I purchased the 2015 Forester in Sept. of 2014. At Christmas I received as a gift a remote starter. Most of the time it didnt work. The installer reported to me that the battery was not in full charge and recommended I take it to Subaru as this was a common problem. (Factory installed battery is too small is the common conclusion now.) On 3/10/15 I drove it from Niagara Falls to Amherst (just outside of Buffalo) and was told it was fully charged and there was no problem with it. Of course it was fully charged after I drove 20+ miles. It continued to give me problems on and off until exasperated I stopped using it. And spring was coming.This winter has been mild so far and although I tried to use it I gave up until the really cold weather kicked in. I again took it to the installer of the remote and after replacing the starter parts it was still not starting but did start on their battery. They recommended I take it again to the dealer but I know that would be a waste of time and told them to get me the proper battery and give me the old one to take to Subaru with a copy of the receipt. I hate to drive that far (at age 72, 20+ miles is a long way) but I am so angry that with the 1st break in the weather I will. I will demand to be reimbursed, and also an apology for putting me through this.

Bought 2018 Outback last October. Have had continual issues with the radio console software rendering the car unsafe for navigation and destinations. They replaced software on 3-18-18. After 2 months same problem occurred. Navigation sent me to several wrong locations and console froze in back up camera mode all day. They installed additional software 5-11-18, but said there is no guarantee this would correct the matter and admitted that at least 20% of all new Subarus are experiencing this problem. I have one car and a handicapped wife. If this continues I will have no option other than to seek remedy under the Ohio Lemon Law.

I have a 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek, took it in for passenger side rear bearings to be repaired, they tell me they cant get the bearings off. They tried soaking it, tapping it, and no success. Now they tell me I need a new housing that the bearings, caliper and brakes sit on, the car is not even 3 yrs. old. That tells me thats a flaw in the making. From $500 to $1000. What now? Still waiting for the part as I type this message.

Engine Failure on 2014 Subaru WRX w/ 14k miles - To preface, I bought my WRX brand-new, less than 12 months back (Nov 13) with only 7 miles. Since purchasing, I properly broke in the engine, have had it regularly serviced, & have not made any modifications to the car whatsoever. Over one month ago, I was driving along on the freeway (cruise controlled in the fast lane @ 75 mph) and the engine completely ceased on me w/ no notice or unusual sounds. After taking it in to the closest dealership, I found that the small block would need to be replaced & that the reqd engines are back order for OVER ONE MONTH. 5 and a half weeks later, Ive yet to receive my car back after numerous broken promises & have found further issues with my car, including unexpected damages to the pistons/rods & a potential need to replace my clutch (which would not be covered under my standard, or additionally purchased extended warranty). With all of the issues that Im having - Im starting to believe that maybe Im not the only one... Anyone else having similar problems? What should I do from here? HELP.

For a long time, I wanted a Subaru Legacy car, being fascinated primarily with the reliability of the Japanese cars and also with this brand (studying the history of the brand, the beginnings, the technology, ...) and now I managed to buy one In second hand (because I could not afford a new one, though, with that money, I could have bought another car brand almost nine). I took it from a known, serious person, knowing the history of the car. Its a Legacy, a 2008, 2.0-liter, 150cp diesel boxer that has 220,000 km. Series: ** / 2008. Nr. Identification: **. Engine: Tip EE 20; Series **. I was glad that the person she bought her took care of her, he invested heavily in her (at that moment thinking he was unlucky), but it seems that bad luck continues to me and not only, But to all who have this Subaru model; After I was interested in the Romanian specialty forums, I found out that all the owners of this model are talking about a serious problem with this type of engine and even if it had a proper use and proper maintenance, none have ever reached More than 200,000 km without total engine failure. The mechanics say there is a fault in vibrochen, which breaks and it in turn destroys the entire engine block, and the whole engine becomes unusable. This is what happened with more than 90% of these market engines in Romania. I, even though I have not bought it for too long, have rectified the turbine, replaced an injector and it seems that I will have to replace the other injectors, including the turbine again (repair kits are not in Romania, as well The other parts, special mechanics, are no longer there, there is only one representative in the capital city of Bucharest and which does not represent the interests of the clients, let alone the authorities) and yet the engine is not heard at all and I am Afraid to go a long distance with her (I do not have the courage to leave the city), for fear of happening to me the same way, to break the vibrochen and to stay who knows where in the field... discouraging! What is the value of the description on the official website? This engine is not just a new evolution of diesel models - its a revolution! Its the first time that a diesel engine with horizontal roller mounted is installed on a SUBARU BOXER DIESEL... the revolution lies in the fact that it does not last (while other manufacturers guarantee these km) more than 200,000 km. The answer I received from the representative was that I did not document myself before, I did not know what I was up to! The guarantee is 200,000 km, which she does not guarantee “and we All the owners had to change their engines or give them old beasts, losing money!” I would have liked to have sent a letter of appreciation to represent Romania or to Europe or directly to Japan (where it is impossible) and to express my gratitude for having this brand and the joy to lead it but I have spent More time in repair centers than to use it, but it seems that things will not stop here, as it is already compromised. I would have liked this mail to be sent directly to Subaru Corporation, the Customer Consumer Division, or in the worst case to the Romanian authorities, not to you, but no email address is available for you. Japan and send to the Romanian representatives, proved to be equal to ZERO. If you can help me with a Subaru Corporation mailing address, Customer Consumer Division, to find a compromise solution.

I called Subaru Care team last week after my Son who is in the military 2011 Subaru with 112,000 miles CVT Transmission failed. The car is in my name due to it being purchased when he was seventeen 2 years ago. Also because he has been gone the last year and not driving it due to training in California. The cost for a Transmission to be repaired is close to 8,000. dollars. The part itself costs 6,640 dollars. I called Subaru because my son is only home for 2 months for additional training close to home before he deploys, I asked Subaru being so close to the extended warranty could they assist me in any way with replacing the transmission. Outside of this issue the car is in excellent shape. Subaru America said they could not help me and could only offer me a $1,500 towards a brand new vehicle even though Subaru would not even take the Outback as a trade in and told me to take it to pick in pull. With my son deploying he wont be home for a few years so a brand new vehicle is not necessary which I told them. $1500 towards the repair and a Subaru staying on the road instead of being totaled due to Subarus known CVT issue I think would be more beneficial to me and their brand. Incredibly disappointed with Subaru America Care Team for One charging such an astronomical dollar amount to fix a Subaru transmission, Two not caring about rare circumstances like a military individual deploying in two months and not needing a new car but assistance with the repair of their current car so they can drive it until they leave! The Subaru America Care Team obviously follow the corporate log book and do not look at each induvial situation. Their Branding definitely needs to be updated. They obviously dont love to Care the Military!

While getting out of the driveway in reverse, the car suddenly accelerated. Subaru after two months investigation decided that the car was OK and even refused to fix the small damage to the body car.

In 7/2015 we purchased a 2014 Sub Outback w/ extended Gold plus package warranty (an additional $1,295.00). In 11/2016 engine began to slip, stall & burn excessive oil. Took to 3 Sub dealerships in our area. All completed oil consumption test acknowledged excessive oil burning but cannot duplicate customers complaints of slipping or stalling. We continued to complete all recommended services through Sub dealership. At each time Techs would perform oil consumption test acknowledge excessive oil lost but cannot locate source. Customer should add oil every 2000 miles. At each visit we complained about slippage and stalling. At each visit they claimed vehicle was fine other than oil consumption. Side note our coolant was always overfilled...The kicker is we were in so much, we began to develop a relationship with the techs, to the point some of them would tell us that our vehicle needed a new transmission and we were right!! Then one visit to our surprise, The cust. serv. MGR approached us, apparently he had been going to bat for us and had obtained CORP approval for new Transmission. The dealership kept our Outback for 10 days. Came to pick up our vehicle. To our surprise the vehicle wasnt touched. Apparently the owner of the dealership felt he needed to look things over but couldnt do so because he was out of town. CANT MAKE THIS ** UP. He then told us he wanted to drive the vehicle to verify it did in fact need a new transmission. Keep in mind we have the GOLD PLUS WARRANTY package which covers the transmission!!!We took our Sub back and were told by the owner if we felt any foul play to contact corporate. So we contacted Corp and opened a case, spilled out all of our past issues and waited. During the wait our Outback began to make a weird noise from the wheel area. Well back to the dealership we go. Car inspected. Were informed the noise is from the tires. Supposedly tires were not fit for the car. So the vehicle, which we bought from them, had the wrong tires on it... OK so we buy new tires, noise remains. CORP. calls us back after their investigation found nothing wrong with our vehicle. Also tells us nowhere in their system did he see the dealership have our vehicle for 10 days?!?! So we then had to prove that was incorrect with rental car paperwork as well as receipts etc... Apparently after that CORP still found no foul play or issues with vehicle.On 2/17/18 we take our Outback to a certified 3rd party mechanic. Mechanic found transmission is about to give out, wheel bearing needs replacement, oil low (but they found the leak) and additional problems that were never revealed by the dealership. We have now composed a letter with our findings to Sub of America consumer complaint division in hopes someone will address this rogue dealership and assist us with our issues. If any of you have some useful information that will shed some light or assist us in our battle with this Behemoth it will be gratefully appreciated.

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.

So we bought our 2013 Outback new and I live in FL so the car doesnt see snow and salt. You people that live in those conditions know the salt will tear up a car in no time. I just had to change both rear bearings due to excessive noise coming from the rear. With the new bearings installed, nice and quiet. But that should not have to be done at 60,000 mi. It started making noise at 60 and of course it is out of warranty at 60. Defiantly not impressed with Subaru. The engine uses oil, will not run smooth until warmed up, the rear upper brake light leaks water in a rainstorm and the paint is not a very tough paint. The Fl love bugs have eaten through the paint on the front. My wife liked the car so we bought it on the past reputation for Subaru. Big mistake. I am a mechanic but mostly on older hot rods and when I bring up the issues with the service manager at Subaru they claim to know nothing about this being a problem. From reading the other complaints it seems that all the service locations say the same bull. Wont buy another Subaru.

My 2005 Outback was taken to the local Subaru dealer - St. J Subaru in St. Johnsbury, Vermont for the brake line recall inspection. We waited 1 week for the appointment and were told following their inspection of the brake lines that our car - of the 600 or so that they had inspected for this recall - was the first to fail. They then said that they had no part in stock to fix it with. There was only one part in the country but they would try to get it. 2 days later. I stopped in to check on progress and was told they did get the one part in the whole country, but they probably wouldnt be able to fix the car for up to 3 weeks because they were booked up. So the car sits in their lot while we wait for them to get around to fixing it. Is it usual and customary for Subaru dealers to treat recalls like this?

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.

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 bought a Subaru Outback 2012 from a dealer on Cape Cod. They caused me a lot of grief by selling me an afterMarket stereo/GPS that was miserable. After 5 very ugly attempts at repair they gave me a good one to get rid of me. I bought the car with an extended warranty to 100,000 miles. Now, at 140,000 miles the CVT transmission died. Subaru CVT transmissions are SEALED UNITS. They have lifetime automatic transmission fluid. You cannot check it or change it. Does that sound like a bad idea? It is. My tranny failed admittedly after a lot of miles, but I drive very very carefully. I get 120,000 miles form original tires and brakes. Beware if you buy an Outback. A new transmission is $6,600 plus $1,500 install. $8,000 to use the car. I am told Toyota transmissions NEVER have a problem. NEVER.

We purchased a 2019 Ascent and love many things about it. The one thing we DO NOT is the MPG. We have carefully monitored the MPG in all sorts of circumstances, even trying to drive at the speed limit on cruise control for several hours in 8th speed in the manual mode. That is where we got the best MPG at 19.2. At no other time have we been close to the quoted number. Our average has been 17.2 city and 18.8 highway, which are very different numbers from what the window sticker numbers showed. We have tried endlessly to work with Subaru of America and have had little to no help as they are not taking ownership of the discrepancy and they just keep trying to put it back on the dealership. Clearly this is a corporate issue as they build the vehicles and the dealership just sells them!

Two months ago I built up the urge to trade in my 2005 Chevy Uplander for a brand new 2014 Subaru Crosstrek... the car Ive been wanting for sometime. I walked up to the black one I wanted and demanded the deal they promised online. Finance 6 years $400 monthly. After being denied for not so hot credit and offered a $550 monthly I walked out of the dealership a lil bummed. But took it with a grain of salt, just have to save up more for the 15, I thought. But the very next day Marco, the online Subaru sales guy, called me up in the morning with great news that Wed talked to the manager and made some moves to get to deal you wanted. Excited I rushed to the lot, signed the contract, got the insurance onsite, traded in my van.At first they told me theyd give me $2500 for the van. But when I look at the contract they put value @ $500. When questioned they said in order to get the numbers I wanted and to make the deal work thats what we had to do. Agreeing to that I went ahead. I fell for the extended warranty and 3 year maintenance too for an extra $79 a month bringing it to 479 for 6 years. Hesitant but sure I could make the payments, I drove off the lot a proud New owner of a Subaru.One month goes by and Marco calls and says, Oops, we forgot to get a copy of your pay stubs. Can you please send it via text email or fax? After kindly agreeing I first text it to him 3 different times. A week later they called me at work and demanded I fax or email of my pay stub. Agitated at this point I agreed and faxed it, scanned and emailed the copy. Two months since I drove off the lot and I get a call at work again from Marco asking if I could come down to the dealership to work out a new deal because they made a mistake on the contract and discrepancy on my pay stub. While at work I told them I was busy, I would try in the next couple days. Today I got another call at work from the Subaru manager rudely demanding that I return the car to the lot, saying that time is up and the deal is no good, the bank rejected the terms. Pissed off at this point I was ready to just say ** it, Ill just return it and get my van back. So thats exactly what I did. Except they didnt have my van ready, its getting smogged and Ill be ready in a couple days they said. When I arrived at 8:45 pm the GM wasnt even there waiting as we discussed. I had to wait for an hour for him to show up. During which I had to sit there with the sale manager who didnt know anything about the situation. When the GM finally showed up he rushed up to me, got in my face and demanded the keys back. I refused because they didnt have my van ready. Thats when three guys surrounded me and basically strong armed me for the keys. Then acted like they were doing me a favor by calling me a cab ride home. Only to tell me theyll call me when the van is ready.When I signed the contract I signed a page that said no buyers remorse... once I drive off the lot theres no driving back with second thoughts. Is there a such thing as sellers remorse? Bad Business. I want Fairfield Subaru exposed. I dont ever want to buy Subaru again. They lied about the van being smogged and dont know where my van is?

We own a 3-year old Outback with 37,000 miles on it. Since purchasing the vehicle, we have had to add a quart of oil between each scheduled service (about every 3,000 miles). The dealership tells us that is not abnormal due to the thin grade of oil (which was never mentioned when we were considering purchase of this Outback). It gets worse. In November, without warning, the car lost all power while waiting at a red light on an exit ramp off the interstate. Because we could not get the power back, we were unable to move the vehicle to the shoulder. While waiting for the tow truck, another car smashed into the driver side of the vehicle (hit and run). After months of arguing with Subaru of America, we were told that the accident resulted from the other drivers negligence (rather than because the car was completely dead on the ramp) and, therefore, Subaru was not responsible in any way.The Louisville, Kentucky dealership where we purchased the car finally examined it last week and reported they could find no identifiable problem with the engine. Therefore, the service department concluded there is absolutely no reason to expect this will ever happen again and suggested that we were overreacting because we fear this could occur again, without warning as before, and dont want to drive the vehicle any longer. Not surprisingly, when we asked to meet with the General Manager of the dealership to discuss our concerns, the response was that he was too busy to meet with us (but we could call him). And Subaru has the nerve to boast about its reputation for customer service. You couldnt prove it by our experience. It would be difficult for us to say that Subaru stands behind its product.

Heading to the highway, going about 35-40 MPH, the hood flew open and hit my windshield. Thankfully, it did not shatter it, but did crack it all the way across. I call Subaru headquarters and they pretty much said, Too bad for you! I called the dealership and they pretty much said the same thing. The tech at the dealership said I must have opened the latch from inside. Not sure why I would want to do that while I was driving! The car had been parked and locked in my driveway before I drove it so there was no chance of it being tampered with. I feel there should be an investigation into a recall, as it seems I am not the only one this has happened to!

My recent experience. Went to local tire center to replace tires. During process tire pressure sensor was damaged and required replacing which tire center did. However after several attempts the warning light would not extinguish. Tire center was told new sensor has to be recalibrated/registered with Subaru costing $160 and requiring the vehicle to be booked into their service center (more than 2 weeks wait) to be corrected. If you want the convenience of choosing how much and who services and repairs your vehicle without being held to ransom this may not be the company for you.

Power liftgate issues on my 2016 Forester and not sure who can assist.

2015 Legacy - I have sent my car back to the dealership over and over again. The first time they said they fixed it! The second time they kept it for a week didnt not do 1 thing to it! I have pictures of my trunk full of water from every time it rains! I put so many miles on my car taking to the dealership constantly...

(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.

These guys don’t care about you, your car, or your experience. Not at all supposed to see the low rating. Thankfully before I submitted my application to be a Subaru of America ambassador, they showed me their true colors and let me know that they were not at all concerned with their customers or with having integrity. I hope I never have to call them for any reason ever again.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca - On February 16, 2013, I was on the highway when suddenly the large hood smashed into my windshield - shattering it and sending tiny glass shards all over me. I was blinded by all sides because the impact of the hood slamming into my windshield sent the rear view mirror flying to the floor. I was able to get myself over to the shoulder and when I got out to see what happened, I noticed the entire safety latch mechanism that is supposed to hold the hood down was detached and was dangling from the hood. Obviously, this is a Subaru manufacturing default. I called Subaru of America in NJ and was basically told by customer service and by an executive VP (since I escalated my complaint) that I was out of luck. I begged them to send out one of their reps to confirm this is the issue, but they refused. They know they are at fault, but if they send someone out, they would lose money since they would have to do a recall. And there never was a recall with an issue this serious. I also found 3 other reports online of this exact same issue on my year, model and make. They just dont care about their consumers. They were dismissive and cold. I am beside myself that they wont do these repairs. Did I have to die or get injured in order for them to take responsibility? Now I have to pay almost $4,000 for these damages and it wasnt even my fault. They also told me, You cant prove this is our responsibility. Wow. I will never buy another Subaru again. I will get this one fixed properly because I know I would not be able to live with myself if this happened to someone who bought my car and it was my fault.

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.

I purchased a new 2016 Subaru Forester SUV. The electronic rear door (hatch) will not open at times. This has been a persistent intermittent since the first week I got the car. At first I was told that I was not doing it right. It should not be that hard to open the rear hatch on a car that a college educated intelligent person cant open it! After some time and the realization that it was nothing that I was doing wrong, I started bringing it in for repairs. After three repair trips to several dealers -still no fix. BEFORE you consider purchasing this car, I suggest that you google this problem. You will find that it is a persistent & common problem with Subaru Forester and that Subaru has not redesigned or fixed this problem. What a drag standing outside my new 30K SUV with hands full of groceries in the rain and being totally unable to open the hatch! (Disconnecting the 12V battery and resetting everything will make the electronic hatch mechanism finally reset itself.)

I had an Outback in 1997 and loved it... wish I had kept it. I recently bought a very well cared for single owner 2005 Outback 2.5i with 150K miles. I knew it had a minor oil leak... When it got worse, I fixed that, and while the engine was apart, put in many new parts including timing belt, hoses, thermostat, mounting bolts, machined the cylinders, etc. It was fine for 6 months and then had intermittent sputtering at idle and when starting to drive, along with after a slowdown off the highway to 35 or so and then speeding up again. I also noticed it was strangely low on oil, despite no visible leaking. My mechanic said that the prior owner did a (dealer-done) tune up without replacing the wires, so we did that and the problem seemed fine... for a while. 2 months later, same exact sputtering. One stall after starting the car and putting it in reverse but not driving yet. And... almost no oil in the car (again no visible leaks). Problem as yet undiagnosed so any feedback is appreciated! Also, minor complaints. Had to change the rear door latch when I got the car. The plastic latch that opens the gas cap keeps falling off. And now the drivers window button is sticky and sometimes doesnt want to make the window go up or down.

I bought a used 2016 Subaru Forester with only about 20k miles on it, still under warranty. I was okay at first, now I notice how harsh the ride is. I can feel every bump in the road! Is there something wrong with the shocks? Are the shocks adjustable? Is there someone with the same vehicle experiencing the same thing?

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.

2010 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport - This car was bought new and received all recommended service. At 40,000 the motor had to be replaced. Subaru insisted that the car be towed over 50 miles to a dealership, and before even looking at the engine, the dealership placed the blame on the local shop that did the last oil change. Dealership told us the most it would cost to repair the engine was $6000 for a new engine. They ended up charging $6000 for rebuilt. Several mechanics with no affiliation to Subaru have said this was an engine malfunction. An internet search reveals that a leaky gasket is a common problem with this engine. Subaru has done everything possible to avoid honoring its warranty and recently delayed our court case. I cant say enough bad things about this car and this company. This is by far the worst experience I have ever had with a car, new or used.

2014 Suabaru Outback Limited automatic CVT - I bought the car brand new April 2014. March 2015 check oil light came on while on vacation. Spent three hours at the dealership in Tallahassee Florida, changing the oil. Ever since then every 1200 to 3K miles the oil light would come on. I have repair ticket after repair ticket with them checking it tell me nothing is wrong, that the oil is low and they would either add oil or change it. I was never told that similar vehicles without a CVT were part of a class action suit. I was told the oil level being low was usage. Then I later find out that this is not normal and start demanding something be done. They did nothing, I have ticket after ticket where I complained about this while the car was still under warranty. They never mentioned anything about an oil consumption test. After I researched online I found out about the engine issues. Took to the dealership where they put me through 4 oil consumption test in one year, due to not documenting the test, losing paperwork, technicians leaving, or overfilling the oil. Now the car is out of warranty and needs a new short block. Subaru does not want to replace it because it is out of warranty. I have my documents where this was an issue under the warranty period and they dont want to fix it. The technician and dealership should have contacted Subaru corporate about my car immediately when I started complaining about the issue instead of brushing it off as not part of the recall.

I had a 2003 Subaru Forester. Like so many people, I purchased it based upon its reputation. Car ran fine for many years. At 129,000 miles the head gasket went. This cost several thousand dollars to repair. If you google Subaru Head Gasket Problems you will find many people with the same problem. Subaru claims to have fixed the problem in 2007. At 170,000 the car started leaking oil. At 184,000 miles car developed another oil leak from the engine. The cost of repairs for the leaks was in the thousands. I finally decided to trade in the car for another brand. Some things that you may not know about Subaru: Subaru has a reputation for leaking oil. There are 2 class action suits against Subaru because the newer Subarus burn oil. Subaru claims that it is normal for a car to burn a quart of oil every 1000 miles. Google Subaru Class Action Suit.Many of my friends that talked me into buying a Subaru have also abounded the brand for having similar problems. We have discovered that Subaru oil problems are difficult to fix whether you bring the car to the dealer or an independent mechanic. One other quirky item I learned when being a Subaru owner - tires must be replaced in sets of 4. I had good tires with 20,000 miles on them. One got ruined by a nail. I ended up having to buy 4 new tires otherwise I would have run the risk of damaging the car.

My 2015 Subaru WRX was great prior to the Pre-Ignition Recall and ECU reprogramming. They replaced my engine because they thought it was damaged due to the poor programming. After breaking in the new engine, I have significantly less power and the car is totally different. The dealership has been working with Subaru of America technical support and Field Engineers for months and have gotten nowhere! I am also outside of my Statess lemon law, although fully within my manufacturers warranty. I have not driven my car all summer and have been in Subaru Forester loaner for months.I involved Subaru of America customer service early in the process, and have experienced what I can only describe as the worst customer service experience of my life. Not only are they unwilling to help me get into a new vehicle, they provide no information on what theyre actually doing to fix the car. I can get better service from their call centers auto attendant. The truth is, they have no idea how to fix the car, but continue to drag this issue out. The Subaru dealer who has the car is at their wits end, and wants Subaru of America to do something to resolve this. They simply wont and I have absolutely no recourse other than to hire a lawyer and give him half of whatever he gets me. I guess this is what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.

Subaru Outback 2011 Transmission Problems - ** My youtube video catches the problem, but the transmission doesnt always engage when Im on the interstate. This has happened to me several times when Im in the mountains. Subaru claims they have to replicate the problem for them to help me. Its very dangerous, sometimes it gets down to 45 mph while going downhill.

Overall, I am a happy Subaru customer. I just wanted to let everyone know what the issue is with my vehicle. I purchased my 2014 Outback in February 2014. Since then, I am on my third head unit to repair Failed Connection on the receiver unit for my blue-tooth. Not a big deal overall, but when you drive many miles, its a necessity to have. Im worried that when my warranty is up, the cost to repair the head unit will be astronomical since they have to replace the entire piece instead of the bluetooth module. The dealer has been really great getting me into a loaner car, but it makes me nervous about the cost of the repairs when my warranty finally gives out. Has anyone else had problems with the bluetooth in the Outback?

I have a Forester with about 25,000 miles. The overall experience with the car is reasonable to good but the customer service and specific knowledge of their representatives is not only negative but almost aggressive and unqualified. They call themselves customer consultants and at 15,000 miles wanted me to pay close to USD 3,000 for a routine inspection in order to maintain my warranty. The car is already extremely expensive in Brazil, and going by the book, the service personnel continuously threatens their customers to void the warranty if the maintenance book is not signed and all recommended services provided. This is an absurd attitude and contrary to what a reliable vehicle should be about. At 25,000 miles, I had to replace two rear tires because of uneven wear. The front tires touch and wear out the plastic wheel cover behind the front bumper, and nobody can tell me why. The wheels and tires came with the car when I bought it from the dealer. Please contact me by e-mail to further elaborate on this fiasco of the Brazilian Customer Service.

Purchased New. Cheap carpet and seat fabric. After 36k CV boot went, then driver boot 1k later. Boot rubber is thin compared to other car makers. At 68K, Rubber in throw out bearing went. At 68k, Power steering pump leaking. Cost? Almost 5K.

I purchased a new 2011 Subaru Forester in May 2011. In June 2013 I had it in for its 30K mile check up and the engine was leaking oil. It was the camshaft. Took it to the dealer, they said it would be repaired under warranty. They had it for 2 weeks, said it was repaired and all was well. About 2 months later, the symptoms of the camshaft leak started again, so I took it back, they repaired it and said all was well. In Dec of that year at about 37K, the car stopped starting. Guess what it was, the Camshaft. Took it to the dealer, they put shims in and said it was a known issue so it was covered under warranty. They gave me the car back and about a week later I get a call saying the parts they ordered are in. Im thinking what parts, the car is fine. It wasnt they had to replace all of the gaskets and some of the pistons due to improper wear and performance. I feel as though I rent this car from the dealership. Its only driven occasionally (about once a week) with the exception of the winter (I live in CO which is why I bought it in the first place). It has also had trouble with its fuel gauge and now the battery. Not only will I NEVER buy another Subaru, I wont recommend them either. Subaru knew about these issue and sold the car anyway without correcting them, they just put out service bulletins. What a SHAM and a LEMON. Seriously, NEVER AGAIN.

I have been a loyal Subaru owner over the years. As with other manufacturers being someone who has run a service center as well as being able to perform the task of replacing head gaskets and I cant understand why there hasnt been either a recall or class action lawsuit. I have never seen a Subaru that has not needed head gaskets. I currently drive a 2005 outback with 233000 miles, head gaskets have been done twice with machine shop labor performed every time. These cars are designed to fail. A lot has to do with battery location. Everyone has seen the bottle of special coolant conditioner at the dealer, why the need for it? And heres the simplest explanation, small amounts of electricity pass thru engine parts which reacts with the coolant and the metal in the head gaskets. Its a chemical reaction, over time it eats thru the gasket. Aluminum and steel do not mix as well. Corrosion develops so as you see by design it is set for failure which in 90 percent of cases the customer pays and you all know the cost - anywhere from 3200.00 to 4800.00. Now my car is at the dealer for a brake recall which failed while I was driving and lost brakes so I decide let me look around for another Subaru at some of the dealers. I only looked at cars between 85,000 miles to 110,000 miles, the ten I looked were a mix of Outbacks and Foresters, all had blown head gaskets all of them. So this car in my opinion and Im sure the opinion of many that this car is designed to fail so the dealer can make money and the fact Ive done over a thousand head gaskets in my career is disturbing. And they are all usually outta warranty so when it goes at 85000 your forced with a choice to either spend money on the motor which will blow the gasket again or trade in and get another. But also be mindful on that second head gasket job. The aluminum that the block was made of was so porous the threads came out with the head bolts so I redesigned the motor where the block has studs and you slide the heads on and use grade 8 nuts to complete torque specs. I shared the design with Subaru, not interested at all. So in a nutshell I did head gaskets at 87000 miles and 156000 miles. When I did the redesign it now has 233000 which by my math and experience Im either gonna be due for a head gasket job soon or my redesign has worked with relocation of the battery. Enjoy the photos, this is what had to be done to avoid buying a 5000 dollar used motor that more than likely needed head gaskets. I think Subaru owes it to its customers to design a quality engine. Youre making cars that stop themselves and tell when youre drifting in your lane but cant use better grade metal for the engine or relocate a battery.

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 bought an 01 impreza outback sport from where I work. Used. 143,000 miles on it..keep in mind that I fix cars for a living... This is the best car Ive ever had the pleasure to own and work on. When I bought it it needed both front axle boots, valve cover gaskets and steering rack boots. Now this might seem like a lot to the average person, but really its just minimal surface stuff.... The engine is an ej22 phase 2 2.2 liter.... Best engine subaru ever made in my opinion. Non turbo naturally aspirated... Once I fixed all the little stuff, I changed the oil and did a trans drain and fill 3 times...I drive 50 miles a day 5 days a week, so around 1000+ miles a month.... This car hasnt even shown any signs of dysfunction whatsoever.. Im sorry to hear that people are having problems with their subarus... My experience is much different. Drives great and mileage is 25-26 mpg on an 4eat automatic trans. Yes I have down upkeep ie, plugs wires cold air intake coffee can exhaust tires, but the car just goes and goes, doesnt burn oil, shifts smooth and starts up first revolution of the crank.... And this a used car with 3 owners and 143k. Maybe I just got lucky but its a much better than my 03 fx3 ford ever was! And mileage is better too! I wouldnt trade this car for anything...awd and comfort. It fits my life and style and my wife can put her cakes in the back. Mechanically this car is the most solid reliable car Ive ever had the pleasure of owning and working on. Parts are relatively cheap, in abundance, and I find that the design is way easier to work on than most I have to repair. I wish I had something negative to say about my subaru, but I dont. I will drive this car for as long as I can.

I bought my new 2014 Subaru Crosstrek and it had steering and handling issues. Two trips to the dealer where I bought the car no troubles found. Feels like a new Crosstrek. Tried a different dealer service center. Test drive can not reproduce problem. At 11000 miles I had my local alignment shop check it and the alignment was out and one tire was not true. That tire is now on the back and can no longer be rotated. Top it all off, I find out dealer service centers are not required to have wheel alignment equipment by Subaru of America. This is my 3rd Subaru and the first 2 were great cars. This one feels cheap. Has rattles and the overall quality has gone way down in 10 years. The car sure doesnt feel planted like it has all wheel drive. Buyers, if youre looking at this car stay away from internet chat rooms forums because you will get nothing but sales people telling lies about how good their cars and the company are. Judging by the complaints here Im not the only person.

Several years ago, I was looking at cars, and went to a Subaru dealer. The salesperson was so rude and condescending that we left. Just now, I was researching cars on **, and I sent in several requests for information from dealers. Several Ford dealers got back and were very professional. We had conversations, and they were understanding as I discussed my needs. Then, a moment ago, a Subaru dealer called back (Patriot Subaru in North Attleboro MA). The salesperson was rude and confrontational. She said my request was for a specific car, which Im sure it was. However, I had done more research and wanted to discuss a different Subaru model. Instead of offering advice and listening, she again reiterated, so you want information on a different car than your request? After talking with some good salespeople, it was quite jarring and unexpected for the Subaru person to be so rude, condescending, and overall unprofessional. But I guess I should have expected it, as Ive never had a good experience with Subaru sales.

I put down a $200 deposit, still havent gotten the check that they promised to send over 3 weeks ago. The manager Erik ** was rude and completely apathetic to anything I spoke about. I would never send anyone here.

My husband and I bought our very first Subaru (2007 Outback) believing we had bought a great car that would serve us for many, many years. We were wrong! At 69,000 miles the turbo blew. Then, recently, the turbo blew again at 82,000 miles and took out the engine with it! Subaru doesnt want to do anything but sell us a new car! I am mad as hell and want to tell everyone that Subaru is not what they represent themselves to be.

I have own 25 cars in my life, I am 54 years old. Never had any engine failures. But my 2008 STI just blew up.

Has late night purchase, gave finance manager $15000 cashiers check us and additional $2000 cash to get my monthly payment down below $400/month. After reviewing my paperwork couple days after, realize they added $1000 to my agreed purchase price. Before confronting Jay, salesperson, about this problem I went through my car details including the price he gave me. Two separate times he agreed with the price he had given me by phone on more than 3 occasions before I committed to purchase. This price was the original price Jay told me at the beginning. After he reconfirmed his and my price two additional times, I told him that I had given extra cash during financing and told him exactly $1000 added to my initial price. He hesitated, then said it was the changed figure. It was obvious he was covering for finance and Moe sales manager.So I gave Jay and Moe a week to come up with solution... Long story short they didnt. So contacted GM, Jobe **. He said he would find out info and get back to me... He didnt. Finally got him on phone week later and he told me he had talked to owners and he has good and favorable news for me, put me on hold so he could get my paperwork. After holding for short while, unidentified person came on phone asking if the could help me..(?) I told them I was holding for Jobe. That he had asked me to hold awaiting answer for my situation. Person, Moe, sales manager, said Jobe was in a meeting. That he wanted to know how he could help me(?) Not wanting to rehash again with someone who had previously refused to do anything for over 10 days after knowing of problem. Since then... I contacted Subaru of America for help communicating with Glendale Subaru, Jobe, GM because he refused on 3 separate occasions to take my phone call. Plus I called Lane ** general sales manager. He didnt return my call. I asked Moe, by email twice to relay the owners and GMs solution, but he and GM refused to return my call. Now he told corporate Customer service agent trying help me get info that the GM and Owners had decided. Its become obvious the GM put this $1000 cash fraud back on Moe... Because Moe, Glendale sales manager, refuses to relay this message. Seems likely he is directly involved in this late night fraudulent buying transaction. I would advise ANYONE looking to purchase a Subaru... I 1000% would never do business with Glendale Subaru!! They protect and cover for each other with dishonest transaction. From GM by washing his hands of the situation by not getting involved and leaving it up to his dishonest sales and finance department to get out of this situation alone. In my opinion, Jobe lacks a backbone because he refuses to talk to dissatisfied customers. Yet he blows smoke up peoples rear, by saying he and his dealership are honest and he wants to make thing right and wants to make sure THEIR customers are happy. The GM and THEIR sales staff at Glendale in my opinion are ripping off THEIR owners $$... Very very unhappy Glendale Subaru and Corporate Customers service for allowing this GM to say he is happy with his dealerships customer outreach (ha ha) towards me. Dismissing all my attempts to get him on phone and to complete telling me his owners good and favorable decision. Absolute appalling customer care and outreach. What a rotten egg dealership. Makes me wonder how much $$$ they have defrauded other customers. Ive consulted other car dealers, GMs and previous Subaru Dealership owners. They know exactly what happened. They told me its obvious the GM, Jobe, knows too. He doesnt want to write a check so he just told culprits, his finance and sales to handle the situation they created. BOTTOM LINE. This lack of customer care and outreach to take care of this issue. Receives 1 on scale of 10 for honesty and true care for all customers. I know now I was foolish to give Glendale Subaru any cash. Especially at last transaction of work night. That further explain why the finance manager stuck the cash $ in his pocket... Thought that was highly unusual.

My wife and I purchased this car and purchased the extended warranty, just in case. While on a long trip, the check engine light came on and within 10 minutes, I had lost all power from the turbocharger. The dealer informed me that the oil feed tube filter was clogged and caused the failure. This is not listed anywhere as to maintenance or inspection. Bottom line is, the dealer stated that my warranty is expired by three months and they wont be covering the costs. Ive owned several Subaru cars and was thinking of buying/trading up, but if your systems are not capable of even lasting to 100 thousand miles without a catastrophic failure, surely I wont be making any further purchases from your company. I change my oil personally every 3k, and the car has only 94k miles. What kind of product do you call this? So, what youre saying in your email is, Yes, were aware of the problem but were not responsible since we didnt issue a recall or even a TSB concerning this filter screen and we absolved ourselves of all responsibility regardless of impeccable maintenance per factory recommendations. Therefore, **. Really? Just how long do you plan to remain in business if this is how you operate? Sort of an already got your money, dude attitude? This car didnt even make it to its first timing belt change and thats somehow OK with you? I cannot believe a corporation as big as Subaru absolutely will not stand behind its product! As an ASE-certified master technician with over 25 years in this business, Ive been repeatedly asked about who makes a good car and without question, the answer wont be you, quite the opposite. Im absolutely appalled! Ninety-four thousand miles and a hidden, non-serviceable filter takes out a turbo and possibly the engine with it, and you say tough **!

NOTE: I do NOT work for Subaru, nor have I ever or have ever known anyone who has on a personal basis. I own a 2015 Forster 2.5L Base Model that i have already logged 18,000 miles on! I have experienced the oil burn issue everyone is complaining about, BUT since I have a formal education in mechanics I did some research before jumping to an assumption based on internet complaints and so called rude dealerships.These cars and many, many, many other brands are having similar issues due to having to run these new high MPG rated synthetic oils in the motors. The EPA has been pushing the use of it on manufactures in order to get the MPG ratings up and is pushing for development of 0w5 oil (that will burn like crazy). This oil is almost like water and gets past the low tension piston rings that are being used to also reduce friction and increase mileage. This is why it is called oil consumption and not oil burning. Oil burning is usually referred to as leak from the valve guide seals into the combustion chamber, oil consumption is oil getting past the piston rings and is actually pretty normal for any motor because if the oil did not work its way around the rings they would not get lubricated and would cause engine failure.Keep this very important thing in mind, new cars call for service every 6,000+ miles, as opposed to the old standards of 3,000 miles. Every vehicle I have ever owned that I pushed over 4,000 miles between services has been down a half to full quart of oil by the time I changed it. Motors by nature consume oil, there is NO way around it. Pushing the service intervals further apart has only exposed this to uneducated consumers.The mistake that Subaru made was setting the oil level sensor too sensitive and premature, they have updated the ECM programing now to fix this. My light comes on at about 6,000 miles and I am about 3/4 of quart low. This is totally acceptable and expected. My 2003 Chevy truck was always a quart low by the suggested service intervals, yet the light NEVER came on.I hope this helps those of concerned with this and please pass on this info to anyone concerned about the same thing in their car, no matter what brand it is. And please, always remember that Service staff at dealerships are having to deal with sometimes 100+ people per day all upset about their vehicle having an issue. Give them a little lead way before you jump on them, kindness will always get you further with customer service staff.Have a nice day!

Purchased new, great vehicle for engine and drivetrain. The execution of function and maintenance of the interior and exterior is a poor effort. The front end is a bug catcher. The interior could have been better appointed with holders and storage. The gas pedal position is horrible and extremely uncomfortable, with no remedy from your company. The paint and body is a joke. Dont spit too hard on it!!! Too bad you came up short. A pickup with this drivetrain with practical appointments with form and function... At least you have room to improve. Feel a bit cheated...

On my 3rd Subaru lease. I won’t go into details with their previous Mirror Link issues (lots of them). This review is regarding their Starlink Service. Big shout out to Maria at the Danvers location who was awesome while I waited FOR SIX HOURS AT THE DEALER DUE TO SOMEONE’S MISTAKE. We got through that. I’ll spare the details.Purchased the Starlink Service. Took the time to set it up, registering, etc. Worked fine. Then out of the blue without warning, the services stopped. My car profile was wiped from the MySubaru app as well as the service. Someone made an error and must have confused it with the previous lease. Well after literally about a dozen calls and false promises, no one could figure out how to fix the issue. I called Subaru (not the dealer) and they couldn’t figure it out either. After more escalation, wasted time and apologies that do nothing, a supervisor got my credentials back into the MySubaru app and reinstated the Starlink services. All looked good until I went to start the car remotely, ERROR—you must have a subscription. Yet the app says I have a subscription.Place another call to Starlink, they have no clue as to what is wrong. Pissed off is an understatement. If you want to deal with people that are clueless, cant figure out issues and make random mistakes, Subaru is your go to. I am literally too busy with a job, business and two little kids to be dealing with foolish errors and incompetent BS.Also, please don’t leave me a regurgitated message saying you are sorry and to call you. You don’t answer the phone, I already tried that. Fix the issue is all you have to do. My sorry jar is already filled up with apologies that are useless. Lastly, no---you don’t understand. If you did, the issue would have never happened. Should you waste my time to have to go to the dealer—a major inconvenience—I will not sit there for hours while you figure out the issue. My time is extremely valuable and I hate wasting it.

After driving a 2001 Forester we were so happy to get a newer version. We bought ours in February, it is a manual (2013 Forester) which we felt would only extend the life of a vehicle that has a reputation for a long life. Last week we got stranded, the clutch would not work, it would not go into gear. We had it towed to our mechanic who told us it was a common issue with manual Foresters where a part of the clutch breaks within the transmission and destroys the transmission. Subaru knows this is an issue because they have part that you can buy and install to prevent this from happening to the next clutch and transmission you put in your car. Wait, yes I said it... They have not FIXED THE ISSUE. They put a band aid on it and only AFTER you put a different transmission in.The Subaru is past the powertrain warranty of 3 years or 50,000 miles and we didnt want to pay $400 to get it towed an hour away at the nearest dealer so we had our mechanic fix it... Who by the way fixes TONS of Subarus. You would think Subaru would care about the little guy that helps them sell the reputation of their brand, the customer who shares the reputation of their brand, or THEIR BRAND! I called Subaru and they told me they would not talk to me, let me write a letter, review my situation, NOTHING because I didnt tow it to the dealer 45 minutes away when I didnt even know what was the issue. We cant do ANYTHING to help you is what I was told.I am thoroughly disgusted that they know they have an issue they dont fix and just keep taking our money. Instead of me telling everyone what a wonderful brand Subaru is, I will be telling them this story... You would think they would give me the money I paid for the used transmission just to shut me up and keep me as a customer.... But I guess they have enough customers and dont need me. Your loss Subaru.

My husband purchased a new Subaru Outback in 2011. It has continually had oil problems, with the oil light coming on and off. The Subaru dealer assured him this was normal and his car was fine. It was serviced on a regular basis with the recommended work and oil changes. Last week the car stopped in the middle of the road (while driving) and he had it towed to the Subaru dealer for diagnosis and repair. Diagnosis: They dont know. Recommendation: It needs a new engine! Really Subaru? 130,00 miles and no help from Subaru! Unbelievably bad reliability!

Id like to share with you my experience with newly purchased Subaru Legacy 2015 (Basic Edition). I purchased this car a month before my lease was coming to an end. I knew I was going to go for a basic trim package, and I ended up doing so without actually seeing it for couple of several reasons. First, dealerships simply DID NOT have basic trims in the showrooms around my area. I trusted the company to deliver something that any other normal automotive company would do. Like Toyota or Honda. For the price I pay... you know what I mean. I did assume that basic trim would be more modest but did not anticipate that it will be borderline dysfunctional. So, after couple of days of driving, I noticed that my little daughter shoveling some dirt into suspicious hole in the trim (see pic attached). At first I thought it is misalignment. Then I thought, it must be bad molding that shrunk during manufacturing. Until I saw identical issue on the other side. This discovery made me question other parts of the car, so I did some QC around and found another issue with the rear window defroster (see pics attached). These two issues quickly got complimented with another annoying feature of the Subaru Bluetooth, where there is absolutely NO WAY to inset a pause sign between the numbers (comma or P, depending on phone model - I tried both), which prevents me from using most of my numbers to overseas, or calling to a corporate numbers with extensions. Not so much for a safety and hands-free dialing. This time Subaru designers also decided not to bother with ability to edit the number - it can be either manually dialed in or loaded from the phone.I decided to pay a visit to Willowdale Subaru Service Center, where I bought my Subaru from. Two polite gentlemen assisted me in my quest. They quickly resolved my concerns with the defrosting system. Apparently, it is a design feature. In my honest opinion, decision to spare for a client additional luxury of clear rear view and leaving minimum needed to pass under bar of safety regulation specs is not the best strategy for a company that wants to earn loyalty in tough competitive market. As for the gasket, shop foreman ** took me to another basic trim Subaru Legacy 2015 and showed me same trim feature there. I guess, the intent was to convince me that it is perfectly normal to have it.Luckily for me, I just happened to find another Subaru Legacy (2014 year) in the showroom that had exactly same trim design - that car actually had a gasket or caulking that tightly closed the gap, and by that logically protecting the inside of whatever is inside the threshold frame from the weather elements (Canada has very salty roads during winter time). Same sort of protection (plastic flap that capped the trim from inside to prevent outdoor dirt to get under the threshold) was on the front side. My 2015 did not have this either. Just white plastic abruptly ends leaving a finger-sized gap. Foreman ** promised that he will inquire on availability of the gasket with Subaru manufacturer. I will wait for 1 week to get the answer. Frankly, as snow hit us already, I would expect gasket to be installed by then. We will see. As for the Bluetooth - Subaru did not have a plausible explanation.

Absolutely horrible customer service. Been working with both a dealership and with Subaru of America and both have been utterly horrible and useless. I have a continuous issue with my head unit (Google 2015 forest Bluetooth issue) and you’ll see I’m simply one of hundreds if not thousands of people dealing with this issue. Subaru refuses to acknowledge it and will not help with the fact they have placed a faulty head unit in my car. I will never buy Subaru again and I’m telling everyone to avoid them due to their extremely poor customer service. They do not care about their customers.

My 2014 Outback was my 3rd Subaru. They had changed to full synthetic oil and one has to use that as the company supposedly tightened up their Boxer 2.5L specs. First oil change at 3K was OK, 2nd at 7.5K later, as they recommended, was still OK. After that, was on a trip and oil light came on after about 3K miles. Eventually found a place in the rural area that had 0-20W which is required. Only half qt required. After another 2K miles, another half quart required. After that, the scenario continued to repeat. After an oil change, 3K miles and half qt needed, and at 5K after the change another half qt. Through several changes. Factory had lowered the period between changes to 6K, but after using 1qt of the 4qt original supply, I went to changing every 5K miles.Then found a CR report lambasting Subaru for their oil use. This was not leaking oil, but consuming it. A couple of autos, Audi and BMW - some models - were worse, but everyone that I talked to considered using a qt every 5K miles very excessive for a new car. Subaru would do nothing about it and the dealer - having been graded on the sales process already with the 10s they beg you to grade, was indifferent. Facing the possibility that the Subaru name would be associated with oil burner in the future and that the value of my vehicle for trade would be negatively impacted I chose to trade it in after only owning it 20 months and 27K miles. Traded for a Mazda CX-5 and went to the Subaru dealer immediately afterwards to tell them why I had traded away the Subaru Outback that I otherwise had loved for what I consider to be a lesser vehicle. That doesnt use oil.Dealer made up some excuses and I walked out, a Subaru fan no more. Dealer never even offered to make me a good deal on a newer vehicle that supposedly didnt have the problem. This was in Columbia MO. Despite my having informed them that I had traded the vehicle, I still get service reminders and other propaganda from the dealer. They are that clueless and disconnected and this reflects upon Subaru as being pretty much the same.

I bought Subaru Ascent 2021. It’s my biggest mistake I did the wrong decision. My SUV have issues with seats. My driving seat is shaking while driving especially when you stop on signal or stop signs. When you move driving seats is shaking feel me be. I fell down backside so it’s scary and my SUV 2nd row right side seat is give bad noise when you are driving bumpy street like rough road. It’s only 10000 miles and feel I drove old car. I take my SUV on Subaru service center twice. They are not able to fixed that issue. I guess they don’t have experienced technicians. They tried to fix and said it’s manufactured fault. Right now I am confused. What I gonna do. This SUV is not value to money so I decide to give review about my experience for helping people be careful before buying this suv make sure first check the seats in this SUV. After buying no one take responsibility. My car is under warranty but they didn’t fix. I go every week in service center and request them please fix my car.

I will like to share my exp. with my Subaru Outback 2013. Buy it brand new in 2013 and at 20,000 miles the dealer have to swap the engine because oil consumption problem, but now since engine swapping there is noise on lifters and they says is normal because the block is bigger. 1st time buying a Subaru & last time. I will better go back to my Honda dealer, not second mistake with Subaru again.

Charlie ** was referred to me, because my brother and all his family by all their cars from Milea Dealership on East Tremont Ave, Bx, NY. Charlie was helpful as I turned my old Forester in, for an excellent trade in value - while they had a new one ready for me, with exceptional new safety features, and everything I needed in a car. Thank you for excellent professional timely service!! Everything was perfect and I am grateful for such an A+ experience with everyone I encountered, who could not have been more helpful!

Subaru has always been our choice in vehicles, due to the safety factor and having an excellent reputation for producing a quality vehicle. However, I have a 2009 Forester, and we just noticed rust in several areas on the lip above the windshield. I took our vehicle to the dealer and the Service Manager said it was caused by stone chips and he would take no responsibility for it. The paint is still fully intact and there is absolutely no evidence or indication that a stone chip or any object came in contact with the vehicle where the rust is bubbling underneath the paint.There are a couple of stone chips along the front edge of my hood, however, and the rust has not bubbled at all and does not resemble the number of rust spots above the windshield. There is no rust anywhere else on the vehicle. Given we have been loyal customers to Muskoka Subaru. I am very disappointed with the Dealerships Service Manager response to my issue. Based on the warranty, the Anti-Perforation Limited Warranty (60 month/Unlimited km) covers perforation due to corrosion to body sheet metal panels for 60 months, regardless of kilometres. The Service Managers attitude towards me and my husband was ambivalent and discourteous. Frankly, his behavior reflected an attitude of not caring.When it became obvious to us there was not going to be any resolution dealing with the Service Manager. I stated I would escalate this issue to Subaru Canada. He informed me that I could not contact Subaru Canada and must deal directly with the dealership. I certainly hope this is not the policy of Subaru Canada, to prohibit customer input to achieve satisfactory resolution. It is unfortunate that a minor fix has resulted in change in our opinion towards purchasing and recommending Subaru vehicles in the future. The competent handling and resolution of our issue will restore our faith as a loyal Subaru customer in the future.My Experience today and documented to Subaru Canada: I was supposed to meet with the regional manager today at 11:00 A.M regarding the 21 rust spots on above my windshield. I believe you have the pictures. I arrived early to find he was in a meeting behind closed doors. I was given a courtesy car as I asked to have my snow tires put on and was told they would call me when he was out of his meeting. I arrived back to find he had left, said my issue is not covered. I am EXTREMELY upset he did not have the decency to meet with me, a loyal customer and how do I even know he looked at the Forester. Who can I take this up with now?? I need to go hire up and need this resolved. If I dont get any satisfaction, I will resort to social media. I am very unhappy with the lack of service and respect I have received to date.

My wife was driving our brand new 2014 Outback. She went slightly off the road and attempted to engage the break release to allow the four wheel to kick in and get out of the small depression she was in. She couldnt get it to work. She called a towing service. They came out and a young man got in the car and engaged the transmission apparently thinking that by moving forward and backward he could get the car out without pulling it out with the truck. In a few minutes the car started smoking and within a few more minutes flames appeared that couldnt be put out with the tow truck fire extinguisher. The car burned up-a total loss. It was a frightening experience for my wife and makes us wonder how this car could possible erupt into flames. Anyone out there with any insight?

I have owned Hondas, Mazdas and Saabs and there is no question that the Subaru Outback is the most uncomfortable and annoying car I have ever owned. I just traded it in after only 2 years, and I am so relieved and thankful to have gotten rid of it. Just so that you know the importance of this, I always keep my cars 15 years. I have never, ever in my life traded in a vehicle. I usually keep my cars for 15 years and then sell them to a private party for a couple thousand bucks at the end, usually b/c they are in such great condition. I am writing this because I want to help others avoid making the same mistake I made, a very expensive mistake.I had a 2014 Subaru Outback, the Limited version, with the 2.5 engine, auto transmission. I was interested in this car because I had always heard how great Subarus are and I wanted a comfortable and larger car that was dog-friendly. I test drove this vehicle three times before I bought it. ***None of the issues listed below are either evident during a one-hour test drive, and/or become annoying until you have driven the car for a few months.*** I recommend that you ask for (at least one) day-long test drive of any Subaru, especially the Outback, before you buy one. Heres why I got rid of this car (NOTE: All of the issues below I addressed with the dealers and they told me this is all normal behavior for these cars; also many of these issues are common complaints from owners):Worst transmission in the industry. I do not know how anyone can stand to drive this CVT transmission day in day out. I had an automatic. Imagine stepping on the gas and the car feeling like its about to choke, like the transmission is failing. It is especially bad when the car is cold. I did not notice this during the test drive. I believe you have to have a few thousand miles on the car, and/or be in normal traffic or driving conditions to understand how bad this transmission feels. Rough, choky, sputtering doesnt even begin to describe it.Worst A/C in the industry. When you are in Arizona (or DC or Florida or anywhere where it gets hot) and its 108 degrees, the last thing you want is a car that doesnt cool. The A/C on these cars STOPS COOLING when you step on the gas. Dont believe me? Put your hand in front of the A/C vent and step on the gas. The A/C keeps blowing but the air is warm. Ridiculous. Worst seats in the industry. If you have even the slightest back problems, do not buy this car. Also do not even think of long road trips in this car either. The seats will kill you.Worst handling in the industry. Speaking of long road trips, another reason why you will not want to take long trips with this car is the fact that the car wanders on the road. You are fighting with the steering wheel constantly to stay in the lane. Yes, again, all this is normal behavior for this car, according to several Subaru dealers. And this wandering is among many issues with steering/handling that people have complained about on this forum, with little to no resolution. I rented a Ford Escape last weekend and I was shocked at how well that SUV handles, compared to Outback, which costs $10,000 more. (The Escape has other negatives, however.)Worst infotainment system in the industry. If this is important to you, keep shopping. DO NOT buy this car unless you get the navigation, which comes with a big infotainment screen. Otherwise you will be dealing with a tiny little screen that is smaller than your phone. If you have an iPod or a USB drive full of songs, good luck trying to get the Outback to play the songs, or specific songs. Want to find Dave Mathews Band? The song search is pretty much impossible. The Bluetooth is crackly and terrible (another common complaint). The audio sound is awful, but I know nobody buys these cars for acoustics and audio sound. Speaking of sound, also, the car is very very noisy, but I know no one buys these cars for the soundproofing either.Worst backup camera in the industry. The resolution of the camera is so bad, I dont know why they bothered with the backup camera to begin with. Dont expect to see much of anything from that camera if its raining. Worst auto body in the industry. When I go to Costco or whatever, I park my cars away from other cars, in the farthest space possible. Thats just how I roll. And yet this car already had several door dings and chips and scratches. The exterior paint/metal will not last 15 years. In fact, it looked like junk after only 2 years. The Subarus are also no match for bird poop or tree sap; both had already damaged the hood.Horrible fuel economy (I never got more than 19.7 mpg) despite being a supposedly green automaker. I only did city driving, but thats what I got. Also, the major reason why I did not buy the larger 3.6 engine is because I did not want to buy a gas guzzler. But in fact the 2.5 is also a gas guzzler. So I ended up with a really slow, under-powered car (read: zero pickup off the line) that guzzled gas.I do have two good things to say about this car. A, it doesnt require premium gas. And B, it has excellent resale value (because I guess theres a lot of people out there who dont care about the above-mentioned things and just want a car to haul stuff uphill or in snow). If your only interest is having a very basic AWD hauler, then this may be the car for you. If drive quality, comfort and fuel economy are important to you, arrange for full-day test drives, preferably several of them, before you buy. I feel like Subaru, especially with the Outback, tries to market itself as a step above other compact and intermediate SUVs. They should give their marketers a raise, because they sure conned me. Hope this helps someone avoid making the pricey mistake I made.

I bought a 2012 Outback in February 2012. When I rotated the tires at 10,000 miles, I noticed that both rear tires were severely worn at the outer edges. The dealer had the wheels aligned. They were out quite a bit. But now after about 11,000 miles, the tires are worn to the tread gauges in the outer tracks. I dont think I will get 20,000 miles out of them. I think Subaru should replace these two tires. The other two tires are fine but at 20,000 miles, I may have to replace all four tires because it is a four wheel drive.

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 purchased my 2008 Subaru Legacy in 2016 and absolutely love the car. I have never had a better car but when the airbag recall took effect thats when I found out the recall on the dashboard for melting and causing the reaction of not being able to see when the sun was shining on it. So when I called to get the dash done under the warranty they would not honor it. I just recommend when you do buy a Subaru make sure to actively check for recalls because on the airbag recall I have received over 100 notices but none for the dash. Thanks.

I had a 5 year old Legacy Outback with just over 60k miles, very well maintained. The transmission broke down completely while I was on vacation and it took over a week to fix and cost $3k. Absolutely no help from Subaru on this, even though that year and model had a history of tranny problems. My wife also had catastrophic transmission problems with her Subaru. Needless to say, we got rid of the Subarus and have enjoyed total satisfaction with our Honda, Toyota, and Lexus vehicles. Beware the dreaded Subaru transmission!

I bought a 2013 Crosstreck in January 2013. I have had nothing but problems with it since about 65,000 miles. I have had to replacement dash sensors twice, two front axles, engine burns oil uncontrollably. (Have to put a quart of oil in every two weeks.) Wheel bearings have had to be replaced twice already. I would not recommend a Subaru to anyone. They are expensive and horribly built cars.

Returning from a long trip late Oct. 2016, the oil light came on with over a thousand miles left to go for the next scheduled oil change. Added a quart of oil to get home and after contacting Subaru Customer Service took the car to Tucson Subaru, AZ for an oil consumption test. At the first part of the test, engine is checked for external oil leaks, oil level sensors to be in working order, and complete oil and oil filter change is performed. After 1200 miles, you return for the second part of the test which is to check oil level, add oil if necessary, and determine amount used. If a third of a quart (10.7oz) or more is consumed, engine deemed to be using excessive oil and the short block is replaced. My car is still under powertrain warranty.Here is the problem: First part - the crankcase was overfilled (I personally checked and oil level was over the full mark on the dipstick by well over 1/2). Second part - the crankcase was filled to the full mark on the dipstick. (Again, I personally checked) Result - Very small amount of oil consumption. Engine deemed normal. If you look at the first invoice findings (see attached) it says 1.2qts low, add the 1qt when oil light came on during trip and that equals 2.2qts consumption in approx 6500 miles. At that rate, the 1200 miles test should have been 0.406qts consumed. Well over the one-third quart criteria. How can anyone determine oil consumption in this manner? My common sense tells me to fill the crankcase with a pre-measured amount of oil in ounces, drive the prescribed 1200 miles, return for a measured oil drain in ounces, the difference is the amount of oil consumed. Cars are not cheap nowadays. The manufacturers and dealers should stand behind their products, customer satisfaction and not put the bottom line $$ first.Are dealers mandated by Subaru to test oil consumption in this manner in order to save money?Is the dealer too irresponsible to do things correctly? Either way, it is very disappointing and frustrating to say the least. My daughter owns a 2014 Forester and has been having oil system problems as well as numerous other issues. I for one, and probably my daughter as well, would not recommend Subaru vehicles to anyone and definitely not consider buying again. In my opinion, Subarus perceived reputation is just that, perceived and not a reality.

I have had at least 10 problems with the light bulbs on my headlights. The bulbs are not cheap and a lot of people do not know exactly how to put them on, very unsatisfied with this problem. Some dont even last 3 months. Is this a defect in this model? Every mechanic says they are hard to get to, to replace and want to charge high labor. Is there something that can be done about this? I love my car but this is getting aggravating. Thanks.

Two accidents with 2016 Forester. No. 1. While sitting in my car at a drive in restaurant in park position, my car suddenly moved backwards across the parking lot before hitting another vehicle. Several diners saw this happen. Police were called and wrote a report. I got no ticket. I contacted McGovern Subaru and told them what happened, They said that they would call the Subaru headquarters. A few days later, I was told that they had never hear of this. The dealership never contacted me again. No. 2 June 16 2018: With the keys in my hand, ready to get out of the car, it suddenly started moving forward as if driven by its battery. Before I could do anything, it went through my fence, knocked over two full 100 gallon propane gas cause one to spewing to spewing it in the air and hit my screen house, destroying it. Estimated damage: $13,000. There is a witness to this. The fire and police departments were on the scene in minutes and traffic was routed to other streets. I immediately reported this to McGovern Subaru. It took five days wrangling between the towing company and the dealership before it was delivered. Two weeks later no work has been done. Excuse: Waiting for an expert from Subaru using a computer to analyze the problem.

My 2013 Subaru Outback needs the transmission replace at Subarus expense. All Im getting is comments that because there are so many vehicles with this problem they do not have enough transmissions to fix the problem. At first we were told it would be 7-10 days for the necessary parts. Then we were told it would be 4-5 weeks. We have surpassed that time frame with no idea when my car will be fixed. I am not able to use it as I need. This is totally unacceptable. Pressure from various agencies needs to happen now.

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.

Today I dropped my 2019 Subaru Sport off at Subaru in Turnersville, New Jersey for a second time and for the same issue. The tailgate stops working completely. The tailgate latch will not open the back and neither does the button on the starter key or the inside automatic button. There is no way to open the tailgate unless you have a screw driver and can crawl into the back to open up a manual switch. This exact problem occurred in the summer too.My appointment was for 11 AM. After contacting Subaru for updates a couple of times I finally got a text stating at 4 PM someone was just now diagnosing the problem. Why bother to make an appointment if Subaru service doesnt plan on looking at my car for 5 more hours. I still have no car and no answers. To top the matter off the service department CLOSES at 5 PM which is in 15 minutes. At 4:55 PM I got a call that my vehicle was repaired and Subaru had already contacted service departments regarding this issue, so they actually had the part they needed to make the repair. So if purchasing a Subaru Sport keep this in mind as well as the disappointing service experience. In speaking with the service man who signed in my Subaru, he told me that 11 AM was my drop off time, but they have all day to work on the cars. If I had opted to stay and wait for the repair I seriously doubt I would have had to wait 6 hours. Moving forward the lesson I learned when having your vehicle serviced at this Subaru would be to always tell them you are staying and waiting rather than leaving. You likely will have a better chance of getting your vehicle serviced in a more efficient and timely manner. Better yet how about if this Subaru just honors actual appointments.

I have found many things I hate about my Subaru. The biggest is you cant use any of the devices unless the car is running and you are burning gasoline. You cant listen to the radio or charge your phone or use your gps or talk on your phone through the radio. I used that for 10 minutes and my battery was dead. The heater does throw heat on your feet. There is a tube about an inch wide that comes down beside the console and that is all the heat you get. If you are in a hard rain storm, you cant see because the wipers do not run that fast. I have an SUV and the back hatch is so difficult to open or shut, I have to put everything down to open or shut it. I bought this vehicle due to Consumer Reports data. They apparently do not look at things like this. I hate it. Anytime I ask Subaru, they say that is just the way Subarus are. Now my radio screen has squiggly lines all over it. So bad I cannot see to back up or see the channel on the radio if the sun is shining on it. They said, Well, the radio works, doesnt it. If we were talking about a 57 Chevy, yes, I can hear the radio. But this vehicle radio is supposed to do other things and it does not because you cannot see them. This item I believe cuts into resale value. Anyone thinking of buying a Subaru should check out these items. If they are ok with them, fine. But I was not told nor did I think to check them before I purchased and Subarus do not come cheap.

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.

I bought a brand new Subaru Outback in 2005 and the engine completely failed at 51,000 miles out of nowhere in 2009. I fought Subaru on it for 3 months and they finally agreed to pay for the new engine. Now, after 3 years and 30,000 miles the engine has failed again! The car is only 7 years old and has had 2 complete engine failures. Subaru is telling me they cant do anything about it and they want $4000 to fix it, about twice what a local mechanic might quote.I spoke to my dads mechanic who has been working on cars in the same location in Palo Alto for more than 30 years (since before I was born.) He said that he wont work on Subaru engines because there is a major problem with them. They blow head gaskets and then Subaru tries to pin the failure on the mechanic or on the owner and it causes problems. Apparently, there are many mechanics here that wont touch them because Subaru legal is taking care of this engine problem.When I look online, there are dozens of sites about this Subaru engine problem, websites were hundreds of people have logged in and documented their head gasket failures at 30,000, 50,000, 70,000 miles. Way too soon for any engine to be failing. Subaru still denies theres a problem, but they redesigned the engine a few years ago and now its not failing in the new cars. Several folks have tried to put together class action lawsuits, but I dont think any of them have gone forward. Meanwhile, if you look on sites that give recommendations on buying used Subarus, they all say if youre going to buy one from roughly 1998-2006 with this particular engine, you need to make sure its failed once and had the major repair done. Otherwise, its not worth buying because it will fail soon. Thats crazy!From what I can tell - most people just go ahead and pay for the repair, some people get better deals, and a few actually get the repairs covered. It seems to depend entirely on how much of a fight you put up. A friend of my mothers has already had 2 new engines put in because of this problem in the first 80,000 miles, too, and he paid for them!My car is currently sitting at Carlsen Subaru in Redwood City, waiting to be worked on. It originally failed on Christmas Day. So, its been more than 2 weeks and nothing has been resolved. At this point, my goal is to get Subaru to buy the car back from me. Id be happy with Blue Book Value. I just dont want to deal with it anymore. And it breaks my heart because I love my car. But its given me 3 years of stress now, so Im done. Is there anything you can do to help me and other Subaru drivers? Thanks so much for your time.

January 2017, I decided it was time to upgrade my Subaru. I went to Dick Hannah and found a 2015 Subaru WRX (certified Preowned) still under the factory warranty. Sold. The car was wonderful... for about three weeks. Then it was downhill for the next 6 months. The check engine light came on and was of course taken to Dick Hannahs service department to be repaired. They claimed to have fixed it and a week later, light comes on again. So I go back and forth about 8 times (about 3-4 months, same light same problem) and I finally go to the general manager and see if this is a lemon. Apparently I missed that by about a month. Okay cool. Now what? I am treated poorly by them and there is nothing they can do. I moved on to Gresham Subaru, and at this point I get Subaru of America involved. Gresham claims to fix the car... same light, same problem a week later. Now we are at 9 visits to the shop for the same problem. As if Im not frustrated enough... I cannot get a hold of anyone at Subaru for probably two weeks. Their customer service reps would say okay 24-48 hours and you will get a call from a supervisor. Never happens and I continue to call and wonder what is going on. So it doesnt qualify for a lemon OR a buy back - no explanation, just no it doesnt qualify - Im wanting a collateral exchange at this point... 7 months later, 10 visits for the same check engine light issue, the techs are literally scratching their head at my car. And everyone at Subaru of America is beating around the bush. Wont answer my calls, keeps saying that they wont know anything until their engineers take a look at my car, they keep ordering and replacing and testing parts and I feel like I am a victim of a scam. This is the most awful experience and Subaru is showing their true colors and do NOT stand behind their vehicles when there is a problem. Clearly the 1 and half stars by everyone else explains enough. I HAD to rate this as one star but it doesnt even deserve that.

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?

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 heard a wind sound at speeds of 120 km/hr or more and fine dust between the doors and car body and I went to the service center. The service center told me it`s normal, that all Subaru XV model 2012 have the same issue after we tried another car.

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.

I bought a brand-new Subaru in Silverthorne, Colorado. The dealer has provided the most incompetent, inconsistent service over the years; costing me time and money. Several times, they failed to clip something back in the car after it was serviced causing irreparable damage to the part. They refuse to replace it or take any responsibility even though the problem was brought to their attention right away. Subaru Corporate Headquarters was contacted numerous times about this, and they just sent emails thanking me for my feedback and that they value their customers. If they valued their customers, they would do something.My last experience at the dealer involved a botched oil change that they admitted to. They promised to credit my Visa card when I had no choice but to ask for a refund and assured me it was done. When I called to follow up 3 weeks later because my bank confirmed a credit in fact did not post, I was treated abominably by their latest manager, **. This, too, was reported to Subaru Corporate Headquarters. I asked them for the name of ** superior three times. They wrote back, thanked me for my feedback, and refused to answer my simple question. I have years of documentation to show what I have been through with Subaru. They were nice when I bought my car, but since then, they have proven time and again that they do not care about their customers.

My spouse and I recently purchased a brand new 2013 Subaru WRX STI. Before signing our agreement, we stated that we could see an orange peel look in the factory paint. The salesman and sales manager stated that they would have it cut and buffed, which should remove the orange peel look (my spouse nor myself do not have experience with auto body paint, so we reluctantly decided to sign the papers being as it was a brand new car and we figured that the cut/buff process would really remove the orange peel factory defect look). They cut and buffed it and it will not remove the orange peel, so we decided to take it to a reputable auto body company in the area we live in. Once we spoke with him, he stated that to totally fix this factory paint defect, the car would need to be pulled completely apart and totally repainted. That comes in at around $6,000! We just spent $40K. We cannot afford to put another $6K into the car. So we contacted Subaru.com and they sent a rep out to look at the paint. The rep stated that there is not a problem with the paint! Not only can the salesman see the orange peel as well as other workers, my friends, etc., but the Subaru rep doesnt come on! They also stated that they would not take any opinion from any auto body place besides the one they use. That in itself seems fishy. If they say nothing is wrong with the paint, why wont they get a few other opinions? They are just trying to cover their rear ends and not make right. If you read online about the orange peel effect on auto body paint, it clearly states that its caused from improper application of paint - whether it dried too fast, they didnt apply it correctly or the paint itself has a defect. We have owned over 20 cars in the past 12 years and have never had a car with orange peel looking paint. We have never owned a Subaru and this will certainly be the last! The factory is cutting corners to make more cash and get over on the consumer since most people dont notice this issue unless you really look at your car. We have been up and down with the Subaru dealership and have contacted the owner to see if he will make right on the fixing of the paint. We are awaiting the answer from him. I can only hope that he will make right on it. We love the car otherwise and shouldnt have to live with something that looks so bad! My husband just received a phone call stating that we are not allowed back at the dealership and to not contact them any longer! Not only did we already prepay for service up to $45K, but we also were told that we are given free car washes for the life of the car! This is ridiculous! I will never purchase a Subaru again!

Its a Subaru. Really close to the safest car on the planet. Its our fourth. Saabs including an Aero convertible, Nissan 350Z. Fast (at least to 50mph). And safe, safe, safe.

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.

Subaru of America resolved this issue.

I contacted Subaru of American about the dealer over filling my 2015 Outback by 1 quart of oil and complained about over 1 quart of oil was consumed. I have 11,400 miles on the car and this was at the end of the second oil change coming up. This was their response. Subarus standard for oil consumption is 1/3 qt every 1,200 miles which would be 1qt for every 3,600 miles. I can assure you that if the dealership determines that your vehicle is outside these specifications the necessary repairs will be performed. So they are saying it is normal to burn up to 2 quarts of oil every 6000 miles?? There is a problem and they do not want to recognize it.

We have been loyal Subaru customers for 20 years. We have always kept our Foresters well maintained and garaged. However, I can say that after the head gaskets going bad at 77,000 in our 2010 Forester we will never buy another Subaru again. Our last Forester did not have bad head gaskets until nearly 200,000 miles! After rounds of discussions with Subaru, they are only offering $1,000 toward repairs. Apparently this is a good deal from what I have seen them offer other customers with similar issues. Ridiculous. We will still be on the hook for repairs that equal half the cost of the vehicle. I am waiting on a class action for this issue. Subaru, you are losing your loyal customer base!

When I found out the head gasket is going on my 2009 Subaru Legacy, extremely well maintained, and only 70,000 miles on it, I was stunned. After researching this, it has been a well-known problem for millions here and abroad, due to flawed (i.e., cheesy) design. This is an expensive repair!! I am wondering if anyone else is interested in a class action suit. I dont want to have to pay 3,000 for a new head gasket because the company skimped on design and materials. I am livid. If anyone is interested, let me know.

I purchased the Gold Plan extended coverage service contract for $1500 on a pre-owned 09 Legacy. The engine blew a rod at 85,000 miles and they insist on breaking down the engine to determine if it is covered. If they decide it is not covered, I have to pay $1000 for breaking down the engine and Im stuck with a car with a blown engine that I cant afford to fix.

Spoke to Subaru service department yesterday. Asked about oil consumption issue. His reply was oh dont worry, the problem seems to be going away. Gee, didnt know cars could fix themselves.

Our 2014 Subaru Outback (purchased new) has an intermittent stall problem that lasts for several seconds at low speeds when trying to accelerate into traffic. It has caused 2 near collisions and my wife will no longer ride in the car because of it. This issue has been discussed with the dealer several times and were told by the Service Manager that it is a common complaint and an engineering defect in the CVT transmission and that his 2013 Legacy has the same problem. The factory Zone rep. drove the car briefly and said it drove normal and that they were not going to work on it but would give us an allowance on a 2015 model. This car drives normal 99.9% of the time because this only happens in slow in town driving of which we do very little but when it fails it could be catastrophic. We are in our seventies and purchased this car new because it has all the hi-tech safety devices on it such as Eyesight collision avoidance but this is of no use if we are t-boned in heavy traffic. Since when is an engineering defect in a drive train normal?! We left the car with instructions that they could drive it home or wherever until such time that the problem occurred (and gave them a list of the perimeters that seemed to cause the problem to manifest itself) then they should fix it under the new car warranty but they told us that it was just going to sit there until we pick it up as they are not going to do anything with it. We also asked if they would buy it back if they are refusing to repair it and they of course declined that also. This indicates to us that they dont want it either. We will probably be forced to dump it at a big loss. ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM?

Squeaking in the back end of 2014 Crosstrex - Ive taken my new car in six times within the last month for the same problem and the service manager tells me that its not a safety hazard so theyre not that concerned with it??? I will never buy another Subaru. Their service department is horrible.

Car brakes for no reason. Lane assist does not work properly and is dangerous. Fuel gauge recall left my wife and 2 young children stranded. The worst part of my experience was with Subaru corporate. They are slow at responding to my concerns. I opened a ticket with them a month ago and they are still moving slowly. I waited 2 weeks with no response until I finally complained. Finally, they provided me with a 2019 Outback rental and it was not comparable to my vehicle at all. It had no GPS, no push button start, no leather seats, bad rearview mirror, no sunroof. Im still in the process of dealing with corporate regarding that, and I was told by my dealership that I would receive a call from corporate. I was never called. I loved my first Subaru Forester but Subaru has officially killed their reputation, not just with vehicle quality, but also with customer service.

Brought our 2012 Forester Touring to the dealership recently, as the transmission seemed to be having issues between 2nd and 3rd gear. First trip took 2 days and a reset of the transmission to learn mode. This actually made the problem worse in our opinion. We brought it back, and it took a week for them to agree to replace the transmission, after different attempts to fix it. The vehicle only has 27,000 miles on it, and the transmission needs to be replaced? Something isnt right here.On a different note, we lease our vehicles, but no more Subarus. Chase is actually Subaru Motors Finance, and they could screw up a one car funeral. We had several issues with them, from double charging for property taxes to charging extra monthly payments. On average it took 5 - 9 months to get these issues corrected. Between Chase and what I am seeing for deteriorating quality from Subaru, Ill be taking my business elsewhere in the future.

Please, please, please STOP recommending Subaru cars as being reliable. I have purchased two of them based on Consumer Reports recommendations and both have had major expensive repairs. I am old, have had all the routine maintenance done and still have had lots of problems. The 2010 Forester (that was said to be a very reliable car) needed to have its head gasket replaced at 95K (turns out they had lots of head gasket issues) and the 2011 Outbacks CVT just went out, 3 weeks after the extended warranty expired (expired on July 31, 2018). As I stated earlier, I am old (retired) and cannot afford a costly fix on a car that is only 7 years old. I have contacted Subaru of America to see if they would help me and all they do is say that they are waiting to be contacted by the local dealer (where I took the car to be repaired) but the local dealer called me to tell me that they have called Subaru of America twice and no one ever responds. Does this sound like a reputable company? Shoot, if they are not going to help me, cant they at least tell me? Maybe they used to be reliable but that time has passed.

We purchased a new Subaru Outback in January, 2015. Since we have two other vehicles with excellent GPS systems, we were anxious to order the GPS package. From day one, the GPS system was difficult to use and had serious problems using voice recognition. We have taken it into the dealership numerous times and the problem was not rectified. Today, the auto was returned to us after being in the dealership for a week. The service manager admitted that the system is flawed. He actually took the car home a couple of times and experienced the problems. The service manager contacted the factory representatives and they admitted the problems with the system could not be repaired. We are stuck with a new car with a sub-standard GPS system.

I just bought a 2014 Subaru Impreza from Subaru of Burlingame 9 months ago. I never bought a used car before but I figured I would be safe buying it from Subaru dealership as is. I was so wrong. 17,000 miles later I have blown head gaskets about the car at 45,000 miles. It is currently at 60,114. After taking it into the dealership and being diagnosed I called Subaru of America right away, explained my situation. I had a Subaru representative tell me he was advocating for me but in the end they told me, Sorry not our problem. Only owned this car for nine months. I am devastated. I still have a very large loan on this car I’m paying for and have no car to drive. I’m going to do everything I can, to fight these people through social media platform, through the city of Burlingame, to anybody who will listen to me. This was my first Subaru and my last!!!

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.

I purchased my 2013 Subaru Crosstrek mainly due to Subarus great reputation for reliable vehicles with low maintenance costs. At 86k miles I started hearing a louder whirring noise from my transmission. I took it to the dealer and had to get the CVT transmission replaced. Luckily I bought the extended warranty, otherwise I would have had to pay close to $10,000 for the repair. Considering I bought the car for $19,000 and the blue book value on the car is around $11,000 this is completely outrageous. I expected this car to go at least 150k miles before replacing a transmission and expected the cost at that time to be at least half that cost if not less. I will never purchase a car with a CVT again. I will likely be selling this car before the current warranty expires and will likely do the same with my Wifes Impreza before its warranty is up as well since it has the same transmission.