Deep dive: Travis Pastranas Subaru Family Huckster gymkhana car

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Deep dive: Travis Pastranas Subaru Family Huckster gymkhana car
Posted On: December 4, 2022
Travis Pastrana's "Family Huckster" packs the guts of a gymkhana car into the body of a 1983 Subaru GL wagon. Pastrana unveiled this unusual build earlier this year, and the wagon makes its gymkhana video debut on Dec. 6.  Inspired by Subaru GL wagons used as a marketing tie-in with the U.S. ski team, the Family Huckster retains the boxy profile of its stock counterpart but features a bespoke tube-frame chassis and carbon-fiber body panels and doors. While the wheelbase is about the same as stock, the Huckster is about a foot wider. This makes for both a throwback to Subaru's earlier days and a practical choice for video shoots, Pastrana explains in the video. It's easy to see the corners of the car from the driver's seat, which comes in handy when driving close to obstacles. Pastrana also doesn't have to worry about damaging a protruding rear wing, as in his previous gymkhana car, the Subaru WRX STI Airslayer. Travis Pastrana's Family Huckster 1983 Subaru GL wagon Like the Airslayer, the Family Huckster was built by Vermont SportsCar, the firm that also builds the WRX STI rally cars Pastrana drives in the American Rally Association (ARA) championship. Underneath the boxy Subaru GL bodywork, the wagon has quite a lot in common with those rally cars. Power comes from the same turbocharged 2.3-liter flat-4 used in the Airslayer. The engine produces the same 862 hp as in the Airslayer, which is sent to all four wheels through a 6-speed sequential gearbox. The Family Huckster is geared for a higher top speed than the Airslayer, topping out at 175 mph. The Family Huckster also incorporates some of the active aerodynamic elements from the Airslayer. Flaps pop up when extra downforce is needed, then retract to help lower grip levels when Pastrana wants to get sideways. In place of the Airslayer's large rear wing, the Family Huckster has a movable wing that rises out of the roof.  In keeping with the family wagon theme, Vermont SportsCar added a roof rack that also serves an aerodynamic function. It helps direct air into a roof-mounted intake for the radiator, which is located in the rear of the car. For authenticity's sake, the wagon sports original Subaru GL taillights and badging on the outside, and some factory switches on the inside. Vermont SportsCar also recreated the stock dashboard in carbon fiber, with a blue tint referencing the original interior color. The builder also gave the digital instrument cluster some 1980s-style graphics. A non-1980s touch is the steering-wheel paddle, which Pastrana pushes to activate a radio, and pulls to turn on the windshield wiper. Look for the Family Huckster in a new gymkhana video premiering on Dec. 6. In the meantime, watch the full video for an up-close look at this unique wagon.

Reposted From Source: motorauthority.com


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Deep dive: Travis Pastranas Subaru Family Huckster gymkhana car
Posted On: December 4, 2022
Travis Pastrana's "Family Huckster" packs the guts of a gymkhana car into the body of a 1983 Subaru GL wagon. Pastrana unveiled this unusual build earlier this year, and the wagon makes its gymkhana video debut on Dec. 6.  Inspired by Subaru GL wagons used as a marketing tie-in with the U.S. ski team, the Family Huckster retains the boxy profile of its stock counterpart but features a bespoke tube-frame chassis and carbon-fiber body panels and doors. While the wheelbase is about the same as stock, the Huckster is about a foot wider. This makes for both a throwback to Subaru's earlier days and a practical choice for video shoots, Pastrana explains in the video. It's easy to see the corners of the car from the driver's seat, which comes in handy when driving close to obstacles. Pastrana also doesn't have to worry about damaging a protruding rear wing, as in his previous gymkhana car, the Subaru WRX STI Airslayer. Travis Pastrana's Family Huckster 1983 Subaru GL wagon Like the Airslayer, the Family Huckster was built by Vermont SportsCar, the firm that also builds the WRX STI rally cars Pastrana drives in the American Rally Association (ARA) championship. Underneath the boxy Subaru GL bodywork, the wagon has quite a lot in common with those rally cars. Power comes from the same turbocharged 2.3-liter flat-4 used in the Airslayer. The engine produces the same 862 hp as in the Airslayer, which is sent to all four wheels through a 6-speed sequential gearbox. The Family Huckster is geared for a higher top speed than the Airslayer, topping out at 175 mph. The Family Huckster also incorporates some of the active aerodynamic elements from the Airslayer. Flaps pop up when extra downforce is needed, then retract to help lower grip levels when Pastrana wants to get sideways. In place of the Airslayer's large rear wing, the Family Huckster has a movable wing that rises out of the roof.  In keeping with the family wagon theme, Vermont SportsCar added a roof rack that also serves an aerodynamic function. It helps direct air into a roof-mounted intake for the radiator, which is located in the rear of the car. For authenticity's sake, the wagon sports original Subaru GL taillights and badging on the outside, and some factory switches on the inside. Vermont SportsCar also recreated the stock dashboard in carbon fiber, with a blue tint referencing the original interior color. The builder also gave the digital instrument cluster some 1980s-style graphics. A non-1980s touch is the steering-wheel paddle, which Pastrana pushes to activate a radio, and pulls to turn on the windshield wiper. Look for the Family Huckster in a new gymkhana video premiering on Dec. 6. In the meantime, watch the full video for an up-close look at this unique wagon.

Reposted From Source: motorauthority.com


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Product Reviews:

I love my Subaru BRZ! It is perfect in every way. Only 500 were made in 201
I love my Subaru BRZ! It is perfect in every way. Only 500 were made in 2016! I didnt mean to buy a brand new car but am so glad that I did. It is my baby. Kick ** engine and spot package. However, I would like to have the windows tinted and all wheel drive option.
Published: June 26, 2018
Cloud of Lewisville, TX
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I like the cars performance in bad weather like rain, snow and ice. The car
I like the cars performance in bad weather like rain, snow and ice. The car keep me comfortable. I also like the all-wheel drive and heated seats. But I am disappointed with my Subaru in the cost of repairs. They are very expensive. Also, the windshield has been a bother and has broken numerous times. Rocks hit it and instantly put holes in the window. We have replaced the window five or six times.
Published: June 16, 2018
Donna of Fairfield, OH
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I heard a wind sound at speeds of 120 km/hr or more and fine dust between t
I heard a wind sound at speeds of 120 km/hr or more and fine dust between the doors and car body and I went to the service center. The service center told me it`s normal, that all Subaru XV model 2012 have the same issue after we tried another car.
Published: February 28, 2013
Osama of Cairo, other
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I was disappointed to learn that Subaru would not cover the cost of replaci
I was disappointed to learn that Subaru would not cover the cost of replacing the engine in my car that is burning excessive oil. It currently has about 69,770 miles on it, but the oil burning started around 40,000 miles back in 2018. It was still under warranty when this problem started but it didn’t fail the oil consumption test, and we had a baby so my wife wasn’t driving it much. Then we had another, so the car was only driven some weekends, especially with the pandemic there weren’t many places to go. Fast forward to now, the past year and a half the problem is getting worse because I started driving it daily. I found out some engines have an extended warranty because this is a very common problem with Subarus, but since my car isn’t a manual it’s not covered. I called them a couple weeks ago, and after not calling me back when they said they would or emailing me I called again and and found out they agreed to pay $5,000.Who agrees to pay more than half unless they admit their engines don’t hold up? The customer advocacy manager who called me (she must be the CEO of Subaru because she doesn’t have a manager above her) just went around in circles with me while refusing to acknowledge that this was a problem in 2018. She didn’t say I was a liar but pretty much she said it didn’t fail the test then so just because the oil light came on and there was no oil doesn’t mean it was burning.. O.. Ok? Even though the problem started 20,000 miles before the warranty was up it doesn’t matter. Subaru did offer to pay more than half of the $8000 engine replacement, but even $3,000 is a struggle for us being on one income, with only this one car. Even 70,000 miles is way too low of mileage to have this kind of problem.It seems this problem is very common and this is all very disappointing. Even being on hold with them you hear recordings boasting about “the Subaru family” and how much they care. Well I must be the black sheep of the family. We loved our 2010 forester and traded it in in 2015 for This one. We still thought we would get a new one after this one but if we have to pay for a new engine 10,000 miles past the warranty because of a common problem like burning oil that started during the warranty period (there’s cars 20 years old that don’t have this problem) then no thanks.We will not buy another Subaru again, not so much because of the problems, because hey problems happen, but we will not buy one because they are not willing to stand 100% behind their products (only 62.5% apparently). The car was burning oil at 39,000 miles and they admit that but it wasn’t burning enough to fail the test. Now it’s burning 23oz every 1200 miles. For a 2015 with 70,000 miles. I know, ridiculous. So anyways it’s a little more sentimental for us since we loved the car, but if owning a Subaru means needing a new engine at 70,000 miles then we will buy a different brand, and I recommend you do the same.
Published: March 21, 2022
Chris of Milpitas, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

While on vacation our 2018 Crosstrek with 1900 miles stalled while driving
While on vacation our 2018 Crosstrek with 1900 miles stalled while driving 4 times. I was driving my daughters car and almost hit Crosstrek husband was driving because car kept stalling. When we returned car went to shop. 1st time it did it on service tech. They could not find out what was wrong, it is in shop after a week for 2nd time, Subaru is aware and we have had loaner for 2 weeks now, car is unsafe, Subaru did not like when I said Class action and asked that I would not call an attorney till after they look at it the 2nd time but I made the call and he is looking into legal action. These cars are a danger to all that drive them, I owned 6 Subaru’s and will not buy another from them.
Published: October 19, 2018
Claudine of Mc Kees Rocks, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought a 2012 Outback in February 2012. When I rotated the tires at 10,00
I bought a 2012 Outback in February 2012. When I rotated the tires at 10,000 miles, I noticed that both rear tires were severely worn at the outer edges. The dealer had the wheels aligned. They were out quite a bit. But now after about 11,000 miles, the tires are worn to the tread gauges in the outer tracks. I dont think I will get 20,000 miles out of them. I think Subaru should replace these two tires. The other two tires are fine but at 20,000 miles, I may have to replace all four tires because it is a four wheel drive.
Published: March 23, 2013
Robert of Northport, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Subaru has always been our choice in vehicles, due to the safety factor and
Subaru has always been our choice in vehicles, due to the safety factor and having an excellent reputation for producing a quality vehicle. However, I have a 2009 Forester, and we just noticed rust in several areas on the lip above the windshield. I took our vehicle to the dealer and the Service Manager said it was caused by stone chips and he would take no responsibility for it. The paint is still fully intact and there is absolutely no evidence or indication that a stone chip or any object came in contact with the vehicle where the rust is bubbling underneath the paint.There are a couple of stone chips along the front edge of my hood, however, and the rust has not bubbled at all and does not resemble the number of rust spots above the windshield. There is no rust anywhere else on the vehicle. Given we have been loyal customers to Muskoka Subaru. I am very disappointed with the Dealerships Service Manager response to my issue. Based on the warranty, the Anti-Perforation Limited Warranty (60 month/Unlimited km) covers perforation due to corrosion to body sheet metal panels for 60 months, regardless of kilometres. The Service Managers attitude towards me and my husband was ambivalent and discourteous. Frankly, his behavior reflected an attitude of not caring.When it became obvious to us there was not going to be any resolution dealing with the Service Manager. I stated I would escalate this issue to Subaru Canada. He informed me that I could not contact Subaru Canada and must deal directly with the dealership. I certainly hope this is not the policy of Subaru Canada, to prohibit customer input to achieve satisfactory resolution. It is unfortunate that a minor fix has resulted in change in our opinion towards purchasing and recommending Subaru vehicles in the future. The competent handling and resolution of our issue will restore our faith as a loyal Subaru customer in the future.My Experience today and documented to Subaru Canada: I was supposed to meet with the regional manager today at 11:00 A.M regarding the 21 rust spots on above my windshield. I believe you have the pictures. I arrived early to find he was in a meeting behind closed doors. I was given a courtesy car as I asked to have my snow tires put on and was told they would call me when he was out of his meeting. I arrived back to find he had left, said my issue is not covered. I am EXTREMELY upset he did not have the decency to meet with me, a loyal customer and how do I even know he looked at the Forester. Who can I take this up with now?? I need to go hire up and need this resolved. If I dont get any satisfaction, I will resort to social media. I am very unhappy with the lack of service and respect I have received to date.
Published: November 13, 2013
Karen of Port Sydney, ON
Source: consumeraffairs.com

We bought a brand new 2009 Subaru Outback in OKC just before moving to Colo
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.
Published: January 6, 2014
Tere of Thornton, CO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

The safety features and its so fun to drive! I really liked how it handled
The safety features and its so fun to drive! I really liked how it handled and reasonably priced. They have several models to choose from, but I am partial to the Crosstrek Sport, it has all of the things I am looking for and then some!
Published: November 19, 2021
Jacque of Newtown Square, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My recent experience. Went to local tire center to replace tires. During pr
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.
Published: February 8, 2021
Gabriel of Australia, Other
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought a Subaru Outback 2012 from a dealer on Cape Cod. They caused me a
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.
Published: July 15, 2016
Bob of Carver, MA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

What the hell is this Subaru dealer in Jordan? I am really shocked when I s
What the hell is this Subaru dealer in Jordan? I am really shocked when I saw the underground garage. Its hidden and so dirty. No one can see it and they dont have a system at all. They dont even know the history of the car service schedule. There is no clean waiting area for customers. Please just come to Jordan without informing the dealer of your visit and see this with your own eyes. It is unbelievable. They lied to Subaru by convincing them that the garage is the one above ground close to the gas station. It is not, it’s the Renault garage .Subaru in Jordan is dying. There are a lot of Subaru lovers in Jordan waiting for solution .By the way, there are no available spare parts in the dealers warehouse. Just come urgently without informing them of your visit and see the disaster.
Published: September 15, 2011
Karlos of Amman, other
Source: consumeraffairs.com

After contacting Subaru corporate I was given a couple of probable causes f
After contacting Subaru corporate I was given a couple of probable causes for the doink sound.The local dealership was also instructed to call me with a fix for this problem. It turns out that the navigation system has a setting that alerts you with the doink sound, if there is an accident or a traffic problem near you.The alert functions whether you have the navigation system on or not.The setting can be disabled by changing the alarm parameters in the navigation system.
Published: January 1, 1970
Carlo of Glen Ellyn, IL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I have a 2007 Subaru Impreza 2.5i that I bought new in Massachusetts. The f
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.
Published: April 24, 2014
Elizabeth of Howard, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I wanted to buy Subaru xv premium 2015 Black From Bayraktar Subaru. They to
I wanted to buy Subaru xv premium 2015 Black From Bayraktar Subaru. They told me they will have in 2 weeks. And I told I will have 4 weeks because I needed to sell my old car. Then I sold my car faster than I think. I visit them 3 times and every time I visit they gave me 3 different date about cars arrival. At last they said they will have the color I want next month... maybe. Called their manager and got information about they don’t know when they will black cars arrival. They said it is normal. The only thing I wonder why they did not tell me that in the first time I was there when I said I wanna buy Subaru xv premium 2015 black...
Published: May 21, 2015
Burak of stanbul, Other
Source: consumeraffairs.com

The first service manager raised the rubber hood pads to even the hood. He
The first service manager raised the rubber hood pads to even the hood. He said its not perfect but to Subaru tolerances. After I sent Subaru photos of the crooked hood, they agreed with me. But then I was told the service manager said this is within tolerances. Subaru said to get a second opinion. I called the dealer they recommended. The service manger would not call me back. After a week of back and forth emails and calls to Subaru, the service manager finally called me back. They are looking at the issues today. The r/l fender gaps were equal when I bought the new car with 5 miles. I am concerned with the right fender and front end separating after two months of ownership. There were also some interior quality control issues they had to address.
Published: August 21, 2019
Tom of Emeryville, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Driving on the interstate late one night we started hearing a knocking in t
Driving on the interstate late one night we started hearing a knocking in the engine of our 2009 Subaru Forester and discovered that we had no oil in the car. We have always done regular maintenance on our vehicle with regular oil changes so we were shocked to find out there was no oil in the car. Neither the oil light or the check engine light ever came on to warn us there was a problem. Our engine only had 94,000 miles on it. After researching on the internet we found that this is an ongoing issue with the 2.5 liter engines that Subaru has known about for years. We filed a complaint with Subaru of America but were told that since a couple of the oil changes were done at just over 6,000 miles that they would not help us with the cost of fixing it. They want $5,000 to rebuild it or $6,000 for a new engine. Today, we are taking a trailer to the dealership in St. Peters, MO (Lou Fusz Subaru) where our car now sits and loading our car up to bring home. We dont have the money to fix it. Subaru vehicles dont live up to the claims of their advertising and this is not a vehicle I would hand down to my children! We plan on eventually getting it fixed and rid of it at the earliest opportunity. I will never have another Subaru.
Published: May 7, 2016
Nancy of Cape Girardeau, MO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

This is the best car Ive ever owned. Although its an SUV, it rides very wel
This is the best car Ive ever owned. Although its an SUV, it rides very well - not hard like my Jeep Renegade did. Passengers in the back seat tell me it is very comfortable. I have the Limited model, so it has some great features like Subarus Eyesight. That feature is a game-changer for driving. I will never own another vehicle without that. I feel much safer since it keeps me from drifting into another lane, can brake quickly in an urgent situation and, best of all, driving on the highway with cruise control, the system adjusts your speed so that you never creep up too close to another vehicle. Its a must have for long distance driving. I love the fact its all wheel drive. I feel much safer driving in rain and snow. Traction is awesome.Im super happy with my gas mileage, too. Average driving around town is usually upper 20s. On the highway, its always in the mid to upper 30s. I tested it one time on an open flat interstate -- no hills, steady speed of 63 mph with the AC on. The computer readout showed 44 mpg. Ive compared the computer read-out to the old-fashioned way to determining mpgs and its usually off by about 3. That means I got over 40 mpg with the Crosstrek!The Crosstrek has a CVT transmission (continuously variable, not gears) and, although a good number of people in Crosstrek social media groups complain about it, Ive never had an issue. Its smooth and even feels like a regular automatic. The other typical complaint is that the engine doesnt have enough power. Is it the fastest car Ive ever driven? No. Does it have incredible pickup? No. But it gets the job done. Ive never had an issue, for example, pulling out onto a highway. Overall, 5 stars for this vehicle.
Published: December 3, 2019
Kenneth of Wilton Manors, FL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Excellent car for the value. Also the safety rating in the Subaru Crosstrek
Excellent car for the value. Also the safety rating in the Subaru Crosstrek with its all wheel drive tops most competitors in its class. After test diving all most cars, we kept on coming back to the Subaru Crosstrek.
Published: December 8, 2019
Douglas of Myrtle Beach, SC
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My daughter purchased a Subaru Impreza used 1995, has over 200 thousands mi
My daughter purchased a Subaru Impreza used 1995, has over 200 thousands miles on it. Only problem we have had is the cv joints and mass air flow sensor. All of sudden it starts skipping and the idle is very rough. No clue. Any help appreciated.
Published: August 10, 2014
Jeri of Lake City, FL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

First of all, I love my Subaru Crosstrek. Since it is an all terrain vehicl
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.
Published: January 21, 2020
K. of Cornwall, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I am very pleased with my Subaru. The gas mileage is great and for a four-c
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.
Published: June 22, 2018
James of Durham, NC
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Our 2016 Subaru Outback seems like it is possessed. On Monday, July 27, 201
Our 2016 Subaru Outback seems like it is possessed. On Monday, July 27, 2016, we were parked at a restaurant when our daughters noticed the rear liftgate opening on its own. At the time, the only people with the keys to the locked vehicle were me and my wife, who were both 75 yards away inside the restaurant. Neither of us was handling our remote keys. It seems highly unlikely either of us accidentally hit the remote button.Since we were staying at a hotel, I disconnected the battery so that the liftgate would not open overnight. Once I reconnected the battery, a whole host of other electronic issues started. Half of the readouts on the dash intermittently stopped working. They were the information display between the tachometer and speedometer, the readouts associated with the air conditioner and the map display and GPS. The clock, which worked when reconnecting the battery, then was stuck at 9:19 a.m. The right front remote window control only worked from the passenger side, not the drivers side.So, we drove straight to our destination three states away, not stopping or turning off the car since it had taken three seconds to start after battery reconnection. I was unsure if the car would restart again. We drove to the Subaru dealer in Normal, Illinois. As expected, the problems cleared up as soon as we hit the dealership service bay. The dealer spent a hour wiggling wires under the dash and driving over bumps along with putting it on a code reader.We got a PNF--Problem Not Found-- diagnosis and we left the dealership very disappointed. I parked the car two miles away, went into the house and returned five minutes later to find the liftgate again open wide. At that point, I abandoned the remote-entry key and used the key that did not have any remote features. Unfortunately, once I unlocked the door, the car alarm began honking and was only silenced after starting the car.At this point I am considering selling our Subaru with only 3,000 miles on it. We have already endured a painful recall of its steering column and now this liftgate issue. I have zero confidence in Subaru and this vehicle keeping my family safe. I am writing this only to alert other Subaru owners who may experience similar problems in the future. Maybe I can trigger a similar national recall as the Subaru owner who had the steering defect.
Published: July 29, 2016
Terry of Rolla, MO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I took my Subaru Impreza Outback Sport 2011 in for routine 45000 mi mainten
I took my Subaru Impreza Outback Sport 2011 in for routine 45000 mi maintenance, for which I was charged $243.75. I was told the brakes all needed new pads, for which I was charged over $600. I was then told the battery needed to be replaced, for which I was charged $144. Then I was told I needed 4 new tires which would cost $900. I had just taken my car for routine service 3 months ago and was told that everything was fine. I believe that for all the additional charges I had to pay today, Subaru could have at least waived the $243.75 45,000 mile service fee. This car has awful tires - skinny lo-pros that should never be sold here in the Northeast, the pothole capital of the world. I wouldnt drive another Subaru again if they paid me a million dollars to do so. Unfortunately, even though I have paid off my car loan, I am stuck with this thing now that I have paid close to $3,000 for repairs. I bought this car from North End Subaru Mazda in Lunenburg, MA. If you go there, hang on to your wallets - they are definitely trying everything they can to steal from the customer!!!
Published: March 18, 2014
Lala of Winchendon, MA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Ive taken excellent care of my Subaru, put all 100k miles on it myself, reg
Ive taken excellent care of my Subaru, put all 100k miles on it myself, regularly had it maintained at Subaru of Plano and did any and all maintenance work they recommended. I trusted them completely. Month ago I took it in, agreed to all fluids being replaced. $900 later I drove out, barely got out of the lot before realizing a terrible noise (thought it was a motorcycle in next lane!). Turned around to take it back to dealer, heard a terrible grinding noise. Had a mechanic at dealership ride w/ me who acknowledged the howling sound & grinding, said hed fix it. Brought it back & said Austin (another mechanic) forgot to top off the oil. I left, realized the howling sound was better but still there, returned, had Service Manager ride w/ me, he acknowledged the problem, put me in a loaner car & said theyd fix it.When I was told it was ready (a week later) I was shocked to find the noise remains. Subaru of Plano NOW claims they cant hear anything, they will not be repairing it. Ive learned from 2 other mechanics that the Differential was damaged due to the low oil level they caused. I will never buy another one. Trying to find some recourse for what has shortened the life of my car and altered any resale value.
Published: November 4, 2015
Susan of Dallas, TX
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Love my 2012 Outback. So, I bought a 2013. Big mistake! Different engine, s
Love my 2012 Outback. So, I bought a 2013. Big mistake! Different engine, same number of cylinders. The salesperson was more than happy to boast the gas mileage and make sure I would follow the maintenance schedule. No mention that I would have to add up to 1 quart of expensive synthetic oil every 1200 miles! It IS in the owners manual. My oil lamp has come on every 1000 miles since purchase. I was accusing my lube shop of under-filling until I read the page in the manual. If I knew, I would not have purchased this one. Oil change interval is now 7500 miles. Engine holds 4.1 quarts. So, by the manual, I may need 4.88 quarts before the next change. They consider this normal? They started an oil consumption test. They overfilled the engine! That means extra pressure on the seals. Not to mention padding the test! I was to come back in 1200 miles for them to gauge the oil consumption. Consume oil?!? Burning oil is not good for the combustion chamber is it? They even know why and have published a fix. Need recall.
Published: September 23, 2014
Jeffrey of Temecula, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

(Am not a car expert so forgive the terminology) In 2010 we leased brand ne
(Am not a car expert so forgive the terminology) In 2010 we leased brand new 2010 Subaru Forester and it sometimes would not start and had weird electrical issues. Gas tank meter would sometimes not register when I filled tank. Engine/oil and other lights would start flashing randomly--was not able to establish a pattern or pinpoint reason. Once I was not able to fill tank and gas station attendant pushed hard into gas tank opening and gas spilled out. Dealership supposedly fixed it--something with the sensor. But electrical issues continued to happen sporadically and dealer kept saying to bring it in when it happened--but of course it would never happen when I could bring it in. We returned that car thinking it was a lemon.In 2013 leased another 2014 Forester because we love how it performs in the snow and ice. Well, this one is also giving us problems right after the 3-year warranty mark. This past winter it didnt start in about 7 or more different occasions (lost count) leaving me stranded in the cold, sometimes alone or with kids. We are never, ever getting another Subaru--I dont care how well it performs in the snow.
Published: April 9, 2017
B of Dobbs Ferry, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Love the 2015 Crosstrek! Eyesight is great when it works. Had the car in fo
Love the 2015 Crosstrek! Eyesight is great when it works. Had the car in for the recall and three additional times, in two different states. Last time, took 1-1/2 days, had a great, brand new loaner (Courtesy Subaru in Rapid City) turned out to be a right rear brake assembly. Have another appointment tomorrow, on again, off again Eyesight. This morning, car started right up, no Eyesight and stuck in park, neutral or brakes locked up. Dont know, might have to be towed in. Glad it was in the garage at home.
Published: December 18, 2016
Cynthia of Custer, SD
Source: consumeraffairs.com

We have a 2009 Suburu Forester with 8,790 miles on it. We drive relatively
We have a 2009 Suburu Forester with 8,790 miles on it. We drive relatively little compared to many families, and have taken excellent care of the car, meeting all of the required inspections. Last Sunday (Oct. 31st) ,as I backed out of a shopping mall parking place and started down the aisle toward the exit, the car gave a sudden sharp, powerful acceleration, as if the accelerator was pushed down hard. It lasted only a couple of seconds, and did not cause a problem. It did not reoccur the next day. However, on Tuesday (Nov. 1st), it happened again, this time causing a small accident. My wife pulled out of a parking lot on to a small side street, immediately making a left turn toward the main thoroughfare. The car gave the same sudden, sharp acceleration as she was making the turn and, as a consequence, the right front tire slammed into the curb on the far side of the side street, before she could brake, slashing the front tire. Although only one tire was involved, we had to buy 4 new tires (at a cost of $616).We are making two requests: 1. Reimbursement of the cost of the new tires 2. Investigation of this potentially dangerous condition to be sure that it doesnt happen to others.
Published: November 7, 2011
Gretel of Ithaca, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I brought my Subaru pre-owned and had a question about my extended warranty
I brought my Subaru pre-owned and had a question about my extended warranty. After going through several layers of press the number for your particular question, the option that I chose could not be acknowledged by the automated system. I went through this a few more times before I hit a different option hoping to be connected to where I wanted to go. That worked, but the person who I got on the other end transferred me to the automated system again, which of course still was not working properly. I finally decided to send an email and who knows how long it will take for a response.
Published: December 4, 2019
John of Denver, CO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

So we bought our 2013 Outback new and I live in FL so the car doesnt see sn
So we bought our 2013 Outback new and I live in FL so the car doesnt see snow and salt. You people that live in those conditions know the salt will tear up a car in no time. I just had to change both rear bearings due to excessive noise coming from the rear. With the new bearings installed, nice and quiet. But that should not have to be done at 60,000 mi. It started making noise at 60 and of course it is out of warranty at 60. Defiantly not impressed with Subaru. The engine uses oil, will not run smooth until warmed up, the rear upper brake light leaks water in a rainstorm and the paint is not a very tough paint. The Fl love bugs have eaten through the paint on the front. My wife liked the car so we bought it on the past reputation for Subaru. Big mistake. I am a mechanic but mostly on older hot rods and when I bring up the issues with the service manager at Subaru they claim to know nothing about this being a problem. From reading the other complaints it seems that all the service locations say the same bull. Wont buy another Subaru.
Published: January 21, 2018
Robert of Spring Hill, FL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Two accidents with 2016 Forester. No. 1. While sitting in my car at a drive
Two accidents with 2016 Forester. No. 1. While sitting in my car at a drive in restaurant in park position, my car suddenly moved backwards across the parking lot before hitting another vehicle. Several diners saw this happen. Police were called and wrote a report. I got no ticket. I contacted McGovern Subaru and told them what happened, They said that they would call the Subaru headquarters. A few days later, I was told that they had never hear of this. The dealership never contacted me again. No. 2 June 16 2018: With the keys in my hand, ready to get out of the car, it suddenly started moving forward as if driven by its battery. Before I could do anything, it went through my fence, knocked over two full 100 gallon propane gas cause one to spewing to spewing it in the air and hit my screen house, destroying it. Estimated damage: $13,000. There is a witness to this. The fire and police departments were on the scene in minutes and traffic was routed to other streets. I immediately reported this to McGovern Subaru. It took five days wrangling between the towing company and the dealership before it was delivered. Two weeks later no work has been done. Excuse: Waiting for an expert from Subaru using a computer to analyze the problem.
Published: August 29, 2018
Royal Francis of Amesbury, MA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

First, let me say that I have a 2010 Subaru Forester that I have had no pro
First, let me say that I have a 2010 Subaru Forester that I have had no problems with it. Bought it new and now has 71K on it. Because I had no problems with it, and I can put insane amounts of mileage on a car, I bought a hail damaged 2013 Subaru Forester Premium with about 16K on it, have driven on east coast, Alaska, Yukon, west coast, with no problems consistently getting 30+ mpg. This June, while in Yosemite and on my way to LA, the low oil pressure light started flickering at around 47K miles. Subaru said it was a bad oil pressure sensor. Changed to a new one and then in the middle of nowhere South Dakota, at 10:00 p.m. it came on. I then tried to go really slow in case there was something really wrong with my car. I went 35 mph on the highway until I got to Bismarck, ND, where I went straight to the Subaru dealer. My cousins live there, so if my car got stuck there, at least they were there.I got no sleep that night because I was so worried about my car and the fact that I had promised to drive my cousins kid who has Hodgkins lymphoma and a tumor on his heart and spine to the Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN for chemo twice to take the load off of family members for a couple of weeks. I was doubly upset about the low-pressure light coming on, especially since I had just replaced the switch. I am a single woman who is always out on the road alone. I only buy cars that are reliable, up until my 2010 Subaru, its been nothing but Hondas and Toyotas.I had an Oldsmobile Achieva once, and that was the biggest POS Ive ever owned, whoever designed the front brakes that needed changing like clockwork at 22K, the whole serpentine belt and having to support the engine and undoing the engine bolts should be credited for Oldsmobile going out of business. I work on my own cars, so I know the quality of oil, gear oil, brakes, etc. going on them. When people ** me, I know. This car may be the one mistake I have made. It remains to be seen if Subaru will make it right. If not, I will be the Poster Girl for the anti-Subaru campaign.Bismarck, ND has one Subaru dealer in town. They scanned my car and said no problem, ignore the light, and drive on. I dont know what else they did, but my mileage dropped from 30 mpg to 25.5 mpg on the way to Rochester, and 27 mpg on the way back. I changed the oil, new filter. Called the Bismarck dealership and asked why my mileage dropped, told me it was the gas. Called SOA, no help there either. Mileage was similar on second trip to Rochester, and the low-pressure light came on during the trip back from Rochester. I ignored it but checked the oil. 1/2 qt low. Called Bismarck dealership again, and got the ** about the gas again (because consumers are stupid, right?).As if I wasnt getting sketchy gas in some of the places I went in Alaska and in the boonies in Canada and my mileage didnt tank like this. On my way back to Denver (home) my mileage came up to 27.6, but my low oil pressure light would come on after about 10 hours and I could smell a faint burning smell. When the engine cooled off and started back up, light is off, goes on about 10 hours later. Went through Missouri on my way home, about 1200 miles, checked oil when I got home, at the low line on dipstick. I also had ordered the new part that Subaru said I need for the low oil level light. Its installed, along with the rubber cap. Guess that is to keep the light off, while my engine burns up... I am still in denial, but its becoming clearer and I think I have one of the bad engines that burns oil in large quantities. It remains to be seen if they will fix the engine. Im still under 60K.There is nothing worse than being on the road when your car is malfunctioning, especially when you are carrying sick cancer patients that cannot be exposed to excessive germs and environment. So, when I am reading about all the Subaru complaints, believe them. My strong advice is to avoid Subaru until they start putting quality cars back on the market. What I just went through is disgusting. Problems on the road. I am not happy and am wondering how much this is going to cost me and I have talked with enough idiots at dealerships and at SOA to believe that this ** will kill the Subaru name if they dont correct it.I have also warned my friends that were influenced by my love of Subarus (before this incident), Hondas, and Toyotas. They bought a 2015 Subaru Forester and a 2016 Honda Accord because of my cars. I have faith in the Honda, but NOT the Forester. I am also now telling everyone else I know to stay away from Subarus. Perhaps their success has made them greedy and uncaring. VW did the same thing, they lost market share. Make it right Subaru!!! I will be the Poster Child you dont want!!!
Published: August 22, 2016
Diana of Denver, CO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought a used Subaru Impreza 99 at a local used car dealership in Jax, FL
I bought a used Subaru Impreza 99 at a local used car dealership in Jax, FL at National Automotive on Blanding Blvd. I had test drove it a lot that time! Well, after only having it for 2 1/2 months and a lot of break downs and a bad oil leak, my motor getting hot and smoking! It finally broke down and then my engine locked up and now thanks to them, I have no car now!! It was always checked on, always adding oil and when I put $10.00 in for gas, it barely even gave me a quarter of a tank!! It ate gas like nothing and I didnt have the money to keep putting in my tank!! This car is a piece of crap!!! Dont buy any Subaru car whatsoever!! I dont trust no one that sells them! Theyre a rip off!!!
Published: June 29, 2014
Sally of Jacksonville, FL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Purchased 2013 Subaru Outback at 3500 miles. Oil light came on, took to dea
Purchased 2013 Subaru Outback at 3500 miles. Oil light came on, took to dealer where I purchased. Mechanic told me thats normal that Subaru uses a lot of oil. After owning three other older Subaru without such problems didnt seem right. They checked the oil and said it was 1 quart low but that wasnt really low, it just seemed that way. I added oil then. When it was time to change oil thought problem was gone. At or about 3500 miles oil light come on once again. 1 quart low. Called Subaru of America, they said to do oil consumption test. Test was done at 1200 miles of consumption test that said it was fine at the usually 3500 miles light came on. Did another consumption test said after 1200 miles on test it didnt not use any oil. I tried to tell them it seems to use the oil at or about 3000-4000 miles, they just didnt seem to get it. Called Subaru of America, tried to explain to them, they didnt seem to get it either. So now between every oil change I have to add 1 quart of oil, use only Subaru oil. Not happy with my Subaru. Will not buy another Subaru again and tell everyone I know about my experience. Very disappointed with Subaru.
Published: July 13, 2015
Scott of Hillsville, VA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I purchased a 2009 Outback 2.5XT manual transmission new. For the first 60,
I purchased a 2009 Outback 2.5XT manual transmission new. For the first 60,000 miles it was flawless. Shortly after the 60,000 mile service, the check engine light came on and the dealer said the rings in the #4 cylinder were stuck. The engine was removed and repaired. Approximately 3000 miles later the incident repeated itself. Once again the engine was removed and this time all of the rings were replaced (at my suggestion) and the valves ground. Shortly after that one of the air tube valves failed. Then a few thousand miles later both the NOX and oxygen sensors failed. Then at 73,000 miles the engine started knocking but no check engine light. At the bottom of the pan directly under the oil pump intake there is a large dent but no scratches or any sign of impact. The dealer says that the restricted oil flow resulting from the dent caused the connecting rod bearings to fail. I am a 78 year old engineering executive in Southern California. 90% of my driving is on the freeway, no off road, no dirt roads. I cannot believe a modern car can have these kinds of problems. This is my first experience with Subaru. Subaru paid for the first 2 overhauls but I have paid for the other repairs and am expected to pay for a new short block replacement.
Published: September 18, 2014
Donald of San Diego, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I purchased a brand new 2006 Subaru Forester. I did 4-5 months of research
I purchased a brand new 2006 Subaru Forester. I did 4-5 months of research and looked at the majority of small SUVs and finally decided on the Forester based on what I had read - reliability, utility, AWD technology, and the Subaru brand name. I have nothing but positive things to say about the Subaru dealership but I cant say that about Subaru Canada - they really dont care about their customers. They have your money. Why should they care?The Forester for the 1st six years of its life was a fairly reliable car. I took the car in for service religiously and performed all the required maintenance/service. The only main item that went which I thought was odd and a bit pricey was the Oxygen sensor which cost me $700 and then went again a year later but I was lucky as the sensor was still under warranty. At about its six year of life - just before Christmas - I was just getting on to the highway and the oil light went on; I immediately got on my phone to my mechanic and he said to bring the car in tomorrow. About 10 minutes later the oil light went on again and I was on the phone to my mechanic who said bring the car in right away, which I did. Turns out it was the head gasket so it cost $3000 to fix (they did the timing belt / water pump at the same time). I called Subaru Canada and they said because the car is out of warranty, there is nothing they could do. So, I got the head gasket fixed and should have dumped the car right then and there. About two years later, I was driving on the highway and stopped at my destination and noticed the temperature gauge going to the H position so I stopped the car, let it cool down and walked down the street to a local service station. They said, Bring the car in, and they were going to do a rad flush but when they started to do it they noticed coolant leaking so they just topped up the coolant. I got back on the highway and the car started to heat up again; the net of it was a leak around the water pump which my mechanic fixed. About 2 months later, the car started heating up again and back to the mechanic.So the probable cause...wait, wait...likely the head gasket; cheapest fix is the thermostat which they swapped out. But, my mechanic is saying the only thing that would fix it would be a rebuilt engine. Again, I contacted Subaru Canada and same story line - out of warranty - too bad, so sad. So I cut my losses and traded the car in on something more reliable - a Honda. I will never ever buy a Subaru again - what a waste of $36,000.
Published: February 14, 2015
R of Toronto, ON
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I like my dealer. I like my 2007 Forester which we bought new. Yesterday, a
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.
Published: July 26, 2014
Michael of Morgan Hill, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My son Jake was killed in 2013 in a Subaru Outback in Montana. The commerci
My son Jake was killed in 2013 in a Subaru Outback in Montana. The commercial Subaru has on TV when they show a smashed up Subaru and all they say is THEY LIVED OR THEY SURVIVED. Well my son didnt live! Do you have any idea how disturbing that commercial is to me??? Every time it comes on the TV I relive the day I got the news my son was killed in a Subaru. Please, is there any way it can be taken off the TV? Im sure Im not the only person that has lost a loved one in a Subaru.
Published: June 15, 2014
Kristopher of Weeki Wachee, FL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Purchased 2009 Forester in April and timing belt pulley failed in June. Thi
Purchased 2009 Forester in April and timing belt pulley failed in June. This happened after I had 90000 mile service. It now needs an engine replacement. Stay far far away from Subaru and their cars. You will be sorry. Post your stories to their facebook page so the truth will heard.
Published: July 7, 2015
Hank of Powell, OH
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought a brand new Subaru Outback in 2005 and the engine completely faile
I bought a brand new Subaru Outback in 2005 and the engine completely failed at 51,000 miles out of nowhere in 2009. I fought Subaru on it for 3 months and they finally agreed to pay for the new engine. Now, after 3 years and 30,000 miles the engine has failed again! The car is only 7 years old and has had 2 complete engine failures. Subaru is telling me they cant do anything about it and they want $4000 to fix it, about twice what a local mechanic might quote.I spoke to my dads mechanic who has been working on cars in the same location in Palo Alto for more than 30 years (since before I was born.) He said that he wont work on Subaru engines because there is a major problem with them. They blow head gaskets and then Subaru tries to pin the failure on the mechanic or on the owner and it causes problems. Apparently, there are many mechanics here that wont touch them because Subaru legal is taking care of this engine problem.When I look online, there are dozens of sites about this Subaru engine problem, websites were hundreds of people have logged in and documented their head gasket failures at 30,000, 50,000, 70,000 miles. Way too soon for any engine to be failing. Subaru still denies theres a problem, but they redesigned the engine a few years ago and now its not failing in the new cars. Several folks have tried to put together class action lawsuits, but I dont think any of them have gone forward. Meanwhile, if you look on sites that give recommendations on buying used Subarus, they all say if youre going to buy one from roughly 1998-2006 with this particular engine, you need to make sure its failed once and had the major repair done. Otherwise, its not worth buying because it will fail soon. Thats crazy!From what I can tell - most people just go ahead and pay for the repair, some people get better deals, and a few actually get the repairs covered. It seems to depend entirely on how much of a fight you put up. A friend of my mothers has already had 2 new engines put in because of this problem in the first 80,000 miles, too, and he paid for them!My car is currently sitting at Carlsen Subaru in Redwood City, waiting to be worked on. It originally failed on Christmas Day. So, its been more than 2 weeks and nothing has been resolved. At this point, my goal is to get Subaru to buy the car back from me. Id be happy with Blue Book Value. I just dont want to deal with it anymore. And it breaks my heart because I love my car. But its given me 3 years of stress now, so Im done. Is there anything you can do to help me and other Subaru drivers? Thanks so much for your time.
Published: January 10, 2012
Elizabeth of Mountain View, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Needed CVT transmission at 125,000 miles - Subaru headquarters offered $100
Needed CVT transmission at 125,000 miles - Subaru headquarters offered $1000.00 as loyalty towards the purchase of brand new Subaru! Was quoted $7500.00 at dealership for new CVT transmission on a 5 year old car! Had a used CVT transmission installed and broke down after 2 weeks driving on highway at 65 mph and car bucked and lost speed - very scary but luckily no one was behind me so I could get off the highway. Now at the transmission mechanic getting diagnosed but now I am afraid to drive it due to the sudden loss of power. This is a major safety issue.
Published: March 11, 2019
lisa of Woodstock, CT
Source: consumeraffairs.com

We found out today that our Subaru Forester at 60k miles has blown a Head G
We found out today that our Subaru Forester at 60k miles has blown a Head Gasket. The repair is over 2k!!! With the other repairs, the bill will be $3,000. Now that they have our permission... I expect it to be even higher when we pick it up. Happy New Year... right? Upon researching this problem (after our shock), we saw many complaints about Subaru knowing these cars have this Head Gasket problem and yet they dont do anything about it. They let unassuming people pay good money for these cars and its tick, tick, tick.... until the HG blows. Then its $$$$$$$!Our car will be 7 years old in March at only 60k miles is a crime and total incompetence of Subaru to knowingly sell a car that has a reputation like this and that down the line, the owners will have to pay THOUSANDS to repair the car or junk it. We paid $21k for this car and I will never buy another Subaru because of this failure of this company to not fix the problem that has been going on for YEARS! I will discourage anyone I know from buying a Subaru from this day on. The ** & hype on these cars is just that--all false. Our dealer told us IT usually happens at 85k miles and I almost fell down. What kind of company admits they KNEW the whole time they were BSing you about buying this car that the Head Gasket will blow at a certain mileage? Furthermore, they said that our Head Gasket blew early! We have low mileage for 7 years. We take the car in regularly for service. Now we know the repair men know about this Head Gasket problem and no one at the dealer ever warned us.
Published: January 2, 2014
Sandra of Charlottesville, VA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I purchased a brand new Subaru Ascent from Toyota/Subaru of Corvallis about
I purchased a brand new Subaru Ascent from Toyota/Subaru of Corvallis about two months ago. I also purchased the extended “bumper to bumper” warranty for the car that is good for 7 years/100,000 miles. The Sunday before last (August 11th), the middle seat (the Ascent has 3 rows) quit sliding forward and backward on the track that it was on. I made an appointment on Friday, August 16th for the dealer (Subaru of Corvallis) to take look at the seat. They confirmed that the seat was not functioning correctly and informed me that they would need to schedule another appointment to fix it (they needed an entire day to do it). So I scheduled an appointment on Monday, August 19th, for them to fix the seat. They called me around 11:30 on Monday, August 19th, and told me that there was a rock stuck in the track of the seat, and that they had tried everything to get the rock out of the track but had failed. They then informed me that my “bumper to bumper” warranty would to cover replacing the track, and that it would cost me around $1300 to get an entirely new seat assembly (apparently the track cannot be replaced separately, and that the entire seat assembly must be replaced). The car has approximately 2,000 miles on it! They also told me that they could not put the seat back into the car the way it was because it was a liability for them, and that they needed to fix it before I could get the car back.Needless to say, I was angry that the “bumper to bumper” warranty wouldn’t cover the issue, and that I would be without a car until they could order the part for the track and get it replaced (they said that they would need to order the part from the east coast somewhere). I called Subaru customer service, and they stated that the issue was not a design flaw, and that they would not cover the repairs. They said that a rock getting into the car was a foreign object and there was no design flaw of the track for the seat. Apparently, I can never allow another rock to get into the car again! I then called my insurance company (State Farm) and filed a comprehensive claim. They are still debating whether or not they can cover it. My questions are these: For a company that is known for their rugged image and adventurous spirit, is Subaru going to stand up an admit that a little rock can completely ruin their seats? Apparently that is the case here! How is this not a design flaw???
Published: August 22, 2019
Jace of Corvallis, OR
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Bought an early model Crosstrek. Liked the car at first, but it went thru a
Bought an early model Crosstrek. Liked the car at first, but it went thru a quart of oil every 1800 miles or so. Subaru says this is normal for a boxer engine? Felt like a 16-yr old carrying oil around with me. Ive had other Subarus & VW bugs with boxer engines that did not do this. It also ate tires, despite alignments and you have to buy 4 tires at a time with AWD. Usually the right rear wore excessively. So 2 years later, I go to trade it in on a Forrester (hopefully with better luck) and the dealer wouldnt even look at Subarus Guaranteed Trade-In. What a joke that is. Bought a Toyota.
Published: July 19, 2015
Kevin of Neversink, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Buyer beware. It seems Subaru has a long standing manufacturers issue with
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.
Published: July 11, 2017
Amanda of Benicia, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

K of Lonsdale, MN on Oct. 22, 2010 wrote something that is nearly identical
K of Lonsdale, MN on Oct. 22, 2010 wrote something that is nearly identical to my experience, except mine is a 2010! I have two warranties on my Subaru. Major engine failure requires new block. Before I get to the complaint, I would like to offer a quick current real-life analogy that applies in this case. I needed an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan of my left leg this week, with the cost resulting to approximately $2,000. My insurance company did not need any pre-authorization, it was all fine, and they are paying x percent. Now imagine if something completely different transpires. What if the insurance company said no, we are not paying anything. You have to pay for it all unless you can prove for the last 2 years with records, you have been taking vitamins. It is extremely unlikely that vitamins had anything to do with a stress fracture, but I am swindled out of my money unless I either come up with the records that will satisfy them or fight them on their denial.That is nearly my exact position with Doug Smith Subaru in Utah. I am not unfamiliar to fighting when companies do bad things. I had a cement contractor try to make off with $2500 of my deposit and not do any work. I was highlighted on a local television news episode of Get Gephardt and I got the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing involved. I prevailed in that incident. I have a 2010 Subaru Forester, with approximately 44k miles on it. I had picked up my 10-year old son from school, was getting on the freeway on ramp and accelerating to 65mph with the engine revolutions between 4000-5000 (it is an automatic). All of a sudden, a clicking sound started - not too loud, but noticeable. I got off the next ramp and examined the engine. Nothing unusual could be seen, nothing leaking, nothing loose, no engine lights, no warning lights, nothing. I proceeded home, but the noise got much worse by arrival. I didnt want to drive it further, so it was my idea to have AAA tow it to Doug Smith Subaru, where I had purchased the vehicle. At the time of purchase, I was strongly encouraged to also get the extended warranty for 6 years/100,000 miles, which I did at rather substantial cost. I was told 2 days ago by the service department at Doug Smith that bad things had happened inside the engine. It was broken rod, I would need a new block and Subaru is not going to pay unless I could produce every single oil change record since I purchased the vehicle. They said they had no oil change records, so I would need to produce those. I said, wait a minute, I had the oil changed a lot by other people, but I know for a fact you guys changed it once as I had a coupon for it. They said, hold for a minute. Then they came back to the phone, oh yeah, we found that one and we also saw that you had a sticker on your windshield from last year, but we need more than that. They are refusing to pay anything. I have had it changed in Seattle, changed in Sacramento and here in Utah and I am scrambling to find records. This is outrageous, absurd and smacks of what can be seen in some legal defense firms - deny everything and assert reasons no matter how farfetched, ridiculous, unlikely or impossible. I have started networking to the people I know. Everybody I have talked to is stunned and shocked. I work with someone who was an auto mechanic for 20 years (they are in computers now) who said that is just ridiculous. Since I have purchased the vehicle, never has even one engine warning light comes on. It only has 44k miles on it. No check engine, no oil, no temperature, nothing. I checked all fluid levels usually once a month and also before going on any trip. This vehicle is not some turbo-charged teenage car that is abused. I am nearly 55 years old, this is a station wagon and I had my 10-year old son in the car. I have owned and maintained dozens of cars in my lifetime and this is absolutely crazy. I scrambled to produce the records back to the beginning of purchase because not in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that Subaru of America and Doug Smith would look for any reason not to pay. I have owned between 20 and 30 vehicles in my lifetime and had warranty work done from Dodge, Ford, BMW, Porsche, Nissan, GMC. Never, never was I asked to produce every single service record before any warranty work would be done. Doug Smith and Subaru cannot prove that there was an engine failure due to negligent service. They are only citing a phrase in a book to get out of paying. I have a huge list of people following this event and what the outcome is. I have a complaint on file with the BBB, but the dealership and SOA is refusing to budge. To people who want to purchase a Subaru, buyer beware!
Published: March 9, 2012
Kent of Pleasant Grove, utah, UT
Source: consumeraffairs.com

These guys don’t care about you, your car, or your experience. Not at all
These guys don’t care about you, your car, or your experience. Not at all supposed to see the low rating. Thankfully before I submitted my application to be a Subaru of America ambassador, they showed me their true colors and let me know that they were not at all concerned with their customers or with having integrity. I hope I never have to call them for any reason ever again.
Published: September 23, 2021
Jesse of Atlanta, GA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Subaru is one of those Teflon companies like Apple that seems to have a loy
Subaru is one of those Teflon companies like Apple that seems to have a loyal consumer base without any regard to their conduct. For example, their advertising suggests that they are good corporate citizens but they are one of the very few auto companies with not a single hybrid or electric model. (When they once experimented with a hybrid Impreza, it added precisely one mpg to its fuel efficiency). But what really surprised me is how, at the corporate level, Subaru is extraordinarily unlike the image it projects. After experiencing a significant mechanical problem with just 34,000 miles on my Impreza, I brought the car in for service. The service department tried six repairs, all making the problem worse. When I informed Subaru of America, they offered me two options: a $500 credit toward a new model (the type of incentive routinely offered to new customers), or a return visit for a seventh repair.I asked a supervisor I spoke with in Consumer Affairs, What would you do if this were your car? She refused to respond. I asked why she would not answer and she became angry and told me to call the attorney generals office. (This was someone who trains others in how to interact with consumers). Another Subaru of America representative echoed her invitation and told me not to bother reaching out to anyone else -- that he, a middle manager, was the last word. Even if I was satisfied with the car, the experience with the company was enough to make this Subaru, my third and last.
Published: June 29, 2017
Andrew of Newton, MA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Please, please, please STOP recommending Subaru cars as being reliable. I h
Please, please, please STOP recommending Subaru cars as being reliable. I have purchased two of them based on Consumer Reports recommendations and both have had major expensive repairs. I am old, have had all the routine maintenance done and still have had lots of problems. The 2010 Forester (that was said to be a very reliable car) needed to have its head gasket replaced at 95K (turns out they had lots of head gasket issues) and the 2011 Outbacks CVT just went out, 3 weeks after the extended warranty expired (expired on July 31, 2018). As I stated earlier, I am old (retired) and cannot afford a costly fix on a car that is only 7 years old. I have contacted Subaru of America to see if they would help me and all they do is say that they are waiting to be contacted by the local dealer (where I took the car to be repaired) but the local dealer called me to tell me that they have called Subaru of America twice and no one ever responds. Does this sound like a reputable company? Shoot, if they are not going to help me, cant they at least tell me? Maybe they used to be reliable but that time has passed.
Published: September 6, 2018
Paul of Edgewood, WA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought a 2008 Subaru Outback for my 21-year-old son in May 2013 with 61,0
I bought a 2008 Subaru Outback for my 21-year-old son in May 2013 with 61,000 miles. Before my purchase, I had the car inspected and was told the head gasket was leaking. The dealer finally agreed to split the cost with me. My son travels 2,000 miles to school in Montana and has had two oil changes over the seven months that we have owned the vehicle. He had the local dealership inspect the vehicle before heading to Chicago for Winter break, and he had to have one of the front axle boots replaced for $400. On the way home with no warning in the middle of North Dakota, the oil light goes on and the engine dies. The local mechanic wanted nothing to do with Subarus, so my son took the Amtrak home at a cost of $270 and I shipped his car to Arlington Heights, IL at a cost of $775. I sent it to the dealer I purchased the car from and they said the issue was not the head gasket, but the oil pump, and I needed a new engine costing $4,200. Both the North Dakota mechanic and my local mechanic that I trust said the head gasket was leaking as well. The dealer did not agree and would not give me a new engine and Subaru USA declined any responsibility for this poor excuse for a vehicle. After reviewing several websites on Subaru customer complaints, there is a common theme of oil leaks and bad oil pumps. I have owned many vehicles in the 47 years that I have been driving, and have never had such major problems. There should be a huge class action settlement for Subaru owners. I will never buy another one and will voice my displeasure with anyone who will listen.
Published: January 8, 2014
Jack of Arlington Heights, IL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

We bought a 2012 Subaru Forester because of their reliability and safety. W
We bought a 2012 Subaru Forester because of their reliability and safety. We bought it from a dealer used with only 114,000ish miles on it. After one oil change it now has gone through 2.5qts of oil in half of the oils life. After calling Subaru they said that there is nothing they can do to fix the problem without me paying several thousand dollars because it has more than 100,000 miles. This is completely unacceptable! I have been a mechanic professionally for 16 years and the last time I had a customer that had a vehicle that went through that much oil they blew their engine. Subaru needs to man up and fix this issue and fix it correctly, no band-aid on a bullet hole.
Published: June 5, 2017
Cory of Bel Aire, KS
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I have a 2-year-old Subaru diesel Outback and the clutch failed with less t
I have a 2-year-old Subaru diesel Outback and the clutch failed with less than 30,000 km on the odometer. Subaru have refused to take any responsibility under the warranty, saying that it is due to just wear and tear. I have been driving manual vehicles for 45 years and have never had an issue with a clutch but I have been told by the company that my driving skills are the issue. What a cop-out!! This is my first and last Subaru.
Published: January 1, 2015
Paul of Bellawongarah, Other
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Today I dropped my 2019 Subaru Sport off at Subaru in Turnersville, New Jer
Today I dropped my 2019 Subaru Sport off at Subaru in Turnersville, New Jersey for a second time and for the same issue. The tailgate stops working completely. The tailgate latch will not open the back and neither does the button on the starter key or the inside automatic button. There is no way to open the tailgate unless you have a screw driver and can crawl into the back to open up a manual switch. This exact problem occurred in the summer too.My appointment was for 11 AM. After contacting Subaru for updates a couple of times I finally got a text stating at 4 PM someone was just now diagnosing the problem. Why bother to make an appointment if Subaru service doesnt plan on looking at my car for 5 more hours. I still have no car and no answers. To top the matter off the service department CLOSES at 5 PM which is in 15 minutes. At 4:55 PM I got a call that my vehicle was repaired and Subaru had already contacted service departments regarding this issue, so they actually had the part they needed to make the repair. So if purchasing a Subaru Sport keep this in mind as well as the disappointing service experience. In speaking with the service man who signed in my Subaru, he told me that 11 AM was my drop off time, but they have all day to work on the cars. If I had opted to stay and wait for the repair I seriously doubt I would have had to wait 6 hours. Moving forward the lesson I learned when having your vehicle serviced at this Subaru would be to always tell them you are staying and waiting rather than leaving. You likely will have a better chance of getting your vehicle serviced in a more efficient and timely manner. Better yet how about if this Subaru just honors actual appointments.
Published: November 14, 2019
Michele of Blackwood, NJ
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I had this Impreza on March 2016, so far very disappointed. Compare with my
I had this Impreza on March 2016, so far very disappointed. Compare with my last car Hyundai is not that good. First the painting is not a very good quality, the front lower paint is already had lots white spot, maybe in the rough road a bit damaged, but the Hyundai never like this and I had more than 8 years, just show the painting not very strong. Second the sound system sometimes not working, still display everything on screen, just not play, like dead computer, I have to restart it. And today I found my windscreen got a crack line, not really like a stone hit as the crack very even, maybe the original fitting is not good so sooner or later will cracking. I just wondering whats happened in that day when they assembly this car in Japan? And I want to know is really Japanese care about their customer.
Published: January 4, 2017
JEN of Ringwood East, Other
Source: consumeraffairs.com

What Fool I was, I thought Subaru Pre-Owned Certified meant that I was like
What Fool I was, I thought Subaru Pre-Owned Certified meant that I was likely to get a decent car. So foolish of me. I know the saying “buyer beware”. Well Dear Santa Fe fellow buyers do beware and go somewhere else. Subaru Impreza 2015 $20,000 39,000 miles Pre-Owned certified. I thought if it said I had 50% of my brakes when I bought it that it was safe. I should have known when the blades on the wipers were shot even though they were checked off on the two page Pre-Owned Certified document. Should have given it back then. The brake pads are shot, and apparently have been since I got it. Which is what the brake light flashing when I make a right turn means. Almost $500. Major safety issue. They advertise a car wash with every service, but for me, only if I ask. The AC got “fixed “. it worked for one evening. The same issue happened with “Auto Start”, it was fixed and broke within 10 days. It was fixed again yesterday. They fixed the brakes for free after a winter of driving on dangerous snow-covered steep narrow twisting dirt road. The kind of road Subaru is good at it, with brakes. Everyone who drives my road blanches when I mention Subaru pre-certified bad brakes. Tried to trade straight across, they wanted to up sell me. Then I got rear ended in a hit and run, now it has had an accident. Can’t wait to dump this car. Don’t buy from Honda Subaru they happily sold me Pre-Owned Certified a car with dangerous brakes. “Buyer Beware”. So is everything else checked off on the pre-owned certified an error as well? Go To to Hueberger in Colorado Spring, or to Toyota, CarMax, Sweet Motor Sales, the funky places on Cerrillos Road. Avoid Subaru Honda!! And stay away from Gregory **. They fixed the brakes, as I drove home everyday of a snowy winter, but not the relationship. Avoid this dealership and Greg **. BUYER BEWARE.
Published: June 18, 2019
Consuelo of Santa Fe, NM
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Hit a deer one week after purchasing. Had to wait OVER TWO MONTHS for parts
Hit a deer one week after purchasing. Had to wait OVER TWO MONTHS for parts and Subaru would only give loaner car if we had vehicle repaired at their dealership which is over 100 miles away! Battery was bad, finally got them to replace it. Tilt steering wouldnt stay locked. Wheel bearings went bad, no notice sent out. Numerous problems with driver information center touch screen, software only updated once, now other information has disappeared! Drivers seat developed a split, dealer said to call the 800 number since its not warrantied. My Ford seats lasted over 15 years! If it wasnt for the comfortable ride, Id get rid of it.
Published: July 30, 2018
Peewee of Whiting, IN
Source: consumeraffairs.com

In 2010 I purchased my first Subaru. I figured I bought the best vehicle of
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...
Published: November 17, 2015
Shannon of Winnipeg, MB
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My car, a 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5i, has stalled for no reason at stop lights
My car, a 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5i, has stalled for no reason at stop lights, accelerating around 45 mph, and also slowing down to get to a stop light. All of these stalling have happened a few months after the ECM upgrade was done to decrease winter emissions it was a nationwide recall for the engine model 2.5 naturally aspirated. Each one of these times, the engine sputters and shakes the car and then stalls completely. Im completely motionless for a while. I restart the car multiple times and it just shuts off. This happened to me all three times but the last 2 times happened where I lost the engine and temporarily, electric! I had no brakes, and no power steering.The first time it happened, I almost rolled back into traffic but I kept turning the ignition and I got the power back on long enough to push in the e-brake. The most recent time this happened, I blocked up the right turning lane onto a moderately heavy traveled road. I tried to restart the car 6 times and it would turn on and quickly stall. The first time though, I was able to move the car to the right lane instead of in the middle lane while it shook the whole time.They have been absolutely no help to me other than telling me 2 of the 3 times it has been the cam sensor and they will replace it, which obviously isnt fixing a ** thing. The one time it wasnt, the came sensor was when they stated that they found no problem at all. They claimed to have driven it 140 miles and no problem. The very next morning I drive to work and on my way back from work, it stalls for the 3rd time. From Subaru to my house and to work is 8 miles, going back home is about 3.My problem is, the one time they were not able to find a problem, they drove a car for 140 miles without any problems but 11 miles later it happens after the dealer had possession for it for 8 days. I know I dont qualify for the lemon law, but Im trying to think What the ** can I do, the law is not really on my side because Subaru will not buy the car back from me no matter how many repeated problems it has. If anyone has or knows anyone that has a problem like this, please re-post on this forum. Im wondering if this is just me or if there are other people dealing with the same thing. If so, I am looking to combine forces. Because I have no faith in this car and that it cant keep me safe at anytime or anyplace on the road.
Published: April 21, 2012
Michael of Blue Bell, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My son and I purchased a 2016 Forester. When I fill up the car will only ta
My son and I purchased a 2016 Forester. When I fill up the car will only take 11 to 12 gallons of gas, even being as low as 30 miles left. Then I fill it up. At first I would drive just away from the service station and it would go from 280 to 240. I took pictures, showed dealership. They said its normal. Then it started about April I would fill up and now put gas in. Clear everything. I can drive and gain miles in my tank. I told them numerous time not miles per gallon. If Im traveling I can fill up have 260 lets just say drive 20 mins I will have 300. I have never had any car ever do this. The Dealership here in Jacksonville are rude. The guys tell me its normal. Then I started having the tire sensor lights on. Nothing wrong with pressure. And once again told me I was lying because its not picking up on the Subaru starlink system. So again I take pictures. Now today no one in passenger side the light kept going off.The dealership I live in a lemon law state Im thankful but something is not right and dealership says its ok. All these complaints except for the seat issue has been numerous times addressed with Subaru Headquarters . My Starlink never said I needed a oil change. When I took the car in I waited. The car was checked in at 1230. I went out to talk on phone. My car was outside. It was 29 mins. When I asked did they rotate the tires and change the oil. They said yes even though on my ticket says they only checked air pressure. Then service manager Tom said Subaru only pays for 30 mins to rotate all tires and change oil. Please let me know if anyone has this issues.
Published: July 17, 2016
Kathy of Jacksonville, FL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I received yet another recall letter on my 2006 Subaru Forester from Subaru
I received yet another recall letter on my 2006 Subaru Forester from Subaru dated 11/11, this one for the front lower control arm. The letter said to contact the dealer immediately as it could cause a crash. I am told that the earliest date that the Subaru dealer in our area can deal with it is at the end of April, 2012 because the parts that need to be replaced are back-ordered. If this was the only time this happened I would not be so upset, but I keep getting similar notices along with malfunctions such as the steering column which stopped working, computer malfunction and rusted wheels that happen every few months, and which are very expensive to have repaired.
Published: January 20, 2012
Joan of Buffalo, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Overall, I am a happy Subaru customer. I just wanted to let everyone know w
Overall, I am a happy Subaru customer. I just wanted to let everyone know what the issue is with my vehicle. I purchased my 2014 Outback in February 2014. Since then, I am on my third head unit to repair Failed Connection on the receiver unit for my blue-tooth. Not a big deal overall, but when you drive many miles, its a necessity to have. Im worried that when my warranty is up, the cost to repair the head unit will be astronomical since they have to replace the entire piece instead of the bluetooth module. The dealer has been really great getting me into a loaner car, but it makes me nervous about the cost of the repairs when my warranty finally gives out. Has anyone else had problems with the bluetooth in the Outback?
Published: November 3, 2014
Scott of Zionsville, IN
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Major transmission issues within the first 25000 miles, 2 years. Brought my
Major transmission issues within the first 25000 miles, 2 years. Brought my manual 2017 WRX in due to noise in transmission area. They said some parts need to be replaced (bearing, etc) and they installed plate, cover, spring, fork, bearing, flywheel and the whole thing. Picked it up on Wednesday and on Thursday while driving on the freeway something popped in the transmission area and the car was towed back in the shop (Carlsen Subaru in Redwood City California) in less than 24 hours from the time I had received it. This is absolutely unacceptable. I have been driving transmission manual cars for 30 years and to get this kind of performance at such low miles is scary.
Published: February 10, 2019
mehran of Belmont, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

We have owned three Subarus. The 2017 Forester being the latest. I was very
We have owned three Subarus. The 2017 Forester being the latest. I was very excited about my new Forester until I was driving and it kept dying on me. Then a light showed up showing low oil, had only had the vehicle two months, called dealer they said bring it in they will check it out they stated nothing showed up about low oil, again two months later same problem while we were on our way to vacation again. Dealer said bring in. Same response, my husband talked to them and explained the other problems about it dying, transmission not shifting properly, rattling in motor. They told him to bring it in. They test drove it and told him nothing was wrong but did say they would charge us $95.00 an hour to fix it, now again same problems no response. The only reason we had stayed with Subaru is because we purchased a 2003 Baja and it has almost 300,000 miles on so we decided to buy another one in 2014. We purchased a Crosstrek. Had so much trouble with that car. Traded it in for a Jeep which by the way is fantastic, guess if we cant get my Forester fixed we will be trading it in also. Wondering if anyone else has had so much going on with their Subarus.
Published: April 2, 2018
Sharon of Sinton, TX
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Bought 09 Impreza in July of 09 w/ 12,000 miles on it. Continually had requ
Bought 09 Impreza in July of 09 w/ 12,000 miles on it. Continually had required service (3,000-4,000 mile). At 59,700 miles while having 60,000 mile service a seepage was identified from the left cylinder bank. The dealer noted this and stated that it would be monitored. Well they must either have failed to monitor it or kept the finding to themselves through the 8 next services because it wasnt until 97,000 miles that the gaskets must haves simply just failed. The dealer gave me a $2,574 estimate to replace them (and timing belt) to which I had to decline due to finances. I went home, researched parts cost ($300-$450) and allotted time for repair (8-10 hours) and was left a little bit in wonder that the dealers service garage was charging close to $200 an hour. (This was also the time I discovered all of the websites with titles like The Dreaded Subaru Head Gasket Problem.) I went through my service receipts, found the one from 57,000 miles that the seepage note and returned to the dealer to discuss the cost and attempt to make a deal, being as the seepage was recorded prior to the warranty expiring. Long story short: dealer said to call Subaru, Subaru offered $1000 dollars towards service, I told them while that would bring the price down to what a reputable private garage would charge, what I wanted feel more in line with total cost as the problem was first noted under warranty. Subaru said No, $1000 was all they would do. I told them that their help was as useless as the gaskets they put on their cars. I am now in touch w/ my State Attorney General and have filed a complaint with them. I am not looking for any monetary compensation, just satisfaction that a wrong will be set right.
Published: April 12, 2016
Charles of East Longmeadow, MA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

13 Outback Premium PZEV- Bought new in Sept. 2013 at Moore Subaru in Peoria
13 Outback Premium PZEV- Bought new in Sept. 2013 at Moore Subaru in Peoria AZ. This dealership is great and has treated me well. My outback has nearly 29k miles and has been enjoyed. Car is garage kept at home & work & ALWAYS gets good gas...usually Shell premium, NOT because it needs it, but because it has the highest concentration of cleaning agents. Im a geek about keeping it clean and take care of it because I love it.Ive had it in dirt, mud, water, rocks, gravel and it has always done fantastic. I drove it past the finish line of Four Peaks Trail past Saguaro Lake with 3 people & AC where we saw only ATVs & a few Wranglers. Also had some fun climbing on loose dirt & rocks with the VDC off...car does more than some reviews show. Manual even says to turn VDC off in certain conditions...If you keep your MAF sensor clean & use a high perf. Air filter like K&N, performance is noticeably better. (Never cleaned & re-used one...) Climbed the 17 with 4 adults, 1 large dog & luggage with no issues. Love my car...only regret not getting the limited with nav & eyesight. My wife just got a new Crosstrek from the same dealership...
Published: May 17, 2015
Paul of Surprise, AZ
Source: consumeraffairs.com

There is nowhere to buy a tire for the 2014 Subaru Forester. I contacted de
There is nowhere to buy a tire for the 2014 Subaru Forester. I contacted dealer, NTB. They both told me it is on back order, at least 3 weeks. What am I going to do for 3 weeks?
Published: July 3, 2013
Ellen of Weston, MA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My husband purchased a new Subaru Outback in 2011. It has continually had o
My husband purchased a new Subaru Outback in 2011. It has continually had oil problems, with the oil light coming on and off. The Subaru dealer assured him this was normal and his car was fine. It was serviced on a regular basis with the recommended work and oil changes. Last week the car stopped in the middle of the road (while driving) and he had it towed to the Subaru dealer for diagnosis and repair. Diagnosis: They dont know. Recommendation: It needs a new engine! Really Subaru? 130,00 miles and no help from Subaru! Unbelievably bad reliability!
Published: July 30, 2015
Kathy of Bradford, IL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I love this car with all of its safety features. This is my first Subaru an
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.
Published: December 1, 2019
Willie of Selma, North Carolina
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I replaced the factory battery after ~48 months. The new (alleged) 8-year b
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.
Published: January 21, 2015
william of Tallahassee, FL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I own a 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5 XT. I love my car! Its my baby and I take g
I own a 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5 XT. I love my car! Its my baby and I take great care of it and great pride in it! I have been one of Subarus biggest fans since I was young, convinced my parents to buy a Subaru as a teenager, and have owned two myself; I have trusted and supported this company through the years.However, after recently after having repairs done for a broken turbo at one of their Certified Subaru Service Centers, my engine died due to the fact that their technicians did not remove the oil pan after replacing the shredded turbo (a standard and required part of their repair!). Since the repair, Subaru terminated the dealers service department (Vista Subaru In Glennwood, CO) and will not honor their workmanship! Subaru has outright told me that they will not help me with the cost of the new engine, even though their certified workers are at fault (for not completing a repair per SOAs explicit directions in a bulletin I will attach) and the cost of replacing their fouled repairs combine to put the money I have in this car at $27,789 (the base price of a 2011 model!) when purchased 11 months ago for $16,500! I put 9,000 miles on this car!I hope someone reads this and does the right thing by me! As a loyal Subaru customer, you are ensuring that I will bever have anything to do with your products ever again! I love my car, but as it lies with its engine out at the dealership, I realize that if this is how you treat your loyal customers, I must put my beautiful car to rest and move my loyalty to a company that knows how to treat its customers well!Love, its what makes those Subarus in your commercials different from mine!
Published: August 11, 2011
Max of Boulder, CO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I was sold on Subaru after spending time in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana a
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.
Published: October 19, 2017
Wendy of Fort Worth, TX
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I have a 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek, took it in for passenger side rear beari
I have a 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek, took it in for passenger side rear bearings to be repaired, they tell me they cant get the bearings off. They tried soaking it, tapping it, and no success. Now they tell me I need a new housing that the bearings, caliper and brakes sit on, the car is not even 3 yrs. old. That tells me thats a flaw in the making. From $500 to $1000. What now? Still waiting for the part as I type this message.
Published: September 9, 2016
Michael of Tinley Park, IL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

68,000 miles on my 2015 Impreza and the transmission is shot. They tell me
68,000 miles on my 2015 Impreza and the transmission is shot. They tell me $ 8,000 to replace. In extreme driving conditions, like Connecticut, you need to change the tranny fluid every 30,000 miles!! Really? I have never done that on any other car. Isnt Subaru the all weather, off road, built to last car? Do your research. The new Subarus are not built well like the previous versions. Stay clear unless you want major headaches. Not only is the bill $8000.00 but its a 3-week wait for the transmission. This is an honest story from a 4 previous Subaru owner. I will not take a chance with a Subaru again!
Published: August 19, 2015
Mary of Norwalk, CT
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Dismayed, disappointed, disgruntled. These are the feelings engendered by c
Dismayed, disappointed, disgruntled. These are the feelings engendered by coming home from a two-week trip only to find that the battery in our one-month-old Subaru Forester had died while we were away. Consumer Reports April automobile issue convinced us that all the new safety and navigation technology innovations in the 2015 models would make it worth our while to replace our 2007 Forester. But neither CR nor you mentioned that all those enhancements would drain the battery even when the car wasn’t driven. When we took the car back to Subaru, we were told it was our fault for leaving the car for two weeks, as if we were the only folks ever to have done such a thing. Subaru service also suggested we get a trickle charger and keep the car plugged in when we’re away for an extended period of time.We did a great deal of research before buying the car and found no mention of the problem. Having experienced it, I googled “Subaru battery drainage issue” and discovered that the problem was not unique to our vehicle, nor even only to Subaru. Apparently Hondas and Fords are similarly afflicted. These facts were further substantiated by the AAA technician who came to recharge our battery. She fields many calls similar to ours.It is clear why Subaru and the other manufacturers would not want potential buyers to know about this poor engineering. Accordingly, there’s nothing in the owner’s manual that says “do not leave car undriven for more than a week.” You have to look hard to find that after a battery “interruption” the power window needs to be reset, as do the date and time, and perhaps other things I never bothered to set up. A setting comparable to airplane mode on a phone that shuts down some of the background functions would be a wise and welcome fix. What is not clear why there’s so little written about this issue in the automotive press. My husband and I feel doubly burned: by Subaru for its inept engineering and by the consumer gurus who should know better.
Published: August 6, 2015
Elizabeth of Cambridge, MA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My 2012 Outback just got a new transmission after 75,000 miles. Im very dis
My 2012 Outback just got a new transmission after 75,000 miles. Im very dissatisfied. When I shift into park its rough, makes like a clunk sound. Makes me wonder how long this one will last!? Ill never buy another Subaru. Makes me wonder if it was done right? Of course they say its fixed and better!! What a joke! I think a bunch of us should get together and place a class action lawsuit.
Published: July 30, 2017
Kim of Conneaut, OH
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Purchased new, great vehicle for engine and drivetrain. The execution of fu
Purchased new, great vehicle for engine and drivetrain. The execution of function and maintenance of the interior and exterior is a poor effort. The front end is a bug catcher. The interior could have been better appointed with holders and storage. The gas pedal position is horrible and extremely uncomfortable, with no remedy from your company. The paint and body is a joke. Dont spit too hard on it!!! Too bad you came up short. A pickup with this drivetrain with practical appointments with form and function... At least you have room to improve. Feel a bit cheated...
Published: February 3, 2016
Eric of Corpus Christi, TX
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Two months ago I built up the urge to trade in my 2005 Chevy Uplander for a
Two months ago I built up the urge to trade in my 2005 Chevy Uplander for a brand new 2014 Subaru Crosstrek... the car Ive been wanting for sometime. I walked up to the black one I wanted and demanded the deal they promised online. Finance 6 years $400 monthly. After being denied for not so hot credit and offered a $550 monthly I walked out of the dealership a lil bummed. But took it with a grain of salt, just have to save up more for the 15, I thought. But the very next day Marco, the online Subaru sales guy, called me up in the morning with great news that Wed talked to the manager and made some moves to get to deal you wanted. Excited I rushed to the lot, signed the contract, got the insurance onsite, traded in my van.At first they told me theyd give me $2500 for the van. But when I look at the contract they put value @ $500. When questioned they said in order to get the numbers I wanted and to make the deal work thats what we had to do. Agreeing to that I went ahead. I fell for the extended warranty and 3 year maintenance too for an extra $79 a month bringing it to 479 for 6 years. Hesitant but sure I could make the payments, I drove off the lot a proud New owner of a Subaru.One month goes by and Marco calls and says, Oops, we forgot to get a copy of your pay stubs. Can you please send it via text email or fax? After kindly agreeing I first text it to him 3 different times. A week later they called me at work and demanded I fax or email of my pay stub. Agitated at this point I agreed and faxed it, scanned and emailed the copy. Two months since I drove off the lot and I get a call at work again from Marco asking if I could come down to the dealership to work out a new deal because they made a mistake on the contract and discrepancy on my pay stub. While at work I told them I was busy, I would try in the next couple days. Today I got another call at work from the Subaru manager rudely demanding that I return the car to the lot, saying that time is up and the deal is no good, the bank rejected the terms. Pissed off at this point I was ready to just say ** it, Ill just return it and get my van back. So thats exactly what I did. Except they didnt have my van ready, its getting smogged and Ill be ready in a couple days they said. When I arrived at 8:45 pm the GM wasnt even there waiting as we discussed. I had to wait for an hour for him to show up. During which I had to sit there with the sale manager who didnt know anything about the situation. When the GM finally showed up he rushed up to me, got in my face and demanded the keys back. I refused because they didnt have my van ready. Thats when three guys surrounded me and basically strong armed me for the keys. Then acted like they were doing me a favor by calling me a cab ride home. Only to tell me theyll call me when the van is ready.When I signed the contract I signed a page that said no buyers remorse... once I drive off the lot theres no driving back with second thoughts. Is there a such thing as sellers remorse? Bad Business. I want Fairfield Subaru exposed. I dont ever want to buy Subaru again. They lied about the van being smogged and dont know where my van is?
Published: September 18, 2014
justin of Vallejo, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I will make every attempt to be fair and honest. I am honestly angry and fe
I will make every attempt to be fair and honest. I am honestly angry and feel cheated so please forgive any sarcasm or poorly chosen terms while explaining my situation. I bought a 2005 Subaru Legacy Outback for around $14,000.00 from a dealer that I had previously bought my truck from for about $15,000.00 a few years previously. The business had changed from a partnership to a single owned dealership. The day I picked my new to me car up - it acted odd. The Turbo had blown. The dealer took the vehicle and replaced the turbo. A few days later, I picked it up again and by the time I got it home trouble lights were blinking and it was acting like it had no power. Back to the garage and a few days later, back to me and all seemed fine except not get up and go. Poor performance.I told the dealer and he was tired of me by this time. Auto zone said the computer says it needs a cam sensor. Bought that and when I started it in driveway - smoke came rolling out (Turbo blew up again). Ughhh!!! Let it set for about 6 months paying full coverage insurance and a loan payment as no one could offer assistance to help me. Recently had it towed to my mechanic and he replaced the turbo with one I had bought from ebay for $1,000. and he charged me just under $400.00 to replace and inspect it. Tow cost $120.00 (working on AAA to cover). Didnt get a mile down the road and heard clunking and clanging - barely made it up the hill to home. Here it sets again. I am so upset with this whole transaction. I just want to know how to fix the vehicle. Im stuck with so that I can trade that damn thing in. Any advice?? Im all ears. Thanks.
Published: June 14, 2014
Kat of Warren Center , PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Well I finally got to drive my 2019 in a descent storm that came through th
Well I finally got to drive my 2019 in a descent storm that came through the Sierra Mountains on Saturday the 12/7/19. We started in a downpour and ended in a downpour and snowing in between, I am talking approx 1 of rain per Hour and heavy snow going over the Echo Summit. I have been living in the snow area for about 40 years so I considered myself kind of an expert with snow driving. What I dealt with so far -- First of all the car itself handle excellent on the snow didnt even have to put Crosstrek in XMode. Know for the downfalls -- 1.) Headlights kept getting blocked by snow accumulation. I had to stop twice during the 80 miles through the snowing drive part and clean them off. 2.) Eyesight stopped working which didnt affect the car driving. 3.) The temp gauge was stuck on one temp probably due to the snow build up on the front of vehicle. 4.) the Fog lights were not an option due to snow accumulation on the front of the vehicle. 5.) Right side of windshield got snow build up due to the wiper wasnt built to clean that far over to the right.
Published: December 8, 2019
R. of Camino, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Subaru of America resolved this issue.
Subaru of America resolved this issue.
Published: January 1, 1970
Miche of Las Cruces, NM
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Purchased my 2017 Subaru Outback in May, 2017, and rear power liftgate has
Purchased my 2017 Subaru Outback in May, 2017, and rear power liftgate has worked only intermittently since then. Dealer fix in June (Don Beyer Subaru, Alexandria VA) didnt help, and problem continues. Contacted Subaru USA about power liftgate problem, and they said that I had probably inadvertently disturbed the liftgate height control on the dash, and should fix it myself by consulting the Subaru manual, which I did, and the steps suggested in the manual again resulted in a continuation of the liftgate operating only intermittently, or not at all. This is not acceptable in a brand new vehicle. Subaru USAs answer shows that they are aware that there is a power liftgate switch problem and they dont have any corrective action, other than to fob off their problem on the unfortunate buyer. An inoperable rear liftgate is a massive inconvenience, since the rear storage/carrying area is rendered useless. Dont love a Subaru, will never purchase another or recommend to anyone.
Published: August 10, 2017
Robert of Camp Springs, MD
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I have to carry oil with me at all times due to high oil usage. There is no
I have to carry oil with me at all times due to high oil usage. There is no oil light indicator to tell you your oil is low. After smelling a hot engine smell after driving home from work (14miles), I checked my oil and no oil appeared on the dip stick and there was less than 2000 miles since my last oil change. I took it to the dealer and they didnt even care and said, oh no damage was done. They didnt even take in the garage to look it over! I brought it to their attention again that I have to keep adding oil two and three times in between oil changes and I was told that was normal.
Published: July 21, 2014
Bradena of Campbell, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My 09 Subaru Forester suffered catastrophic engine failure without warning.
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.
Published: September 26, 2015
Andre of Bordentown, NJ
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I purchased my 2013 Subaru Crosstrek mainly due to Subarus great reputation
I purchased my 2013 Subaru Crosstrek mainly due to Subarus great reputation for reliable vehicles with low maintenance costs. At 86k miles I started hearing a louder whirring noise from my transmission. I took it to the dealer and had to get the CVT transmission replaced. Luckily I bought the extended warranty, otherwise I would have had to pay close to $10,000 for the repair. Considering I bought the car for $19,000 and the blue book value on the car is around $11,000 this is completely outrageous. I expected this car to go at least 150k miles before replacing a transmission and expected the cost at that time to be at least half that cost if not less. I will never purchase a car with a CVT again. I will likely be selling this car before the current warranty expires and will likely do the same with my Wifes Impreza before its warranty is up as well since it has the same transmission.
Published: April 30, 2017
Michael of Littleton, CO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My air conditioner, heater and defogger all of a sudden went out. After hav
My air conditioner, heater and defogger all of a sudden went out. After having a Subaru mechanic look for the problem, he found burnt wiring that connected everything to the air conditioner, heater and defogger. I could not afford the prices that a dealership charges, so I took it to my mechanic to be fixed. So far in a month’s period, it has happened again. I not only have had to have the wiring replaced twice, but I had to pay a mechanic twice. I am on a limited monthly budget (social security) and to have this repair done twice is not on my list of luxury expenses. Subaru needs to have a recall done for this problem as it could have unexpected consequences for their larger than large company.
Published: February 15, 2012
Marion of Denver, CO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I have been a loyal Subaru owner. I have owned 4 Subarus. In the last 6 yea
I have been a loyal Subaru owner. I have owned 4 Subarus. In the last 6 years I have leased 2 outbacks and am planning on leasing my third. I have called and asked for my $500 Loyalty Reward which I used on my 2016 lease. I keep getting the runaround, transferred from one department to another with no results, how much more loyalty is needed! I will continue to try for another week, but I will lease a Toyota and become their loyal customer! Shame on Subaru!
Published: January 16, 2019
Shelley of La Crescenta, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

As I said, I lease this vehicle. Checked the passenger side, soaked. Brough
As I said, I lease this vehicle. Checked the passenger side, soaked. Brought to Quality Subaru, 3 days later, still leaking. Call SOA to file complaint. Goes back to dealer tomorrow, 2nd time. Give new car/or out of lease.
Published: December 31, 2015
Rachelle of Meriden, CT
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Experience is well. Its a used 1999, so it has its fair share of problems,
Experience is well. Its a used 1999, so it has its fair share of problems, but runs overall pretty smooth. Theres not many other features built into the vehicle because its so old. I am still working on getting a few minor things fixed on it. But its a basic car that will get you around. The car has a CD player that was installed into it and has been kept up in pretty good condition.
Published: June 23, 2018
Jacqueline of Nashville, TN
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I have owned Hondas, Mazdas and Saabs and there is no question that the Sub
I have owned Hondas, Mazdas and Saabs and there is no question that the Subaru Outback is the most uncomfortable and annoying car I have ever owned. I just traded it in after only 2 years, and I am so relieved and thankful to have gotten rid of it. Just so that you know the importance of this, I always keep my cars 15 years. I have never, ever in my life traded in a vehicle. I usually keep my cars for 15 years and then sell them to a private party for a couple thousand bucks at the end, usually b/c they are in such great condition. I am writing this because I want to help others avoid making the same mistake I made, a very expensive mistake.I had a 2014 Subaru Outback, the Limited version, with the 2.5 engine, auto transmission. I was interested in this car because I had always heard how great Subarus are and I wanted a comfortable and larger car that was dog-friendly. I test drove this vehicle three times before I bought it. ***None of the issues listed below are either evident during a one-hour test drive, and/or become annoying until you have driven the car for a few months.*** I recommend that you ask for (at least one) day-long test drive of any Subaru, especially the Outback, before you buy one. Heres why I got rid of this car (NOTE: All of the issues below I addressed with the dealers and they told me this is all normal behavior for these cars; also many of these issues are common complaints from owners):Worst transmission in the industry. I do not know how anyone can stand to drive this CVT transmission day in day out. I had an automatic. Imagine stepping on the gas and the car feeling like its about to choke, like the transmission is failing. It is especially bad when the car is cold. I did not notice this during the test drive. I believe you have to have a few thousand miles on the car, and/or be in normal traffic or driving conditions to understand how bad this transmission feels. Rough, choky, sputtering doesnt even begin to describe it.Worst A/C in the industry. When you are in Arizona (or DC or Florida or anywhere where it gets hot) and its 108 degrees, the last thing you want is a car that doesnt cool. The A/C on these cars STOPS COOLING when you step on the gas. Dont believe me? Put your hand in front of the A/C vent and step on the gas. The A/C keeps blowing but the air is warm. Ridiculous. Worst seats in the industry. If you have even the slightest back problems, do not buy this car. Also do not even think of long road trips in this car either. The seats will kill you.Worst handling in the industry. Speaking of long road trips, another reason why you will not want to take long trips with this car is the fact that the car wanders on the road. You are fighting with the steering wheel constantly to stay in the lane. Yes, again, all this is normal behavior for this car, according to several Subaru dealers. And this wandering is among many issues with steering/handling that people have complained about on this forum, with little to no resolution. I rented a Ford Escape last weekend and I was shocked at how well that SUV handles, compared to Outback, which costs $10,000 more. (The Escape has other negatives, however.)Worst infotainment system in the industry. If this is important to you, keep shopping. DO NOT buy this car unless you get the navigation, which comes with a big infotainment screen. Otherwise you will be dealing with a tiny little screen that is smaller than your phone. If you have an iPod or a USB drive full of songs, good luck trying to get the Outback to play the songs, or specific songs. Want to find Dave Mathews Band? The song search is pretty much impossible. The Bluetooth is crackly and terrible (another common complaint). The audio sound is awful, but I know nobody buys these cars for acoustics and audio sound. Speaking of sound, also, the car is very very noisy, but I know no one buys these cars for the soundproofing either.Worst backup camera in the industry. The resolution of the camera is so bad, I dont know why they bothered with the backup camera to begin with. Dont expect to see much of anything from that camera if its raining. Worst auto body in the industry. When I go to Costco or whatever, I park my cars away from other cars, in the farthest space possible. Thats just how I roll. And yet this car already had several door dings and chips and scratches. The exterior paint/metal will not last 15 years. In fact, it looked like junk after only 2 years. The Subarus are also no match for bird poop or tree sap; both had already damaged the hood.Horrible fuel economy (I never got more than 19.7 mpg) despite being a supposedly green automaker. I only did city driving, but thats what I got. Also, the major reason why I did not buy the larger 3.6 engine is because I did not want to buy a gas guzzler. But in fact the 2.5 is also a gas guzzler. So I ended up with a really slow, under-powered car (read: zero pickup off the line) that guzzled gas.I do have two good things to say about this car. A, it doesnt require premium gas. And B, it has excellent resale value (because I guess theres a lot of people out there who dont care about the above-mentioned things and just want a car to haul stuff uphill or in snow). If your only interest is having a very basic AWD hauler, then this may be the car for you. If drive quality, comfort and fuel economy are important to you, arrange for full-day test drives, preferably several of them, before you buy. I feel like Subaru, especially with the Outback, tries to market itself as a step above other compact and intermediate SUVs. They should give their marketers a raise, because they sure conned me. Hope this helps someone avoid making the pricey mistake I made.
Published: July 18, 2016
Dog of Los Angeles, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Your site states that Subaru will respond within two days. Its been six wee
Your site states that Subaru will respond within two days. Its been six weeks and Ive still received no communication from Subaru. I have recently purchased a new Outback, 2ltr diesel from a UK dealer. [1] Can the lock operation be simplified (all doors, reprogrammed). I dont need all the options. Frankly, theyre a PITA. [2] Also can anything be done to (improve) the tractor like gearbox operation. Ive own numerous new Japanese 4X4s and this has the worst gearbox ever. The dealer says this is normal..... Really?
Published: October 6, 2013
Peter of Telford, CO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I have 2 stone chips in my 2014 Subaru Outback, one went right to the metal
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.
Published: July 18, 2014
Cari of Chippewa Falls, WI
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Extremely disappointed. I purchased a 2010 Subaru Forester from Bloomington
Extremely disappointed. I purchased a 2010 Subaru Forester from Bloomington in October of 2020 for nearly $9,000. 9 months later it broke down on the road and requires an engine replacement. I spoke with the manager and was told Sometimes used cars break down. Theres nothing we can do. I emailed Subaru directly and received no reply. There are no laws to protect consumers from faulty used vehicles, but good customer service, I think, dictates a $9k vehicle should last more than 9 months. I will not be going back to Bloomington Subaru nor will I ever purchase a Subaru of any kind.
Published: August 10, 2021
Jay of Hillman, MN
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Very expensive repairs, poor gas mileage, the battery was a major issue, le
Very expensive repairs, poor gas mileage, the battery was a major issue, left us stranded at least 10 times in 2 years! Finally replaced by Subaru, but frustrating. There is no vent in the back so the backseat is sweltering during the summer. The service department at the dealership is great, the best part of owning the car!!!
Published: December 15, 2019
Kristin of Boise, ID
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I recently purchased 2015 Subaru Forester. The EPA stated mileage is 28-32
I recently purchased 2015 Subaru Forester. The EPA stated mileage is 28-32 MPG. I now have 3000 miles on my new Forester and I have not gotten anything better than 25 MPG. My split between city and freeway driving is 75% city and 25% freeway. It is misleading to state the EPA MPG rating of 28-32 MPG. I should get at least 28 MPG which I am not getting. Is this a common amongst all 2015 Forester buyers?
Published: September 11, 2015
Promod of Tualatin, OR
Source: consumeraffairs.com

The car chargers are faulty. They keep blowing up now twice in few months.
The car chargers are faulty. They keep blowing up now twice in few months. Every time I have to waste a whole day to fix them. They keep trying to convince me that the problem is with my adaptor but thats not true. I have used the same adaptor for 10 years with my last Toyota with no problems. Needs to be fixed permanently. What an annoyance.
Published: April 19, 2017
Mo of Woodbridge, VA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I purchased a new 2013 Subaru Outback believing all the hype I read about a
I purchased a new 2013 Subaru Outback believing all the hype I read about and saw regarding this vehicle. At 83,000 miles my transmission failed due to contaminated transmission fluid (Subaru admitted the defect) and was told by the dealership they would repair it for $8500 since my 60,000 mile warranty (they must know something) on the powertrain was exceeded. Subaru of America (after a week waiting in limbo) said they would give $1,000 toward the repair as a good will gesture. Never mind all the ads and chest beating over how this vehicle surpasses most in quality and reliability. Now Im reduced to buying a used transmission online and having an independent contractor replace it. Needless to say Im not loving my Subaru and will tell the everyone in reach about their customer service.
Published: August 5, 2014
Dean of Woodstock, GA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

We bought a used car from Subaru of Little Rock manager (Billy). We paid ca
We bought a used car from Subaru of Little Rock manager (Billy). We paid cash for the car and we were told within the next week we would have the title that was on 5-14-2016. We still dont have it. We have called multiple times and we have been sent to voice mail, passed around and around without answers until today. We are now being told they NEVER had the title and the owner of the car lost it. Billy the manager told me they have thirty days to give us the title. Ive never talked to a person in ANY kind of sales that was as rude and belligerent as this man.I told Billy we have always bought our cars through Toyota and we have never been treated with such unprofessionalism. He told me to go back to Toyota! I assure you we will do as he said and stay with Toyota from now on. Other Subaru dealerships may be different than this one and I sure hope so because this was the worse buying experience and it shouldnt have been a simple cash purchase. I believe someone from the corporate office needs to check on this dealership. SHADY people there.
Published: June 6, 2016
paula of Paron, AR
Source: consumeraffairs.com

2016 Subaru Forster is ok. But compared to the Rav4 it is not as comfortabl
2016 Subaru Forster is ok. But compared to the Rav4 it is not as comfortable. There is not enough heat in the winter and the cabin floor needs more installation.
Published: May 7, 2018
Tom of Parlin, NJ
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Do you want an engine with that car? That is my feeling towards being charg
Do you want an engine with that car? That is my feeling towards being charged about $1200 to replace my bumper. It was a minor fender-bender and I went to a reputable collision repair shop. The $700 cost they originally estimated seemed reasonable, but when the bumper came in the cost jumped another $463, because it had to be painted!!! Seems like a rip-off to me.
Published: January 22, 2019
Jeffrey of Phoenixville, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

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