took it to Ganley Euclid, OH about 3 times and they said we have to live with it. Next, we have both lighters/chargers that have pulled totally out of the sockets. I cannot believe everybody that paid $30,000 for a 09 Subaru Outback is putting up with this poor workmanship. We have owned 20 years of Subarus and have lost our commitment to them.
Just wanted to give feedback on my new purchase: Gateway Subaru Delaware. Pros: overall satisfied with my purchase, this was our 3rd Outback (2008, 2011 now 2015). Changes promoted purchasing upgraded Outback. 2015 purchased with every option available. Eyesight option just great! Cons: GPS not as accurate as my Garmin portable. Had I known the lack of function & accuracy I would left it out from my purchase.
Entering a busy state road from a rural side road the car did not accelerate creating a potentially dangerous situation as cars rapidly approached from the rear. This intermittent stall problem has occurred previously - always as I attempted to accelerate from a slow speed.
I was driving South on I-90 near Janesville, Wisconsin and noticed that my hood was not fully latched. I knew there was a Subaru dealer in Janesville rather than waiting until I got to Rockford, Ill another hour away. I pulled into the dealership and explained my problem. Soon Jim the service manger was at my car looking over the latch and cleaning it so that it now works perfectly. The entire visit took less than 15 minutes. I was then sent on my way at no charge. My wife and I both have 2014 Foresters and we love them. Our encounters with Subaru service departments have always been very positive. This latest encounter with Jim reinforces why we are Subaru owners.
Driving on the interstate, my 2016 Subaru Crosstreks transmission utterly locked up. Without warning, the car ground to a halt in the middle of the freeway and would not move, either in forward, reverse or neutral. Other cars swerved to avoid me. One car hit mine from behind and spun my car 180 degrees, placing me directly in front of oncoming, high-speed traffic. The car has only 18,100 miles. Anyone else experienced such a problem?
Love my Impreza--its my second one. Comfortable, feels safe, lots of well thoughtout extras. I researched a few dealerships before buying/servicing--some do it better than others. All in all, would buy another and recommend.
Bought 09 Impreza in July of 09 w/ 12,000 miles on it. Continually had required service (3,000-4,000 mile). At 59,700 miles while having 60,000 mile service a seepage was identified from the left cylinder bank. The dealer noted this and stated that it would be monitored. Well they must either have failed to monitor it or kept the finding to themselves through the 8 next services because it wasnt until 97,000 miles that the gaskets must haves simply just failed. The dealer gave me a $2,574 estimate to replace them (and timing belt) to which I had to decline due to finances. I went home, researched parts cost ($300-$450) and allotted time for repair (8-10 hours) and was left a little bit in wonder that the dealers service garage was charging close to $200 an hour. (This was also the time I discovered all of the websites with titles like The Dreaded Subaru Head Gasket Problem.) I went through my service receipts, found the one from 57,000 miles that the seepage note and returned to the dealer to discuss the cost and attempt to make a deal, being as the seepage was recorded prior to the warranty expiring. Long story short: dealer said to call Subaru, Subaru offered $1000 dollars towards service, I told them while that would bring the price down to what a reputable private garage would charge, what I wanted feel more in line with total cost as the problem was first noted under warranty. Subaru said No, $1000 was all they would do. I told them that their help was as useless as the gaskets they put on their cars. I am now in touch w/ my State Attorney General and have filed a complaint with them. I am not looking for any monetary compensation, just satisfaction that a wrong will be set right.
Subaru 2010 Outback - Car has very severe whole car shaking on acceleration above 80 km per hour. Once gas pedal is fully depressed, the car may or may not accelerate making it impossible to avoid other cars on the highway. The car will shake enough to spill coffee, and will not stop until the gas pedal is depressed and revved. The car may or may not accelerate at this time, but the shaking is stopped. I was told that it was the way I drive the car.
Purchased a 2014 Subaru Forester because of Subarus good reputation -- much to my surprise, my NEW car burns oil. I have to keep checking the oil because it needs to be added on a regular basis. Also, the Bluetooth does NOT work and has not worked properly since the beginning of time. Very dissatisfied and will NOT purchase from Subaru again. BUYER BEWARE!
2012 Outback Subaru loaded, 1st new car brought ever. Took exceptional care of my car, kept up on all maintenance and care schedules. Kept my last 2 cars, 2001 Toyota Highlander to 250,000, and 240 Volvo x 350,000 miles +. 2012 Outback head gaskets blew while driving at 50mph, owned 3 years (mainly highway driving, 140 miles to work and Back 4 days a week), Subaru of America paid for half cost of repairs, as said in good faith, $2,25.00. 2018, 141,000 car stalling out, shaking, transmission (stalled out in rush hour traffic, highway as car slowed, very dangerous), there turn out to be problem with the transmission that was not fixed as recall, only if your car has a problem, very dangerous, should be a recall, if you do not drive your car a lot, this chance of having the transmission fixed for free, as it should be ends 7/31/2018.4 weeks later, driving beautifully, engine seized while driving. My oil level was fine, my coolant level was fine, the dealership stated they could not know the reason unless they take the engine apart, probably something in the block. VERY DANGEROUS! Need a new engine. Subaru will not help, they stated they already help me out in good faith. Granted my car has 141,000 miles on it, how many engines that are taken care, regular maintenance, follows Subaru maintenance plan should go through 2 engines and transmission! Here I spent $30,000 on my 1st new car ever, in my 60s, loved the car when it ran properly, handle great, gas mile great, all the bells and whistles I choose.But to have your car die after 5 years when it was well maintained and having no $0.00 value for trade in is not right. Obviously, I have a problem car, a lemon that these kinds of repairs should not have happen once, never mine twice! Never mind how costly an engine is. Being able to have no reasonable recourse. Although I am trying, at least should get bluebook value for the worth my car if it did not have engine issues which is between $6,998-$7,667. Never mind the dangerous situations I was put in, that thank goodness caused no serious accident, Shame on Subaru customer service for putting hardship on their customers that are only looking for a fair outcome!
Double clutch your sports car if it wont go into gear. Thats what I was told when I repeatedly complained to the new car Subaru dealer when I took my 08 WRX in for service. I bought the car new in 08 and have never abused it, but at times I couldnt even get it into R, 1st, sometimes 2nd gear. When the service rep finally got tired of giving me the try double clutching suggestion he had me talk to their head mechanic about the manual transmission issue. After he gave me the technical hard to sync explanation he finally said that Subaru isnt noted for having refined manual transmissions. I guess I should have done better research before I bought the car.I finally gave up complaining and had to live with it until a couple of months ago with only 83k non-abused miles the transmission started whining. When I took it to the same dealer I was told that a rear bearing needed replaced and they couldnt even get that part. So I was told that I needed a reman transmission and it was going to cost over $5k. And I thought Subarus were well-built, long-lasting vehicles. Other than that the car has been pretty good, with the exception of 5 safety recalls and the firewall that the clutch is attached to has spot welds cracking. And this issue is a known issue and there was even a class-action lawsuit against Subaru. So if youre thinking of a Subaru please do some research before you get stuck with issues that could be very costly and time consuming to deal with. And you might want to do like Im going to do in the near future, get a Honda.
About 5 minutes after I left the Subaru dealership I knew that my 2014 Forester that I owned for 3 years was not running properly. Eventually I found out the dealership upgraded some software because of an imaginary idle problem. Now Im left with a car with much less acceleration and power, and to boot a 20-30% reduction in mpg. There are several other problems too. Subarus was response was not acceptable: Nothing we can do. The person handling the case had no interest from second one. In the past they have helped with serious issues. This is their software, they are responsible for getting the car back to the previous running condition.
We bought a used car from Subaru of Little Rock manager (Billy). We paid cash for the car and we were told within the next week we would have the title that was on 5-14-2016. We still dont have it. We have called multiple times and we have been sent to voice mail, passed around and around without answers until today. We are now being told they NEVER had the title and the owner of the car lost it. Billy the manager told me they have thirty days to give us the title. Ive never talked to a person in ANY kind of sales that was as rude and belligerent as this man.I told Billy we have always bought our cars through Toyota and we have never been treated with such unprofessionalism. He told me to go back to Toyota! I assure you we will do as he said and stay with Toyota from now on. Other Subaru dealerships may be different than this one and I sure hope so because this was the worse buying experience and it shouldnt have been a simple cash purchase. I believe someone from the corporate office needs to check on this dealership. SHADY people there.
My air conditioner, heater and defogger all of a sudden went out. After having a Subaru mechanic look for the problem, he found burnt wiring that connected everything to the air conditioner, heater and defogger. I could not afford the prices that a dealership charges, so I took it to my mechanic to be fixed. So far in a month’s period, it has happened again. I not only have had to have the wiring replaced twice, but I had to pay a mechanic twice. I am on a limited monthly budget (social security) and to have this repair done twice is not on my list of luxury expenses. Subaru needs to have a recall done for this problem as it could have unexpected consequences for their larger than large company.
Have had a 2010 Subaru outback for 3.5 years. Have done all required maintenance at subaru dealers. Had a gold plus” warranty for 1st 70k, sunroof stopped working at 71k, no love from Subaru. 1800 quoted for complete replacement of unit. 133k, took it to dealer for high pitch whine in front right. 2 hours later was informed that the cvt trans was failing and needed replacement, dealer quoted 7300 for a rebuilt from subaru or a used trans (salvage) for 3300. Warning: if you have a little old person driving a subaru with over 110k you might want to tell them that 7300 is not a good investment in a car with only 113k. These cars are supposedly supposed to last 250k or more (if you can afford these types of repairs) obviously I should have known that going in but I thought the new 2010-14 subies had all these great improvements. I have never towed anything and driven this outback anything other than gently, too bad loved the driving part, great on snow but can’t afford these types of repairs. Pleaded my case with North America Subaru, they would knock the 7300 down to 4200 at a subaru dealer. So that means the little old person would have been probably paid 7300 and I can see that happening. Short story is a tranny shop is going to put a used one in for 2500 parts and labor (friend of a friend). Maybe I just am not used to modern cars since my family has a camry with 198k and I had a tundra with 178k, 12 and 14 years old with no major mechanical repairs. Soon to be Subaru-free in the Midwest.
We finally decided on a new car after buying used for well over 20 years. Finally narrowed it down to a Subaru based on customer satisfaction. Well let me tell you this customer is FAR from satisfied. Started at 14000 miles, when the dealer tells us the tires are down to the warning tread and need to be replaced. REALLY? Mind you all services had been performed at the dealer. So the dealer went to bat for me and got Subaru to replace all 4 tires no charge. Ok cool. So here we are 15000 miles later and guess what? Yep the tires are shot again, this time they check alignment and frame etc. nothing wrong. This time I have to call Subaru customer care. They balk, I argue, they finally agree to replace 3 of the 4 tires. I have to pay for the 4th one. So in 1 year and 30000 miles this Outback is on its 3rd set of tires!!They still cannot tell me why the tires are wearing out every 15000 miles. Tried to blame driving habits. Sorry, but if it was that then my other vehicles would be chewing up tires too! (They are not.) I cannot afford $800+ worth of tires every 6 months!! As soon as I can I will be trading in this hunk of junk for a Ford or Toyota. Never buying a Subaru again!
We have a 2009 Outback. At approx. 70000 miles (just past warranty) a vibration was becoming noticeable from the drivetrain. The Subaru dealership said it was from bad boots on the front end. We had the work done. The vibration remained so we took the car to an independent shop. They said that it could be the transfer case. To really examine it the transmission has to be dropped. We scheduled the service. When they opened the case there were bits of metal in the fluid and it was clear something had failed. Approx. $2000 later we were on the road again. The head mechanic said he had seen several failures like this. I would like Subaru to face up to this reoccurring problem and cover all repairs..
I own a 2013 Impreza with 35k miles on it. I have been into my local dealership twice regarding my oil light coming on too soon. I went through an oil consumption test once and the first 1200 miles, it was fine, so the dealership said to let it go and if the light comes on again to bring it in. It came on 3200 miles into the oil change interval (dealer recommends 5500 mi, Subaru recommends 7500 mi). It was 3/4 of a quart low. I asked what can I do about this knowing very well that this is an issue with this car. I was told to contact Subaru, which I did.A week goes by and I dont hear anything other than I will call you on a certain date, which they did not. I called them and was told that they will not do anything until it burns 1/3rd of a quart of oil every 1200 miles. And even then, I would have to pay for an engine tear down to diagnose the problem regardless if it is still under warranty or not. I realize that the fix is expensive, but they built a faulty product and need to stand behind it and I shouldnt have to pay anything out of pocket when they know very well what the issue is. Never again will I buy a Subaru.
My daughter bought a Subaru used from a Subaru dealer in Traverse City, Michigan. It has 66,000 miles on it and motor went out and they wont repair it. I will not buy one of your vehicles with the way they have treated her.
I last had my oil changed on 23 August 2013 at #1 Cochran in Monroeville PA. Yesterday, my 2009 Subaru engine began knocking. No oil lights came on over the past months. Engine blew. Now a new engine or car. Subaru has faulty warning computer.
K of Lonsdale, MN on Oct. 22, 2010 wrote something that is nearly identical to my experience, except mine is a 2010! I have two warranties on my Subaru. Major engine failure requires new block. Before I get to the complaint, I would like to offer a quick current real-life analogy that applies in this case. I needed an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan of my left leg this week, with the cost resulting to approximately $2,000. My insurance company did not need any pre-authorization, it was all fine, and they are paying x percent. Now imagine if something completely different transpires. What if the insurance company said no, we are not paying anything. You have to pay for it all unless you can prove for the last 2 years with records, you have been taking vitamins. It is extremely unlikely that vitamins had anything to do with a stress fracture, but I am swindled out of my money unless I either come up with the records that will satisfy them or fight them on their denial.That is nearly my exact position with Doug Smith Subaru in Utah. I am not unfamiliar to fighting when companies do bad things. I had a cement contractor try to make off with $2500 of my deposit and not do any work. I was highlighted on a local television news episode of Get Gephardt and I got the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing involved. I prevailed in that incident. I have a 2010 Subaru Forester, with approximately 44k miles on it. I had picked up my 10-year old son from school, was getting on the freeway on ramp and accelerating to 65mph with the engine revolutions between 4000-5000 (it is an automatic). All of a sudden, a clicking sound started - not too loud, but noticeable. I got off the next ramp and examined the engine. Nothing unusual could be seen, nothing leaking, nothing loose, no engine lights, no warning lights, nothing. I proceeded home, but the noise got much worse by arrival. I didnt want to drive it further, so it was my idea to have AAA tow it to Doug Smith Subaru, where I had purchased the vehicle. At the time of purchase, I was strongly encouraged to also get the extended warranty for 6 years/100,000 miles, which I did at rather substantial cost. I was told 2 days ago by the service department at Doug Smith that bad things had happened inside the engine. It was broken rod, I would need a new block and Subaru is not going to pay unless I could produce every single oil change record since I purchased the vehicle. They said they had no oil change records, so I would need to produce those. I said, wait a minute, I had the oil changed a lot by other people, but I know for a fact you guys changed it once as I had a coupon for it. They said, hold for a minute. Then they came back to the phone, oh yeah, we found that one and we also saw that you had a sticker on your windshield from last year, but we need more than that. They are refusing to pay anything. I have had it changed in Seattle, changed in Sacramento and here in Utah and I am scrambling to find records. This is outrageous, absurd and smacks of what can be seen in some legal defense firms - deny everything and assert reasons no matter how farfetched, ridiculous, unlikely or impossible. I have started networking to the people I know. Everybody I have talked to is stunned and shocked. I work with someone who was an auto mechanic for 20 years (they are in computers now) who said that is just ridiculous. Since I have purchased the vehicle, never has even one engine warning light comes on. It only has 44k miles on it. No check engine, no oil, no temperature, nothing. I checked all fluid levels usually once a month and also before going on any trip. This vehicle is not some turbo-charged teenage car that is abused. I am nearly 55 years old, this is a station wagon and I had my 10-year old son in the car. I have owned and maintained dozens of cars in my lifetime and this is absolutely crazy. I scrambled to produce the records back to the beginning of purchase because not in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that Subaru of America and Doug Smith would look for any reason not to pay. I have owned between 20 and 30 vehicles in my lifetime and had warranty work done from Dodge, Ford, BMW, Porsche, Nissan, GMC. Never, never was I asked to produce every single service record before any warranty work would be done. Doug Smith and Subaru cannot prove that there was an engine failure due to negligent service. They are only citing a phrase in a book to get out of paying. I have a huge list of people following this event and what the outcome is. I have a complaint on file with the BBB, but the dealership and SOA is refusing to budge. To people who want to purchase a Subaru, buyer beware!
I can not believe that Subaru refuse to fix a warranty issue with a new vehicle. Subaru have dodged the issue for 18 months. They refused to admit there was an issue; operator error. Now they admit there is a fault but only want to fix half the problem. Looking at international websites, there are quite a large number of complaints about the 2015 Outback and also the tailgate function. The tailgate has malfunctioned since now and they make up plenty or reasons not to repair the car. I thought this sort of deceptive practice stopped in the last century. So much for buying a new vehicle.
We found out today that our Subaru Forester at 60k miles has blown a Head Gasket. The repair is over 2k!!! With the other repairs, the bill will be $3,000. Now that they have our permission... I expect it to be even higher when we pick it up. Happy New Year... right? Upon researching this problem (after our shock), we saw many complaints about Subaru knowing these cars have this Head Gasket problem and yet they dont do anything about it. They let unassuming people pay good money for these cars and its tick, tick, tick.... until the HG blows. Then its $$$$$$$!Our car will be 7 years old in March at only 60k miles is a crime and total incompetence of Subaru to knowingly sell a car that has a reputation like this and that down the line, the owners will have to pay THOUSANDS to repair the car or junk it. We paid $21k for this car and I will never buy another Subaru because of this failure of this company to not fix the problem that has been going on for YEARS! I will discourage anyone I know from buying a Subaru from this day on. The ** & hype on these cars is just that--all false. Our dealer told us IT usually happens at 85k miles and I almost fell down. What kind of company admits they KNEW the whole time they were BSing you about buying this car that the Head Gasket will blow at a certain mileage? Furthermore, they said that our Head Gasket blew early! We have low mileage for 7 years. We take the car in regularly for service. Now we know the repair men know about this Head Gasket problem and no one at the dealer ever warned us.
Purchased 2000 14 Subaru WRX in June. I was advised the tires on the car were summer only tires so I purchased a new set of rims and tires for the winter. When I went to change the summer tires to the winter tires, I noticed the interior edge of the tire were worn down to the cords, the rest of the tire look brand new. Took the car to a Subaru dealer, they put the car on the alignment machine and said everything is in specs, that theres nothing wrong with the car. Since they say theres nothing wrong with the car they will not replace my tires. The car has 20,000 miles on it. I have maybe ten thousand miles on my summer tires and ten thousand miles on my winter tires. I rotate the tires myself every other oil change. The dealer wants documentation on tire rotation which I cannot provide since I do my own maintenance. I like the car, its fast, handles well and is great in the snow. As of now I am trading in my 2014 Subaru because I cannot afford to purchase tires every 10,000 miles. I receive no satisfaction whatsoever from Subaru. I find that Subaru is very unhelpful in dealing with consumers complaints.
I am having a terrible issue with my 2011 Subaru Outback paint rusting. It is only on the top of my car and the top of the hatchback. I have owned many cars for this long and never ever had an issue with paint. I have spoke with the dealer and Subaru and they will not do anything about it. I live in the south where the weather is mild.
Our first experience at Subaru City was great, we loved the car and we decided to buy the new Forester Sport, the cars sale representative was amazing and helped us with everything we needed to feel comfortable, which unfortunately due to covid they didnt have stock, so they ordered the car for us with all the modifications we wanted (as per Subaru website), we signed some paperwork and waited.Everything Was okay until yesterday, the pick up day! The day you should expect will be a great experience picking up the new car. When we arrived the employees we dealt with to get to this day were amazing with us, great customer service! We then signed (SIGNED) all the paperwork to finalize everything, they get our car keys and went with us around our (new to be) car to show us all the specifications, functions, etc... Until one of the employees came to us and said we wouldnt be able to get the car! (When the keys and paperwork was already in our hands).Continue to explain due to a problem that our car was having (since day one we stepped on Subaru) they would need to review with the mechanics to know if the market price would have to change or how much would be to fix (which in the employees words could be up to 10k) - we were looking for cars for months, all the dealers first question was about this problem with the computer in the car which doesnt affect the car engine performance at all - and all of them also said, we cant give you a market price for the trade in until we know how much it is to fix this problem, and JUST THEN start a contract. However at Subaru was different, one of the staffs saw the problem, went to next door to ask what would be the market price, and came with 30k WHICH WE SIGNED IN THE CONTRACT. The employee said they would understand if we didnt want to follow with the contract after knowing how much the cost would be.This morning my partner received a call saying that the problem was going to be 3.1k to fix, and possibly more to pay for repairs if it wasnt the cause, my partner needed to pay it upfront as they couldnt put in the contract due to all the arrangements already done. My partner decided to walk away from the car deal as the employee explained to myself and my partner yesterday that its understandable, which my partner wanted to get his car back, to fix the issues (yesterday we didnt pick up the new car, we had to leave ours there, and get a loan car which they gave us a near empty tank car which my partner had to put fuel in), and this same employee then said that its a little bit more challenging than that to break the contract now after mentioning we can back out of the deal due to the inconvenience.So now, we are currently without our old car, without our new car and without knowing what is going to happen. I also remember really well, during our first paperwork signing that one of the employees said that the market price for our car would change ONLY if we had an accident during the period of waiting for the new car or something that WAS NOT reported at that day happened to the car. The experience my partner and I encountered with the experience customer manager was terrible, Unprofessional, disrespectful, careless, not trustworthy, non loyal to the contract we signed. We were in contact with SUBARU City for at least 2 and a half months, since day one they knew everything about our trade in car, and their employee wanted to do all this in the minute of the key handling. Congratulations, you ruined what should be an amazing experience for a couple.
Purchased 2013 Subaru Outback at 3500 miles. Oil light came on, took to dealer where I purchased. Mechanic told me thats normal that Subaru uses a lot of oil. After owning three other older Subaru without such problems didnt seem right. They checked the oil and said it was 1 quart low but that wasnt really low, it just seemed that way. I added oil then. When it was time to change oil thought problem was gone. At or about 3500 miles oil light come on once again. 1 quart low. Called Subaru of America, they said to do oil consumption test. Test was done at 1200 miles of consumption test that said it was fine at the usually 3500 miles light came on. Did another consumption test said after 1200 miles on test it didnt not use any oil. I tried to tell them it seems to use the oil at or about 3000-4000 miles, they just didnt seem to get it. Called Subaru of America, tried to explain to them, they didnt seem to get it either. So now between every oil change I have to add 1 quart of oil, use only Subaru oil. Not happy with my Subaru. Will not buy another Subaru again and tell everyone I know about my experience. Very disappointed with Subaru.
Damage to our 2012 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited - When my wife was backing out of the garage, the transmission jerked and caused the vehicle to graze the workbench causing damage to the left front wheel well area. Though we took the vehicle back to the original dealership and they admitted several updates on the transmission needed to be done, Subaru of America feels this was strictly due to driver error and refuses to pay for the damages. There are many bugs on the computer from other consumers regarding transmission problems on this model as well as several others. But they will take no responsibility even though the repairs would be less than $550.00.
My 2016 Subaru Foresters CVT transmission failed catastrophically at 42,000 miles with no prior warning. Vehicle would not move and made grinding sounds. Had it towed to the dealer and was told it is still under warranty. I asked about the failure and was told by the service techs that they had never heard or had a problem with the transmissions before. When I told them that Subaru has had numerous problems with the CVT over the years I was told that I did not know what I was talking about and that they never had a problem. I had researched the CVT problems quite a bit beforehand and was upset by the way I was treated. I now have a vehicle that I no longer trust and a dealer that will not ever get my business again.
Sorry to say this is turning out to be the worst car buying experience that either of us has ever encountered in over four decades of driving. First off the sales person lied to us about the accessories options available for our vehicle, and the finance guy was condescending. So I went to the parts department and began ordering the accessories that I was told were not available. The L E D side view mirrors were installed by the supervisor of the service department. He admitted damaging the inner workings of the mirrors and ordered replacements. Another trip back to the dealership and the problem was even worse. He tried to convince me that it was normal to see through only half of the mirrors as they could not be adjusted properly to be able to see the lanes to either side of me. He eventually got frustrated with my insisting that they be fixed to the way they originally worked, and told me to go home to my wife. I called the corporate office and it has been over two weeks with no resolution in sight. A week ago I try to remote start before I left to work. The STARLINK system would not connect. When I went out to the car to start it. The dashboard and ignition lights were blinking and it would not start. I had it towed to the dealership, they gave us a small dirty loaner car and yesterday, a week later, they called to say it was fixed and ready to be picked up. We made the trip there to find that it was not true, the vehicle was not ready as the STARLINK was still not working. Were back in the loaner vehicle, its the next day and we have not received another call about the status of our car. This car is two months old and its their top of the line SUV. Do I have a lemon? More to come.
In the first six months I owned my Outback (purchased new) my infotainment system failed and had to be replaced -- it took six weeks for the replacement to come in! I was without navigation, radio, Apple Car Play and rear back up camera. Six months after that and while on vacation, the Eye Sight system has failed leaving me without adaptive (or any kind of) cruise control, lane departure warning/correction, front crash warning and a few other Eye Sight features for which I paid a handsome price. This is far from the experience I expected from Subaru. I was confident in my decision to purchase this vehicle and I have to be honest - I have buyers remorse. I have to take the car into the dealership when I return home so I do not currently know what precisely the issue is with the Eye Sight system.
Dismayed, disappointed, disgruntled. These are the feelings engendered by coming home from a two-week trip only to find that the battery in our one-month-old Subaru Forester had died while we were away. Consumer Reports April automobile issue convinced us that all the new safety and navigation technology innovations in the 2015 models would make it worth our while to replace our 2007 Forester. But neither CR nor you mentioned that all those enhancements would drain the battery even when the car wasn’t driven. When we took the car back to Subaru, we were told it was our fault for leaving the car for two weeks, as if we were the only folks ever to have done such a thing. Subaru service also suggested we get a trickle charger and keep the car plugged in when we’re away for an extended period of time.We did a great deal of research before buying the car and found no mention of the problem. Having experienced it, I googled “Subaru battery drainage issue” and discovered that the problem was not unique to our vehicle, nor even only to Subaru. Apparently Hondas and Fords are similarly afflicted. These facts were further substantiated by the AAA technician who came to recharge our battery. She fields many calls similar to ours.It is clear why Subaru and the other manufacturers would not want potential buyers to know about this poor engineering. Accordingly, there’s nothing in the owner’s manual that says “do not leave car undriven for more than a week.” You have to look hard to find that after a battery “interruption” the power window needs to be reset, as do the date and time, and perhaps other things I never bothered to set up. A setting comparable to airplane mode on a phone that shuts down some of the background functions would be a wise and welcome fix. What is not clear why there’s so little written about this issue in the automotive press. My husband and I feel doubly burned: by Subaru for its inept engineering and by the consumer gurus who should know better.
New 2017 Subaru Forester with 2500 miles when has a small puncture while driving about 40 MPH. I immediately stopped the car and changed to the cheap junk spare. My local tire dealer examined the tire and said he could repair the puncture easily but the sidewall was delaminated rendering the tire unusable. Since he is a trusted friend, I value his opinion and the delamination was obvious. Subaru is selling cars with these junky Yokohama tires. Its my life and my familys that they put at risk selling this junk. I purchased the new Subaru based upon reputation and never thought to check the tires. Im now out $145 for a new tire as well as the inconvenience. Fair warning Subaru - I do not forget and I do often comment.
I have a 2011 Outback and I first had to add a quart of oil around 95K miles. My son in law said that they probably didnt fill it full when my oil was changed last. So I think anything of it although I told them about it and brought it for an oil change. They didnt bother to tell me about excess oil consumption while I was under an extended warranty. So I got the full synthetic oil change and was told the next change is due in 7K miles. At 4000 mi. the oil light came on and it was 2 quarts low! I am furious that I was not told about this while was under a warranty! Now I have 103K mi. and they probably wont offer any assistance.Also, it almost dies (like a slow idle?) when I stop for a stop light or even a stop sign. It has done this since 39K and they can never diagnose it. It is getting pretty persistent. Does anyone know what this could be? They say it doesnt happen when they test drive it and the computer does not show anything. My guess is, now the warranty is over, they can diagnose it right away! Never another Subaru!!
Subaru MADE good vehicles... But, then they went cheap. My 2013 Forester burned oil worse than an old WWII airplane... Its normal, Subaru said. Traded it for a 2015 Forester, no more oil burning issues, but now a crappy CVT transmission that bucked, stalled and hesitated upon acceleration all the time... Its normal Subaru said. Well, no more Subarus for me. No more CVTs for me. Got me a Toyota Rav4 with a normal automatic transmission and ZERO problems in many miles ever since.All of these CVTs are junk and causing problems, just Google CVT Problems with Nissans, some Toyotas, Subarus, etc, etc., and be ready to read pages upon pages of negative reviews. Many manufacturers like Subaru and Nissan have current class action suits pending. What a joke! To gain maybe 1-MPG, they jeopardized the goodwill and loyalty of their customers. Good to know that many other companies have not gone this way. Maybe thats the reason they have top sellers like the Toyota Rav4 with a normal automatic transmission. Do yourself a BIG favor, avoid headaches and stay away from CVTs at all cost!
With a 20+ year old Subaru and a 3 year old one I have unbelievable confidence in this brand. Other than an alternator failure there have been no issues. The number of winter situations they have gotten us through is a start, but the new ones safety features instill security and confidence.
The first time this happened to our 2010 Subaru Outback was several weeks ago. I was driving down a hill, mostly coasting, when the car started jerking, then lost more power, continued jerking, until I pulled over. It ran fine in neutral; the check engine sign & brake light sign were on. When I tried to drive it ahead, it continued to jerk intermittently, so I had it towed to Subaru dealer. It did the same thing for them one time, but when they tried to check it with their computer system, nothing showed up & they had no clue what the problem was. The car then worked fine. I hypothesized that it may have been due to the winter gas mix with the added ethanol causing moisture build up, though we live in a mild climate, & that had never happened before. A week or so later, the same problem occurred to my husband. Again, he had it towed to Subaru, with the same results, i.e. it worked fine after it arrived at the dealership. Third time occurred 2 days later, but we were able to restart the car, & it then worked fine. Later in the day, it did it again, & my husband had it towed to Subaru. Check engine sign was on, the cruise indicator flashed on & off, and brake light was on. The car is still at Subaru. Their mechanics are driving it intermittently, and have not reproduced the problem. They suggest that our Costco gas is of lower quality & is probably the problem, but we do not believe that. Everything I have read about Costco gas indicates their gasoline quality is excellent. We did fill up with Texaco gas, but the problem showed up twice after the change in gasoline.
I bought a 2004 Impreza WRX from Grayson Subaru in Knoxville Tennessee , with an extended warranty with only 37,976 miles than at 41,890 miles. Major engine repairs costing $3152 than at 50, 052 miles, major engine repair costing $6,037.93 than an inspection of there work costing only $51.07 than at 58,061 miles. Needed a new turbo costing $1,600 than at 60,824 miles oil leak costing $845.09 than at 62,634 miles same oil leak costing $1,331.40, and now the car has had major engine failure again including the turbo. I change the oil when its needed between 3000 and 4500 miles. And now youre telling me its my fault . Can someone help me out for me to a good east Tennessee lawyer that can help me out to claim my money back from Grayson Subaru in Knoxville Tennessee?
Purchased a 2014 Subaru legacy in April of 2014. Car has every thing but the nav and eye sight. I have 17000 miles and have no problems at all, love the awd and for a 2.5 litre it goes pretty good. It is my first new car and would recommend it to anyone. I am 6.6, 220 and it fits me in. I have two kids and they love it. I am a chevy man and finally went Japanese. It is great on gas, handles well, and looks great at 30k - you cannot beat it. Lets face it - every thing breaks but these subarus are great. Buy one, you will not regret it.
We have owned three Subarus. The 2017 Forester being the latest. I was very excited about my new Forester until I was driving and it kept dying on me. Then a light showed up showing low oil, had only had the vehicle two months, called dealer they said bring it in they will check it out they stated nothing showed up about low oil, again two months later same problem while we were on our way to vacation again. Dealer said bring in. Same response, my husband talked to them and explained the other problems about it dying, transmission not shifting properly, rattling in motor. They told him to bring it in. They test drove it and told him nothing was wrong but did say they would charge us $95.00 an hour to fix it, now again same problems no response. The only reason we had stayed with Subaru is because we purchased a 2003 Baja and it has almost 300,000 miles on so we decided to buy another one in 2014. We purchased a Crosstrek. Had so much trouble with that car. Traded it in for a Jeep which by the way is fantastic, guess if we cant get my Forester fixed we will be trading it in also. Wondering if anyone else has had so much going on with their Subarus.
I bought my 2014 Subaru Forester new, I even had to wait for them to make it. I was excited until driving home from work one day and my oil light comes on, so naturally I add a quart of oil. Then I have my oil changed and told them to put in an extra quart because of it using up a quart before my next oil change, but lo and behold the oil light came on again. I am so afraid that I am going to have major issues after I reach 100,000 miles. They have done 2 oil consumption test and they come back fine per the dealership. I dont understand how they come back fine and halfway through my oil change my oil light comes on.
I purchased a 2009 Outback 2.5XT manual transmission new. For the first 60,000 miles it was flawless. Shortly after the 60,000 mile service, the check engine light came on and the dealer said the rings in the #4 cylinder were stuck. The engine was removed and repaired. Approximately 3000 miles later the incident repeated itself. Once again the engine was removed and this time all of the rings were replaced (at my suggestion) and the valves ground. Shortly after that one of the air tube valves failed. Then a few thousand miles later both the NOX and oxygen sensors failed. Then at 73,000 miles the engine started knocking but no check engine light. At the bottom of the pan directly under the oil pump intake there is a large dent but no scratches or any sign of impact. The dealer says that the restricted oil flow resulting from the dent caused the connecting rod bearings to fail. I am a 78 year old engineering executive in Southern California. 90% of my driving is on the freeway, no off road, no dirt roads. I cannot believe a modern car can have these kinds of problems. This is my first experience with Subaru. Subaru paid for the first 2 overhauls but I have paid for the other repairs and am expected to pay for a new short block replacement.
I own a Subaru Forester. Bought for a vacation to AZ. It handled great at top speed and was very good on gas. The auto is very comfortable on a long ride. It doesnt tire you.
I bought my 2017 Outback in May of 17 and for two weeks worked good. Almost no problems. Then all of the sudden EyeSight started malfunctioning and then the anti collision auto braking started up when no other vehicles were even around or in sight. The blind spot detection started going off and lighting up both mirrors. Again no vehicles around within at least a mile on a two lane road, at the same time it would suddenly brake with no alarm or any sort of notification. Then eyesight would turn off and not allow me to switch to cruise control (not adaptive cruise control).Then almost two weeks to a month after that I started getting noise from center console/front of vehicle area. So I took it to the dealership and they said it was bad tires. So I went and bought a new set, well that didnt fix the problem. Took it back in immediately and they continued to look over it and came back that they transmission, transaxle, and wheel bearings were all bad, so after almost two weeks in the shop I got it back and it worked fine for about a month. Then the infotainment system went bad, then blindspot again, then it started stalling out with AC on coming to a stop, which brings me to now. Now the noise at the beginning is coming back and the blind spot is acting up again and this time only near railroad equipment.I forgot the windshield broke a month after having it, not due to any rocks or anything of that sort. Just randomly popped and cracked all the way across staring from the passenger side. I bought the car with 4 miles on it. Now it has 56k and is always highway driven and never driven hard at all. The fastest the has ever been pushed was 85 mph passing semi trucks. I have started to notice GPS seems to constantly lose connection, but that could be because of the area I live in. There seems to be a lot of GPS problems up here so not that big of a deal.I have been in contact with Subaru of America throughout the whole ordeal and all they say is take it to the shop. Seriously no **. I thought I might try to fix it my self and void the freaking warranty. Subaru fan base seems to be loyal to the company no matter what even if they absolutely are freakin terrible. They have offered no solutions to the problems but besides take it to the dealerships shop and they will have to recreate the problem. Most times they fail to do so because its either not driven far enough to recreate it or its just not looked at that in-depth.Now I am seeing if Subaru will either compensate for time out of my work and having the car constantly in the shop and them selling a lemon, or just filling for lemon law. I am currently looking for options. I will never buy another Subaru ever again. I am done with being treated like an idiot from S.O.A. and being told to just take it to the shop. Its already in the shop once a month for oil changes which are outrageously expensive and tire rotation.When people tell you they are reliable dont believe them. Also when you drop almost $37k on vehicle you expect it to work, and on top of that I drive for my job and if I dont have a reliable and safe vehicle for work I wont have work for long. Anyway be very careful buying a Subaru and I advise if you do stay away from eyesight systems. Pretty much the only thing decent about the car is the looks somewhat. The only reason I bought the damn thing is because I trusted what people said about them being reliable and the amount of interior room and interior cargo space it had, but never again.
Subaru Outback 2016 - I am unable to change radio stations from the steering wheel when my screen is in Phone mode. In order to change the stations, I have to hit the Home button on the screen, thereby defeating the purpose of the steering wheel button. Has anyone else had that issue?
My wife told me our 2010 Outback was making strange noise coming from the engine and took it on a road trip to visit her mom and called to tell me that it got terrible gas mpg and that there were lights on the dash flashing--brake, cruise, and traction control lights. The code that was brought up was P0026 which is for a valve stuck. I took it to Puyallup Subaru, and they told me its because of low oil and that brand-new Subarus use a quart of oil every thousand miles. I check the oil before my wife left on her trip, and the oil level was fine. They cleared the computer, change the oil, and sent me down the road. I contacted a different dealer, and they are no way, very unhappy!
2015 STI was the suck one ever. The engine was burned out in 12k mile. I called them and they replaced it. After 5k mile its happened again. I called them again and they said they didnt wanna fix it. Ill recommend to anyone and any websites about this bad company.
Head gaskets just went on a 2008 Impreza with only 74,000 miles. Our mechanic told us we didnt have much longer before something catastrophic happened. This should have been a manufacturers recall! Everyone is wooed by Subarus AWD, but not everyone knows about their dirty, little head gasket secret. Tried to get Subaru Canada to help pay for the cost, but since the car is 2 years outside of warranty, they basically told us to pound sand. This is the first and only Subaru in my driveway. Fixing the gaskets and selling.
I currently have a 2014 Crosstrek that I am sending back to Subaru for constant rattles on the right front and back sides, glove compartment box, instruments gauge, left front and rear doors and the rear hatch. I bought this car in January 2015 and as of right now, it has roughly 4,300 miles. The rattles in my car began showing up around 500 miles as a sound in the front passengers side speaker. On my 1st trip to the dealer, they could not find any noises coming from the car so they sent me home. On the 2nd visit, they found that the front passenger side speaker grill was loose and was causing the constant rattling so they insulated it and sent me on my way. A day after leaving the dealer, the rattle started again and this time it seemed to spread. On my 3rd visit to the dealership, they again could not find a rattle in my car. By this point I am aggravated and decide to involve Subaru of America in the process. On my 4th visit, they found rattles in the front and back passenger doors and insulated them. They proceeded to have me test drive the car around the dealership but again nothing seems to happen when youre at the dealership. I left and on the way home, guess what pops up? THE DAMN RATTLES!! I blast SOA and demand something be done or I want a refund. On my 5th (and final) visit, SOA send a senior field rep/engineer to test drive my car. They stripped my instrument gauge down TWICE and insulated it on EVERY POSSIBLE LEVEL! They also insulated all of my doors, except for the drivers door, and the glove box. After having my car for more than 7 days, I finally get a call that it is ready to be picked up. Hoping that this will be the end of if, I test drive the car with the service manager to ensure everything was OK. As soon as we pull out of the dealership, the drivers door begins to rattle and so does the instrument gauge. The service manager proceeds to inform me that since every possible surface of the instrument gauge has been insulated twice, they can insulate it no more and would require them to install a completely brand new instrument gauge. It is a shame that a car that is only 4 months old could could like such a clunker!!! Maybe if car manufacturers would stop putting SO MUCH DAMN PLASTIC IN THE CAR, THERE WOULDNT BE ANY ISSUES!!! So as previously mentioned, I contacted SOA and demanded a refund. They offered me another car which I turned down because all 3 of the Crosstreks I was given to drive had the same exact issue! Needless to say that I will never purchase a Crosstrek AGAIN!!
Engine light on, brake light on and cruise light flashing - I took my 2012 Legacy in two times for the same problem. The second time I brought it in, I had to leave my car there and they gave me a rental. When the car was done, they told me I had to pay for the rental. I said the car only had 20,000 miles and not even a year old. He said I still have to pay for the car rental. I told him that I was not very happy that I had to pay for the rental. I will never do business with them ever! The Subaru dealer was in Merrillville, IN. Do not go there for any service.
Bought a 2012 Forester for my daughter. When we took it in at the scheduled oil change, it was a quart low on oil. When I question how such a new car that was brought in at scheduled maintenance time could be that low or low at all on oil, I was told that the flat line engine uses more oil than a normal car and needed to be checked more frequently...???? Less than a year later, the starter starts to drag after the car sits all night. Told that new software ($100) had to be installed at my cost to correct the issue. Apparently, according to Subaru it is not considered abnormal for a relatively new Forester to develop this issue; however they have software you can buy to correct it...even though it is not an issue...REALLY?? Subaru thinks its customers are stupid. They got me this time, but it will be the LAST Subaru I buy.
In March of 2017 we purchased a brand new 2017 Subaru Impreza and we had 4 free oil changes. And a month or less before the each oil change the oil light comes on and on the last free oil change the light came on 2 wks afterwards. They kept the car for 3/5 days to find out why the car was consuming so much oil. When we went to pick up the car, they said they couldnt find anything wrong with the car. They then wanted to do an oil consumption test. Never heard of this until it was done on my new car. They filled the motor with oil and said bring back at 1200 miles or more! Anyway we took it back and we were told, that we were going to check the oil level together after about 10/15 min. They came after 5 min to get us, (when we went outside they had already pop the latch the hood, not after,) that we were going to check the dipstick. I was suspicious. Now... not trusting this routine at all. Or the technicians. (Plus they said it was the way the driver was shifting and driving, which affects the transmission and not the motor). After talking to the person who sold us the car, and their finance person? The dealer will not take the car back, they want to give us a new one. We dont want a Subaru anymore. We have tried contacting the Subaru manufacturer to no avail. I look up fuel consumption test and Subaru popped up. Never heard of fuel consumption test. I am afraid of owning a Subaru after this happening to a new car. I have heard good things about Subaru but now I am not so sure.
Very expensive repairs, poor gas mileage, the battery was a major issue, left us stranded at least 10 times in 2 years! Finally replaced by Subaru, but frustrating. There is no vent in the back so the backseat is sweltering during the summer. The service department at the dealership is great, the best part of owning the car!!!
I recently purchased 2015 Subaru Forester. The EPA stated mileage is 28-32 MPG. I now have 3000 miles on my new Forester and I have not gotten anything better than 25 MPG. My split between city and freeway driving is 75% city and 25% freeway. It is misleading to state the EPA MPG rating of 28-32 MPG. I should get at least 28 MPG which I am not getting. Is this a common amongst all 2015 Forester buyers?
Comfortable seats, ample leg room, great visibility, sufficient power for my needs, ample interior space for passengers and storage, reasonable mileage, stability on the road, good range of color choices, could be a little quieter inside the cabin. Roof rack provides additional storage space.
I was coming to a stop at the end of a dead end street when my 2010 Subaru Outback shot off like a bullet from 10mph to about 30 mph in less than 2 seconds. I hit a tree and sustained severe rib injuries (3 broken ribs) and a lacerated finger and my passenger dislocated his hip and suffered a broken leg. We were lucky not to be killed.
Would we purchase another Subaru Crosstrek? Would we purchase any Subaru vehicle again? No! Our 2013 Subaru Crosstrek XV has been a disappointment in several areas. First, the fuel mileage is nowhere near the manufacturers claims. Subaru base their highway fuel mileage estimates on 55 MPH. So if you are on flat ground, doing 55 MPH, with no headwind, then you might get the 33 to 34 MPG that they claim. But, if you are like me and drive at the posted Interstate speed of 65 to 70 MPH (or drive about 5 MPH above the posted speed limit) then your actual highway mileage will be in the 27 to 28 MPG range. Now if you add in hills or mountains, your fuel mileage will drop to 24 to 26 MPG.The worst highway mileage we experienced was out in Kansas on Interstate 70. While driving 80 MPH into a headwind, our actual fuel mileage was 18 MPG. The rolling hills of Kansas, combined with actual highway speed and headwind, will ruin any claim of good fuel mileage. There is no way that the Subaru Crosstrek will get the claimed fuel mileage in actual real life driving conditions! Any type of sand or small rock will damage the vehicles paint. When compared to our 2008 Honda Civic, the 2013 Subaru has a horrible paint job that will not last. The interior of the vehicle is cheap and wont last. The plastic is cheap and very light duty. The vehicle has a rattle that has never been found. The fabric on the seats frays easily and is also cheap. While vacuuming the carpet, I found a tear. Our Honda Civic has a higher quality interior - and that isnt saying much!Our Crosstrek began using oil and the consumption was so high that Subaru did a Short Block replacement. In other words, we had to have a new engine put in before our vehicle had 35 thousand miles. The Boxer engine is very poorly designed and despite so-called improvements, will not give you good fuel mileage (see above). For example, before you purchase a Subaru, you better walk out to the service department and look at how much the dealership will charge you to replace four spark plugs that cost $25 at the most. In fact, you might want to look at how much they will charge for recommended maintenance schedules. You will discover that owning a Subaru is very expensive. You are paying a premium price for a mediocre vehicle that is below average in quality. If you want a quality vehicle, then dont buy a Subaru!
After finding out that the head gasket problems for the 2003 Subaru Outback had been fixed, we decided to purchase a used one. We have started having leaking HG and have tried talking to SOA about this, but they refuse to help us with the repairs. The fault is in their design and thus they should pay for these. I have also read on the internet where some people have been helped. This repair will cost us about $2,000! Also, seeing we are Subaru loyalist since 1984, they did/will not take that into consideration. Also, our younger son just got a new 2012 Subaru Legacy last year. Now is the time to decide to let go of Subaru and switch to another brand! Please do not buy a Subaru, as SOA will not stand behind their loyal customers!
This car is a death trap and Subaru will do nothing about it. We really liked the car until about a month ago the gas pedal stopped responding in the fast lane. Just started coasting; had to get to the shoulder with no acceleration. It suddenly started working again. Drove it straight to the dealer. They had it overnight but couldnt find an issue due to no error code being produced. On the way home it did it again. No response in the gas pedal. Again, had to coast to the shoulder. Drove it right back to the dealer. This time they have it 2 weeks and replace the entire CVT assembly. Driving home from work the next day, it does it again. Take it straight in. Now theyre telling me there is nothing wrong with my 3 year old, 30,000 mile Forrester. To top it off, Eric from Subaru Corporate made it seem like Im making the whole thing up. I dont even know what to do. I cant put my kids in this thing.
Being a Subaru owner brings peace of mind to many drivers. With an all-wheel drive transmission that is supposed to be the best in AWD, and an engine that is supposed to go 300 thousand miles, many people feel like they made a good choice in purchasing a Subaru. However, I have news for those of you with false hope. My car made it 30 thousand miles before it needed a new engine. The whole engine was replaced which cost about 10,000 to repair (what I was told by the technicians). A field technician inspected my car for abuse; of course he didn’t find it, instead he found that it was a manufacturing defect. One month later I got my car back.At 33,000 miles my car was once again “like new”! However, only 26,000 miles after a new engine, a “defective camshaft pulley” broke causing damage on my camshaft, valves and overall one of the heads. I was simply driving down the road and it felt like the car ran out of gas and it would not turn on again. Subaru did not cover the tow. Once again they repaired my car which took another month. I would like to mention that they did in fact cover the repair once again because my car is under warranty. The 2nd major repair was also a few thousand dollars. One mile down the road from Subaru (Bob **, Subaru, West Lafayette, IN) a carelessly installed fuel-like sprayed gas all over my hot engine! This has honestly put my life in danger. The car could have caught on fire or blown up!!!These bad repairs and “defective” parts from Subaru make me feel like my sporty car is made out of glass. I drive my “sports car” like if it was an old car that could break at any time. OF COURSE I NEED EXTENDED WARRANTY. My car is a little over 1,000 miles away running out of powertrain warranty. Keep in mind these repairs happened 1 month ago. Later I got into contact with Linda **, the Subaru of America Customer Service Supervisor, and she said there was nothing she could do to help me. Such a massive company like Subaru could not offer help for a defective car they sold me. They could not offer me extended warranty, they could not give me extended warranty at a discount, NOR COULD THEY EVEN SELL ME EXTENDED WARRANTY. Im not asking for anything more than extended warranty from whoever you would like, or the $2,000 it costs so I can buy one.How can Subaru not do such a simple thing? They sold me a defective piece of junk and I have to deal with it. They do not back up their own cars. I would not recommend that anyone buy a Subaru in the United States. It will break. It will be expensive. And it will certainly not last 300,000 miles. If you have warranty, at the very least it WILL be an inconvenience not having a car for a few weeks while it is being fixed. Please tell me if you think my car will make it 200,000 miles at least.I am very unhappy with the customer service Linda ** provided me with. She did not do anything towards helping me. She did not meet me halfway nor tell me who I could speak to that would solve my problem. She also talked to me in a disrespectful tone which honestly could just have been her “customer service” voice. I need 100,000 or 4-year extended powertrain warranty. Is really impossible from Subaru? Please know I am awaiting for this issue to be resolved.
Nearly killed four weeks ago visiting grandchild in Tamworth. 2010 WRX Impreza overheated and steering went outside Ebor NSW. Towed to Armidale. Now sits needing new engine as did not have new front drive belt at 48 months. Subaru mechanic thought was 125,000ks. Only done 100,000!!! Bought from Geoff King Subaru, serviced at Geoff King, believed their experience, who is to blame, not us. Have eight yr old WRX, immaculate, no engine, is cooked and nobody is taking blame!!!
I purchased a Subaru Legacy 2008 Special Edition after my Toyota Corolla was totaled in an accident, 5 years ago, as I hear it is SUCH a great car, great safety etc. I felt better buying a newer vehicle for hopes I would have to only do basic maintenance and not have any major repairs for at least a few years as my other car was 15 yrs old. EVER since I purchased this vehicle, it has been nothing but a money pit! It got sold to me with unbeknownst to me a faulty wheel bearing. I had NO idea and rode with a humming noise for several months thinking my car was fully looked over by the technicians and car dealership selling it (I paid 15k for this car mind you!) It needed tires also... so after $700 worth of tires and $300 for a wheel bearing on top of the 15k I paid for it, fast forward to I am now needing MY THIRD WHEEL BEARING!!! IN 5 YEARS!!!I dont do ANY heavy driving whatsoever, do not beat the car, I drive locally on sideroads 35-40 mph or less and sometimes a small drive on the highway to visit a friend. 3 wheel bearings needing replaced on a 9 year old car in the last 5 yrs of owning it???! I presume the 4th is about to go too... Not get past the wheel bearings failing, the car eats gas like no tomorrow. I eat a half a tank of gas in 3 days. Yes 3 days. Ever since I owned the car, (its an automatic) it constantly shifts rough and jerks hard sometimes shifting gears. Or is very sluggish (I have had the transmission checked and everything after I bought the car). Its like the car is choking on itself. I will NEVER buy another Subaru again! It has been costing me so much money. I cannot afford it. And for a safe reliable 4 door vehicle the insurance on it is as much as a BMW or Audi. I should have bought one of those because the parts are just as expensive as a expensive luxury vehicle! Thats another thing parts are EXPENSIVE! Now I took it to the shop and there is oil on the oil pan dripping out (I only have 88k miles mind you and get the oil services every 6 mos). And the entire dual mufflers and cat back is shot and rotting out and needs replacement (it costs over 600 bucks for that). I dont know at this point, but I feel like selling this money pit expensive mess of a junk by Subaru and finding a more quality vehicle that will not need CONSTANT repairs and attention.
Just bought a new 2017 Subaru Forester Touring model which is now confined to my garage. We have a steep hill nearby which I use frequently. The hill is 2.4 miles in length and in parts is up to 20% decline. With all previous vehicles I simply stuck the car in low and applied the brakes occasionally. The Forester does not hold the speed down in either drive or low gear and I am obliged to use the brakes constantly which I believe to be dangerous. The car is equipped with x- mode feature but that is only effective up to 18mph and driving at that speed would make me very unpopular with other road users. My dealership has no answer but they are researching. Id appreciate any advice.
In 2012, I was attempting to park in a space with my foot on brake when I heard a roaring noise from engine and car sped up a incline and hit a tree smashing front. It then careened backwards hitting another car and continued in a backwards drive hitting another car and then smashed into a brick wall and stopped. Police were amazed I was alive. Brought up case with Subaru who denied claim. Just discovered another owner in your comment who had same experience as I did. I am reopening this matter with Subaru.
(Am not a car expert so forgive the terminology) In 2010 we leased brand new 2010 Subaru Forester and it sometimes would not start and had weird electrical issues. Gas tank meter would sometimes not register when I filled tank. Engine/oil and other lights would start flashing randomly--was not able to establish a pattern or pinpoint reason. Once I was not able to fill tank and gas station attendant pushed hard into gas tank opening and gas spilled out. Dealership supposedly fixed it--something with the sensor. But electrical issues continued to happen sporadically and dealer kept saying to bring it in when it happened--but of course it would never happen when I could bring it in. We returned that car thinking it was a lemon.In 2013 leased another 2014 Forester because we love how it performs in the snow and ice. Well, this one is also giving us problems right after the 3-year warranty mark. This past winter it didnt start in about 7 or more different occasions (lost count) leaving me stranded in the cold, sometimes alone or with kids. We are never, ever getting another Subaru--I dont care how well it performs in the snow.
I bought a brand new 2013 Subaru Crosstrek in April of 2013. The first week I owned the car the oil light came on. I took the car back to the dealership and they advised it is just a break-in period, and it is expected. I found it a little odd, because I previously owned a brand new Nissan Xterra for 9 years, and not once did the oil light come on, nor did I EVER have to add any oil. Also, my brother-in-law, who is a Toyota mechanic, just recently advised me that a brand new car should not burn any oil and they should have replaced the engine when the problem was first noticed. Anyway, my vehicle now has 79,000 miles on it and I have had to add 1 quart of oil every 1200 miles. There are no signs of oil leaks anywhere. I just took it to the dealership last week to find out why I am going through so much oil and they told me that there was no oil in my engine. The oil light didnt even come on. So, the dealership advised they would need to monitor the oil. They put fresh oil in and told me to call when I drove it 850-900 miles so they could get me in to take a look at it. I called at 850 miles and they told me they could not get me in for 4 days. Well, that will put me over the 1200 mile limit because they have to check the levels between 1000-1200 miles. I advised the very rude service rep, Chuck, of the situation and he advised if I go over 1200 miles that I will have to start over, which means I will have to pay another $73 for an oil change and that just so conveniently puts me over my extended warranty of 80,000. So, either way I am screwed. I will never ever as long as I live buy another Subaru. And Southern States Subaru in Raleigh, NC needs to seriously hire individuals with better telephone manners and customer service skills. He would not work with me in any way. They are the idiots that told me to call after I drove it 850 miles and now they wont even get me in. Everything about my Subaru experience has sucked! I will definitely go back to Nissan when I buy my next vehicle.
I like the cars performance in bad weather like rain, snow and ice. The car keep me comfortable. I also like the all-wheel drive and heated seats. But I am disappointed with my Subaru in the cost of repairs. They are very expensive. Also, the windshield has been a bother and has broken numerous times. Rocks hit it and instantly put holes in the window. We have replaced the window five or six times.
There are no common sense option packages. Either the WRX comes with too few options or none. Big difference in lease rates from dealer to dealer. San Francisco Bay Area dealers are very inflexible but they talk a good game. I had one local dealer tell me they had the car then I went in and it did not have the one elusive option thats on the website: The Harman Kardon system. I had the Burlingame dealer hang up on me when I did not agree to purchase one in stock. He said “You need to order it” then quickly hung up before I said a thing. I have bought several cars in my life from different companies. Subaru behaves like its a Porsche or Lamborghini dealership. Even Audi is more flexible and respectful.
We have owned 2 Subarus, one 2002 where at approximately 67000 miles head gasket blew, we traded the car in for 2010 Subaru Forester, and now again the head gasket is leaking at 47000 miles. Im retired and on social security, was told 2400 dollars to repair leak. Complained to Subaru. Said my warranty was over which I knew. I cannot afford to do repair. Also drivers seat has collapsed will cost 700 dollars to repair. Again no money to fix. This car was suppose to last us a good 14 yrs, now Im stuck with a piece of junk and not very happy about it. We were told when we bought 2010 Subaru that the head gasket problems had been resolved by Subaru, and this would never happen. Well lucky me it did. we only drive less than 10 miles a day, no excuse for this to happen. Will never buy a Subaru again. My daughter has a Outback also and her head gasket blown too, she will not buy a Subaru again, cheap car. I have a 2013 Toyota with 46000 miles, no leaks whatsoever, will definitely buy another Toyota, I have owned 3 and never had major engine problems like the Subaru.
I bought Outback 2017 in Sept 2017. 3 mos later GPS froze then hatch flew open while I was parking & my dog jumped out. Dealer said electronics needed reprogramming & done. A year later, GPS froze again, hatch slightly jammed on rubber mat, hatch stuck closed. AAA to the rescue, dealer said needed reprogramming & done. New battery. 4 mos later, I used radio while car stopped for 10 min, drained battery, needed AAA again to jump. Told I was using too many electronic features like the radio! Now 3/2019, GPS froze, hatch stuck shut, AAA jumped. Dealer said rubber mat jammed - NOT, it was 1 mm over the space, I am careful, but yes dog jumps in & out. Told interior light of hatch was on because it jammed & drained battery overnight.Extremely unreliable and unsafe in my opinion. Have spent hundreds of dollars in time, Ubers, taxis not to mention lost doctors appointments etc. Internet has websites of hundreds of Subaru owners with identical problems with 2016 - 2018 Subaru outbacks and foresters. Complaints of similar parasitic battery drainage for numerous reasons. They need to redesign the electronics, especially the malfunctioning sensitive hatchback and interior lights, size of battery and hatch rubber mat. Will it take a class action to get them to do this? For sale: 2017 Outback, 19,000 miles, all the bells and whistles, then some. CHEAP. (getting a Volkswagen).
Bought a 2014 Subaru Outback from them that was a Subaru certified used car. I’ve had nothing but issues with it. I reported to them that there was a loud screeching sound intermittently the day after I bought it. They said they drove it and didn’t hear anything. I brought it up multiple times and they said they inspected everything but couldn’t find an issue. Brought it in for the same reason recently and they called back and said that rust on rotor made grooves in the brake pads. I asked if they could replace just the brake pads and they said no we have to replace the rotors. I wrote their service manager asking for the $65 inspection fee to be waived and honestly I want a full refund for the work. $550 for rotors that I didn’t need or want is ridiculous and I’m not sure its legal. The rotors cost around $70 each and the brake pads $20.
This car has so many safety features. I can’t imagine driving without them. It fits my lifestyle and I can drive on any terrain without an issue. I am very happy with the amount of space this vehicle has also.
Purchased 2015 Subaru Outback... Wonderful car!!! Except for the SCREEN on the sound system (radio). Over time, the screen becomes filled with squiggly lines (looks like ^^^^ hieroglyphics). When any bright light strikes the screen, it becomes almost impossible to view... Everything. Had replaced by dealer, but the problem returned. Dealer says its Common with this car. Is anyone else having this problem? Did anyone else get a fix? I can definitely say that this issue will STOP my wife and I from getting another Subaru.
Bought this car brand new and am meticulous about maintenance. Cvt transmission was advertised as no maintenance. Now they say it needs to be replaced at 150,000 miles and that this is a known defect! There was a horrible whining that started very quiet on and off in 2017 and became louder this year. We drove into a city intersection to turn, and the car stalled. We were lucky that we didnt get hit by another car. We took it to the dealership as we do all recommended maintenance and something was really wrong to make it stall like that. The dealership said that it is a CVT transmission, and they are known to have this problem. Told us to call Subaru. There was an extended warranty offered in 2018, but we never were notified of that and are the original owner. If we had the notification we would have had this fixed as it occasionally made the noise but it did not repeat when at our service center. We would have had the dealer check it if we knew about the problem and warranty. I expected a Subaru to last longer than this before needing an $9,000 repair. Called Subaru and they offered me $1,000 toward a new Subaru. I paid $36,000 for this car. I dont think $1,000 off one now is going to help me very much for a known problem with this transmission that put us in a very dangerous situation.
We purchased this vehicle Brand new and have experienced nothing but issues within the first year. The vehicle now has 10k miles and I’ve experience jerking from the transmission, my panoramic sunroof cracked for no reason (no point of impact), and the most troublesome has been the automatic liftgate; the liftgate constantly gets stuck with a non-stop chiming and the only way to reset it is no remove the battery!!!! This is a known problem and a quick Google search will prove a lot of consumers have similar problems with this vehicle. I’ve had the liftgate become stuck in the airport, hotels, etc. This is not only embarrassing but completely unacceptable for a brand new 40k vehicle!? Come on Subaru!!!! The quality is terrible!!! Never again!
I bought the Legacy L with 320,000 miles on it and after putting another 3200 miles on it, the car still runs great. I did not purchase the vehicle from a dealership, I purchased it used from a private owner that I knew from the store I worked at. The asking price was $1500 which was great. He knew that I needed a reliable vehicle to get me back. I like that it is an AWD and is an excellent car to do road trips. Climbs mountains & rocks like a 4WD, but can still drive in the city and neighborhood like a RWD. It can go over anything and has power windows, 5 speed and cruise control. It is very roomy, & comfortable. The back seat comes out giving extra room for everything or everyone that you need to travel with you. The #1 thing I dislike is the automatic seatbelts. They choke me every time I start the car. I would take out that feature and just put in the manual seatbelts. But other than that, the Subaru Legacy L has probably been the best car that I have ever purchased and would definitely purchase again, when this one decides to die on me, lol!
Blown head gaskets at 27,400 miles. 2012 Outback, top of the line version, so granted, its not a new car, though we dont drive hard, have aged out of teen drivers, and follow service schedules. We live on a public transit line and this car has never, ever been used in rush hour traffic. Has anyone ever heard of any car, Subaru or otherwise, blowing head gaskets at mileage this low? Truth be told, this is our 3rd -- and no doubt last -- Subaru. None have made it to respectably high mileage. Theyre junk for high traffic suburban and urban driving. RIP, Subaru.
The Subaru Impreza has been fairly reliable. I appreciate how great it handles in the snow and rain and other extreme weather conditions because it makes me feel safe. I chose this car because it was affordable in price and great qualities for its price. However, I wish it were easier and cheaper to maintain. The maintenance required to keep up the car has been very pricey and annoying. I also wish I had a higher more upgraded model that has nicer interior parts like leather seats.
My girlfriend bought a Certified Pre-Owned 2013 Subaru Outback from Kendall Subaru in Fairbanks in December of 2013. Within 1,000 miles of purchasing the vehicle the oil light came on. We brought the vehicle back to the dealer with the complaint of oil consumption. They told us that a quart of oil every 1,000 miles is Normal. But they would conduct an oil consumption test. Their test showed that the car was consuming a quart every 1,000 miles. Subsequently the oil light has come on 3 times. We called Kendall again and the service manager said this I did speak to one of the Subaru mechanics back there. And he said they are designed a bit differently from other vehicles. And he used the term the crankcase doesnt quite hold the same amount of oil as other vehicles. He compared it with the Toyota. So he said yes you would burn a little more oil faster because you just dont have the amount in the crankcase that other vehicles may have. When you come in I would ask the advisor to please let a mechanic explain it to you, because when he explained it to me it totally made sense. You have got to be kidding me? Do they think we are that stupid? I have the recording of the service representative on my phone. People need to hear this. We are talking a 2 year old car with 22,000 miles on it!
I paid 32,500 in 07 at 100,000 miles the head gaskets started leaking. Cost me 4,000 to get them fixed. Turns out that this is a common problem with Subaru. Never buying another one.
Spent a great deal of time looking for a car. Have had Hondas and one Toyota in the past- usually bought when two years old and kept till 200,000 miles- all still running when sold and great cars. This is a new car, too many electrical gadgets and little education on how to use them. Now major replacement is needed that was not caught before the car was on the market- poor quality control. Now I know why they tried to sell me repair add on insurance and sign something about lemons- I’ll have to review that. A new screen or computer: music, phone, etc is needed, supposedly affecting the battery. The “eye” (car correction) doesn’t work if there’s a little frost or snow on the upper shield covering the camera (the dealer says it’s fine- why have it if you can’t rely on it in storms?), occasionally doesn’t turn over first time and struggles the first time especially if the temperature is below 30 degrees (I live where it gets much colder), it’s kept in a garage and outside temp is 20-30 degrees and struggles starting. The restarting when stopped at lights feels like the starter will be run down in no time and sometimes it sounds like the transmission will fall out and there’s a grinding sound. The Subaru app says all is fine on its check up- not reliable or accurate.After several hours diagnosing at the dealer, they ordered a part (the screen) of which they failed to call me to schedule a time when it came in... After waiting over two weeks, I emailed. No words of confidence or apology about this. The purchasing was simple, but after the sale, this is a different experience with them. I’ll take my simple, reliable Honda. (I dislike Hondas dealerships usually- high pressure, but the used car dealer’s owner passed away and closed- where I purchased my cars in the past, so I thought a new car would be the best choice and I liked Subaru’s low selling pressure.) How do I get rid of a new car (now almost two months old) with a history? I thought it was a great car when I bought it- first new car in 30 years, but who knows what will happen next, I don’t feel safe driving distances in it and I travel a great deal, so this is a serious concern.
I actually recorded the issue this morning and again will be back at the dealership. The Dealership is great. However, my new Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring is not. I loved my 2013 Outback 3.6R and want it back. Never had these issues and it’s not like I can just run the vehicle down the street for issues but have to drive over 30 miles one way. I bought my 2017 in December and the screen freezes up; now a total of 6 times. The camera wont work right and there is a too long of a hesitation from reverse to drive and no one can find the problems. Dealership reset and again the same problems. The scariest was this past Saturday. Mapping, clock everything froze, literally had to pull over and stop the car and then restart it in order to make it sync and work again. If they cant fix this issue someone better be finding my 2013 Outback and getting it back for me since I never had any issues with that one. The 2017 since I have purchased has had one issue after another. It seems others are having these issues as well so why isnt this being recalled or fixed.
13 Outback Premium PZEV- Bought new in Sept. 2013 at Moore Subaru in Peoria AZ. This dealership is great and has treated me well. My outback has nearly 29k miles and has been enjoyed. Car is garage kept at home & work & ALWAYS gets good gas...usually Shell premium, NOT because it needs it, but because it has the highest concentration of cleaning agents. Im a geek about keeping it clean and take care of it because I love it.Ive had it in dirt, mud, water, rocks, gravel and it has always done fantastic. I drove it past the finish line of Four Peaks Trail past Saguaro Lake with 3 people & AC where we saw only ATVs & a few Wranglers. Also had some fun climbing on loose dirt & rocks with the VDC off...car does more than some reviews show. Manual even says to turn VDC off in certain conditions...If you keep your MAF sensor clean & use a high perf. Air filter like K&N, performance is noticeably better. (Never cleaned & re-used one...) Climbed the 17 with 4 adults, 1 large dog & luggage with no issues. Love my car...only regret not getting the limited with nav & eyesight. My wife just got a new Crosstrek from the same dealership...
I purchased a 2009 Forester XT in April of 2008. Three days after purchase, Subaru announced a stop sale order on turbo Foresters made after Jan 1, 2008 (mine was mfg Jan 26th 2008). They issued the stop sale order because of manufacturing defects in the engine that led to knocking and then catastrophic engine failure. My car had knocking at 1030 miles and now at 92K the engine has had the catastrophic engine failure. Subaru refuses to answer the question if my car was affected by the stop sell order and takes no responsibility for repairing my car.
I purchased my 2013 Subaru Outback February 2013. I have servicing done regularly. However, from the very start, my oil light comes on between 2500 to 3000 miles after an oil change. I was told by the dealership that this is normal for these cars because they do not have as much oil as other cars. Told me to bring it in when it happened, or let the car sit for five minutes, and check the oil levels. This is great - Im a woman in my 70s - and it is scary to try to get to an exit when you are on the expressway and your oil light is on.Now, just to feel more secure, I keep a quart of synthetic oil in my car to add when Im on a trip and my oil light comes on. Very distressing. I had a Toyota Highlander for ten years, 210,000 miles on it and never had any problem like this. Unfortunately, it was totaled by a falling tree, and everyone encouraged me to get a Subaru. Nice car, but not truly reliable. I would have to rate it a 2.5 star reliability rating (which is not a choice below).
Worst experience with this car. I had many other cars that never gave me problems. Decided to buy a brand new 2016 WRX STI. After 3500 km driving it, it had to have a $2500 fix on the car and now I wake up to the car not cranking. Tried boosting it but its not a battery problem. I should have gone for a Hyundai, at least it wont give that issue at 5000 km. Not complaining about the dealership, they have been helpful but complaining about the car.
Read several comments about mice and rats chewing out electrical parts and hoses in the engine bay. Its true, all of it, had a huge problem with rats under the hood in the winter for years and constantly popping the hood for several hours to let the engine cool down after use. Then placing fabric softener sheets all over the engine until the morning. It kind of worked but then I found a spray repellent online that is specific for engine bays and rodent control. Spray on all over the compartment every 6 months and it works like a charm. No more droppings or chewed wires. This is a fairly wide known problem to mechanics. As for oil consumption, I have not seen a problem. The car only has 66,000 miles on it and virtually trouble free, love the car!!! Know head gasket may be a problem for the future.
My car is a 2008, I bought it in November 2007. I have never had a problem with this vehicle and it has never left me on the side of the road. When I buy a new car, it will definitely be a Subaru.
I had talked my mom into a Subaru Legacy 3017. I took it in with less than 2000 miles saying it shows the oil is really low. The tech looked at it and said oh its fine and I could not believe it but it showed full at the dealership. The next time I checked it in the drive it showed low again. I thought well there is a slight slant to the drive. That must be it. We had the battery go dead 4 times over the winter. I mean to the point that my jump box that will start my pick up that someone hit in the rear end. I only drive it when I have to haul something so its usually pretty dead. It will start it right up it took forever on this one. Today I am totally lost as to why I called several places and I just get told each place, Oh you need to call here or there. I called about the maps part of this on a 2017 Subaru Legacy that just came from being serviced at 3100 miles and it does have problems they cannot duplicate. I was a Service Manager for GM for years and a service writer. I LOVED the job, but I could at least answer some questions. I have yet to get one question answered. I was going to buy a used Subaru from the same dealership but at this point, I think I will stick with a GM car... I can at least get an answer. I first started to ask if I need to PAY for Starlink to be able to use the maps as every site I look at says with Starlink and maps its so nice. I have not once been able to get the maps to go anywhere by voice commands if I do get a response other than being told she did not understand. Then I would get other states coming up... It took 15-30 minutes to manually get one time the map to work right and every other time I just grabbed the Garmin and said well they have always been my choice of GPS and very easy to get to a location. I asked this girl where the SD card is in the vehicle. She said well didnt I go to that site. The one I am at now and I said YES and have already downloaded the toolbox but on a video, it said they could be located in several different spots. She said call toolbox as she only deals with Maps. I said isnt this all part of it. She said no. Is there anything else she could help me with. I said, I guess not. You did like every other Subaru Phone number I called... telling me to call someone else. They had no idea about Starlink or Sirius or what I was talking about.My next call is going to be to the Attorney General since NO ONE wants to help at all... but boy they were sure there to sell the vehicle. I honestly was going to get a Subaru until I seen how hard it is to get 1 question answered and I had several to ask and was cut off every time... I do better calling DirecTV or my Insurance Co. and they get me to my boiling point after all the BS. I think they need a Class Action suit as we just had the oil changed they said they had to do an update for the battery. The next time I go to drive it the Nav system kept telling me it didnt understand or would send me to other states. I tried to put it in manually and had trouble. I called and got that run around. I have the feeling if we dont pay the Starlink yearly they will even lock you out. I read about that on other sites. One being the piXXed off the page. I am VERY VERY dissatisfied the way I have been treated so far. I just drove the car without the radio on and think I had better check the oil myself as it does not sound right at all... I think I will stick with GM and not get a Subaru like I was going too... Best wishes to all Subaru owners. I did talk to a guy at the after-hours place and I said I would just wait until they are open Monday since he said he could not help at all with why nothing was working.
I have a new 2017 Subaru Outback. The dealer has already replaced the radio/GPS hardware. But still the GPS is too slow to react to drive instructions. It tells you to exit a ramp after you pass the ramp. My wife noticed it too. You would think every company offering a GPS would have mastered a GPS system by now. After they replaced the unit, it is still too slow. Interior is very cheap too.
Subaru is nice, safe, comfortable. I feel safe in it and I love the small perks like the backing up camera. The sunroof is nice to have, but I dont use it much. The rear seat heating seats was a plus, as well as the side view mirror defrost. The 4 wheel drive is something I really wanted too. However, even though the trunk space is bigger than my old Pontiac Vibe, its still not big enough to fit my dog and stuff we need to carry on a family vacation.

