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Driven: 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness Is An Affordable Adventure Machine

Whether you plan to drive your vehicle on the Rubicon Trail or over the pavement in the mall parking lot, automakers are cashing in buyers wanting off-road versions of their popular crossovers. Subaru has always targeted a more active, outdoorsy demographic but has recently taken its efforts a step further by introducing a more rugged Wilderness trim for its popular Outback. The results were a success, and now the Forester gets its own Wilderness version.
CarBuzz tested a 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness for the week, which included a three-hour trip to South Florida to test its presence on the highway. It may not be a match for a Ford Bronco or Jeep Wrangler in terms of off-road capability, but for a lot of buyers, the Forester Wilderness is just right.
The Wilderness treatment includes a half-inch suspension lift, which brings the Forester's ground clearance to a healthy 9.2 inches. That's more than the Ford Bronco Sport, Jeep Compass, and Toyota RAV4. In fact, it's only a half-inch less than a base Wrangler. Along with the increased ride height, the Forester Wilderness gains longer coil springs and shock absorbers for improved off-road capability and Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires for improved grip off the pavement. Those tires even get some raised white lettering that looks pretty retro.
Underneath, the Wilderness is protected from the terrain by a front skid plate and larger wheel arch cladding than a standard Forester. The towing capacity is doubled to 3,000 pounds, and the roof rack is rated for 800 pounds when parked (100 pounds more than the standard model). Completing the rugged look, the Wilderness receives matte black wheels, hexagonal LED fog lights, an anti-glare hood decal, and yellow accents. It's by far the coolest-looking Forester available.
Inside, there are a few Wilderness-specific touches, including Anodized Copper accents, special badging, and embossed logos on the water-resistant StarTex seats. Speaking of those seats, the Subaru's material feels incredibly durable, meaning it can easily stand up to kids and pets. We do wish the front seats had more lumbar adjustment though, as our three-hour trip became slightly uncomfortable on our lower back.
The Forester's cabin is extremely roomy, taking great advantage of its inoffensive size. Passengers in the rear are treated to a generous 39.4 inches of legroom and 37.6 inches of headroom. A spacious 26.9 cubic feet (thanks to the moonroof) is located behind these seats, but fold them down, and the Forester Wilderness can accept up to 69.1 cubes. While not the largest in the compact SUV segment, the Forester's tall greenhouse makes it feel more spacious inside than other crossovers.
Subaru offers one package for the Forester Wilderness, priced at $1,850. It includes a ton of technology, making it easily worth the price tag. For example, the package increased the screen size from 6.5 to eight inches, adds built-in navigation, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a power liftgate. Subaru may not have our favorite infotainment system on the market, but must-have features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard. We also enjoyed the Forester's upper screen, which mostly displays useful information like fuel economy but can also show off-road features like tilt angle or a front-view camera.
If there's one area where the Forester fails to impress, it's under the hood. Subaru's 2.5-liter boxer-four engine produces 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque, which is fine for the segment but far from class-leading. It sends power to a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system through a continuously variable transmission, which emits the typical CVT groan when pushed hard. Under normal circumstances, the setup is fine, but the Forester doesn't love to be rushed.
We'd love to see Subaru offer a turbocharged option, though that could eat into Outback sales. Even if it doesn't add significantly more power, a hybrid would be our preferred addition. The Forester only manages 26/33/29 mpg city/highway/combined, and thanks to its raised height and all-terrain tires, the Wilderness trim cuts those numbers to 25/28/26. During our three-hour drive, we managed to average 30 mpg on the highway.
There's a lot to love about the Subaru Forester Wilderness. It looks aggressive, packs enough off-road capability for most buyers, and doesn't compromise too much on everyday comfort. Pricing for this trim starts at $34,020, excluding $1,225 in destination charges, making it the second most expensive in the lineup. That's significantly less than a Compass Trailhawk, RAV4 TRD Off-Road, and most Bronco Sport trims, though.
If you don't care about the off-road performance, the Forester Limited delivers similar features starting at $31,875, and the Forester Touring adds more creature comforts for $35,295. We wouldn't fault anyone for getting one of the other Forester trims, but the Wilderness is an interesting package with plenty of appeal.
Reposted From Source: carbuzz.com

Whether you plan to drive your vehicle on the Rubicon Trail or over the pavement in the mall parking lot, automakers are cashing in buyers wanting off-road versions of their popular crossovers. Subaru has always targeted a more active, outdoorsy demographic but has recently taken its efforts a step further by introducing a more rugged Wilderness trim for its popular Outback. The results were a success, and now the Forester gets its own Wilderness version.
CarBuzz tested a 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness for the week, which included a three-hour trip to South Florida to test its presence on the highway. It may not be a match for a Ford Bronco or Jeep Wrangler in terms of off-road capability, but for a lot of buyers, the Forester Wilderness is just right.
The Wilderness treatment includes a half-inch suspension lift, which brings the Forester's ground clearance to a healthy 9.2 inches. That's more than the Ford Bronco Sport, Jeep Compass, and Toyota RAV4. In fact, it's only a half-inch less than a base Wrangler. Along with the increased ride height, the Forester Wilderness gains longer coil springs and shock absorbers for improved off-road capability and Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires for improved grip off the pavement. Those tires even get some raised white lettering that looks pretty retro.
Underneath, the Wilderness is protected from the terrain by a front skid plate and larger wheel arch cladding than a standard Forester. The towing capacity is doubled to 3,000 pounds, and the roof rack is rated for 800 pounds when parked (100 pounds more than the standard model). Completing the rugged look, the Wilderness receives matte black wheels, hexagonal LED fog lights, an anti-glare hood decal, and yellow accents. It's by far the coolest-looking Forester available.
Inside, there are a few Wilderness-specific touches, including Anodized Copper accents, special badging, and embossed logos on the water-resistant StarTex seats. Speaking of those seats, the Subaru's material feels incredibly durable, meaning it can easily stand up to kids and pets. We do wish the front seats had more lumbar adjustment though, as our three-hour trip became slightly uncomfortable on our lower back.
The Forester's cabin is extremely roomy, taking great advantage of its inoffensive size. Passengers in the rear are treated to a generous 39.4 inches of legroom and 37.6 inches of headroom. A spacious 26.9 cubic feet (thanks to the moonroof) is located behind these seats, but fold them down, and the Forester Wilderness can accept up to 69.1 cubes. While not the largest in the compact SUV segment, the Forester's tall greenhouse makes it feel more spacious inside than other crossovers.
Subaru offers one package for the Forester Wilderness, priced at $1,850. It includes a ton of technology, making it easily worth the price tag. For example, the package increased the screen size from 6.5 to eight inches, adds built-in navigation, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a power liftgate. Subaru may not have our favorite infotainment system on the market, but must-have features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard. We also enjoyed the Forester's upper screen, which mostly displays useful information like fuel economy but can also show off-road features like tilt angle or a front-view camera.
If there's one area where the Forester fails to impress, it's under the hood. Subaru's 2.5-liter boxer-four engine produces 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque, which is fine for the segment but far from class-leading. It sends power to a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system through a continuously variable transmission, which emits the typical CVT groan when pushed hard. Under normal circumstances, the setup is fine, but the Forester doesn't love to be rushed.
We'd love to see Subaru offer a turbocharged option, though that could eat into Outback sales. Even if it doesn't add significantly more power, a hybrid would be our preferred addition. The Forester only manages 26/33/29 mpg city/highway/combined, and thanks to its raised height and all-terrain tires, the Wilderness trim cuts those numbers to 25/28/26. During our three-hour drive, we managed to average 30 mpg on the highway.
There's a lot to love about the Subaru Forester Wilderness. It looks aggressive, packs enough off-road capability for most buyers, and doesn't compromise too much on everyday comfort. Pricing for this trim starts at $34,020, excluding $1,225 in destination charges, making it the second most expensive in the lineup. That's significantly less than a Compass Trailhawk, RAV4 TRD Off-Road, and most Bronco Sport trims, though.
If you don't care about the off-road performance, the Forester Limited delivers similar features starting at $31,875, and the Forester Touring adds more creature comforts for $35,295. We wouldn't fault anyone for getting one of the other Forester trims, but the Wilderness is an interesting package with plenty of appeal.
Reposted From Source: carbuzz.com
I love this car with all of its safety features. This is my first Subaru and happy with my purchase. This car has enough speed for me. People say they need more speed, not me. I am not a race car driver. This car is rather stylish to be a Subaru. I can honestly say I did not want the average car Honda, Toyota, etc because I am not ordinary. I do not like being like everyone else.
I purchased my 2005 Impreza 2.5RS wagon new in 11/04. I now have 122,000 miles on it and aside from normal maintenance and minor repairs, the car has been fantastic and inexpensive to own. Another new Subaru will be at the top of my shopping list when the time for a new car comes.
Never a problem; however when term was up; but, miles still okay. I called and talked to warranty rep. and asked if I could extend it until the 100.000 miles was up. He, rudely, advised that I was 2 days late and could not apply.
My 09 Subaru Forester suffered catastrophic engine failure without warning. Seems there are several forums about this but Subaru claims to have no knowledge of it even after production was halted in the early introduction of said vehicle. Car has 55000 miles on it. Ive put 29000 miles on it from buying it used at Pine Belt Subaru in Lakewood NJ 3 years ago. Took out an extended warranty for 100000 miles. Car is not covered because its 5 years from original purchase date which expired 2/14 never notified of same. Im looking at $5000-$8000 to replace. Oil changed every 3500 miles and was 355 miles into its most recent oil change. Rich at Subaru of America in Cherry Hill NJ stated by email that there was nothing he could do to help with the repairs. This will be the last Subaru Ill buy as they knew about the premature engine life expectancy of this vehicle and made no effort to contact me. Ill stick to Honda or Toyota from now on.
My 2014 Subaru Forester was amazing when I first purchased it in Nov of 2013. I loved it. That loved was short lived. This vehicle burns SOOO MUCH oil. Its not even funny. I complained every time I took it to the dealership and they just said it was normal and to keep watching it. I recently went into the dealership and found out that back in 2015 Subaru issued an extended warranty for the oil consumption issue, however, I was WAY over the mileage. Why did no one mention this to me??? Why did I get no communication through the mail??? I emailed the corporate customer service area and they wanted to argue with me over this, saying they had sent communication and they would not honor the warranty since I was over the mileage. The ONLY assistance they wanted to provide was $500 off a new purchased or leased vehicle. Ummm, excuse me but I dont have a car payment and no way in heck Im going to get one because of another Subaru. So, instead Im spending $6,000 to get the engine rebuilt and never purchasing another Subaru. Reading all these reviews just confirms that Subaru has AWFUL customer service and they dont care if they lose customers or not. Im sorry but Im going to purchase my next vehicle from a car company that cares and works with their customers. Sorry Subaru but you guys suck.
I have had 5 new Subaru cars since 2006, all 5 cars were a pleasure to own, 2 Foresters, 2 Outbacks, and 1 Ascent. The cars are all comfortable, easy to drive and come with many extras as standard equipment. Great resale and trade. Highest rated for safety and insurance.Other
I bought my Subaru Impreza from Manchester Subaru in February of 2013. In December of 2013 I started hearing a cracking noise when I moved my car in the morning. I put it down to driving over a puddle with ice over it. Two weeks after I heard that noise I checked under my car before moving. There was no puddle the cracking noise was still happening. I bring it to Subaru of Manchester. After making an appointment they told me they couldnt find anything. This noise continued and I brought it back to the dealer at least four times with the same results. In February of 2014 I had three inches of ice built up on my passenger floor and the cracking noise was even worse. Manchester Subaru had Safelite reveal my windshield. After the windshield was rescaled it was better. No leak but you could hear the wind like all the windows were open in the car when you went over 30mph. I kept brining it back. Subaru installed foam to help dampen the noise. The noise continued but every time I brought it to the dealer the service department manager would tell me they couldnt hear anything. In September of 2015 I go into my glovebox to get papers for my insurance and all my papers are soaked. My passenger floor is wet as well. I call Manchester Subaru and they are telling me they had Safelite do the work on my windshield so I have to call Safelite. I call Safelite and I am told this will have to go through my insurance. I call Manchester back and tell them there is no way this is going into my insurance. Subaru finally called Safelite and sent someone out to fix the windshield. Safelite took the windshield off and revealed it yet again. I go to test to see if the windshield is still loose by pushing up on the warmer or edges with my fingertips and the glass cracks. I called Safelite and they sent the technician back out to replace the windshield. I have been in contact with Subaru of America since 2014 maybe even 2013. They dont return my emails or phone calls as a sorry for having to drive two hours to Manchester Subaru every or every other week to get this fixed. Here is a mug and water bottle you are just going to throw away because you dont have space for it anywhere. When our customer service department yells at you for calling we will attempt to make it better by paying three months of your car payments and give you an extended warranty. I bought this car brand new. My windshield seal was off again in June of 2016. I have had this call for just over three years and have had a problem with it since the first year and Subaru doesnt care. Subaru means love my left foot. Their customer service is lacking. Their managers dont get back to customers so why should the support.
I purchased a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle, 2014 Subaru Crosstrek XV hybrid, from Subaru of Orange Park 06/26/2016. The vehicle had less than 30k miles at purchase. Less than 4 months from purchase date, the hybrid system / engine went out on the vehicle. As I was driving on the highway, the system told me to “Pull Over to Safety and Turn Off Engine”. Subaru of Orange Park was unable to diagnose or service. Upon research I find that after two years of hybrid makes, Subaru no longer manufactures hybrid vehicles because of the KNOWN technical issues that deemed unprofitable to the manufacturer. I had to have the car transported to a further Subaru location that services hybrids because hybrid technicians are sparse; I can only imagine how sparse they will be 2 years from now. The servicing dealer had to fly in an expert to diagnose. My car was in shop for 7 days. The extended warranty that I PURCHASED covered the repair, outside of a deductible, towing, and car rental. Without the warranty, the cost is estimated at $1,556. Based on research, the system is anticipated to crash every 30-40k miles. Due to faulty manufacturing, the value and longevity of my vehicle has diminished. When I contacted the manufacturer, they asked me to deal directly with the dealership, so I did. I noticed the Certified Pre-Owned checklist has a ? in the hybrid section. The dealer was not authorized to sell me a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle with items on the checklist not accounted for, especially the engine. Post-repair, I discovered the hybrid system was not functioning at the time of purchase. Originally, the dealer told me theyd work out a satisfactory solution with me. However, I called today and was informed that they will not support an even trade. My option is to buy up to another vehicle, which I cannot afford, nor do I desire to lose $1823 in additional warranties that I purchased at the time of vehicle. This is not acceptable to me. The vehicle is not safe nor reliable, and the value is going to plummet as reliability becomes known and maintenance becomes extinct.
I purchased a 2013 new Forester in 2014. Almost from the start my oil light was on. The service department told me it was my imagination so that should have been a red flag. After complaining at every oil change for months they finally replaced the sensor. Oil light still was on. Fast forward to 2017 replaced sensor again and the light is off. However, now it seems I have no oil ever! I always bring my car in for service exactly when its scheduled. Every time now for the entire 2017 and 2018 period I have been out of oil. They did an oil consumption test and happily said all was good. Last time it was in they put a statement on my invoice that says I need to check my oil at least twice a month! I have 50,000 miles, the car is 4 years old and Should not have to do that! I have gone 900 miles since the last oil change and Im out of oil! Plus the light hasnt come on. I think they just disconnected it. Im done!
I bought my 2017 Outback in May of 17 and for two weeks worked good. Almost no problems. Then all of the sudden EyeSight started malfunctioning and then the anti collision auto braking started up when no other vehicles were even around or in sight. The blind spot detection started going off and lighting up both mirrors. Again no vehicles around within at least a mile on a two lane road, at the same time it would suddenly brake with no alarm or any sort of notification. Then eyesight would turn off and not allow me to switch to cruise control (not adaptive cruise control).Then almost two weeks to a month after that I started getting noise from center console/front of vehicle area. So I took it to the dealership and they said it was bad tires. So I went and bought a new set, well that didnt fix the problem. Took it back in immediately and they continued to look over it and came back that they transmission, transaxle, and wheel bearings were all bad, so after almost two weeks in the shop I got it back and it worked fine for about a month. Then the infotainment system went bad, then blindspot again, then it started stalling out with AC on coming to a stop, which brings me to now. Now the noise at the beginning is coming back and the blind spot is acting up again and this time only near railroad equipment.I forgot the windshield broke a month after having it, not due to any rocks or anything of that sort. Just randomly popped and cracked all the way across staring from the passenger side. I bought the car with 4 miles on it. Now it has 56k and is always highway driven and never driven hard at all. The fastest the has ever been pushed was 85 mph passing semi trucks. I have started to notice GPS seems to constantly lose connection, but that could be because of the area I live in. There seems to be a lot of GPS problems up here so not that big of a deal.I have been in contact with Subaru of America throughout the whole ordeal and all they say is take it to the shop. Seriously no **. I thought I might try to fix it my self and void the freaking warranty. Subaru fan base seems to be loyal to the company no matter what even if they absolutely are freakin terrible. They have offered no solutions to the problems but besides take it to the dealerships shop and they will have to recreate the problem. Most times they fail to do so because its either not driven far enough to recreate it or its just not looked at that in-depth.Now I am seeing if Subaru will either compensate for time out of my work and having the car constantly in the shop and them selling a lemon, or just filling for lemon law. I am currently looking for options. I will never buy another Subaru ever again. I am done with being treated like an idiot from S.O.A. and being told to just take it to the shop. Its already in the shop once a month for oil changes which are outrageously expensive and tire rotation.When people tell you they are reliable dont believe them. Also when you drop almost $37k on vehicle you expect it to work, and on top of that I drive for my job and if I dont have a reliable and safe vehicle for work I wont have work for long. Anyway be very careful buying a Subaru and I advise if you do stay away from eyesight systems. Pretty much the only thing decent about the car is the looks somewhat. The only reason I bought the damn thing is because I trusted what people said about them being reliable and the amount of interior room and interior cargo space it had, but never again.
I have a 2007 Subaru Impreza 2.5i that I bought new in Massachusetts. The first few years seemed to go okay except for the $350 dollar services and the fact that the car dents when you look at it funny (literally hundreds of door dings 7 years later). I maintained impeccable service history and records but it started feeling funny in 2009 - gas mileage was tanking, engine felt off, acceleration was sluggish. I drive... a lot ... on road ... on dirt roads ... I use the car as the commercials show but do not abuse it. 2010 the brakes fail and I run off the road. 2010 (69,000 miles - so off warranty now), after complaining about the engine running funny for over a year to Subaru service centers, a local mechanic discovers the head gaskets are leaking. Subaru agrees to pay for half of the repair. Great! I am happy with the company and simply mad at the service centers for not finding it. Since then, it seems like everything that has a seal or bearings is beginning to fail - two transmission leaks, power steering pump, ac belt tensioner, coil pack (cylinders 3 and 4 started misfiring causing the car to smoke, shudder, and die), ignition wires (twice - once routine maintenance), front axle seals, differential... The thing leaks oil if you dont use a Subaru brand oil filter. It eats tires in half their designated lifetime, even with regular rotation and alignment. Oh, for a car that is advertised for the adventurer, perhaps they could work to make the alignment a little harder to throw off - any bump in the rode and it goes out. The exhaust pipe broke its weld (presumably from the aforementioned offroading, which consists of driving on flat, well maintained farm roads).The 3-year bill for my car, 75000-113000 miles, for routine and additional maintenance, has been almost 7000 dollars. I am not naive when it comes to car expenses. I did not expect this car to be worry free, maintenance free, or without a half life crisis at 100,000 miles but every time something fails on the car, I call up Subaru dealers around the northeast and I ask: Is this normal? Every time they say they rarely see it break. I have contacted Subaru of America and told them of these problems. They have offered me $500 towards a new car, like I will ever buy another one.
Purchased 2015 Subaru Outback... Wonderful car!!! Except for the SCREEN on the sound system (radio). Over time, the screen becomes filled with squiggly lines (looks like ^^^^ hieroglyphics). When any bright light strikes the screen, it becomes almost impossible to view... Everything. Had replaced by dealer, but the problem returned. Dealer says its Common with this car. Is anyone else having this problem? Did anyone else get a fix? I can definitely say that this issue will STOP my wife and I from getting another Subaru.
Bought this car brand new and am meticulous about maintenance. Cvt transmission was advertised as no maintenance. Now they say it needs to be replaced at 150,000 miles and that this is a known defect! There was a horrible whining that started very quiet on and off in 2017 and became louder this year. We drove into a city intersection to turn, and the car stalled. We were lucky that we didnt get hit by another car. We took it to the dealership as we do all recommended maintenance and something was really wrong to make it stall like that. The dealership said that it is a CVT transmission, and they are known to have this problem. Told us to call Subaru. There was an extended warranty offered in 2018, but we never were notified of that and are the original owner. If we had the notification we would have had this fixed as it occasionally made the noise but it did not repeat when at our service center. We would have had the dealer check it if we knew about the problem and warranty. I expected a Subaru to last longer than this before needing an $9,000 repair. Called Subaru and they offered me $1,000 toward a new Subaru. I paid $36,000 for this car. I dont think $1,000 off one now is going to help me very much for a known problem with this transmission that put us in a very dangerous situation.
I bought my 2014 Subaru Forester new, I even had to wait for them to make it. I was excited until driving home from work one day and my oil light comes on, so naturally I add a quart of oil. Then I have my oil changed and told them to put in an extra quart because of it using up a quart before my next oil change, but lo and behold the oil light came on again. I am so afraid that I am going to have major issues after I reach 100,000 miles. They have done 2 oil consumption test and they come back fine per the dealership. I dont understand how they come back fine and halfway through my oil change my oil light comes on.
I like my dealer. I like my 2007 Forester which we bought new. Yesterday, after I spent $1500 for my 120,000 checkup, I was told I needed head gaskets for between $2800 and $3500. I read about the problem for a solid day. I was offered a new engine installed for $5500, which if I thought would SOLVE the problem I would do. I spent a couple of hours under the car yesterday trying to find the leak. I found other leaks which I took pictures of, but not the head gasket. I am talking to a local non-dealer well respected mechanic who will also look at my car next week. I am disappointed with the problem and my dealership’s inability to install Star Six head gaskets which some believe are superior and solve the problem. I will support a class action lawsuit.
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.
Beware Subaru Starlinks incompetence. Ive had an incredibly dissatisfying customer billing experience... 6 months and counting! At the conclusion of my first years trial of Starlink, they auto-renewed my subscription, which Id already asked them not to. I immediately contacted them about the error. They suspiciously werent able to reverse the charge on my credit card. I was told that a refund check was in the mail. 6 MONTHS LATER, I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY MONEY BACK. I call every 3-4 weeks, and each time they tell me theyre sorry (!), and that THIS time the check is in the mail. Again and again and again. Needless to say, I dont believe them, and could not be more disappointed. Gimme back my money, Starlink!
In March of 2017 we purchased a brand new 2017 Subaru Impreza and we had 4 free oil changes. And a month or less before the each oil change the oil light comes on and on the last free oil change the light came on 2 wks afterwards. They kept the car for 3/5 days to find out why the car was consuming so much oil. When we went to pick up the car, they said they couldnt find anything wrong with the car. They then wanted to do an oil consumption test. Never heard of this until it was done on my new car. They filled the motor with oil and said bring back at 1200 miles or more! Anyway we took it back and we were told, that we were going to check the oil level together after about 10/15 min. They came after 5 min to get us, (when we went outside they had already pop the latch the hood, not after,) that we were going to check the dipstick. I was suspicious. Now... not trusting this routine at all. Or the technicians. (Plus they said it was the way the driver was shifting and driving, which affects the transmission and not the motor). After talking to the person who sold us the car, and their finance person? The dealer will not take the car back, they want to give us a new one. We dont want a Subaru anymore. We have tried contacting the Subaru manufacturer to no avail. I look up fuel consumption test and Subaru popped up. Never heard of fuel consumption test. I am afraid of owning a Subaru after this happening to a new car. I have heard good things about Subaru but now I am not so sure.
Im a fortunate purchaser, with an excellent vehicle. Im writing to show car ownership can be a cost-effective & worthwhile - on freeways, in city, but I put my miles on elsewhere. I enjoy driving, and testing limits, but do not recommend this to others. 2005 Impreza has 62,000 miles. People still offer to buy it. Most miles are off-road in Nevada, in some of the most unforgiving territory you can imagine. First, I had to learn to trust the car, then install survival gear. Its weakness is road clearance of about five inches. Dirt, dust and sand is ok, and the transition from this, to freeway speeds (85 mph) is most pleasurable! The true-as-an-arrow stance, the wide footprint, low CG, makes it a joy to drive. Interior noise is moderate, so I installed 500 WRMS of tunes. Fortunately, a deer hit 2 years ago didnt affect the ride. Kudos to Salmon, Idaho body shop. Not a penny spent at dealership for parts or repairs but I am meticulous with maintenance due to dust, silt, vibration, heat, cold, survival, and off-road abuse. I have a couple add-ons: K&N filters, a chip, several deep cycle batteries.Impreza has the 2.5 liter engine, very strong in all respects. MPG is mid-upper 20s, depending. Auto transmission responds well to normal conditions, may hesitate during a downshift if youre not familiar with gear ranges. Another complaint: There is no interior light in the hatch area. Groceries, well, you load in the dark. A last, big positive: Snow handling. AWD mean just that. With good tires, typical snowfall is managed very well. Ive never been stuck with M & S tires, in depths up to 2 feet of dry snow. Ive tried to characterize vehicle reliability, performance, and responsiveness in typical conditions. So wow, what a car, just had to share a good, accurate experience with you, with a mid-aged Subaru Impreza!
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!
I have never owned a Subaru before. After this car I will never own a Subaru again. What a piece of crap this car is. The only good things about this car are the generous cargo space, the (so far) lack of repair bills and the resale value. That is it. Everything else BLOWS. The acceleration is abysmal. The braking is ridiculously soft and bad. The handling, well, there is no handling on this car and good luck taking it on road trips; you will spend 75% of the time fighting with the steering wheel to keep the car from wandering all over the road. Oh and dont even think about taking a corner fast with this car! The A/C is adequate, but god forbid you step on the gas, IT WILL STOP COOLING! The CVT transmission hesitates, is jerky and Subaru says thats perfectly normal! The sound system and entertainment screen is just an embarrassment. The backup camera of course is very LOW-RES. The MPG on the sticker is a BIG LIE; I have never gotten anything over 24 miles per gallon with this car. I wont even keep typing, as Subaru doesnt deserve for me to spend another second writing about this substandard vehicle. Make sure you test drive this vehicle many, many times before you buy it, and for the love of god do not even think about buying the 4 cylinder, unless you like to be blown off the interstate by trucks since your car will not be able to accelerate enough to merge. This car is for people who are not drivers. At this point I am just waiting for the car to start burning through oil, as 99.9% of the Outbacks are doing. The car is only good for hauling stuff in the snow. It gets two overall stars from me for that. Thats about it.
I have had several issues with my new Subaru since the day I purchased it. I will start by saying: Subaru - Subarus Love slogan isnt in regards to quality, but rather a self-serving exaggeration of safety features that should already exist on all modern vehicles. The companys response to customer loyalty is undoubtedly a mid-gray Meh. 1st Issue: Rear view mirror fell off while driving on the highway at 60 MPH. I nearly wrecked as the mirror actually fell into my lap. Took the car into the stealership and they fixed it because I had purchased the GOLD warranty.2nd Issue: At about 2K on the odometer, I could hear a tinging sound while warming the car up in relation to clutch pedal input. I read that this could be part of break-in and so I did not take the car to the dealership for inspection. 3rd and Final Issue: At approximately 19,5K, the engine failure while accelerating to highway speeds of 70 MPH on dry pavement (mild incline).Resolution Attempt #1 - 1) Spoke to Subaru of America about what had happened. 2) Subaru had the car towed to the dealership for inspection. 3) 3-4 weeks went by and no engine inspection or tear-down was performed. 4) No mention of loaner was ever provided to me (I am a Gold warranty customer). 4) Dealership continued to tell me that they were waiting on Subaru before they could perform tear-down. 5) Subaru continued to tell me that they were waiting on a field representative to inspect the car first. 6) By the 4th week, after no positive response from either party, I retracted my vehicle after the service manager at the dealership gave my wife quite the go to hell attitude.Resolution Attempt #2 - 1) A few weeks later, I contact Subaru asking why they never got back to me or the dealerships service department. The answer was: We havent heard from our field representative, but we will keep trying! 2) A couple of days later, Subaru contacts me and we start a back and forth dialog ending in we will give you $2500 off any new Subaru (rebate). I was told to take the car to the dealership first. 3) I contact the dealership sales department and they pretend to care about my situation. I am told: We will see when a good time is for you to have the vehicle towed in to our service department. 4) In the end, nobody communicated the good time to have the car towed in. My problem was too much for the dealership to handle.I am a 3rd time Subaru customer and the way I have been treated is absolutely unacceptable. At no point did I lie nor cheat nor change my story. I made it clear that I would accept full financial responsibility if the engine failure was my fault, but only asked that Subaru do its due diligence (for a Gold warranty customer) and actually see what caused the engine failure. I am 99% positive I know what caused the engine failure and it is most definitely related to the quality of assembly which I am afraid Subaru lacks the integrity to admit (see attached image). Instead, Subaru would rather assume I am to blame and !@#$ all over what used to be loyalty. Go buy a quality vehicle built by a company that cares about its customers and rewards loyalty. Read the reviews first and dont believe an ounce of what a salesperson or ambiguous TV commercial tells you.
My car is a 2008, I bought it in November 2007. I have never had a problem with this vehicle and it has never left me on the side of the road. When I buy a new car, it will definitely be a Subaru.
Power liftgate issues on my 2016 Forester and not sure who can assist.
I was sold on Subaru after spending time in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana and seeing so many Subarus on the road. I traded my LR3 for the Crosstrek. Small, simple, sporty little car. I had been drawn in to the commercials selling love and tradition and warm and fuzzy emotions. I was told at purchase that the powertrain/drivetrain was lifetime. Besides the incredibly loud road noise and lightweight size of the vehicle it got great gas mileage. It was easy to zip around town and fit in any parking space. The look was sporty and cute. At 58000 miles both rear wheels had bearings go out, the alternator had to be replaced, the battery had to be replaced and I had just put new set of nice tires on it. Contacting dealer I purchased from I was told all under warranty except for battery. Upon taking to Subaru, told nothing under warranty. When purchased I was told this car would hold its value like a Jeep. I traded it yesterday and I owed 18577 on payoff and multiple dealers valued at 11,000. This was the most costly vehicle I ever owned and the most stressful. You do not want to drive near large pickup trucks or 18 wheelers. I was suckered in like a Hallmark card on a cold winter day.
There are no common sense option packages. Either the WRX comes with too few options or none. Big difference in lease rates from dealer to dealer. San Francisco Bay Area dealers are very inflexible but they talk a good game. I had one local dealer tell me they had the car then I went in and it did not have the one elusive option thats on the website: The Harman Kardon system. I had the Burlingame dealer hang up on me when I did not agree to purchase one in stock. He said “You need to order it” then quickly hung up before I said a thing. I have bought several cars in my life from different companies. Subaru behaves like its a Porsche or Lamborghini dealership. Even Audi is more flexible and respectful.
I paid 32,500 in 07 at 100,000 miles the head gaskets started leaking. Cost me 4,000 to get them fixed. Turns out that this is a common problem with Subaru. Never buying another one.
I am very pleased with my Subaru. The gas mileage is great and for a four-cylinder engine it has enough get up and go. The car has room for five people and plenty of storage room in the rear of the vehicle. I also like the comfort. I have owned one before this one and was happy with it also. However, I would have gotten one with satellite radio. It only has AM/FM and I live in a rural area and stations are hard to get.
I purchased a brand new 2014 Impreza 2.0i Premium a year ago. Within the first 1500 miles, the low oil light came on, and found it was a quart low. Was willing to give Subaru the benefit of the doubt the first time, but sure enough, 1200 miles later the oil light came on again and I had to add another quart. Since then, Ive had to add a quart every 1,000 miles like clockwork. I brought the vehicle back to the dealership and requested they look at it and do an oil consumption test. They refused to do anything, despite still being under warranty, claiming that this consumption is normal. When I expressed my concern that these were the same symptoms indicated in the lawsuit and subsequent recall, they told me they couldnt do anything because my model year was not included in the recall, and that they wouldnt even look at it unless a recall is issued for my VIN number.I followed this up by pointing to the Subaru owners manual which describes excessive oil consumption as after the break-in period...more than 1 quart every 1200 miles. In reply I got a shrug from the service manager. Last fall, I wrote to Subaru Corporate, along with calling customer service, and was told this was an issue I needed to take up with the dealership itself. Ive since gone through (on average) 4-5 quarts of oil between each 6k mile oil change interval. Ive never experienced such blatant disregard for customer satisfaction from a car company. Having been patient for the past year, Ive now lost any hope of Subaru providing the service and support needed to resolve this issue, and for this reason have been forced to take up my concerns with the law firm handling the class action suit of last year.
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.
I bought the Legacy L with 320,000 miles on it and after putting another 3200 miles on it, the car still runs great. I did not purchase the vehicle from a dealership, I purchased it used from a private owner that I knew from the store I worked at. The asking price was $1500 which was great. He knew that I needed a reliable vehicle to get me back. I like that it is an AWD and is an excellent car to do road trips. Climbs mountains & rocks like a 4WD, but can still drive in the city and neighborhood like a RWD. It can go over anything and has power windows, 5 speed and cruise control. It is very roomy, & comfortable. The back seat comes out giving extra room for everything or everyone that you need to travel with you. The #1 thing I dislike is the automatic seatbelts. They choke me every time I start the car. I would take out that feature and just put in the manual seatbelts. But other than that, the Subaru Legacy L has probably been the best car that I have ever purchased and would definitely purchase again, when this one decides to die on me, lol!
I purchased a Subaru Legacy 2008 Special Edition after my Toyota Corolla was totaled in an accident, 5 years ago, as I hear it is SUCH a great car, great safety etc. I felt better buying a newer vehicle for hopes I would have to only do basic maintenance and not have any major repairs for at least a few years as my other car was 15 yrs old. EVER since I purchased this vehicle, it has been nothing but a money pit! It got sold to me with unbeknownst to me a faulty wheel bearing. I had NO idea and rode with a humming noise for several months thinking my car was fully looked over by the technicians and car dealership selling it (I paid 15k for this car mind you!) It needed tires also... so after $700 worth of tires and $300 for a wheel bearing on top of the 15k I paid for it, fast forward to I am now needing MY THIRD WHEEL BEARING!!! IN 5 YEARS!!!I dont do ANY heavy driving whatsoever, do not beat the car, I drive locally on sideroads 35-40 mph or less and sometimes a small drive on the highway to visit a friend. 3 wheel bearings needing replaced on a 9 year old car in the last 5 yrs of owning it???! I presume the 4th is about to go too... Not get past the wheel bearings failing, the car eats gas like no tomorrow. I eat a half a tank of gas in 3 days. Yes 3 days. Ever since I owned the car, (its an automatic) it constantly shifts rough and jerks hard sometimes shifting gears. Or is very sluggish (I have had the transmission checked and everything after I bought the car). Its like the car is choking on itself. I will NEVER buy another Subaru again! It has been costing me so much money. I cannot afford it. And for a safe reliable 4 door vehicle the insurance on it is as much as a BMW or Audi. I should have bought one of those because the parts are just as expensive as a expensive luxury vehicle! Thats another thing parts are EXPENSIVE! Now I took it to the shop and there is oil on the oil pan dripping out (I only have 88k miles mind you and get the oil services every 6 mos). And the entire dual mufflers and cat back is shot and rotting out and needs replacement (it costs over 600 bucks for that). I dont know at this point, but I feel like selling this money pit expensive mess of a junk by Subaru and finding a more quality vehicle that will not need CONSTANT repairs and attention.
Due to limit of words everything in detail cannot be told. Car has had issue upon issue since new. Subaru knew this car was a lemon offered warranty. Now it has an internal engine PROB CLAIM BEING DENIED.
I used to be a loyal Subaru customer, but will never consider buying a Subaru again. After attempting to purchase my leased Subaru, Subaru Motor Finance could not confirm for over 3 weeks whether they ever received the check in the mail. I called for weeks, always being told that someone would get back in touch with me in 48 hours - no one ever called me back. I have spent over 4 hours on hold over the past weeks without any resolution.
We bought a brand new 2009 Subaru Outback in OKC just before moving to Colorado. We had no big issues with it until the engine blew at 57,028m. There were no engine or oil warning lights. The dealer said they would not cover the engine because we did not have all of our maintenance records. It was around $7k for the new engine. Not happy. Now, two years and less than 38k miles later, the engine is failing again. After the nightmare of the first engine mess, we kept excellent oil change records. The dealer says the engine is outside of its one-year warranty, regardless of our records. I took this up with Subaru Corp who graciously have offered me a $1000 credit on the repairs (a goodwill gesture) and the dealership has reduced the total repair cost to only $3800. So I have to pay $2800 for another engine. Is this how Subaru stands behind its products? Am I expected to replace my engine every two years? Not to mention it took them almost two months to get back to me with their decision. Meanwhile, we havent been driving the car so as not to damage it further. A huge inconvenience. Needless to say, I will never buy Subaru again and they will be hearing from our attorneys. There is no way this is normal.
I am having issues (multiple) with 2011 STI. When I’m driving in the rain and don’t touch my brakes for 5-15 minutes and go to apply them, they act like they don’t work. The engine knocks when it sits for 2 days. It makes the most horrific noise when it’s started and cold (I have video documentation of the engine noise). I spoke with a Subaru Rep named Bob **. He was very kind in setting up my appointment (took 3 days), but everything afterwards has been below average. I took my vehicle into the dealer he scheduled and after the technicians looking at my car, they said there was no problem. Allegedly, the brakes were fine as far as they looked (but they never got the brakes wet). The technician Kurt said he’s never heard that noise before from the engine. I spoke with Bob ** and he said that the dealer’s service manager had talked to me and told me that everything was okay. Well, either Bob ** is a liar or Jeff the service manager from Suburban Subaru is a liar because I never spoke with Jeff ever, other than to ask what him and Bob spoke about and he said that he was just told to fax the info over. Bob said that Jeff had told him they found nothing wrong with my car and since they have found nothing wrong with it, they won’t send out anyone to look at it. I have a safety concern that others are having and they won’t even look at it? Seriously?! I have researched the web and found tons of others complaining about the brakes not working when it’s wet. So this is a problem that Subaru is aware of but won’t acknowledge. I don’t feel safe driving my car when it’s wet because in an emergency situation, I won’t be able to stop and I could kill myself and someone else. All I want is a Subaru rep to come out and take a look but they won’t. I was repeatedly lied to by Bob **. I will never buy another Subaru again.Another thing to add, I took the technician for a drive to show him how my diff clunks when I’m shifting under hard acceleration. So I took it up to 6000 rpm and shifted the car. The gears and the clunk were heard. The technician then said You’re putting this under a lot of stress. How am I putting the car under stress? People rev there STIs up to 5000 rpm and dump it, bounce off the rev limiter, down shift from 6th to 3rd. All I was doing was shifting going in a straight line down the road. The car can’t handle 6k rpm shifts? Why does the motor rev to 6k rpm then? Why it isn’t electronically governed? Subaru is the worst auto company in the world. Never buy a Subaru because from day one, they will screw you. I bought the most expensive car they have and they treat me like crap!
I replaced the factory battery after ~48 months. The new (alleged) 8-year battery from Costco worked as it should for one year. I went in for knee replacement surgery and did not drive the car for just under 4 weeks. When I tried to start it the battery was stone dead. My brother in law charged with a new, high-tech charger that let us track the charge values. At ~70% I tried and it started happily. I drove it for 30 minutes and hoped this was a one-time problem, like an interior light left on.A few weeks later I hooked up a utility trailer: this worked fine in the past, now the lights on the trailer come on and will not go out, even when I pull the key out (this shuts off all exterior lights). I listened to NPRs Wait Wait Dont Tell Me, and forgot to take the key out. Two hours later the battery was stone dead again. This is a new problem. I am sure its the car, not the battery, but the battery wont take more deep-cycles. Ill probably test Costcos battery warranty, but its not quite fair.
Sabotage. That’s what Subaru and all the other auto makers have done to create the interference engine failure. And who pays? Mostly 2nd and 3rd owners. Poor people pay. It is pure SABOTAGE. We bought our first 2002 Subaru. A nightmare. Timing belt went out within a year at 140kmiles. Total cost.... $2900. Plus cv axels and clutch $600. Now the under carriage frame is rusted to the point of unsafe. Go to H all capitalist pig auto makers who purposed failure at our expense.
I bought a 2015 Subaru brand new thinking it will last forever. Just told I need a new transmission and itll cost 7000 dollars. I still owe 10000 on it. What a joke. This car should last 300,000 not 130,000.
I would give negative stars if I could. My family has owned 3 Subaru vehicles because we believed their lies about it being a safe and reliable car. We have young children. Never have I entered a car thinking there is a possibility that the engine will suddenly die and then burst into a raging fire. It is a miracle I am alive. It is a miracle our 3 year old is alive. Subaru and their lawyers are only offering credit for a new car. Seriously? Never will we buy another Subaru. Buy a Subaru if you’re okay with dying and your family dying just by driving their car.
I purchased a new 2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited in March of 2016. The interior is a light-colored leather. A few months after purchase, I found that anyone wearing blue jeans in the car turned the seats blue. I contacted Subaru official site and spoke with my dealer. The dealer stated they were aware of this and have been receiving numerous customer complaints, but have no remedy to offer. They also said frequent cleaning of the leather may cause premature wear. This wasnt something I was warned about when buying the car. I traded in a 10-year-old Honda Accord with the same color leather and never had any problem with dye transfer and no problem with previous leather upholstery, including the other Outbacks in the family. Im looking at the option to trade in my 9 month old car on another brand, though it would cause a major financial loss. But I need to weigh this against the possibility of having to replace my interior.
Have a 2015 Subaru Forester and cant stand driving it bc the Bluetooth rarely pairs and/or works. Once it does pair, it drops calls as soon as I start driving faster (like on the highway) and then pops back on once I slow down (exit the highway). Its the craziest thing! Ive brought it to the dealership and it seemed fixed when I left, but then the next day it started acting up again. Apparently, its a software issue. Apple says that Subaru software is outdated and need to be updated. Cmon, its 2017... update your software. I swear more accidents are going to be caused from jacking with this bluetooth! So frustrating and time-consuming.
2005 Subaru Legacy Outback limited xt wagon. Purchased new Turbocharger. Failed at 36k miles (Factory Replaced). Turbocharger failed again at 75k miles (Factory replaced again). Turbocharger failed again at 112k miles. Connecting rod bearing also failed at that time. Factory says Too Bad For Me. Motor oil and filter were changed at 5k miles, 5k miles and 3.75k miles respectively. With full synthetic oil. I now had lawn ornament.
I purchased a 2002 Forester when it was new. I have had nothing but problems with this car and to date, I only have 57,000 miles on it. I have had to replace the brakes several times and Ive had previous cars that had over 90,000 miles that I never had to replace the brakes. As soon as my warranty expired, I started experiencing all these problems, of course! I have had to have ball joints replaced, trans pan, gaskets, etc. and I still have a terrible burning smell when driving the car and still have the leak which is causing this smell. I was told Subaru is known for this leak. I now have to replace the muffler. I have had more repairs on this car than all my previous cars together and it all began occurring the minute my warranty expired.I was basically told too bad when I complained about the sudden onset of problems the very moment the warranty expired. My Toyota went for over 90,000 with the only repair replacing the battery. I have maintained this vehicle religiously, as I have with all my cars. If I hadnt lost my job recently, I would trash this car immediately. Its clear from the other complaints here that Subaru doesnt care about keeping customers happy and maintaining their loyalty and future business so I would assume Subaru will do nothing about my problem either.
I want this information to be sent to the International Export Division of Subaru in Japan, to its General Manager. I have a Subaru Legacy 2.0L SW LX year 1998. The material of the front brake pads of the car were very hard. Harder than the brake pads sold by your dealers in Peru, South America. You have placed my life in harms way many times because the car would not stop at low and high speeds. When I replaced the brake pads, the car stopped adequately. Recommendations: Watch very carefully your personnel that work in your quality department like a hawk, better fire them and replace them with a new crew. Your biggest dealer in Peru, Indumotora Subaru, is doing a very lousy job with its customers. I recommend you to kick their ** and make them work, if not look for another dealer that can attend the customers in an appropriate way. All your brochures talk about the outstanding security of all Subaru cars, do something to maintain this remark.
Buyer beware. It seems Subaru has a long standing manufacturers issue with the head gasket that should have been addressed via recall. Instead they are piecemealing the issue with small repair discounts. My car has only 66k miles (6k miles outside warranty) and been well-maintained. I am discovering that this has been an issue since the mid to late 90s. Just like the class action for heavy oil use, it seems Subaru will wait for the lawsuit to finally be forced to address the problem. 4th family Subaru and I will tell everyone I know of my experience and never to buy a Subaru again.
2014 SUBARU FORESTER LIMITED 2.5 - This is the 4th Subaru I have owned! I come from a family of Subaru owners. Purchased my SUV and within 5,000 miles the tires were SHOT. Its first winter was white knuckled, WHAT? I purchased this Subaru because they were great in the winter, but NOT this time. The dealer told me the car was so out of line it had to come off the assembly line like that. 15,000 miles burning oil like crazy, but the oil consumption test - passed.Hardware less than fair, door weather stripping crumbling already. 35,000 battery has dead cell, battery replaced. This was a brand new car I bought, seemed like some used car I bought off a lot! WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS BRAND? As sad as it is for me to say it, UNLESS SUBARU can give me a incentive to have my next car purchase BE a SUBARU brand, Honda and Toyota may be getting my business and my families!
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.
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 owned 2 Subarus, 1 WRX STi 2005 and one FORESTER 2007. Both of them have been really great. The STi I only done maintenance on it thats it! The Forester I did a couple of small repair like front links and ball joints... nothing major. Really good cars, the only really big complaint is on the IMPREZA WAGONS of 2002-2007. THE BACK STRUTS TOWERS RUST COMPLETELY at the point the struts will pop inside. I seen from my own eyes and heard of this everywhere.
When I bought my 2015 Subaru Forester, I had my doubts. I even told the salesman that when I lived in Bermuda, Subaru had the nickname Subarust. He said hed never heard that one. I figured that maybe it was the sea air and that in Canada, everything would be okay. After all, I loved the look of the car and the way it handled. However, soon after I purchased it, I noticed that my Subaru was surging when I was breaking from time to time. It didnt happen (of course) when I took the service attendant out for a drive at my last visit, but it does happen. Very disturbing. Whats even WORSE is the RUST that started 18 months after I bought the vehicle.The morning I was supposed to bring in my car for service I was going to clean it, then bring it in. Aside from writing, I walk dogs (much like in the numerous Subaru commercial, implying that the cars are for active lifestyles and dog lovers and the car gets pretty dirty sometimes. Unfortunately, that morning I discovered that my battery was dead and had to call roadside assistance (ironically) on the day of my service appointment. I spent a lot of time on the phone with these people, and when the guy boosted my battery, I drove it up to the dealership without having the time to clean the car. The service attendant was disappointed, as this would probably show that my battery was fine, rather than being able to test if it was faulty. Luckily, it still failed, so they replaced it. I showed the attendant where rust spots had started to form on the inside of the hatch. She took pictures and sent them off to Subaru Canada.No one contacted me. I called and got no answers, but plenty of people saying they would get back to me. It took 8 phone calls before the service manager at Barrie Subaru told me that the company felt it was not a manufacturers defect, but rather dirt that caused the rust, and that they were happy to pay for half of the repair. Reminder, this is 18 months after the purchase of the vehicle. There was also no way to talk to the person who had made this decision but I did call customer care and gave the lady there an earful, without purpose, really, as I asked if the call was recorded or if she wrote anything down. The answer to both was no. So here are a few things I want to point out:1- Of course, they are happy to pay for half. They should be paying for the whole thing. A friend of mine had the same problem with her Toyota truck. They said the rust was caused by sand. However, the clear coat was intact. 2- What would they have blamed the rust on if I had had the chance to clean my car that morning? 3- I didnt have the chance to clean my car because of Subarus faulty battery. 4- The car still surges forward when Im stopping. 5- This is a crooked company that does not care about their customers. If you disagree, try reaching a human being who has any authority to make a decision. 6- What kind of sport utility vehicle cant handle getting dirty without immediately getting rusty? Again, see their commercial. They should definitely NOT be marketing to dog owners. Please, dont trust the car awards. This is not a reliable car or a consumer-friendly company. They want you to buy, then wash their hands of you.
Ive read all the rave reviews about Subaru’s reliability so I purchased a used Outback about 2 years ago. About 3 months into having it the motor blows all its coolant out at a stop light leaving me stranded. Get it home, fix the head gasket and its good for about another year and it overheats with lots of oil in the coolant tank - this time Im way out in the woods. This time instead of fixing the head gasket I buy one of those from Japan 50k motors and put it in and it immediately overheats so waste more time yanking it back out and the shop I got it from fixes it and I have to spend more time putting it back in. With the new motor in the tranny now starts puking oil out of the rear main seal so I get a rebuilt one because its cheaper than fixing the old one. Then the radiator starts leaking. The abs toner ring breaks which forced me to do wheel bearings, and the cv boots had all split. Ive been trying to sell this car for a while now but things keep going wrong. Right now the cam seals are leaking on the exhaust, so no one wants to buy it. Ive spent more money fixing it than on the car itself and has spent equal time broke than running. These things sell so cheap used Im at a huge loss. Dont buy a Subaru!!
2012 Subaru Impreza limited edition - I purchased this car for my daughter who was attending college. Within in a month oil light came on, quart low. This continued and the dealership said this is fine. Over a 2 year period of being in and out of shop we had 25 oil changes. Fed up and went to dealer and they finally did an oil consumption test, it failed. They replaced the lower engine block. My daughter is 20 and the dealer has always given her a loaner for the car was in shop for 3 weeks. After lower block was put in she was told to return after 4000 miles. She did but had relocated for college to Oregon. When they checked it out they found that the passenger side valve gasket was leaking and not sure what they might find when they get in to fix it. She was told they could not give her a loaner for not 25. She had to leave for she needs a car for college and sports. To go back to Santa Rosa, CA to have problem fixed is a 10 hour round trip but they give her a car. Dont know what to do. This is a Subaru problem and I feel they need to cooperate at the Medford, Oregon dealership. This has been the worst car experience for a new car and my daughter is so sad and disappointed in a car she believed would be great.
Sorry to say this is turning out to be the worst car buying experience that either of us has ever encountered in over four decades of driving. First off the sales person lied to us about the accessories options available for our vehicle, and the finance guy was condescending. So I went to the parts department and began ordering the accessories that I was told were not available. The L E D side view mirrors were installed by the supervisor of the service department. He admitted damaging the inner workings of the mirrors and ordered replacements. Another trip back to the dealership and the problem was even worse. He tried to convince me that it was normal to see through only half of the mirrors as they could not be adjusted properly to be able to see the lanes to either side of me. He eventually got frustrated with my insisting that they be fixed to the way they originally worked, and told me to go home to my wife. I called the corporate office and it has been over two weeks with no resolution in sight. A week ago I try to remote start before I left to work. The STARLINK system would not connect. When I went out to the car to start it. The dashboard and ignition lights were blinking and it would not start. I had it towed to the dealership, they gave us a small dirty loaner car and yesterday, a week later, they called to say it was fixed and ready to be picked up. We made the trip there to find that it was not true, the vehicle was not ready as the STARLINK was still not working. Were back in the loaner vehicle, its the next day and we have not received another call about the status of our car. This car is two months old and its their top of the line SUV. Do I have a lemon? More to come.
After finding out that the head gasket problems for the 2003 Subaru Outback had been fixed, we decided to purchase a used one. We have started having leaking HG and have tried talking to SOA about this, but they refuse to help us with the repairs. The fault is in their design and thus they should pay for these. I have also read on the internet where some people have been helped. This repair will cost us about $2,000! Also, seeing we are Subaru loyalist since 1984, they did/will not take that into consideration. Also, our younger son just got a new 2012 Subaru Legacy last year. Now is the time to decide to let go of Subaru and switch to another brand! Please do not buy a Subaru, as SOA will not stand behind their loyal customers!
It is a great all around vehicle. It is unique, all wheel drive, excellent gas mileage, very comfortable, really fun to drive, handles well, very durable and dependable. Also, it is only a four cylinder but had a lot of get up and go. Love the all wheel drive and the excellent gas mileage as well. However, it is on the small side and is not as easy as some cars to get in and out of. Sometimes the maintenance can be costly and timing belt change every 80,000 miles is a must as well.
If all the stories were true, Subaru was going to be a great first new car. 300,000 miles I could expect without any major problems. The year was 2009, times were tough but I love my wife and wanted to get her safe car for the icy winters. I have had several problems with this vehicle. The first one being an axle broke and 60,000 miles, second one being replacing the head gaskets and 80,000 miles-- This should have been a factory recall. Now throwout bearing cost $1300 with only hundred and 5000 miles. Wonder what will be next for this car. I will say local Subaru dealer help pay for the axle, I still had to pay for labor. Subaru USA did help pay for the head gasket but I still had to go to my 401(k) to pay $1200. When you live paycheck to paycheck and wanted by new reliable car, is Subaru really the car for you? This is my story.
In 2010 I purchased my first Subaru. I figured I bought the best vehicle of my life. I owned it until November 2014. I had nothing but troubles. I had to replace the battery within the first year. Randomly thru out the year it wouldnt start. All my oil changes were done at the dealership. Every time they would tell me it had no oil. In total I had a sway belt, drive shaft, engine, battery, full clutch replaced and brakes. Subaru offered $500 prepaid visa for my next Subaru. What a joke...
I have owned three Subarus and just recently purchased my fourth which was a 2019 Certified Pre-owned Subaru Ascent Touring. I have had the car for a month when the transmission starting acting up. Upon taking it to the dealership twice to look at it the second time they have had it going on two weeks. Randy Marion Subaru technicians have been very helpful and they are just as aggravated as I am with how Subaru is handling my situation. The technician states he knows exactly what is going on with my car as he has witnessed it and I have provided them with videos of what is going on. The technician states that the chain is slipping on the transmission. Having a two year old in the car I find this extremely unsafe and if not fixed and something happens I will sue Subaru for all that they are worth.My car is still under warranty having only 32,000 miles on it. I am still paying a payment on a car that I have not had in two weeks because Subaru is stating that the technician has to catch it on their computers for them to replace anything. Subaru has all these ratings for being such a good company that cares about their customers but I am highly encouraging people to stay away from Subaru after this incident which is not resolved. I have contacted the customer care line only to be told the support specialist would reach out to the dealership and get back to me which has yet to happen. I am so beyond irritated at this point. I just want my car back and I want it fixed.
I currently have a 2014 Crosstrek that I am sending back to Subaru for constant rattles on the right front and back sides, glove compartment box, instruments gauge, left front and rear doors and the rear hatch. I bought this car in January 2015 and as of right now, it has roughly 4,300 miles. The rattles in my car began showing up around 500 miles as a sound in the front passengers side speaker. On my 1st trip to the dealer, they could not find any noises coming from the car so they sent me home. On the 2nd visit, they found that the front passenger side speaker grill was loose and was causing the constant rattling so they insulated it and sent me on my way. A day after leaving the dealer, the rattle started again and this time it seemed to spread. On my 3rd visit to the dealership, they again could not find a rattle in my car. By this point I am aggravated and decide to involve Subaru of America in the process. On my 4th visit, they found rattles in the front and back passenger doors and insulated them. They proceeded to have me test drive the car around the dealership but again nothing seems to happen when youre at the dealership. I left and on the way home, guess what pops up? THE DAMN RATTLES!! I blast SOA and demand something be done or I want a refund. On my 5th (and final) visit, SOA send a senior field rep/engineer to test drive my car. They stripped my instrument gauge down TWICE and insulated it on EVERY POSSIBLE LEVEL! They also insulated all of my doors, except for the drivers door, and the glove box. After having my car for more than 7 days, I finally get a call that it is ready to be picked up. Hoping that this will be the end of if, I test drive the car with the service manager to ensure everything was OK. As soon as we pull out of the dealership, the drivers door begins to rattle and so does the instrument gauge. The service manager proceeds to inform me that since every possible surface of the instrument gauge has been insulated twice, they can insulate it no more and would require them to install a completely brand new instrument gauge. It is a shame that a car that is only 4 months old could could like such a clunker!!! Maybe if car manufacturers would stop putting SO MUCH DAMN PLASTIC IN THE CAR, THERE WOULDNT BE ANY ISSUES!!! So as previously mentioned, I contacted SOA and demanded a refund. They offered me another car which I turned down because all 3 of the Crosstreks I was given to drive had the same exact issue! Needless to say that I will never purchase a Crosstrek AGAIN!!
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.
I bought a brand new Subaru Forester XT in October 2008. It has less than 40k miles and Friday, March 3, the car died and I narrowly avoided a collision with another car. Turns out the lower block of the engine needs to be replaced. I have read numerous reports online that Subaru issued a stop sale on my exact model of car in April 2008 for internal wear. I have been told my VIN does not reflect this issue, but I dont believe Subaru. I have read post from other owners with VINs almost exactly like mine that ran into the same issues. This is the second time my car has been back to Subaru because of engine issues.
On December 2017 we leased a 2017 Subaru Forester. A few months later and many trips to my dealer, I discovered that the radio system is not working. I contacted Subaru Corporate headquarters and I am getting the run around. They are refusing to fix the issue.
Read several comments about mice and rats chewing out electrical parts and hoses in the engine bay. Its true, all of it, had a huge problem with rats under the hood in the winter for years and constantly popping the hood for several hours to let the engine cool down after use. Then placing fabric softener sheets all over the engine until the morning. It kind of worked but then I found a spray repellent online that is specific for engine bays and rodent control. Spray on all over the compartment every 6 months and it works like a charm. No more droppings or chewed wires. This is a fairly wide known problem to mechanics. As for oil consumption, I have not seen a problem. The car only has 66,000 miles on it and virtually trouble free, love the car!!! Know head gasket may be a problem for the future.
Right size car. Comfortable for five. Plenty of storage. Good mileage. Great safety features. Adaptive cruise control, auto dimming headlights, lane departure all make for easy driving. The AWD and good ground clearance make for good visibility, safety and handling. We would recommend this car for comfort, economy and safety.
I have a Forester, it’s a great car except for when the engine light and cruise control light goes on at the same time making the car difficult to drive. I have had this issue 6 times now from 2009-13 and each time I go to the dealership where I bought the car, they say the issue has been fixed but there are always added expenses such as my hose has a leak or etc. Obviously, if I had this issue 6 times, then issue hasnt been fixed. I have been told by the dealership this isnt an ISSUE and that the time lapse in between visits to the dealership are so far apart I shouldnt worry about.When I had this experience for the 6th time this week, I thought writing to company and saying, Hey, when are you guys going to figure this out? Its been five years and a lot of money and no one seems to be able to help me. So today I decided to do a little research. There is a whole site on topics about this issue going back to ’07 all the way up to my last entry… I am still researching. This issue is a big issue, Subaru. Wake up!
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.
Outstanding vehicle. There is no better symmetrical all wheel drive vehicle in this price range. Approximately $30,000. Handles brilliantly regardless of road condition.
My husband backed my new 2017 Impreza 2.0i Premium with Eyesight into our plastic trash container at low speed. The trash container had no damage. The Impreza was badly dented. In addition, the paint over the dent cracked and fell off. I am dismayed that a low-speed collision with plastic was able to do so much damage. The steel skin of the Impreza is weak. The paint is brittle, since it did not follow the contour of the dent (which was round and not sharp). The paint adhesion to the steel is poor since it peeled away after it cracked. Subaru proudly advertises the strength of the cars high-tensile steel skeleton, but they do not mention that the skin and paint are weak. I am afraid that the appearance of the car will deteriorate rapidly as it accumulates the inevitable dings over the years. I do not yet know whether the dealership will repair this dent.
First of all, I love my Subaru Crosstrek. Since it is an all terrain vehicle I was surprised to hear the vibrating and rattling in the unit. Subaru replaced the unit once, but unfortunately the rattling noise came back. Wondering if anything else can be done with the unit to stop the noise. It even rattles on the open highways. Please let me know.
Me and my 12 year old had a lady pull out in front of us in my 2012 Subaru Forester. We ended up hitting a telephone pole on the drivers side. Thank goodness but my side impact air bag did not deploy, I was slammed into the pole very hard and I was doing 20mph when I started down the hill, factor in the velocity of the slide on ice and snow and I was doing well over the 8mph needed to deploy the air bag. I hit hard enough to crumple the rocker sill inside the door and snap the bumper clips and flatten the front tire. We had seat belt bruises of course, my daughter hurt her knee on the door, I injured my arm and shoulder, and slammed my head violently. When I contacted Subaru about this, they did not seem overly concerned, Im still yelling at them about this. I dont know about anyone else but I feel this is a serious malfunction. Ive had other problems too, faulty seatbelts, engine running rough and smelling bad, brakes going bad, stalling, loss of power. And every time I take it back to the dealer, they say we cant do anything, the check engine light is not on. To say the least, this is the most frustrating thing Ive ever heard it makes me want to pull my hair out. I bought my Subaru because Ive owned 3 older ones like 80s and they were good old beaters ya know, so I figured Id buy a newer one. Mine only had 20,000 on it, like new. I wish Id never bought this car, what a mistake.Anyone else feel this way, these big companies always getting away with rooking us little guys? I even contacted a lawyer, he said good luck. Im like really? they almost killed me. I think Im going to try to take them on myself!!! Anyone else interested? If you are write to me **. Im so sick of these guys rooking everyone. You pay 30,000 for a car, it shouldnt be a piece of junk death trap that stalls and does hesitates when you step on it so you can get hit by people real nice. But ya know the check engine light isnt on so we cant fix it. Hey I have no brakes. Well the brakes look good to us we cant help you. Really??? God, such crap.
In 2014 I bought my first Subaru Outback (a dream of mine since I first got my license) for $26k at Bill Kolb Subaru in Orangeburg, NY. It was one year used with only 7,000 miles on it and immediately started noticing problems. The first problem was that it consumed an outrageous amount of oil and would always need an oil change. I talked to the dealership service about this and they assured me it was completely normal (IT WAS NOT!). My second problem was this rattle sound that apparently is a problem with all Subaru but really is harmless as far as Im aware. The third problem is that many components of the car started to fail including the catalytic converter which cost me a hefty amount of money and turning this car into a money pit.I used the car a lot in the two years Ive had it. I got 130k miles on it now. Going home one night the car started making noises and turned off suddenly. A mechanic told me it was the engine which Subaru later confirmed. I have maintained this car very well in the last two years, and its been at the Subaru Service department too many times for no fault of mine. I recently discovered a class action lawsuit against Subaru for oil consumption that ultimately damages the engine like mine did on Google after searching. It was apparently too late for my car to be serviced due to my mileage even though I never received any notice or was told by the service people about this problem (they knew about the lawsuit and the settlement the whole time I was having issues). This problem will cost me 10k to fix. I will never buy a Subaru ever again and I encourage people to think twice about the brand and to do more research on bad companies who refuse to take responsibility on THEIR mistakes. DO NOT BUY SUBARU!!!
In 4.5 years, I have to replaced 5 low-beam headlights in my 2010 Subaru Legacy. The dealership gave several different excuses for the high burnout rate. Their solution was to tell me not to use the automatic headlight feature, which did not help. I called Subaru headquarters, and the representative decided that replacing a headlight an average of every 22,000 miles was an acceptable burnout rate. At $70 per replacement, I cannot afford to keep this car. I wish I had known about this problem and Subarus lack of caring before I set foot in the dealership.
I purchased a Subaru Impreza for my wife on April 24th, 2013 with an agreement that they will order seat covers since the model did not have leather seats and we have 2 small dogs. They give us a certificate acknowledging it. After several visits to the dealership (Subaru of North Broward in Plantation, FL), we realized they had no intention of honoring the deal. When we received a survey questionnaire, we answered explaining what had occurred and provided a copy of the voucher issued by the dealer.On June 1st, received a call from Subaru of America. Mr. David ** who assured me that he will take care. We came to realized that Subaru does not make seat covers for the Impreza 2013. So he asked me to purchase a set and send him the invoice. When I call to speak with him, he had been promoted so Molly ** took over and she explained that the notes that David ** left said that was only for invoices from Subaru dealers. Well, they dont sell them. Im very happy with the car but the customer service is very poor. Going for a new car should be a reason to rejoice not regret and thats exactly how we feel. Bye bye, $387.95.
Our well maintained 2006 Subaru Outback with 75,000 miles needs the head gaskets and rear main replaced. There is no excuse for this. We have 3 Subaru wagons including a 1999 with approx 200,000 miles that has never required this. We have always told people how great they are - will no longer do so! Afraid our 2007 will end up with the same issue! We have discovered this to be a common defect with them. There should be a recall!
I purchased a used 2000 Subaru Outback in November 2011. The rear K-frame rusted through and the rear axle came loose in December. I paid nearly $1000 in parts and labor to replace it. A week or so later, I found out from a friend that I should look into a recall they had heard about. I came to find out that Subaru had issued a recall on that very issue. The sprayed undercoat for the 2000 Outback was insufficient and caused the rear frame to rot at an advanced rate. I contacted Subaru and they directed me to send them a copy of my bill for the damage, which I did.They took forever to get back to me and denied my claim, even though they contacted my mechanic and I was willing to submit pictures of the work in progress. They cited that the gentleman who had done the work was not a New York State registered mechanic, which he is not. Had I known of the recall, I would have had it taken care of the problem with a properly registered mechanic. I would have taken my car to a dealership for crying out loud. I took care of it on my own the most inexpensive way possible. Subaru should have reimbursed me gratefully as I probably saved them a large sum doing so. I feel they are being unfair and I should be compensated.
I was a long-time Toyota owner and after putting 210,000 miles on my 2000 Matrix without any issues I decided I wanted to replace it with something that got decent gas mileage and had all-wheel drive. Enter my 2013 Subaru Impreza Sport. Ive had what could be described as minor issues with this car since day one. First, the rear hatch (its the hatchback version) would never shut on the first try. Had that adjusted and fixed.Second was the issue with starting the car which started happening at about 5,000 miles. After googling my issue, I came to find out that this was a common issue that the owners were referring to as a Hard Start and that after denying it for a while, Subaru finally came up with a fix which is basically flashing the cars computer. Subaru sent out a service notification to their dealerships about this issue, but when I went in to 3 different dealerships they denied knowledge of the issue or the service notification until I gave them a copy that I found online (thank you **) and suddenly they remembered this common issue and the fix. I had the computer flashed and I would say the issue is improved, but not totally remedied.At about 30,000 miles I noticed that the oil light would come on after only about 2,500 miles after an oil change. Im concerned that this is going to get worse as the car ages. (Im at just over 50,000 miles now.) One thing I noticed is that a couple days before the light will come on I will smell oil burning, so Im not sure if thats damaging the engine. Ive got into the habit of carrying a couple extra quarts of 0-20 in the spare tire compartment so I can pull over and add oil immediately if the light should come on. A friend of mine had a Subaru WRX thats engine seized because of low oil and his oil light never even came on beforehand. Ive been so disappointed in the quality of this car. From people I know that are die-hard Subaru owners, it seems like they just cant maintain quality with the recent rise in popularity of their cars. Im hoping that the oil issue does not result in a bigger issue before I pay off this loan!
I purchased the 2015 Subaru Outback brand new, the sticker says 33 mpg highway, I have traveled on the Highway in Kansas (flat, no traffic, no turns, straight highway), and get about 26-27 MPG which isnt even close to the 33 MPG they are advertising. I have emailed Subaru customer service with no reply. I have tracked my mileage and now have just over 5000 miles on my car and have averaged about the same the whole time. The rest of the car is fine.
All of the bells and whistles leered incorporated into the Touring model. The convenience options make the car a pleasure to drive. On the open road I’m averaging 26 mph and handles well in all weather conditions.
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.
Worst experience with this car. I had many other cars that never gave me problems. Decided to buy a brand new 2016 WRX STI. After 3500 km driving it, it had to have a $2500 fix on the car and now I wake up to the car not cranking. Tried boosting it but its not a battery problem. I should have gone for a Hyundai, at least it wont give that issue at 5000 km. Not complaining about the dealership, they have been helpful but complaining about the car.
2015 Subaru Outback Limited 3.6 liter. We purchased this vehicle new in April 2015 to replace a 2011 Outback that was totaled by a red light runner. It has been a big disappointment. The almost $40,000 total price we thought with all the options compared to a 4 Runner was a good deal, the blind spot system (SRVD) failed on the day we drove it home, took almost 6 months to have it repaired. I found a shop bulletin online that described the problem to the letter. Of course the selling dealer didnt have a clue on how to fix it. They replaced most of the electronic parts and calibrated it. That problem is fixed. There has been 4 or 5 recalls since along with over 40 tsbs. The problem that there seems no fix for is the garage door opener operates on the same frequency as does the key-fob/smart key system. At times the seat belt alert chimes with everything off. Also the rear hatch will not open and when attempting to open either front door, placing hand inside handle, all doors lock, takes several attempts to open door, (all these problems only occur in the garage or driveway after the door clicker is pushed to open garage door). There has been no offer by Subaru to try to fix this. My Honda Ridgeline (2014) does not have this issue. This problem should not occur. The Key-fob system should not allow interference from any source. If anyone else has this problem, please write a review. My door opener is a Chamberlain belt drive with outside keypad.
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.
I recently purchased a used 2010 Tribeca 3.6 L engine, my first Subaru, and am rather pleased except for a howl in my automatic transmission. The sound changes as goes up through gears and especially noticeable from start through 2nd. Dealer has determined it is the alternator since engine speed also changes as gears change. Cannot believe any auto manufacturer would make their top of the line touring vehicle with this howl or whine as I have been told by others. Either way a defective alternator OR transmission needs to be replaced.
I have a 2008 Subaru Outback and my visors keep breaking. I have already replaced one visor which needs to be replaced again in less than two years. And now my driver side visor is broken as well. These visors create a driving hazard and should be recalled. The visors are poorly made and keep breaking. The visors break and drop down at inopportune times, such as while driving, posing a safety hazard. To add insult to injury, the replacement costs are over $100.00 each, more if you happen to wreck. These visors create a driving hazard and should be recalled.
Since the purchase of a 2008 Subaru Outback two years ago, I have had nothing but big money problems. When the car only had 100,000 miles on it, I had to replace the head gasket, exhaust, and faulty air bag seat belt problem to the tune of over $4000.00. Now six months later the catalytic converter to another tune of $1200.00. I have a 1995 Honda Civic with almost 300,000 miles on it and have never had to do anything to the vehicle except for normal wear and tear and still drive it with no problems. I take good care of my vehicles and service them when they are supposed to be. I grew up with a father who was a mechanic and know how to take care of a vehicle and know a head gasket on a vehicle SHOULD NOT have to be replaced at only 100,000 miles! So I will never purchase another Subaru and will make sure to tell everyone I know not to purchase one also!
At 87,000 miles, my 2011 Outbacks temperature light went on and I immediately pulled off the road into (fortunately close) service station. Ultimately got it to a Subaru dealership where it was determined that the head gasket and exhaust valve guides needed to be replaced. I now find out this is a common and long standing problem with Subaru cars. Is there a class action suit concerning this? Is there any resource available to disgruntled customers?
I have a 2011 Subaru 2.5X 4 cylinder automatic transmission EPA 21/27. On a cold start up, my 2011 Forester engine made a loud knocking noise, similar to a spun rod bearing. The dealer says, all Forester engines are noisy. This is not a normal noise for any engine. The fuel mileage is also deplorable 25 highway on cruise. In th county/suburb 18-22. I dont drive in the city, normally. My last Subaru had no engine noise, even at 200,000 miles, and got great fuel mileage, 4-5 above EPA rating. I returned to dealer shop 3 times. There is nothing wrong with it, according to them. Foresters do not get better than 25mpg, and all are noisy. I contacted the Subaru customer service online. They talked to the dealer, but have not helped fix the problem at all. Its basically a waste of time. It currently has 9,000 miles. I purchased this new at the Richmond Subaru/Moore Cadillac.
I have owned my Legacy only a few week. Pulling slowly into a parking space, the car lunged full speed into a brick wall. My passenger suffered 3 broken ribs, I had whiplash, banged knees, and we both suffered injuries from the seat belts. Contacted Subaru Corp, and heard back. He said stop the repairs. I told him the repairs were cosmetic, and he could test the car after repairs, that the hood, fenders and bumper didnt cause the problem. He said they wouldnt do that. Then he suggested that I trade in the car. Sure, so someone could buy this defective car??? I said I wanted a comparable car, and he said they wouldnt do that either. The car had been a corporate car, with 31,000 miles on it. I wonder if it had the problem when they sold it to me.
We bought a new 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. It has the Worst gas mileage we have ever seen in a vehicle. Its getting 13mpg. We have owned it now for 3 months. Now the dealership has says it will get better the long we own it!! We would like to file a lawsuit against Subaru and the dealership for false advertising this product. It does not get Nowhere what they are advertising. Maybe we bought a bad one. If so we would try another Subaru.
I have a 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium with 82,156 miles, the car was in perfect condition, always checked by experts, all maintenance on time, nothing aftermarket. I was driving yesterday and I pull over to make a phone call when I started noticing that smoke was coming out of the hood, and from the under dash, when I tried to get out of the car the doors locked up and was impossible to open, by then the flames were very high, I burned my legs and arms. I manage to break the windows with a metal piece I had in the back seat and escape from the vehicle me and my occupant. When fire department arrived they extinguished the fire and was able to take pictures and video of the incident, according them it might have been caused by a electrical issue. Im glad to be alive but Im still in shock because I Subaru is a very good car.
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 **!
I have 2 stone chips in my 2014 Subaru Outback, one went right to the metal and started rusting immediately! I took it to the dealer and showed them the two chips. I asked why would a 10 month old car rust that easily, could this be the beginning of a bigger rust problem with a Subaru (think OLD Subarus - very rusty)? They pretty much told me they would do nothing about it. This will be my last service call time dealing with the Service department at Chilson Subaru in Eau Claire, WI.
Ive always been an American car buyer, but Ive always been intrigued by the Outback. I have been researching your vehicles for some time. So I decided to buy my first Subaru. I went used, and I bought it from Subaru of Melbourne Florida. Here is my nightmare of an experience, this the letter I wrote to the dealer: Hi Shannon, I dont know if you remember me, but we talked about 4 weeks ago. I was interested in a 2011 Outback that you had for sale. As a matter of fact I did come down from Michigan and buy it. It was one of my worst buying experiences ever. I told Larry to have everything ready. I would be there by noon on 4-3-2017. I was on vacation and didnt want to waste a lot of time. Got there by noon, left by 3. Here is a list of problems and delays:1. In the picture on your website the car had a trailer hitch. I wanted that, but no hitch. Larry said they had to take it off because it wasnt a Subaru hitch. It was after market. So I have to buy a hitch. U-Haul is 300.00. 2. In the picture on your website it had a rear cargo mat. No mat. Larry said it was bad, so they threw it out. He finally gave me a used one from another car. 3. It took 45 minutes to find the second set of keys. OK, so I got the car, drove it home to my place in FL. Waxing it and notice a dent in the front fender passenger side. I had it removed by a dent removal service 195.00. I did ask for detailed pictures that I never received, and I also ask Larry if there were any paint deficits or dents. Of course he said no.The final thing, drove it to work yesterday in the dark and notice a headlamp out. Now I know there is an extended warranty for bad headlamps on 2010, 2011. So I replaced the lamp myself and found that Larry and your dealership had left non Subaru HID headlamp conversion kit on the car, so now I dont know if Subaru will honor the warranty.
I dont think I will purchased car Subaru again after I had a bad experience with Subaru located in Troy, MI. They had an advertisement said that if you had a test drive at their location, you earned $50 gift card, no purchased necessary. So I and my husband decided to go to have a try with this brand name at their location instead the dealership on Hall Rd. We went there, did a test drive, even purchased their car. After 1 hour, I asked them about the $50 gift card. They said they would mail it to my house. It has been 2 months now after I made the purchase, I received nothing. I called the salesman, emailed him, left voicemail, nothing, no response. I called his manager and left a voicemail, no response either. I think we did purchase the car, they dont care about what they promised and their customer anymore. I should never trust them. Worst service ever. Never come back.
In the first six months I owned my Outback (purchased new) my infotainment system failed and had to be replaced -- it took six weeks for the replacement to come in! I was without navigation, radio, Apple Car Play and rear back up camera. Six months after that and while on vacation, the Eye Sight system has failed leaving me without adaptive (or any kind of) cruise control, lane departure warning/correction, front crash warning and a few other Eye Sight features for which I paid a handsome price. This is far from the experience I expected from Subaru. I was confident in my decision to purchase this vehicle and I have to be honest - I have buyers remorse. I have to take the car into the dealership when I return home so I do not currently know what precisely the issue is with the Eye Sight system.
The car is very reliable and I have owned it for 6 years. I for the typical maintenance on the car and have had no additional problems. It drives very well and handles the snow well. After owning a car with cloth seats, I would consider leather. While the cloth cleans up well, its just not practical with kids and dogs. Its an older model and did not come with Bluetooth. It would be a nice benefit to have it. But price was a strong factor when choosing this car and it was affordable in comparison to competitors. I have a huge sunroof which I love. I love the large trunk space in my Forester and how the seats fold down flat in the back.
Great vehicle. Runs great and has good gas mileage. I love the heater and air conditioner. Also, I have friends that have bought the same model and they spoke highly of it. I definitely would not want to trade or sell it. Would recommend it to a friend and would definitely purchase another one.
I have had to repair a leaking head gasket when car had 180,000 kilometers and also replaced back axle when had 160,000 kilometers. These were both very costly repairs. I am disappointed with Subaru and dont think their reputation is deserved.
I purchased my 2013 outback in June 2013. In June of 2014 with 18000 miles my check engine light came on. The dealership diagnosed two burned out catalytic converters. They fixed the issue under warranty but it took almost two weeks. A month later the check engine light came on again for the same issue. Again it was fixed under warranty but this time had the vehicle almost a month. In August 2014 the low engine light appeared and I found out about the engine consuming oil that seems to be a common issue with Subaru. Three months later the check engine light appeared again for the same issue as the two precious times. This time Subaru replaced the entire exhaust system and had the vehicle over a month. The low engine light seems to come on and go off whenever it feels like it. This vehicle definitely has an issue. So very frustrated and dont trust the reliability of the vehicle. I love the way the vehicle drives and handles but just dont trust that long term it wont have more of the same issues. This vehicle will be traded in for something other than a Subaru. :(

