Subaru Automobile Model 2023 Subaru Forester
Subaru Automobile Model 2023 Subaru Forester

Subaru Automobile Model 2023 Subaru Forester

2023 Subaru Forester

The 2023 Subaru Forester is a compact SUV that combines rugged capability, safety features, and everyday practicality. Known for its standard all-wheel drive, spacious interior, and advanced technology, the Forester is a versatile vehicle that appeals to families, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone in need of a reliable and capable SUV. Here are the key details and features of the 2023 Subaru Forester:

Overview:

Model: 2023 Subaru Forester.

Type: Compact SUV.

Seating Capacity: 5 passengers.

Trim Levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, Touring.

Powertrain and Performance:

Engine:

2.5-liter 4-cylinder BOXER engine.

Output: 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque.

Transmission:

Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with 7-speed manual mode and paddle shifters.

All-Wheel Drive:

Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) as standard across all trims.

Performance:

X-MODE with Hill Descent Control available on higher trims for enhanced off-road capability.

Towing capacity: Up to 3,000 pounds with the Wilderness trim.

Fuel Efficiency: Up to 33 MPG highway.

Design and Features:

Exterior:

Bold and rugged design with a distinctive front grille, body cladding, and LED headlights.

Roof rails standard across all trims for additional cargo-carrying options.

Available 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels.

Wilderness trim includes unique design elements like increased ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and more rugged cladding.

Panoramic moonroof available on Premium trim and above.

Interior:

Spacious cabin with ample legroom and headroom for all passengers.

Up to 74.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down.

Cloth upholstery on lower trims, with leather-trimmed seating on Limited and Touring.

Power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support available on Premium and above.

Heated front seats standard on Premium and above, with heated rear seats available on higher trims.

Dual-zone automatic climate control available on Limited and Touring.

Technology:

STARLINK multimedia system with 6.5-inch or 8-inch touchscreen (depending on trim).

Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity standard across all trims.

Available navigation system on Limited and Touring trims.

Premium audio system available on higher trims.

Built-in Wi-Fi hotspot capability.

USB ports in both front and rear seats.

Safety and Driver Assistance:

Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist Technology standard across all trims, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and pre-collision braking.

Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert available on higher trims.

Rearview camera standard across all trims.

Available Reverse Automatic Braking and LED Steering Responsive Headlights.

360-degree camera system available on Touring trim.

Benefits:

Standard All-Wheel Drive:

The Forester's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive provides confident handling and traction in all weather conditions, making it an excellent choice for drivers in regions with varying climates.

Rugged Capability:

With its high ground clearance, X-MODE, and available Wilderness trim, the Forester is well-equipped for off-road adventures.

Safety:

Subaru's commitment to safety is evident in the Forester's extensive list of standard and available driver assistance features, providing peace of mind for drivers and passengers alike.

Spacious and Comfortable Interior:

The Forester offers a roomy and comfortable cabin with plenty of cargo space, making it ideal for families and those who need to transport gear and supplies.

Fuel Efficiency:

Despite its rugged capabilities, the Forester delivers impressive fuel efficiency, making it a practical choice for daily commuting and long road trips.

Highlights:

Adventure-Ready:

The Forester's rugged design, standard all-wheel drive, and available off-road features make it a great option for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers.

Advanced Technology:

Equipped with the latest infotainment and safety technology, the Forester ensures a connected and secure driving experience.

Comfortable and Practical:

With its spacious interior, comfortable seating, and versatile cargo options, the Forester is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of drivers.

Safety-Focused:

Subaru's EyeSight technology and other advanced safety features make the Forester one of the safest vehicles in its class.

Versatile Trims:

From the well-equipped Base trim to the rugged Wilderness and luxurious Touring trims, the Forester offers something for everyone.

The 2023 Subaru Forester is a well-rounded compact SUV that delivers a strong combination of capability, safety, comfort, and practicality. Whether you're navigating city streets, tackling off-road trails, or embarking on a family road trip, the Forester is designed to handle it all with confidence and ease.

Manufacturer: Subaru

MODEL: 2023 Subaru Forester

MSRP: $27620.00 USD


Related Error Code Pages:
Subaru Automobile Error Codes,

Related Troubleshooting Pages:
Subaru Automobile Troubleshooting,

Related Repair Pages:
Subaru Automobile Repairs,

Related Parts Pages:
Subaru Automobile Parts,


Subaru Automobile Model 2023 Subaru Forester


Product Reviews:

On May 27, 2014, we purchased a 2014 Subaru Outback. We have complained mul
On May 27, 2014, we purchased a 2014 Subaru Outback. We have complained multiple times about a leak in our roof and were told that the roof tracks had to be cleaned out regularly. The first leak occurred when our cup holders filled with water. The second leak occurred at a car wash which filled a cup with car wash fluid. Again, today while going through a car wash, my husband witnessed the leak from the corner passenger side vanity mirror. We have also complained about a chronic moisture issue to no avail.
Published: February 3, 2018
Terry of Portland, OR
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought a 2011 Forester and was generally happy with the car although it c
I bought a 2011 Forester and was generally happy with the car although it consumed a lot of oil. I then bought another Forester, a 2014 which also consumed a quart of oil every 700 miles. First the catalytic converter went at 35000 miles, then the engine imploded at 75000 miles. Then I thought I was saved by the country wide oil consumption lawsuit against Subaru. Nope, not only was I denied the extended coverage to 100,000 miles, but I was told it was not due to oil consumption and consequently not reimbursed for an engine that died prematurely due to excessive oil consumption. Cute commercials, supposedly a green forward thinking company, dont believe it. Subaru produced thousands of faulty pistons and kept using them until they were caught. Subaru of Americas response was flat out denial. I will never buy another Subaru product and I encourage you to do the same. A company that doesnt stand behind their product and presents a fake posture of caring should not be dealt with.
Published: April 20, 2017
Eric of Dayville, CT
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Love my Subaru???? Great car for the value. Feel safe every time I get behi
Love my Subaru???? Great car for the value. Feel safe every time I get behind the wheel. Especially when it comes to bad weather. Snow sleet driving rains cant keep me off the roads. Would recommend to everyone.
Published: December 11, 2019
Suzanne of Carmel, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

The Subaru B9 Tribeca sounds like time when you shut any of the doors, or t
The Subaru B9 Tribeca sounds like time when you shut any of the doors, or the close the hood, or the back door. Does not sound like it a good quality vehicle. It jumps into drive when you go from park to drive or even reverse. The CS players in the car go out after only a few times of use, and then it will cost you around $2.000 for a new one.
Published: May 6, 2018
Randie of Brigham, UT
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Recently purchased a new 2015 Outback 2.5i premium. We test drove dealer ca
Recently purchased a new 2015 Outback 2.5i premium. We test drove dealer car 3 times to confirm we wanted to order one, none available at any local dealers at the time. About 3wks after receiving our car, it developed a clicking noise coming from the gear shifter knob every time you went below or above 5mph, EVERY TIME. Nonstop, every light, every stop sign, all day every day. Dealer says its normal and refuse to fix. I keep reminding them it did not do it on any test car and it took weeks for it to show up on our car. How can that be normal? I would not have purchased the car had it made this annoying noise on the test drive and I certainly would not have paid for the car when I went to pick it up. (I did test drive our car prior to paying for it once it came in and there was no noise at all.) I am at the point of wanting to sell my brand new car because I just cant stand this constant annoyance. Wrote several emails directly to Subaru company rep, with them refusing to take any responsibility.
Published: June 28, 2015
John of Kinnelon, NJ
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Purchased my Subaru Forester in Greenwood, IN, a little more than three hou
Purchased my Subaru Forester in Greenwood, IN, a little more than three hours away from me. I didnt mind the distance because I thought I had found a good deal on a vehicle that I could depend on and would last me a long time. In the beginning of being a proud Subaru owner, I had all of my maintenance done at Gurley Leep Subaru in Mishawaka. When I brought up the excessive oil consumption of my car, I was told it was common for Subaru to consume more oil. They would always try to sell me unrelated maintenance whenever I was there. Eventually I stopped going there because I simply didnt like them. I brought up my oil consumption again at the new mechanic. They did a consumption test. Eliminating other causes, they determined it was something internal and were unable to perform the repairs because they didnt have the special tools unique to Subaru. So I went back to Subaru Mishawaka with the information.I took my car in as soon as I figured out transportation while my car was in the shop for the day. A shuttle bus to town was the only option Subaru provided for me. I received the call with the expensive diagnosis. Fortunately, I had added an extended warranty on my car when I refinanced. They covered some of the work. A new cylinder head gasket was the primary diagnosis. This time-they had a courtesy car for me. The tech was also kind enough to call and ask me if I wanted them to replace my plugs, wires, timing belt, ball joints, etc. while they were at it. He told me it would only cost me parts and not labor because they were already in there doing work, youll have a whole new setup under there. I agreed. I asked him about my sway bars. He told me they were fine. Ironically, this is one of the parts they told me needed to be replaced when I was in for my oil change.When I got my car back, nothing seemed different. I contacted Subaru again- I was told (again) that oil consumption was common in Subaru. I had a check engine light come on, I took it back to Subaru Mishawaka. They hooked it up to the machine, and said my catalytic converter starting to go bad. This was not under warranty. They changed my headlight and I was on my way. I returned to my local mechanic for maintenance. My car was driving funny and the light came on. The machine indicated I had a bad plug. I explained that I had recently had them change. The mechanic told me that it was the original spark plug to the vehicle, according to him, there is a marking on them when they come off the assembly line. This threw up major flags for me. I decided to go the Subaru Portage (which is just over an hour drive) and pay to have them check the head gasket to see if it was even replaced.I explained my situation, oil consumption, etc. They determined the head gasket appeared to be new. I returned for them to diagnose my car. They found another $2000 worth of work that needed to be done in order to stop the excessive oil consumption. The tech replaced: oil pump, crank seal, a/c belt, idler pulley, time belt tensioner, and PVC valve. My warranty was out by this time. I pick my car. I dont even make it through an oil change cycle and my oil light is on. I check my oil- nothing on the dipstick. I call Subaru Portage right away. I add oil as directed/ take my car back. They find oil pressure sensor and leak behind Lh camshaft seal front cover. I asked why this wasnt fixed when my car was in there 3 weeks prior. They did the repairs. I pick my car up again and AGAIN my oil is extremely low- I, again, hadnt even made it through an oil change cycle. I called, and went back.The tech wanted to do another consumption test. He wanted me to contact him in 1200 miles. During this conversation he asked me, what color is your exhaust smoke? What? I have no idea. I dont look at the back of my car when Im driving. My car has been here 4 times, and youre asking me what color my smoke is. I didnt understand this. He told me that I would either need to get a new motor or a new car. He didnt tell me why.I called him once my oil started getting low, which was before the 1200 mile mark. He restated that I would need a new motor or new car- that I wasnt leaking oil, I was burning it. I informed him Of this the very time first took my car to Portage Subaru. He said the piston rings sometimes go bad on these things, allowing the oil the slip through. So all this money that I spent fixing around the problem, I should of spent to pay off my car. Instead I owe on a car that is worth nothing. Instead, I have a car that failed to be dependable and last a long time. I feel that I was completely taken advantage of by Subaru.
Published: September 17, 2019
K. of Buchanan, MI
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Ordered new car and was told to expect it in 1 week or sooner. Did not make
Ordered new car and was told to expect it in 1 week or sooner. Did not make it. Was told it was on truck and delivery next day. Did not make it. No one knew where exactly the car was. Should expect sometime next week! They had no problem cashing my check immediately.
Published: October 30, 2015
Richard of Jacksonville, OR
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought a brand new 2013 Subaru Crosstrek in April of 2013. The first week
I bought a brand new 2013 Subaru Crosstrek in April of 2013. The first week I owned the car the oil light came on. I took the car back to the dealership and they advised it is just a break-in period, and it is expected. I found it a little odd, because I previously owned a brand new Nissan Xterra for 9 years, and not once did the oil light come on, nor did I EVER have to add any oil. Also, my brother-in-law, who is a Toyota mechanic, just recently advised me that a brand new car should not burn any oil and they should have replaced the engine when the problem was first noticed. Anyway, my vehicle now has 79,000 miles on it and I have had to add 1 quart of oil every 1200 miles. There are no signs of oil leaks anywhere. I just took it to the dealership last week to find out why I am going through so much oil and they told me that there was no oil in my engine. The oil light didnt even come on. So, the dealership advised they would need to monitor the oil. They put fresh oil in and told me to call when I drove it 850-900 miles so they could get me in to take a look at it. I called at 850 miles and they told me they could not get me in for 4 days. Well, that will put me over the 1200 mile limit because they have to check the levels between 1000-1200 miles. I advised the very rude service rep, Chuck, of the situation and he advised if I go over 1200 miles that I will have to start over, which means I will have to pay another $73 for an oil change and that just so conveniently puts me over my extended warranty of 80,000. So, either way I am screwed. I will never ever as long as I live buy another Subaru. And Southern States Subaru in Raleigh, NC needs to seriously hire individuals with better telephone manners and customer service skills. He would not work with me in any way. They are the idiots that told me to call after I drove it 850 miles and now they wont even get me in. Everything about my Subaru experience has sucked! I will definitely go back to Nissan when I buy my next vehicle.
Published: December 5, 2014
Traci of Benson, NC
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I had a 5 year old Legacy Outback with just over 60k miles, very well maint
I had a 5 year old Legacy Outback with just over 60k miles, very well maintained. The transmission broke down completely while I was on vacation and it took over a week to fix and cost $3k. Absolutely no help from Subaru on this, even though that year and model had a history of tranny problems. My wife also had catastrophic transmission problems with her Subaru. Needless to say, we got rid of the Subarus and have enjoyed total satisfaction with our Honda, Toyota, and Lexus vehicles. Beware the dreaded Subaru transmission!
Published: October 7, 2014
Duane of Nashville, TN
Source: consumeraffairs.com

During the afternoon of the December 21st ice storm in Bozeman Montana, my
During the afternoon of the December 21st ice storm in Bozeman Montana, my 2005 Subaru Baja slid off the road and down a steep incline. Although I only sustained bumps and bruises, the car was totaled. The accident could have easily been fatal. The windshield was heavily damaged, the car axles were broken, there was severe damage to three sides of the vehicle. I wondered why the airbags had not deployed. When I researched the situation I found there was a recall on 2005 Subaru airbags. Supposedly a faulty release switch and potentially a release of metal shards upon deployment. Maybe I was lucky the airbags didnt go off. I contacted Subaru to see if in light of this situation, they would potentially consider assisting me with a replacement vehicle. After a 2 week delay, Rob the CSR told me that per page ** of the owners manual the airbag would not deploy unless the vehicle was hit from the front or back. Also, although I read that my car was included in the recall, he said it was not. Apparently, the company feel no obligation whatsoever to assist with the situation. Possibly they would have paid more attention if I was injured or dead. I am now an ex-Subaru customer. I will be seeking an attorney to see if others have had similar experiences.
Published: January 8, 2015
Mara of Big Sky, MT
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Bought a brand new 2016 Forester limited back in May at the white bear Suba
Bought a brand new 2016 Forester limited back in May at the white bear Subaru dealer. At 5,000 miles five thousand miles the car failed to start sitting for as little as 24 hours in a nice and warm garage. The person that jump started my car was surprised knowing that its a brand new car... taking it to the dealer next week for an inspection... definitely not a lovely way to start a new year.
Published: January 4, 2017
Amber of Roseville, MN
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Complaint and concern for our 2014 Subaru - We are having problems with oil
Complaint and concern for our 2014 Subaru - We are having problems with oil usage, and have had the car towed and had to call roadside twice. The oil light comes on and there is very little oil. We have taken it in and discussed this with the Courtesy Motors in Chico where we bought the car. They say this is a normal thing with Outbacks. What do you say about this? We are tracking the oil ourselves and it is using oil. We cant afford to be on the road with a problem. Please advice. Thank you.
Published: May 14, 2015
Donald of Crescent Mills, CA
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

2015 Keyless Legacy Outbacks electric shuts down, no recourse - Several mon
2015 Keyless Legacy Outbacks electric shuts down, no recourse - Several months ago a purchased a new Subaru Outback from Herb Gordon Subaru. First, I truly did not understand what keyless technology meant in practice. When I got it home the trunk lift would only lift halfway. I took it back. They fixed it. It broke again. It later fixed itself. But, one day I moved the car in the driveway and forgot to put it in park. Apparently my husband opened it to put something in. When I came out I could not get it in park and it would not start. It was in total lockdown as if the electric system had totally shut down. I sat with the unreadable instruction book and figured out how to manually get it in park but no luck on starting. My neighbor, an engineer, tried, no luck. Finally after several hours called roadside assistance and they jumped it and all was fine. Friday my husband moved it again in the driveway and forgot to put it in park. Same thing. I got it into park but then nothing would work. It was a Friday so called dealership service.The guy talked me through a few things but said that he thought it was a bigger problem and I should bring it in (a two hour drive). Roadside assistance sent the fax to the wrong place and 3 hours and many phone calls later roadside assistance showed up but this time it would not jump and we arranged for him to come back the next day, Saturday, and tow it to the nearest dealership which is in Waldorf Maryland and hour from my house. I spoke with the woman on the phone, she took the information, but no one has called back as promised I assume because it is the weekend. So I will begin Monday. But this is what I want to say. I hate this car. I love everything but this shut down thing and I dont trust that it will ever be fixed and I think it is an outrage that I buy a brand new car and it does something like this and no one even gets in touch with me.This is my third Subaru and I have loved them in the past BUT the last one had a minor electrical problem (it was an odd year, 2006, in which they tried to combine the heating controls with the radio and you can imagine the result) but it was not like getting stuck for 3 days luckily at home. I feel helpless to do anything but to go onto every consumer website I can find and tell my long sad story. I am giving the car the worst rating possible because it flunked the reliability test so all other things make no difference.
Published: November 1, 2015
susan of Ridge, MD
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Subaru is nice, safe, comfortable. I feel safe in it and I love the small p
Subaru is nice, safe, comfortable. I feel safe in it and I love the small perks like the backing up camera. The sunroof is nice to have, but I dont use it much. The rear seat heating seats was a plus, as well as the side view mirror defrost. The 4 wheel drive is something I really wanted too. However, even though the trunk space is bigger than my old Pontiac Vibe, its still not big enough to fit my dog and stuff we need to carry on a family vacation.
Published: June 17, 2018
Valeria of Glenside, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

We bought a brand new 2012 Subaru Forester. We took a trip from Georgia to
We bought a brand new 2012 Subaru Forester. We took a trip from Georgia to upstate NY. The car was burning oil. For the next couple of years, we kept telling the service dept. that our car was burning oil. They kept assuring us it was not a problem. After checking the internet, we found out it was a real problem. We demanded that something needed to be done. They did a oil consumption test. Saturday they agreed that it was excessive and we would be getting a new engine. Why does it take the service departments so long to take action? Now my concern now is what happens to the resale value of my car?
Published: December 28, 2015
Linda of Blairsville, GA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought this low- mileage 2019 Forester used and admittedly have only 4 mo
I bought this low- mileage 2019 Forester used and admittedly have only 4 months experience with it. Most things seem fine except for one BIG issue: from time to time there is no response when I press the accelerator. After 2-3 seconds it picks up again, but by then I could have been rear-ended! This is the same issue described by Margaret of Harrisburg and is not new. I found other websites dating back to 2015 with dozens of complaints about this same problem. This is a clear safety issue and should be the subject of a recall. I bought a Subaru because it used to be highly rated but, as I research this problem, I now find more and more complaints about this and other issues.Other things I don’t like include the auto-shutdown at stops. I had to turn it off because it caused a hesitation and was annoying. And the drivers manual is a mess — 550 pages with supplements and I can’t find how to, for example, dim the dash lights. It seems there’s never one spot that fully describes a function. Pages referring to other pages, referring to other pages that eventually come full circle. And the index is almost useless. Think “dashboard light dimmer” is there? Nope. This is only one function for which I find Google much more helpful.
Published: December 30, 2020
Alan of Portland, OR
Source: consumeraffairs.com

This car is a death trap and Subaru will do nothing about it. We really lik
This car is a death trap and Subaru will do nothing about it. We really liked the car until about a month ago the gas pedal stopped responding in the fast lane. Just started coasting; had to get to the shoulder with no acceleration. It suddenly started working again. Drove it straight to the dealer. They had it overnight but couldnt find an issue due to no error code being produced. On the way home it did it again. No response in the gas pedal. Again, had to coast to the shoulder. Drove it right back to the dealer. This time they have it 2 weeks and replace the entire CVT assembly. Driving home from work the next day, it does it again. Take it straight in. Now theyre telling me there is nothing wrong with my 3 year old, 30,000 mile Forrester. To top it off, Eric from Subaru Corporate made it seem like Im making the whole thing up. I dont even know what to do. I cant put my kids in this thing.
Published: August 22, 2019
DB of San Jose, 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

I bought a brand new Subaru Outback 25i limited in 2011. Ive had regular oi
I bought a brand new Subaru Outback 25i limited in 2011. Ive had regular oil changes and followed the maintenance schedule religiously. I had 55,000 miles on the car. I wasnt super pleased with the interior because I have dogs and though Subaru claims to be dog friendly, their thin plastic fabric below the windows rips very.... Ok.. I thought kind of cheap but I put up with it... Then, three weeks ago, my check engine light went on.... I called the dealer who told me not to panic, that it was probably nothing but to get it in. I got it in the next day (the light had gone off by then but I brought it in anyway). Turns out there was no oil in the engine and the brakes had rusted. They told me I neglected the cars maintenance. My neighbor has the identical car and the exact same thing happened to her but hers was still under warranty. They rebuilt her engine. They claimed mine was neglect. They would not help me. I dumped the car. Took a major hit because of the issues but I no longer trusted it. Ill never buy another Subaru or recommend them to others.
Published: January 5, 2014
Kay of St. Paul, MN
Source: consumeraffairs.com

We bought two Subaru Outbacks in January of 2012, and they both had windshi
We bought two Subaru Outbacks in January of 2012, and they both had windshields that cracked in the same place under the same conditions about four months apart. It was a cold day and while sitting there warming up the car, there was a pop and a crack from left to right about five inches up a long crack appeared. The first time the dealer claimed that there was a rock hit when he ran a ballpoint pen across the crack and found a pit, which I knew wasnt there before he dug his pen across the glass. This second time, I made sure that there was no pit along the glass before I brought it to the dealer, but he insisted hed be able to check it with a pen. I watched as he dug the ballpoint across the crack until he found a microscopic spot where I saw him pop out a minuscule piece of glass and claimed it was a rock hit and therefore not covered under warranty again. Anytime glass cracks, you cannot conclusively say that the crack will stay intact without finding a microscopic pit or weakness where the glass expels itself. This is a scam. We have seen other Outbacks on the road with the same crack. We even pulled one over and asked the owner, and she said the same thing happened to her windshield. This needs to be investigated.
Published: March 25, 2013
Jonathan of Golden, CO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I used to think Subaru is a good and reliable brand name, but I change my m
I used to think Subaru is a good and reliable brand name, but I change my mind now after the transmission failed after only 6 yrs on the road. The mileage is just around 98,000. Luckily that Subaru has extended the powertrain warranty that I dont have to pay a costly repair. This failure on CVT transmission should be a recall rather than giving out extended warranty. They said that the reason for this warranty extension is that it is not a safety concern!! Really??? What if my outback got stalled on a highway, would this cause an accident. For sure in my opinion. What if my car transmission failed just after the warranty expires?I own a 2011 Subaru Outback, by the way. I also own a 1998 Sienna van from Toyota. And the transmission is still fine. Toyota has put money in Subaru, I think they should reconsider their take. And luckily that last summer I bought a second hand Toyota RAV4 for my daughter instead of Subaru. I was looking for a used Subaru, but thank God I changed my mind for a Toyota. NEVER BUY A SUBARU AGAIN!!!
Published: October 10, 2017
Tuan of Houston, TX
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Okay, first off Id like to comment that generally the 2017 Subaru Outback i
Okay, first off Id like to comment that generally the 2017 Subaru Outback is an excellent vehicle. Now on to the real subject. The Fujitsu-10 navigation system Subaru installs in these vehicles is Dysfunctional and pretty much AWFUL. I purchased two 2017 Subarus, one Outback and one Crosstrek, in the later part of 2016; both have the NAV system and I think they are both the same. Shortly after purchasing the Outback I began to notice that the nav system, which I use all the time, tends to provide inaccurate directions. I first picked up on the inaccurate directions because no matter what address I plugged into the nav system, 95% of the time the system tells me I have reached my destination when, in fact, I could be 3 to 4 blocks to as much as 1/8 mile from the final destination. So I began to watch more closely.To my amazement I realized that some of the directions, not all but maybe 20%, given by the nav system were–I cannot say this in a politically acceptable manner–not intuitive, stupid and dysfunctional. Two examples are 1) it tells me to exit a major highway, go through a toll booth, then get back on the same highway, and 2) to make a right hand turn it told me to go around the block in a counterclockwise direction when, in fact, there was nothing preventing me to simply turn right.I first reported the erroneous navigation performance to the Service Manager at Bath Subaru in Bath, Maine in May 2017. They took a look and reported the Service Tech could not find anything wrong. The Service Manager asked that if happens again I should document exactly what happened. The issue continued so I documented almost each and every occurrence, some including pictures of the nav screen. In June the Service Manager sent an email asking that I bring the Outback in on June 22, 2017, so a Subaru Field Service Engineer could take a look and provide a remedy. Vehicle went in on June 22 and it was reported per Subaru’s Field Service Engineer, “I am ordering you a new radio head unit. There seems to be a hardware failure making your navigation fail intermittently. Great… or at least I thought so at the time.At the end of July 2017 the new Head Unit was finally installed. The Service Manager said the new head unit will resolve the nav failure and asked that should any further incidents of erroneous performance occur I clearly document them and email them to her. The new head unit did not resolve the defective nav performance and a week later, on August 8, I sent 5 different examples to her. Thereafter, I continued to send her 3-5 different examples for several more weeks. Fact was, the new head unit made the problem worse.Here are two examples: 1) I needed to travel south on Route 95. This is a major highway, not some obscure road in nowhere Maine. The nav unit directed me to enter into the Rt 95 northbound exit, against exiting traffic, drive over both the northbound and southbound lanes on an imaginary overpass that clearly didnt exist, then travel on an imaginary Rt 95 southbound entrance ramp that also did not exist, and get on Rt 95 south. Quite dangerous! 2) In order to get to my final destination the Subaru nav system instructed me to turn right into a field having no road, travel off-road for 2 miles across this roadless field, and meet up with another road on the other side of the field. The Subaru handles different terrains fairly well, but not that well.On or about August 15, 2017 the Service Manager at Bath Subaru asked Subaru of America to step in. I received an email from Subaru of America in which a Subaru representative apologized for my navigation concerns and asked for some time to review the problem. On September 20 I received a follow-up email stating At this time, our Quality Assurance team is still in the processing of reviewing the concerns you are experiencing with your navigation unit with the units vendor, Fijutsu-10. There is no updated feedback that has been provided.It is now October 16th. I took the Outback in for routine service during which time I spoke to the Service Manager about the nav issues. I was told by the Svc Mgr that she has a number of other reports of the same problem, all waiting for Subaru of America and/or Subarus Quality Assurance team and/or Fujitsu-10 to identify the cause of the dysfunctional navigation system and re-mediate the problem.Six months in passing and Subaru cannot provide an answer to the AWFUL and sometimes dangerous performance of the Fujitsu-10 navigation system. Although the performance of the 2017 Subaru Outback is very good, I would never purchase another Subaru, not only because the navigation system is defective and/or dysfunctional and/or dangerous from time to time but because Subaru seems unable or unwilling to fix the problem with the navigation system which I paid upwards of $2,000 for. Buyer beware!
Published: October 16, 2017
Robert of Brunswick, ME
Source: consumeraffairs.com

While getting out of the driveway in reverse, the car suddenly accelerated.
While getting out of the driveway in reverse, the car suddenly accelerated. Subaru after two months investigation decided that the car was OK and even refused to fix the small damage to the body car.
Published: April 2, 2022
Isaac of Scarsdale, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My engine all of a sudden started to sputter and shake. No lights came on a
My engine all of a sudden started to sputter and shake. No lights came on and I pulled it into a parking spot immediately and shut it off. I then checked my oil and my level was so low it did not even read. I was exactly 3,000 miles from my last oil change. I then had two places check out my car before attempting to drive it home. I made it halfway and then had to call to get towed because my engine was giving out. I have had problems with my Subaru Forester 2010 in regards to the drivers side window getting stuck and not closing properly, the radio changes stations without any reason, the window washer fluid container leaking but leaving no trace a mile away after I refilled it, and finally the interior lights not working at all after a year of having the car. I am just very frustrated with this car and makes me wonder why I didnt chose a Honda when I had a choice and chance. Thought I was going for the safer and better car because it had a great track record. I will never choose a Subaru again.
Published: April 2, 2015
Denise of Lewes, DE
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I am writing in concerns of an issue I had with my 2005 Subaru Legacy Outba
I am writing in concerns of an issue I had with my 2005 Subaru Legacy Outback wagon H6 LL Bean addition. I have owned this vehicle since October 2005 and drive it nearly every day, so I know its behavior. On December 18, 2014, the day was clear; there had been no rain or snow that week. The pavement was dry. At the point of the issue I was in stop and go traffic, thus had used my brakes at an average of 12-18 times since I had left the house that morning. Traffic was maybe moving at 20-25 miles an hour, stop and go.At one point I went to apply my brakes at a normal pressure and they started to pulse in the anti-lock fashion. The pulses were EXCEPTIONALLY LONG, between braking (pulsing), nothing like I had ever experience before with this car or any other vehicle. However I kept my foot applied to the brake and did not try to pulse it myself. Before I was able to get the car stopped, it hit the car in front of me. I had about 1 and + car lengths between us, again only rolling and absolutely could not get the car stopped. The collision was not hard enough to deploy the airbag. The 2012 Ford Escape in front had nearly no damage to the rear bumper; however due to the placement of the Fords bumper to my grill, my repairs were $5,534.67.I have filed a complaint with Subaru, although since my insurance does not have the means to access the electronic information on this make of car for the information on the day of the accident (very Convenient for Subaru), they are unable to proceed with a claim with Subaru as they have no proof. Now Subaru says without the claim coming from my insurance company - that they have no reason to investigate my claim. I have filed a complaint today with the National Transportation Division in order to try to get someone to check this out. I have investigated this issue and found that others have had it as well. As many I have found have disconnected the Subarus ABS system. I also found YouTube videos on how to do this. Others on certain chats say they do not want to disconnect because it would void their warranty. I find it sad that people feel better disconnecting a factory installed system for their safety. I am scared that this will happen again. If something happens to me - who will get the claim then? I do not trust the ABS system on my car.
Published: April 3, 2014
Rhonda of Saint Charles, MO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Bought the 2014 Forester in July, 2013 because of the reliability of the br
Bought the 2014 Forester in July, 2013 because of the reliability of the brand. Car has been great as I put about 800 miles on a week commuting. At about 35,000 miles I started to notice that the oil light came on about the midpoint between oil changes, at about 3500 miles. Have to add oil about every four weeks, really burns through the oil. No drips on the driveway, car runs great. Love the car but have to fix this oil issue.
Published: December 5, 2014
Stuart of Federal Way, WA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My 2014 Subaru Forester was amazing when I first purchased it in Nov of 201
My 2014 Subaru Forester was amazing when I first purchased it in Nov of 2013. I loved it. That loved was short lived. This vehicle burns SOOO MUCH oil. Its not even funny. I complained every time I took it to the dealership and they just said it was normal and to keep watching it. I recently went into the dealership and found out that back in 2015 Subaru issued an extended warranty for the oil consumption issue, however, I was WAY over the mileage. Why did no one mention this to me??? Why did I get no communication through the mail??? I emailed the corporate customer service area and they wanted to argue with me over this, saying they had sent communication and they would not honor the warranty since I was over the mileage. The ONLY assistance they wanted to provide was $500 off a new purchased or leased vehicle. Ummm, excuse me but I dont have a car payment and no way in heck Im going to get one because of another Subaru. So, instead Im spending $6,000 to get the engine rebuilt and never purchasing another Subaru. Reading all these reviews just confirms that Subaru has AWFUL customer service and they dont care if they lose customers or not. Im sorry but Im going to purchase my next vehicle from a car company that cares and works with their customers. Sorry Subaru but you guys suck.
Published: March 26, 2019
Asha of Gainesville, GA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought an 01 impreza outback sport from where I work. Used. 143,000 miles
I bought an 01 impreza outback sport from where I work. Used. 143,000 miles on it..keep in mind that I fix cars for a living... This is the best car Ive ever had the pleasure to own and work on. When I bought it it needed both front axle boots, valve cover gaskets and steering rack boots. Now this might seem like a lot to the average person, but really its just minimal surface stuff.... The engine is an ej22 phase 2 2.2 liter.... Best engine subaru ever made in my opinion. Non turbo naturally aspirated... Once I fixed all the little stuff, I changed the oil and did a trans drain and fill 3 times...I drive 50 miles a day 5 days a week, so around 1000+ miles a month.... This car hasnt even shown any signs of dysfunction whatsoever.. Im sorry to hear that people are having problems with their subarus... My experience is much different. Drives great and mileage is 25-26 mpg on an 4eat automatic trans. Yes I have down upkeep ie, plugs wires cold air intake coffee can exhaust tires, but the car just goes and goes, doesnt burn oil, shifts smooth and starts up first revolution of the crank.... And this a used car with 3 owners and 143k. Maybe I just got lucky but its a much better than my 03 fx3 ford ever was! And mileage is better too! I wouldnt trade this car for anything...awd and comfort. It fits my life and style and my wife can put her cakes in the back. Mechanically this car is the most solid reliable car Ive ever had the pleasure of owning and working on. Parts are relatively cheap, in abundance, and I find that the design is way easier to work on than most I have to repair. I wish I had something negative to say about my subaru, but I dont. I will drive this car for as long as I can.
Published: June 1, 2014
Erik of Grants Pass, OR
Source: consumeraffairs.com

After 21,000 miles my vehicle has had to have the engine replaced along wit
After 21,000 miles my vehicle has had to have the engine replaced along with other major parts. Initially, when I received my vehicle back, it had to be returned the same day. Its because the mechanics at Garcia Subaru of El Paso failed to lock the major coolant hose. It caused my car with a new engine to run hot and coolant to spill all over the new engine. When I received my vehicle back the 2nd time, the turbo was not working and the performance of my car was less than it was, prior to this major repair.
Published: October 19, 2011
Bettye of Las Cruces, NM
Source: consumeraffairs.com

42,000 miles on Impreza Sport, gone through two sets of tires. Subaru does
42,000 miles on Impreza Sport, gone through two sets of tires. Subaru does not recognize this problem. Local dealer ignores it. Dealer where I bought it says there is a problem. Time to get it out to the world. Subaru did replace first set of tires but said thats it. Anyone else with this problem?
Published: May 4, 2015
Jim of Intervale, NH
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought my 2014 Subaru Forester new, I even had to wait for them to make i
I bought my 2014 Subaru Forester new, I even had to wait for them to make it. I was excited until driving home from work one day and my oil light comes on, so naturally I add a quart of oil. Then I have my oil changed and told them to put in an extra quart because of it using up a quart before my next oil change, but lo and behold the oil light came on again. I am so afraid that I am going to have major issues after I reach 100,000 miles. They have done 2 oil consumption test and they come back fine per the dealership. I dont understand how they come back fine and halfway through my oil change my oil light comes on.
Published: May 3, 2017
Sondra of Ontario, OH
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

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

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

I purchased a 2002 Forester when it was new. I have had nothing but problem
I purchased a 2002 Forester when it was new. I have had nothing but problems with this car and to date, I only have 57,000 miles on it. I have had to replace the brakes several times and Ive had previous cars that had over 90,000 miles that I never had to replace the brakes. As soon as my warranty expired, I started experiencing all these problems, of course! I have had to have ball joints replaced, trans pan, gaskets, etc. and I still have a terrible burning smell when driving the car and still have the leak which is causing this smell. I was told Subaru is known for this leak. I now have to replace the muffler. I have had more repairs on this car than all my previous cars together and it all began occurring the minute my warranty expired.I was basically told too bad when I complained about the sudden onset of problems the very moment the warranty expired. My Toyota went for over 90,000 with the only repair replacing the battery. I have maintained this vehicle religiously, as I have with all my cars. If I hadnt lost my job recently, I would trash this car immediately. Its clear from the other complaints here that Subaru doesnt care about keeping customers happy and maintaining their loyalty and future business so I would assume Subaru will do nothing about my problem either.
Published: August 22, 2012
D of Troy, MI
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Subaru MADE good vehicles... But, then they went cheap. My 2013 Forester bu
Subaru MADE good vehicles... But, then they went cheap. My 2013 Forester burned oil worse than an old WWII airplane... Its normal, Subaru said. Traded it for a 2015 Forester, no more oil burning issues, but now a crappy CVT transmission that bucked, stalled and hesitated upon acceleration all the time... Its normal Subaru said. Well, no more Subarus for me. No more CVTs for me. Got me a Toyota Rav4 with a normal automatic transmission and ZERO problems in many miles ever since.All of these CVTs are junk and causing problems, just Google CVT Problems with Nissans, some Toyotas, Subarus, etc, etc., and be ready to read pages upon pages of negative reviews. Many manufacturers like Subaru and Nissan have current class action suits pending. What a joke! To gain maybe 1-MPG, they jeopardized the goodwill and loyalty of their customers. Good to know that many other companies have not gone this way. Maybe thats the reason they have top sellers like the Toyota Rav4 with a normal automatic transmission. Do yourself a BIG favor, avoid headaches and stay away from CVTs at all cost!
Published: November 12, 2018
Am of Other, OTHER
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I just bought a brand new Subaru XV in Turkey and on the way home check eng
I just bought a brand new Subaru XV in Turkey and on the way home check engine light came on and took it to several service stations over the last month but no luck so far. I requested them to replace the car but Subaru Turkey is worse than second hand car dealers... I called Subaru Japan but have not heard back from them either... Vehicle VIN: JF1GP3LC5EG204801, Vehicle Manufacturer: Subaru, Fault codes: P000A,P000B and P000C. I will never buy a Subaru again...
Published: October 31, 2014
A.Özkan of Istanbul, Other
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I have never had a Subaru where every month or every other month I need bul
I have never had a Subaru where every month or every other month I need bulbs replaced. I just had it in for inspection and there were 3 bulbs to be replaced. Not feeling excited about owning a Subaru. I have owned two others and they were great vehicles. Makes me want to trade it in... Worse Subaru I have ever owned.
Published: February 24, 2017
Sandra of Shermans Dale, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

When I bought my 2015 Subaru Forester, I had my doubts. I even told the sal
When I bought my 2015 Subaru Forester, I had my doubts. I even told the salesman that when I lived in Bermuda, Subaru had the nickname Subarust. He said hed never heard that one. I figured that maybe it was the sea air and that in Canada, everything would be okay. After all, I loved the look of the car and the way it handled. However, soon after I purchased it, I noticed that my Subaru was surging when I was breaking from time to time. It didnt happen (of course) when I took the service attendant out for a drive at my last visit, but it does happen. Very disturbing. Whats even WORSE is the RUST that started 18 months after I bought the vehicle.The morning I was supposed to bring in my car for service I was going to clean it, then bring it in. Aside from writing, I walk dogs (much like in the numerous Subaru commercial, implying that the cars are for active lifestyles and dog lovers and the car gets pretty dirty sometimes. Unfortunately, that morning I discovered that my battery was dead and had to call roadside assistance (ironically) on the day of my service appointment. I spent a lot of time on the phone with these people, and when the guy boosted my battery, I drove it up to the dealership without having the time to clean the car. The service attendant was disappointed, as this would probably show that my battery was fine, rather than being able to test if it was faulty. Luckily, it still failed, so they replaced it. I showed the attendant where rust spots had started to form on the inside of the hatch. She took pictures and sent them off to Subaru Canada.No one contacted me. I called and got no answers, but plenty of people saying they would get back to me. It took 8 phone calls before the service manager at Barrie Subaru told me that the company felt it was not a manufacturers defect, but rather dirt that caused the rust, and that they were happy to pay for half of the repair. Reminder, this is 18 months after the purchase of the vehicle. There was also no way to talk to the person who had made this decision but I did call customer care and gave the lady there an earful, without purpose, really, as I asked if the call was recorded or if she wrote anything down. The answer to both was no. So here are a few things I want to point out:1- Of course, they are happy to pay for half. They should be paying for the whole thing. A friend of mine had the same problem with her Toyota truck. They said the rust was caused by sand. However, the clear coat was intact. 2- What would they have blamed the rust on if I had had the chance to clean my car that morning? 3- I didnt have the chance to clean my car because of Subarus faulty battery. 4- The car still surges forward when Im stopping. 5- This is a crooked company that does not care about their customers. If you disagree, try reaching a human being who has any authority to make a decision. 6- What kind of sport utility vehicle cant handle getting dirty without immediately getting rusty? Again, see their commercial. They should definitely NOT be marketing to dog owners. Please, dont trust the car awards. This is not a reliable car or a consumer-friendly company. They want you to buy, then wash their hands of you.
Published: July 14, 2017
Chantal of Bradford, ON
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I do not normally write reviews on vehicles as I understand that with any c
I do not normally write reviews on vehicles as I understand that with any car..business..dealerships..you are going to have bad experiences and things are going to happen to vehicles. I am by no means a Subaru loyalist or fan. When I purchased my first one I admit I fell for the hype. Being a mountain biker/cyclocross/road biker dude and outdoor kind of a cat, I fell for the whole Subaru/nature blah blah blah...but having been in a Subaru for almost 4 years I started noticing some things about the Outback but thought it was just me. After reading some of the stories here, apparently my imagination was not as wild as I thought it to be so I write this in the event anyone out there in the cyber world falls upon these reviews while researching cars.My first 2012 Outback was the premium with cloth seats. The seats really are bad in these cars..not very comfortable and after some use, they began to settle in per say in a manner that seems to make them feel a little harder/thinner than they were new. Say around 7500 miles for me on that vehicle, the road handling was ok, not great, nothing to inspire one but then again it is an Outback. Do not lean too hard on these cars as they feel flimsy like they are made of cheap sheet metal. The interior plastics really do feel cheap and look cheap. The kicker- driving down the road one day and at 15,000 miles, the check engine light comes on - vehicle shuts down. I pull off the road and get out to check the issue as I smell coolant..radiator fluid is all over the ground. Call road side assistance...they arrive and transport the vehicle to the nearest Subaru dealer in the area. Three hours of sitting in the hot Texas sun, I get to the dealer and await their verdict.I am advised that a rock must have hit my radiator and put a hole in it and dumped the fluid...ok, I am thinking possible. Never had that happen but trying to be fair, I ask them where the hole is. The service manager advises me the hole is about the size of a bb and is on the back side of the radiator about 8 inches up. Now I am getting a little skeptical..a rock about the size of a bb hit the back of my radiator and punched a hole in it. “I want to see the hole” I tell him. So we walk over to the service area and they raise the car on the lift and show me a hole on the backside of the radiator. The hole is a perfect circle, about the size of a BB. So the service manager then tells me that he surmises a rock flew up from the road, hit the frame, ricocheted backwards and hit the radiator - a freak deal as he calls it. To replace radiator he advises me around 800 dollars including labor - no coverage as it was not a manufacture’s defect. So even though this seems really weird to me I tell myself, well, I guess anything is possible and I really have no way to argue or prove otherwise.While I was there I was looking at the limited model and had kind of thought I should have got one of those instead. So I ended up trading the premium in for a 2013 Limited - seemed nicer with the leather and upgraded radio and moon roof, etc. So things I noticed and apparently I am not alone. Interior still looks cheap with a really over all plastic toy feel. I have never achieved any MPG better than 25mpg on either Subaru. The exterior metal feels flimsy and will give with very little pressure applied. I too experienced the object in one tire (staple) and would need 4 new tires at 23000 miles because of wear pattern on tires and AWD system requiring close tolerances to ensure damage not done to the AWD system.At around 29000 miles on the 13, I started noticing when I backed out the driveway and out the vehicle in drive from reverse, I would get a hesitation of a few seconds before the car engaged and moved forward. The paint is cheap and if you sneeze on it right, a flake of paint may fly off (exaggeration) but it really is bad. The leather seats in the 2013 did the same thing as in the 2012. They seemed to compress and get harder over time like they lost their shape. The molding around the seat came loose after about 1000 miles and Subaru never did fix it even after pointing it out on each service of the vehicle. The carpet and floor mats wore out to the point they looked like they belonged in a car with 100,000 miles instead of 30,000. They over all feel of driving the car was well like just driving a car..nothing great or inspiring.So in order to be fair, I never experienced any problems with the radio, blue tooth, or plug-ins for phones, etc. - everything synced up and worked each time. Home link always worked. The vehicle had ample storage space for my bike gear and kept it in a secure place while I was riding. My bike rack fit on the car with the added 2 inch hitch receiver I had installed at U-Haul. The power mirrors always worked and defrosters as well as heated seats. The extra storage in the rear under the floor mat was nice. I never really took to the looks of the Outback. I never experienced the oil issues as others at all. One reason may be I ditched the 2013 with 30,000 miles on it because my gut was telling me when I noticed the stalling issues that something was not right. Even with an extended warranty on the vehicle from my previous dealings with Subaru dealerships, I knew any problem would be a head-ache.I really wanted to like this car and when I bought it like I said I fell for the hype. For the price I paid for a Outback limited, honestly it was a real let down. The Subaru seems to show its age a little pre-mature. Even though the Limited is loaded, the 2013 still felt a little dated compared to other vehicles in the same class and though the MPG was acceptable compared to the Jeep Wrangler I gave up to get in the Subaru brand, it never came close to the promised projected estimates of their commercials and advertised MPG ratings. And for the most part I drove the car like a dude driving a station wagon, cruising around at posted speeds, easing in and out of stops and traffics. The dealership I bought the last one from pretty much blows. They could care less about customer service..never rude to me, never really wanted to help either on any issues. The first one was ok, just too busy with too few employees and you know how that played out. I know there are the Subaru loyalist and I get that. I still am a Jeep Wrangler fan even with all of its reported problems but I love the Wrangler so that makes it a little easier to handle and the last Jeep Wrangler I had, I drove for 5 years and the only issue I had was a dead battery and the black plastic fading which was an easy fix. After all, it sat outside in the parking lot in the Texas Sun...cannot hold that against it too much.So any potential Subaru buyers out there - do your homework and look for unbiased information on the vehicle you are researching like a site that is not dedicated to the brand. I am not going to say I hate the brand...hate is a harsh word and no one twisted my arm to try the brand. I did and because of my experience I am now an educated consumer of the Subaru brand which I will never purchase again.
Published: February 22, 2015
Tony of Fort Worth, TX
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought a car from Grayson Subaru in Knoxville...... never again. The sale
I bought a car from Grayson Subaru in Knoxville...... never again. The salesman tried the old etching fee scam on me. Earl ** in Harriman is an excellent dealer and my son has bought 3 cars from Kelly in Chattanooga with no problems.
Published: July 15, 2014
b of Spring City, TN
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I never had any problems with my Subaru 2007 Forester. However, one day, a
I never had any problems with my Subaru 2007 Forester. However, one day, after I drove it 12 miles to work, 12 miles to go back home, 6 miles to park and ride my bike, and another 6 miles to go home--the next morning, it was broken. The dealership claims over heating and warped cylinder head--it never over heated, ever. It is costing me $3,587 to repair. Has this happened across Subarus? Should there be a recall on 2007 Foresters? Could it really not be covered under warranty? I keep my car in good condition, check the water and oil and I have proof of oil changes--the last one was 06 July 11. All this happened on 01 Sept 11. Can you help me?
Published: September 10, 2011
Jane of Portland, OR
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I purchased my first new car in July 2014. I test drove a lot of cars and t
I purchased my first new car in July 2014. I test drove a lot of cars and the Subaru drove the best so I purchased a 2014 Outback. My last two vehicles, I purchased used Toyotas with low mileage and paid them off. I still own and love my Tacoma. I took the Outback to California from New Mexico. I visited friends and drove Highway 1. I was enjoying my road trip and after 3,000 miles, the oil light came on. I immediately pulled over and checked the oil and it was low. I put a quart in, the light went off, and I headed for home. I called the salesman that sold me the car and asked if there is a break-in period I did not know about. The salesman told me the car should not use that much oil and to bring it in for an oil test of 1,200 miles. I did so. At 1,200 miles, I called the dealer and was told nothing was open for two weeks. I took the car to another dealer in town and was told they had to start their own oil test after I was told on the phone by the other dealer the consumption test could be completed by any Subaru dealer. I start a new oil test with this specific dealership. I park the new car and drive my Tacoma to work. During Christmas, I took the Outback to Texas on a road trip. I drove the car 12 hours to and from my destination. Plus a week of all over the state, a few hours here and there. On my return trip, the oil light came on again. I put a quart in, the light went off. I called the same dealer and took the car back. I far exceeded my 1,200-mile limit and the girl checking me in scolded me for putting oil in and said I would have to start a new test. This made me angry and I started to get curious about the runaround. I lose my temper and tell the dealership if they dont fix the problem, they can have the car and Ill stop paying for it. I did not purchase a new car to keep spare quarts of oil in the back. I call for the service manager and he tells me we should have done better. He did not have an attitude like the girl at the counter. He told me Subaru will not do anything unless I complete the oil consumption test to their specs. He told me the manual states that the Outback uses a quart every 1,200 miles. I started thinking about that one. If the 2.5L engine holds 5.1 quarts, uses a quart every 1,200 miles with recommended oil change is at 7,000 miles, I am negative oil at oil change time. Again, this does not make sense.I go online and Google it. The first page is full of Subaru oil consumption articles. I had no idea that my problem is a universal problem and that a lawsuit was filed against Subaru for oil consumption and defective rings. Now I understand the runaround. An article in Motor Trend states Subaru dealers are telling owners that the oil consumption issue is normal and that normal usage is 1 quart every 1,200 miles. But with a new vehicle, this kind of oil consumption is definitely not normal. Owners who are experiencing excessive oil usage can take their Forester, Outback, Legacy, XV Crosstrek, and Impreza models in and ask their Subaru dealer for a consumption test. They will then change the oil free of cost, and ask you to come back in 1,200 miles. If the oil usage is over their acceptable specifications, they could replace the piston rings. The Outback performs beautifully. I purchased the base model 6-speed standard. The Outback is roomy and pleasure to drive. Unfortunately, I now have to convince the dealership to fix the problem. I did not purchase a new car thinking the rings would be defective and the engine must be rebuilt. The car consumed oil on long trips with the cruise control set at 73 to 83 mph driving for 12 to 14 hours straight.I will not take a trip like that for another six months. I will park the car and wait for the next road trip. I also want to make note that on my first road trip, the Outback got up to 28 miles per gallon on the highway. After the first oil light incident, the car gets 23 miles per gallon at best. I am very upset with Subaru. I will be paying for this car for the next five years. I will be driving my trusty Toyota Tacoma 2.7L 4-cylinder with 179 thousand miles on it. The Toyota is not as comfortable and does not have all the bells and whistles but has never used oil and gets 26 mpg. My first new car at 46 years old and I made the wrong choice. The hassle with the dealership, I wish I could give the car back and spend my money on a Toyota.
Published: January 8, 2015
Richard of Albuquerque , NM
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought Outback 2017 in Sept 2017. 3 mos later GPS froze then hatch flew o
I bought Outback 2017 in Sept 2017. 3 mos later GPS froze then hatch flew open while I was parking & my dog jumped out. Dealer said electronics needed reprogramming & done. A year later, GPS froze again, hatch slightly jammed on rubber mat, hatch stuck closed. AAA to the rescue, dealer said needed reprogramming & done. New battery. 4 mos later, I used radio while car stopped for 10 min, drained battery, needed AAA again to jump. Told I was using too many electronic features like the radio! Now 3/2019, GPS froze, hatch stuck shut, AAA jumped. Dealer said rubber mat jammed - NOT, it was 1 mm over the space, I am careful, but yes dog jumps in & out. Told interior light of hatch was on because it jammed & drained battery overnight.Extremely unreliable and unsafe in my opinion. Have spent hundreds of dollars in time, Ubers, taxis not to mention lost doctors appointments etc. Internet has websites of hundreds of Subaru owners with identical problems with 2016 - 2018 Subaru outbacks and foresters. Complaints of similar parasitic battery drainage for numerous reasons. They need to redesign the electronics, especially the malfunctioning sensitive hatchback and interior lights, size of battery and hatch rubber mat. Will it take a class action to get them to do this? For sale: 2017 Outback, 19,000 miles, all the bells and whistles, then some. CHEAP. (getting a Volkswagen).
Published: April 12, 2019
Joan of Walnut Creek, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

2011 STI 41k miles and it blew a head gasket. Subaru wont warranty it becau
2011 STI 41k miles and it blew a head gasket. Subaru wont warranty it because of a aftermarket turbo back exhaust. I had my VW longer with way more mod and never had an issue. Subarus have head gasket issues and for them to deny my warranty because of some dumb mod so they dont have to fix their issues is a bunch of garbage. Ill buy an Audi or BMW next time.
Published: September 4, 2015
Seth of Liberty Lake, WA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Need a AWD car for ease of operation for my wife. Need it to be able to fun
Need a AWD car for ease of operation for my wife. Need it to be able to function well on icy and snow covered roads. Need power since we live in a mountain region and sometimes pull a tent trailer. Subaru with the 6 cylinder engine fits these criteria very well. I own 3 six cylinder Subarus and one 4 cylinder model. All are lasting quite well and get good gas mileage compared to our friends with various makes and models of cars. I would and have purchased Subarus again and again.
Published: May 4, 2018
Gregory of Pollock Pines, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I purchased a new Outback in 1998. Sometime after 60k miles, the engine was
I purchased a new Outback in 1998. Sometime after 60k miles, the engine was noticeably leaking oil. I was told it was the head gasket but it was out of warranty. I finally paid $1800 to replace HG at 90k, but the transmission went bad soon after that which cost $1200 for a used replacement. In 2008, I purchased an Outback Limited again, and was told the head gasket problems were solved, only to find out recently at 94k miles that my head gaskets blew probably around 70k miles.I contacted SOA to tell them of the problems I have had since 1998 and they were rude and unhelpful. They do not care about their loyal customers even though they make a big deal about Subie owners in their Drive magazine. Its all hype to promote themselves. Be warned; if you buy any Subaru car, used or new, the engine will soon start leaking oil and it will destroy your head gaskets, costing you at least $2k worth of repairs.
Published: May 24, 2013
John of Nanuet, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

2013 Outback P2764 code. Dealership advised contacting corporate and I was
2013 Outback P2764 code. Dealership advised contacting corporate and I was offered $750 toward new car! Seriously, 125,000 miles, known transmission issue with extended warranty to 2022 but not mileage? Vehicles are meant to be driven! Beware of Subaru! Not so giving!
Published: December 27, 2019
Arlene of Versailles, KY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

The car is very reliable and I have owned it for 6 years. I for the typical
The car is very reliable and I have owned it for 6 years. I for the typical maintenance on the car and have had no additional problems. It drives very well and handles the snow well. After owning a car with cloth seats, I would consider leather. While the cloth cleans up well, its just not practical with kids and dogs. Its an older model and did not come with Bluetooth. It would be a nice benefit to have it. But price was a strong factor when choosing this car and it was affordable in comparison to competitors. I have a huge sunroof which I love. I love the large trunk space in my Forester and how the seats fold down flat in the back.
Published: June 18, 2018
Ann of Branford, CT
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Its a Subaru. Really close to the safest car on the planet. Its our fourth.
Its a Subaru. Really close to the safest car on the planet. Its our fourth. Saabs including an Aero convertible, Nissan 350Z. Fast (at least to 50mph). And safe, safe, safe.
Published: November 25, 2016
Phil of Graham, North Carolina
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Subaru has had a history of head gasket failures due to the flat, boxer-sty
Subaru has had a history of head gasket failures due to the flat, boxer-style engine design! I heard from a local mechanic that the issues from around 1999 to mid-2000s had been addressed and corrected. No way! This will always be a chronic, ongoing issue with Subaru engines! I am the original owner of a 2010, 2.5 4c Subaru Outback. I have babied my car and had all maintenance done on time, including oil changes and 60,000 mile service at a local Subaru dealer. It is low mileage at approx. 94,000 miles, purchased in May of 2010, so just over 8 years old as of October, 2018.Please also note, if you are in the market for a used Outback, that with the new body style starting in 2010, Subaru removed the engine temperature gauge from the dash and didnt reintroduce until 2015! There is no way to monitor if your engine temp is running high normal or not, especially when there is a head gasket or A/C issue during hot, summer month! Buyer beware!!!My coolant started to boil out of the reservoir and the only way I was alerted to this problem was due to the low coolant light flashing on and off for a brief moment at a time, twice over two days. It turns out, this was the beginning of a head gasket failure... at slightly less than 94,000! When contacted, Subaru corporate did not stand by their product, even knowing that hg issues are a built-in weakness/ongoing issue due to the shape/configuration of their flat boxer engine design vs the V configuration of say a more reliable Toyota SUV. Their staff dismissed my issue and would not help out in any financial or emotional way. They were actually aggressive, non-empathetic and accusatory!I ended up paying well over $2,500 to get my car back on the road, not including a $400+ tow to my nearest dealer, in another state. It is interesting that Subaru advertising works so had to convince buyers that there is longevity to their product as in 98% of Subaru vehicles are on the road 10 years later. They fail to mention the cost to the owners to keep their cars on the road for that amount of time!So, bottom line, if you are considering a new, newer-used or used Subaru, I would highly recommend 1) you do your research, 2) consider a different, more reliable brand such as Toyota, Lexus or Acura and 3) dont expect Subaru to stand by their product if you do have a major mechanical issue in the future, regardless of age and/or mileage! My entire family used to drive Subaru vehicles. They now all drive Toyota SUVs. I was the last holdout. I guess I am a slow learner, lol. Please save your hard-earned dollars and buy something much more reliable than a Subaru product! Happy car shopping!
Published: October 23, 2018
Linda of Weed, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought a new 2013 Subaru Outback 2.5 Wagon August 29, 2013 (3 month old v
I bought a new 2013 Subaru Outback 2.5 Wagon August 29, 2013 (3 month old vehicle). In December the engine started making a squealing noise. When I took it in to be checked I was asked what I had done to the engine??? I had never opened the hood on my car - in fact I didnt know where the hood release was. It took 3 times bringing it in until one of their techs came outside when I brought it in again in January and took a look and said he knew what was wrong with it. The belts were glazing over. The pulley system was redone and the belts replaced. I thought this was the end of the problem. I contacted their main headquarters in New Jersey and after working with customer relations was given a 100,000 mile warranty. I am so happy I did this because the engine problems didnt end there.In August of 2015, my engine light came on - I pulled over and called the dealer and was told if it was the flashing one to not drive it and have someone tow it. It wasnt the flashing one and wasnt told I could continue to drive it. I drove the car to the dealer and told them I wanted it fixed. It was under warranty. They replaced a sensor. They had my car for 5 days. I picked the vehicle up and drove it for about 3 days and the light came on again. I took it back to the dealer, they gave me a loaner vehicle, couldnt find the problem (after having it in the shop for 2 weeks), turned the engine light off and called me to come get it. I picked it up and drove it for about 3 days and the same thing happened. I took it back - they gave me a loaner vehicle. When the service manager called they said it was a vacuum problem - and it was how I was braking. I said that was not possible. I got another call, the service manager told me that it was dirty and the catalytic converter was dirty too. He asked where I was buying gas and told me that I should only be using gas from Costco, Shell or Chevron 92 octane (even though the manual says otherwise). They said they would get a data recorder from Subaru and it would take them about 3 days to get it - I was told I could keep driving the loaner or pick up my own car and drive it and bring it back in when they got the recorder. I chose for them to keep it until they got the recorder. I didnt hear anything for 2 weeks. On a Saturday the service manager called and yelled at me that I hadnt picked up my car. I asked if they had the data recorder yet and he said no. They wanted me to be driving my car so the warranty would run out. On November 6th they called and said they had gotten the data recorder. I was already home from work when they called. I picked my car up on the 9th. Three days later the light came on again. I took it back to the dealer. They called and said they think they corrected the problem. The rear sensor was replaced.I dont believe they would have done any of it if I hadnt contacted their headquarters. It took over 3 months to get the problem corrected. Because of how I was treated by the dealership and the reliability of the cars, I will never buy another Subaru. Subaru does have a class action lawsuit against them now for the excessive oil burning issue. Their remedy is to give an extended warranty! Its not worth it!
Published: May 22, 2016
Sandra of Stanwood, WA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My spouse and I recently purchased a brand new 2013 Subaru WRX STI. Before
My spouse and I recently purchased a brand new 2013 Subaru WRX STI. Before signing our agreement, we stated that we could see an orange peel look in the factory paint. The salesman and sales manager stated that they would have it cut and buffed, which should remove the orange peel look (my spouse nor myself do not have experience with auto body paint, so we reluctantly decided to sign the papers being as it was a brand new car and we figured that the cut/buff process would really remove the orange peel factory defect look). They cut and buffed it and it will not remove the orange peel, so we decided to take it to a reputable auto body company in the area we live in. Once we spoke with him, he stated that to totally fix this factory paint defect, the car would need to be pulled completely apart and totally repainted. That comes in at around $6,000! We just spent $40K. We cannot afford to put another $6K into the car. So we contacted Subaru.com and they sent a rep out to look at the paint. The rep stated that there is not a problem with the paint! Not only can the salesman see the orange peel as well as other workers, my friends, etc., but the Subaru rep doesnt come on! They also stated that they would not take any opinion from any auto body place besides the one they use. That in itself seems fishy. If they say nothing is wrong with the paint, why wont they get a few other opinions? They are just trying to cover their rear ends and not make right. If you read online about the orange peel effect on auto body paint, it clearly states that its caused from improper application of paint - whether it dried too fast, they didnt apply it correctly or the paint itself has a defect. We have owned over 20 cars in the past 12 years and have never had a car with orange peel looking paint. We have never owned a Subaru and this will certainly be the last! The factory is cutting corners to make more cash and get over on the consumer since most people dont notice this issue unless you really look at your car. We have been up and down with the Subaru dealership and have contacted the owner to see if he will make right on the fixing of the paint. We are awaiting the answer from him. I can only hope that he will make right on it. We love the car otherwise and shouldnt have to live with something that looks so bad! My husband just received a phone call stating that we are not allowed back at the dealership and to not contact them any longer! Not only did we already prepay for service up to $45K, but we also were told that we are given free car washes for the life of the car! This is ridiculous! I will never purchase a Subaru again!
Published: February 28, 2013
Samantha of Tacoma, WA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I have had at least 10 problems with the light bulbs on my headlights. The
I have had at least 10 problems with the light bulbs on my headlights. The bulbs are not cheap and a lot of people do not know exactly how to put them on, very unsatisfied with this problem. Some dont even last 3 months. Is this a defect in this model? Every mechanic says they are hard to get to, to replace and want to charge high labor. Is there something that can be done about this? I love my car but this is getting aggravating. Thanks.
Published: March 7, 2016
Sandy of Covington, VA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

2014 Forester with 35k miles. Our Bluetooth is not working properly. I thou
2014 Forester with 35k miles. Our Bluetooth is not working properly. I thought this would be an easy fix, and I was not too stressed by it. In my error, I forgot to mention it to the service department when I brought the car in last time. Three months later I had the car in to the service dept. for a standard check up and mentioned it to them... The whole radio unit needs to be replaced in order for the failed Bluetooth to work again! If only I had mentioned it during my previous checkup it would have been covered under warranty. Subaru is charging over $500 for this replacement. I will go without. My chief question is, why is the Bluetooth failing? Its not that old and its not as if it is an item (i.e. brakes, or tires) that might get wear down from overuse.In addition, when you press the accelerator on the 2014 Forester, a small delay and then it takes off. Very disconcerting. We have many family members who own Subaru and at our last family reunion everyone was grumbling about their Subaru and saying they will not buy another. Its a shame. This was our first Subaru purchase after many years with Honda. We were tempted to try a new car and had heard such great things about the Subaru. We will be going back to Honda.
Published: July 19, 2016
Jean of Weston, CT
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I have a 2014 Subaru Outback that I bought new. Until now, I loved my car.
I have a 2014 Subaru Outback that I bought new. Until now, I loved my car. A few weeks ago, I noticed it having difficulty starting. This happens both when I use the key to start it and when I use my auto start. When it began, it wasnt cold out (I live in Minnesota). It was almost 50 degrees. The car would take longer to start and keep turning over before firing up. Other people even noticed it. I took it in for service and they tried doing a computer reset and told me that should do it. It didnt work, so I took it back.Meanwhile, I had done some research and found that some Subarus can start doing hard starts, which is exactly what this seemed to be. Unfortunately, the dealership I took it to did not take me seriously and tried to tell me that it was normal for my car to start that way in the cold weather (by this time it was in the teens outside for temps). They were unwilling to see it as an engine issue and told me that all cars do this, which was completely ridiculous. Prior to bringing it in, it almost would not start one night and I thought I might have to call a tow truck. If this is what my car is going to do at 3 years old, it needs to go. A Subaru dealership is telling me this is normal for the car and it cannot be fixed, and apparently it isnt that uncommon for this car. I need a reliable vehicle. I plan to get rid of it and get a vehicle I can trust to start. Its disappointing because I really liked this car.
Published: December 16, 2016
Megan of Ramsey, MN
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I have a 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium with 82,156 miles, the car was in
I have a 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium with 82,156 miles, the car was in perfect condition, always checked by experts, all maintenance on time, nothing aftermarket. I was driving yesterday and I pull over to make a phone call when I started noticing that smoke was coming out of the hood, and from the under dash, when I tried to get out of the car the doors locked up and was impossible to open, by then the flames were very high, I burned my legs and arms. I manage to break the windows with a metal piece I had in the back seat and escape from the vehicle me and my occupant. When fire department arrived they extinguished the fire and was able to take pictures and video of the incident, according them it might have been caused by a electrical issue. Im glad to be alive but Im still in shock because I Subaru is a very good car.
Published: July 19, 2018
Carlos of Montgomery Village, MD
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I purchased a new 2016 Subaru Forester SUV. The electronic rear door (hatch
I purchased a new 2016 Subaru Forester SUV. The electronic rear door (hatch) will not open at times. This has been a persistent intermittent since the first week I got the car. At first I was told that I was not doing it right. It should not be that hard to open the rear hatch on a car that a college educated intelligent person cant open it! After some time and the realization that it was nothing that I was doing wrong, I started bringing it in for repairs. After three repair trips to several dealers -still no fix. BEFORE you consider purchasing this car, I suggest that you google this problem. You will find that it is a persistent & common problem with Subaru Forester and that Subaru has not redesigned or fixed this problem. What a drag standing outside my new 30K SUV with hands full of groceries in the rain and being totally unable to open the hatch! (Disconnecting the 12V battery and resetting everything will make the electronic hatch mechanism finally reset itself.)
Published: October 21, 2016
John of Albuquerque, NM
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My remote on my Subaru Outback 3.6R goes off in my pocket while I walk, lay
My remote on my Subaru Outback 3.6R goes off in my pocket while I walk, lay around, bend over or just hang out while at my house. The back gate opens automatically most of the time without my awareness. Completely breaks my confidence in the security of my car. Sometimes opens up 2-3 times on a bad day. Cant say how disheartening it is to come out from a friends place in a bad neighborhood and see my car hatch opened and my car unguarded. This potentially has left my car unguarded as long as Ive been at a place. Subaru should re-design the key fob and issue a new one under a recall!The back gate on a person’s car cant just open every other day when youre not looking or thinking of your car! My cargo is always important and should never be a 50/50 worry that my hatch opened as I walk away. The car is great in every other way than this. But with that said I brought it to Subaru attention and they just told me that there is nothing they can do to deactivate that part of the car fob.
Published: July 6, 2016
Glen of Boulder, CO
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

Returning from a long trip late Oct. 2016, the oil light came on with over
Returning from a long trip late Oct. 2016, the oil light came on with over a thousand miles left to go for the next scheduled oil change. Added a quart of oil to get home and after contacting Subaru Customer Service took the car to Tucson Subaru, AZ for an oil consumption test. At the first part of the test, engine is checked for external oil leaks, oil level sensors to be in working order, and complete oil and oil filter change is performed. After 1200 miles, you return for the second part of the test which is to check oil level, add oil if necessary, and determine amount used. If a third of a quart (10.7oz) or more is consumed, engine deemed to be using excessive oil and the short block is replaced. My car is still under powertrain warranty.Here is the problem: First part - the crankcase was overfilled (I personally checked and oil level was over the full mark on the dipstick by well over 1/2). Second part - the crankcase was filled to the full mark on the dipstick. (Again, I personally checked) Result - Very small amount of oil consumption. Engine deemed normal. If you look at the first invoice findings (see attached) it says 1.2qts low, add the 1qt when oil light came on during trip and that equals 2.2qts consumption in approx 6500 miles. At that rate, the 1200 miles test should have been 0.406qts consumed. Well over the one-third quart criteria. How can anyone determine oil consumption in this manner? My common sense tells me to fill the crankcase with a pre-measured amount of oil in ounces, drive the prescribed 1200 miles, return for a measured oil drain in ounces, the difference is the amount of oil consumed. Cars are not cheap nowadays. The manufacturers and dealers should stand behind their products, customer satisfaction and not put the bottom line $$ first.Are dealers mandated by Subaru to test oil consumption in this manner in order to save money?Is the dealer too irresponsible to do things correctly? Either way, it is very disappointing and frustrating to say the least. My daughter owns a 2014 Forester and has been having oil system problems as well as numerous other issues. I for one, and probably my daughter as well, would not recommend Subaru vehicles to anyone and definitely not consider buying again. In my opinion, Subarus perceived reputation is just that, perceived and not a reality.
Published: December 6, 2016
Sal of Marana, AZ
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I purchased my 2008 Subaru Legacy in 2016 and absolutely love the car. I ha
I purchased my 2008 Subaru Legacy in 2016 and absolutely love the car. I have never had a better car but when the airbag recall took effect thats when I found out the recall on the dashboard for melting and causing the reaction of not being able to see when the sun was shining on it. So when I called to get the dash done under the warranty they would not honor it. I just recommend when you do buy a Subaru make sure to actively check for recalls because on the airbag recall I have received over 100 notices but none for the dash. Thanks.
Published: May 4, 2019
Joseph of Abilene, TX
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I leased Subaru xv October 2012. After 2 months it stopped suddenly. They s
I leased Subaru xv October 2012. After 2 months it stopped suddenly. They said it was the flywheel and it was on the warranty. Then after another two weeks the clutch failed again and this time I was to blame. It was my driving style. Then after another one and a half year the clutch failed again! Before that I had my driving skills tested with the car authorities, who said my driving pattern was not a threat to neither clutch or engine. It does not help. I had to pay for the clutch and rental car. Never Subaru again. SHAME ON YOU, Subaru.
Published: January 9, 2015
Lindbjørg of Drammen, Other
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I am a loyal Subaru customer. I buy Subarus because they are dependable. My
I am a loyal Subaru customer. I buy Subarus because they are dependable. My engine gave out on my 3-year-old Subaru and the warranty is not being honored. Getting a hold of someone on a national level has been close to impossible. I wait for 2-45 minutes before I am told the person I need to talk to is out of the office. I am really disappointed because I love what Subaru says they stand for. The fix is 10,000 dollars that I dont have.
Published: September 8, 2014
debbie of Anchorage, AK
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I recently purchased a used 2010 Tribeca 3.6 L engine, my first Subaru, and
I recently purchased a used 2010 Tribeca 3.6 L engine, my first Subaru, and am rather pleased except for a howl in my automatic transmission. The sound changes as goes up through gears and especially noticeable from start through 2nd. Dealer has determined it is the alternator since engine speed also changes as gears change. Cannot believe any auto manufacturer would make their top of the line touring vehicle with this howl or whine as I have been told by others. Either way a defective alternator OR transmission needs to be replaced.
Published: July 19, 2014
Bob of Elkland, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

2010 Forrester is the worse car I have ever owned. Two years in: the heated
2010 Forrester is the worse car I have ever owned. Two years in: the heated seat wouldnt turn off. Ongoing: CD changer heats up to the point of warping discs even in the winter. 2.28.2015: Driving on I83 in Bmore rush hr driver side door releases door unlocks!! Unsafe unreliable piece of junk.
Published: February 27, 2015
sherine of York, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Never notified of CVT issue. Told me they sent letters regarding the issue
Never notified of CVT issue. Told me they sent letters regarding the issue but I never received anything. Once issue started on my car, they told me they couldn’t do anything because my car was outside of warranty date/mileage. My car is stalling while I’m driving, they claim it’s not a safety issue. They offered to pay 50% of my 2,000$ repair but I declined stating that these vehicles need to be recalled because of it stalling while driving. They declined and said it’s not a safety issue on them to deal with. Basically doing whatever they can to get around handling this situation. From what I’ve seen, when they started with the CVT transmissions back in 2012, those issues are still continuing to happen even on brand new vehicles.
Published: October 16, 2018
Jessica of Muskegon, MI
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I read about the Imprezza in Consumer Reports as it was their top car of th
I read about the Imprezza in Consumer Reports as it was their top car of the year 2016. It is an average car. It drove nice and at the time I was looking for an inexpensive car. Ive had it for 2 years with some minor problems and I will be looking for a better car this year. It doesnt have all the features I would have liked and cant expect more. I also had a poor experience with the dealership. Also, I dont like that when I unlock the car it only unlocks the driver side door. I saw in an ad that they changed this for the next model year and you can now program it to unlock whatever doors you want. Lastly, I dont like that it doesnt have rain sensing windshield wipers.
Published: June 14, 2018
Barbara of Burlington, KY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I will like to share my exp. with my Subaru Outback 2013. Buy it brand new
I will like to share my exp. with my Subaru Outback 2013. Buy it brand new in 2013 and at 20,000 miles the dealer have to swap the engine because oil consumption problem, but now since engine swapping there is noise on lifters and they says is normal because the block is bigger. 1st time buying a Subaru & last time. I will better go back to my Honda dealer, not second mistake with Subaru again.
Published: February 25, 2016
Jaime of Auburn, WA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I have a Forester, it’s a great car except for when the engine light and
I have a Forester, it’s a great car except for when the engine light and cruise control light goes on at the same time making the car difficult to drive. I have had this issue 6 times now from 2009-13 and each time I go to the dealership where I bought the car, they say the issue has been fixed but there are always added expenses such as my hose has a leak or etc. Obviously, if I had this issue 6 times, then issue hasnt been fixed. I have been told by the dealership this isnt an ISSUE and that the time lapse in between visits to the dealership are so far apart I shouldnt worry about.When I had this experience for the 6th time this week, I thought writing to company and saying, Hey, when are you guys going to figure this out? Its been five years and a lot of money and no one seems to be able to help me. So today I decided to do a little research. There is a whole site on topics about this issue going back to ’07 all the way up to my last entry… I am still researching. This issue is a big issue, Subaru. Wake up!
Published: December 6, 2013
Sarah of Fort Lauderdale , FL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Ive had my 2015 Forester for a year now. There are some things I like and s
Ive had my 2015 Forester for a year now. There are some things I like and some I really dont like. I have put 20,000 miles on the car and havent had any mechanical problems. It drives and handles comfortably, and did well with snow and ice last winter. However there are a number of small irritants. One of my biggest issues is the upholstery. I try to be careful, but it is already seriously stained and starting to show obvious wear. No other vehicle has ever shown wear like this. The panels on the doors look dirty and wont come clean. My dog stepped one time on the padded cover of the storage box between the front seats. He left several permanent dents and the plastic coating tore. Hes ridden in several other vehicles without anything like this happening. Also the finish on the steering wheel where I grip has worn off. I also find the headrests to be remarkably uncomfortable, and its not really possible to sleep in the seat. The worst problem is that when the air is dry, as it usually is in eastern Oregon, I cant get out of the car without getting a static electric shock, just strong enough to be mildly painful. Every single time. I try to slap the door as I get out to prevent it from hurting, but I sometimes forget. This happens occasionally in other vehicles, but rarely. As minor as this seems, its annoying enough that it may prevent me from owning another Subaru. Another thing that probably shouldnt matter is the mileage indicator. I really like this except for the fact that it always shows me getting 1.5 to 2.5 miles more per gallon than I really am. I find this extremely irritating. I also hate the fuel gauge, which is a line of small gray squares which are difficult for me to see. Also the speedometer is smaller than I like, with markings close together and the 5s not indicated. Also, the windshield has cracked all the way across even though I never noticed it being hit by anything, and there is no rock ding. I resent that Subaru did not give me the option of deciding if I wanted a fancy anti-theft system that requires a very expensive key and, if you try to use a duplicate, will cause the computer to crash and cost several hundred dollars to repair. I am cynical enough to think that this was not done for my benefit. I would be perfectly happy with an old unchipped key that costs $2 to duplicate. I also dont like that only one door on the car can be opened with the key and that if I use the spare key to unlock the door the alarm goes off. Every single time. There is supposed to be a way to prevent that but it doesnt work. I also have issues with the mileage. If I drive on the level at about 45 mph, I can get as high as 30 miles to the gallon. But if I get on the freeway and drive 65 mph to Portland and back I wont get over 25 and have gotten as low as 19. The sticker claimed 29 highway. Also, though I live in a town with no more than 10 stoplights, if I do any driving around town my mileage drops like a rock. Also if I go up even a moderate hill. Finally, the clock and temperature gauge are not consistently accurate, the speakers vibrate unpleasantly if you turn the bass up, and the cup holder has broken for no apparent reason.
Published: October 15, 2015
Kevin of Bajer City, OR
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I had an Outback in 1997 and loved it... wish I had kept it. I recently bou
I had an Outback in 1997 and loved it... wish I had kept it. I recently bought a very well cared for single owner 2005 Outback 2.5i with 150K miles. I knew it had a minor oil leak... When it got worse, I fixed that, and while the engine was apart, put in many new parts including timing belt, hoses, thermostat, mounting bolts, machined the cylinders, etc. It was fine for 6 months and then had intermittent sputtering at idle and when starting to drive, along with after a slowdown off the highway to 35 or so and then speeding up again. I also noticed it was strangely low on oil, despite no visible leaking. My mechanic said that the prior owner did a (dealer-done) tune up without replacing the wires, so we did that and the problem seemed fine... for a while. 2 months later, same exact sputtering. One stall after starting the car and putting it in reverse but not driving yet. And... almost no oil in the car (again no visible leaks). Problem as yet undiagnosed so any feedback is appreciated! Also, minor complaints. Had to change the rear door latch when I got the car. The plastic latch that opens the gas cap keeps falling off. And now the drivers window button is sticky and sometimes doesnt want to make the window go up or down.
Published: August 1, 2013
Jill of Darien, IL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I purchased a used 2008 WRX Sti with 20,000 miles back in February of 2012.
I purchased a used 2008 WRX Sti with 20,000 miles back in February of 2012. The person I bought it from was Dave **. Dave was at the time (until very recently) a member of the Subaru USA rally team and this car served as his daily driver. Never raced or rallied in the slightest. Just a fun car to drive around town. At 17,000 miles under his ownership he blew an engine. Apparently he was doing some donuts in the snow and redlined it a little too long causing the engine to pop. He had some mods done to the vehicle which would technically void the warranty. Keep in mind this car is made to be modded as its not the everyday thing you take to the grocery store. Anyways.... Subaru agreed to warranty his engine under the pretense that they put most of it back to stock. So the new engine is put it and the car is back to normal. I buy it 3k miles later with the impression that I am getting a car with 20,000 miles but an engine with very little miles. Great right? Well no... not so much.Flash forward exactly 20,000 miles to December of 2013. I had just changed the oil as I was about to leave from North Carolina and drive to Minnesota for the holidays to see family. Made it all the way there with no problems. Stay the first night and then the next morning (Christmas Eve) I leave from my aunts home to my grandmothers with my young brother and sister in the car with me. No racing, no donuts, no hard driving whatsoever. Simply a morning commute to my grandmas with the family in tow. I get a quarter mile from my destination and the car shuts off and is blowing smoke out the back. I literally coasted into my grandmas driveway, thankfully. This now begins my so far month long battle with Subaru and getting a fair deal out of this.I had it towed to the closest Subaru dealership (200 dollars) where it sat for a solid week and a half before it was addressed. The dealership guessed what was wrong with it and told Subaru it had been previously modded and flashed. Subaru, based on simply that alone, denied my warranty claim. Speaking of warranty.... The car has a 5 year/60k mile warranty on the powertrain. I was 3 months out of the 5 year warranty yet still 20k miles below. Back and forth with Subaru and eventually I get to someone higher up on the chain who says the car needs to be torn down in order for them to truly decide. Im skeptical to authorize the dealership to tear it down as I dont want to get stuck with the bill when Subaru potentially leaves me in the dust after. So the lady (Linda **) was very helpful in the sense she offered to split the cost of the tear down with me granted they deny me any further warranty claim after it was diagnosed. I reluctantly agreed to this based on the fact that I thought for sure they wouldnt just leave me hanging.Well upon tearing it down... the dealership indeed found out that it was a blown engine. Again. Who would have thought that the same faulty engine they replaced the last faulty engine with would have blown again? This car is absolutely notorious for blowing motors AND especially in cylinder 4. Where did mine blow? You guessed it... cylinder 4. Where did it blow the first time when Dave had it? Again... cylinder 4. Subaru comes back with a complete denial of any responsibility and refuse to help with any sort of help with the repairs. To their credit, they still were standing by their word of splitting the cost of the tear down. The labor was 1300 dollars. Leaving me with a 650 bill and them a 650 dollar bill. Now after the 200 dollar tow, the 300 dollar rental car charge, a last minute plane ticket to get me home while it stayed there... Im at my wits end. Next up will be to ship it to North Carolina (900 dollars) and begin the fix myself (another 3,000 or 4,000?). I am not a rich man and simply cannot afford to dump this much money into a car I still owe money on. I bought a Subaru worry free and never in a million years would expect to be going through this at 40,000 miles. Its just plain unacceptable.Anyway, Point of the matter is I am out of warranty technically but then again... Im still WELL within my miles limit. A quick blown motor Subaru Google search will show you that they have countless amounts of cases where their engines blow. It is not uncommon for their cars to blow 2 engines in under 50,000 miles. The fact that this is so common only leads me to believe that there has to be some sort of lawsuit I can look into to forcing them to make this right? I am absolutely blown (no pun intended) away that such a massive companys reputation is only worth 650 dollars to them. I have since accepted that Im going to get stuck with the cost of the repairs and I offered them an easy way to compromise. I asked simply that they pay the full tear down price and offer the OLI (owner loyalty incentive) of 1500 that they originally tried buying my best interests with. Not that I ever plan to use it, Subaru might as well be dead to me as a company... but I still want to them to own up to that.To recap, they offered 650 of the 1300 tear down and the OLI. Im simply asking for them to pony up, attempt to save face of their awful company and make things right in the simplest of ways. 650 dollars more? Come on, Subaru. Really? Does anyone have any similar stories they could share that have or havent ended up in their favor? A company as big as Subaru should be ashamed of this mistreatment. This engine issue has been publicly acknowledged by them through press releases and this is most definitely not an isolated issue. Thanks for reading and I look forward to any replies or comments. My email is ** if you would like to share anything privately that way.
Published: January 16, 2014
Dan of Greenville, NC
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Brought our 2012 Forester Touring to the dealership recently, as the transm
Brought our 2012 Forester Touring to the dealership recently, as the transmission seemed to be having issues between 2nd and 3rd gear. First trip took 2 days and a reset of the transmission to learn mode. This actually made the problem worse in our opinion. We brought it back, and it took a week for them to agree to replace the transmission, after different attempts to fix it. The vehicle only has 27,000 miles on it, and the transmission needs to be replaced? Something isnt right here.On a different note, we lease our vehicles, but no more Subarus. Chase is actually Subaru Motors Finance, and they could screw up a one car funeral. We had several issues with them, from double charging for property taxes to charging extra monthly payments. On average it took 5 - 9 months to get these issues corrected. Between Chase and what I am seeing for deteriorating quality from Subaru, Ill be taking my business elsewhere in the future.
Published: November 13, 2014
Brian of Fort Wayne, IN
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Purchased 2000 14 Subaru WRX in June. I was advised the tires on the car we
Purchased 2000 14 Subaru WRX in June. I was advised the tires on the car were summer only tires so I purchased a new set of rims and tires for the winter. When I went to change the summer tires to the winter tires, I noticed the interior edge of the tire were worn down to the cords, the rest of the tire look brand new. Took the car to a Subaru dealer, they put the car on the alignment machine and said everything is in specs, that theres nothing wrong with the car. Since they say theres nothing wrong with the car they will not replace my tires. The car has 20,000 miles on it. I have maybe ten thousand miles on my summer tires and ten thousand miles on my winter tires. I rotate the tires myself every other oil change. The dealer wants documentation on tire rotation which I cannot provide since I do my own maintenance. I like the car, its fast, handles well and is great in the snow. As of now I am trading in my 2014 Subaru because I cannot afford to purchase tires every 10,000 miles. I receive no satisfaction whatsoever from Subaru. I find that Subaru is very unhelpful in dealing with consumers complaints.
Published: November 11, 2014
john of Milford, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I like the Subaru Legacy because it has a lot of power. The color is look l
I like the Subaru Legacy because it has a lot of power. The color is look like an elegant color. All I need is in there and all in the navigation especially the most important. But I dont like it looks so old.
Published: June 19, 2018
Cassandra of Turlock, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

New 2017 Subaru Forester with 2500 miles when has a small puncture while dr
New 2017 Subaru Forester with 2500 miles when has a small puncture while driving about 40 MPH. I immediately stopped the car and changed to the cheap junk spare. My local tire dealer examined the tire and said he could repair the puncture easily but the sidewall was delaminated rendering the tire unusable. Since he is a trusted friend, I value his opinion and the delamination was obvious. Subaru is selling cars with these junky Yokohama tires. Its my life and my familys that they put at risk selling this junk. I purchased the new Subaru based upon reputation and never thought to check the tires. Im now out $145 for a new tire as well as the inconvenience. Fair warning Subaru - I do not forget and I do often comment.
Published: March 9, 2017
jim of Greenfield, MO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

We finally decided on a new car after buying used for well over 20 years. F
We finally decided on a new car after buying used for well over 20 years. Finally narrowed it down to a Subaru based on customer satisfaction. Well let me tell you this customer is FAR from satisfied. Started at 14000 miles, when the dealer tells us the tires are down to the warning tread and need to be replaced. REALLY? Mind you all services had been performed at the dealer. So the dealer went to bat for me and got Subaru to replace all 4 tires no charge. Ok cool. So here we are 15000 miles later and guess what? Yep the tires are shot again, this time they check alignment and frame etc. nothing wrong. This time I have to call Subaru customer care. They balk, I argue, they finally agree to replace 3 of the 4 tires. I have to pay for the 4th one. So in 1 year and 30000 miles this Outback is on its 3rd set of tires!!They still cannot tell me why the tires are wearing out every 15000 miles. Tried to blame driving habits. Sorry, but if it was that then my other vehicles would be chewing up tires too! (They are not.) I cannot afford $800+ worth of tires every 6 months!! As soon as I can I will be trading in this hunk of junk for a Ford or Toyota. Never buying a Subaru again!
Published: December 3, 2014
Kim of Beltsville, MD
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Read several comments about mice and rats chewing out electrical parts and
Read several comments about mice and rats chewing out electrical parts and hoses in the engine bay. Its true, all of it, had a huge problem with rats under the hood in the winter for years and constantly popping the hood for several hours to let the engine cool down after use. Then placing fabric softener sheets all over the engine until the morning. It kind of worked but then I found a spray repellent online that is specific for engine bays and rodent control. Spray on all over the compartment every 6 months and it works like a charm. No more droppings or chewed wires. This is a fairly wide known problem to mechanics. As for oil consumption, I have not seen a problem. The car only has 66,000 miles on it and virtually trouble free, love the car!!! Know head gasket may be a problem for the future.
Published: July 11, 2015
rolf of Seattle, WA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

About 5 minutes after I left the Subaru dealership I knew that my 2014 Fore
About 5 minutes after I left the Subaru dealership I knew that my 2014 Forester that I owned for 3 years was not running properly. Eventually I found out the dealership upgraded some software because of an imaginary idle problem. Now Im left with a car with much less acceleration and power, and to boot a 20-30% reduction in mpg. There are several other problems too. Subarus was response was not acceptable: Nothing we can do. The person handling the case had no interest from second one. In the past they have helped with serious issues. This is their software, they are responsible for getting the car back to the previous running condition.
Published: August 23, 2017
Sidney of Philadelphia, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I purchased a brand new 2014 Impreza 2.0i Premium a year ago. Within the fi
I purchased a brand new 2014 Impreza 2.0i Premium a year ago. Within the first 1500 miles, the low oil light came on, and found it was a quart low. Was willing to give Subaru the benefit of the doubt the first time, but sure enough, 1200 miles later the oil light came on again and I had to add another quart. Since then, Ive had to add a quart every 1,000 miles like clockwork. I brought the vehicle back to the dealership and requested they look at it and do an oil consumption test. They refused to do anything, despite still being under warranty, claiming that this consumption is normal. When I expressed my concern that these were the same symptoms indicated in the lawsuit and subsequent recall, they told me they couldnt do anything because my model year was not included in the recall, and that they wouldnt even look at it unless a recall is issued for my VIN number.I followed this up by pointing to the Subaru owners manual which describes excessive oil consumption as after the break-in period...more than 1 quart every 1200 miles. In reply I got a shrug from the service manager. Last fall, I wrote to Subaru Corporate, along with calling customer service, and was told this was an issue I needed to take up with the dealership itself. Ive since gone through (on average) 4-5 quarts of oil between each 6k mile oil change interval. Ive never experienced such blatant disregard for customer satisfaction from a car company. Having been patient for the past year, Ive now lost any hope of Subaru providing the service and support needed to resolve this issue, and for this reason have been forced to take up my concerns with the law firm handling the class action suit of last year.
Published: June 19, 2015
Chaus of Glen Rock, PA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Purchased New. Cheap carpet and seat fabric. After 36k CV boot went, then d
Purchased New. Cheap carpet and seat fabric. After 36k CV boot went, then driver boot 1k later. Boot rubber is thin compared to other car makers. At 68K, Rubber in throw out bearing went. At 68k, Power steering pump leaking. Cost? Almost 5K.
Published: May 13, 2014
Samantha of Altamonte Springs, FL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Sorry to say this is turning out to be the worst car buying experience that
Sorry to say this is turning out to be the worst car buying experience that either of us has ever encountered in over four decades of driving. First off the sales person lied to us about the accessories options available for our vehicle, and the finance guy was condescending. So I went to the parts department and began ordering the accessories that I was told were not available. The L E D side view mirrors were installed by the supervisor of the service department. He admitted damaging the inner workings of the mirrors and ordered replacements. Another trip back to the dealership and the problem was even worse. He tried to convince me that it was normal to see through only half of the mirrors as they could not be adjusted properly to be able to see the lanes to either side of me. He eventually got frustrated with my insisting that they be fixed to the way they originally worked, and told me to go home to my wife. I called the corporate office and it has been over two weeks with no resolution in sight. A week ago I try to remote start before I left to work. The STARLINK system would not connect. When I went out to the car to start it. The dashboard and ignition lights were blinking and it would not start. I had it towed to the dealership, they gave us a small dirty loaner car and yesterday, a week later, they called to say it was fixed and ready to be picked up. We made the trip there to find that it was not true, the vehicle was not ready as the STARLINK was still not working. Were back in the loaner vehicle, its the next day and we have not received another call about the status of our car. This car is two months old and its their top of the line SUV. Do I have a lemon? More to come.
Published: January 27, 2021
Paul of Bronx, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Best car Ive ever owned. Great in snow, very comfortable, reliable. Couldnt
Best car Ive ever owned. Great in snow, very comfortable, reliable. Couldnt ask for a more well-made vehicle. Even better than my old VW which I adored and drove into the ground!!
Published: March 27, 2015
JB of Washington, PA
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

I purchased the 2015 Subaru Outback brand new, the sticker says 33 mpg high
I purchased the 2015 Subaru Outback brand new, the sticker says 33 mpg highway, I have traveled on the Highway in Kansas (flat, no traffic, no turns, straight highway), and get about 26-27 MPG which isnt even close to the 33 MPG they are advertising. I have emailed Subaru customer service with no reply. I have tracked my mileage and now have just over 5000 miles on my car and have averaged about the same the whole time. The rest of the car is fine.
Published: October 20, 2015
Kim of Shawnee, KS
Source: consumeraffairs.com

My wife had a 03 Outback where the engine destroyed itself at 84,000 miles.
My wife had a 03 Outback where the engine destroyed itself at 84,000 miles. Blew head gasket with no warning, cylinder heads had to be machined along with new rings, etc. by Subaru. The car ran fine for 5,000 miles then everything started to happen again. I spoke to Subaru USA about the first incident and was told was off warranty. I had a 05 Outback which I just traded in for a Camry. Again at 84,000 miles, the car started to break down. CV Joints, timing belt and water pump, brake lines to front wheels were replaced, AC fan and fan blower were replaced, catalytic converter failed along with o2 sensors and to top it off, the head gasket was seeping. I have owned 6 Subarus since 1997 and this is it! The cars are great until you hit the 84,000-mile wall and fall apart.
Published: August 25, 2014
Sven of Bronx, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I changed my oil as was recommended in the manual and one day the light cam
I changed my oil as was recommended in the manual and one day the light came on and the engine was blown and later discovered the oil was empty. It had burned up all oil in one months time.
Published: August 7, 2015
Jennifer of West Point, CA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I leased a 2012 Subaru, signed a contract, and took the vehicle home. The d
I leased a 2012 Subaru, signed a contract, and took the vehicle home. The dealership messed up the contract, lied about it to get me to sign another contract under the guise that it was a better deal for me. The truth of the matter is that they either made a mistake, or they are running a scam to get you to sign one contract, take the vehicle, then offer you another contract within a few weeks, or they are just incompetent and unprofessional. When I decided that I did not want the new contract, they became angry and rude. The general manager assured me that he would take care of it, but he did not and I had their company calling me about a vehicle that I had returned (2009 Subaru) to the Subaru dealer a month earlier. The vehicle was on their lot and in their possession. I have returned the new 2012 vehicle because of how I was treated and because the general manager, during his shouting match with me indicated that if that was the way I felt, he did not want to do business with me anyway. I am glad you have enough Subaru business that you can afford to throw away customers who purchased 3 Subarus within four years. I will make it one of my goals in life to make sure that people know you do not want business from me or people like me. Of interest, is that a similar situation happened with this same dealership three years ago. At that time, a few weeks after the 2009 car was purchased, the finance manager called and indicated that he had made a mistake on the contract and that the payment should be higher. Once again, I refused and told him that I had a contract, and he could not go back and change the terms of that contract. What is going on at Subaru AutoBarn of Countryside, Illinois? Are they incompetent, or crooked or both? They definitely could use some training in customer service as you have just lost two customers. Since I have returned the 2012 Subaru last week, I am in the market for an SUV. Guess what, it wont be a Subaru. Someone should investigate further the practices of Subaru Autobarn of Countryside, Illinois. I know I will be continuing my investigation and legal options. Not only am I angry, as noted above, I am inconvenienced and suspicious. I did not check the first box below because I am pursuing all options including legal options. Yes, an attorney can contact me about my complaint.
Published: February 23, 2012
Nettie of Bartlett, IL
Source: consumeraffairs.com

2015 Subaru Outback Limited 3.6 liter. We purchased this vehicle new in Apr
2015 Subaru Outback Limited 3.6 liter. We purchased this vehicle new in April 2015 to replace a 2011 Outback that was totaled by a red light runner. It has been a big disappointment. The almost $40,000 total price we thought with all the options compared to a 4 Runner was a good deal, the blind spot system (SRVD) failed on the day we drove it home, took almost 6 months to have it repaired. I found a shop bulletin online that described the problem to the letter. Of course the selling dealer didnt have a clue on how to fix it. They replaced most of the electronic parts and calibrated it. That problem is fixed. There has been 4 or 5 recalls since along with over 40 tsbs. The problem that there seems no fix for is the garage door opener operates on the same frequency as does the key-fob/smart key system. At times the seat belt alert chimes with everything off. Also the rear hatch will not open and when attempting to open either front door, placing hand inside handle, all doors lock, takes several attempts to open door, (all these problems only occur in the garage or driveway after the door clicker is pushed to open garage door). There has been no offer by Subaru to try to fix this. My Honda Ridgeline (2014) does not have this issue. This problem should not occur. The Key-fob system should not allow interference from any source. If anyone else has this problem, please write a review. My door opener is a Chamberlain belt drive with outside keypad.
Published: November 9, 2016
Steve of Aurora, CO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I paid 32,500 in 07 at 100,000 miles the head gaskets started leaking. Cost
I paid 32,500 in 07 at 100,000 miles the head gaskets started leaking. Cost me 4,000 to get them fixed. Turns out that this is a common problem with Subaru. Never buying another one.
Published: August 19, 2016
Donald of Axton, VA
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Charlie ** was referred to me, because my brother and all his family by all
Charlie ** was referred to me, because my brother and all his family by all their cars from Milea Dealership on East Tremont Ave, Bx, NY. Charlie was helpful as I turned my old Forester in, for an excellent trade in value - while they had a new one ready for me, with exceptional new safety features, and everything I needed in a car. Thank you for excellent professional timely service!! Everything was perfect and I am grateful for such an A+ experience with everyone I encountered, who could not have been more helpful!
Published: May 14, 2019
Carol of Bronx, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Purchased a 2014 Subaru legacy in April of 2014. Car has every thing but th
Purchased a 2014 Subaru legacy in April of 2014. Car has every thing but the nav and eye sight. I have 17000 miles and have no problems at all, love the awd and for a 2.5 litre it goes pretty good. It is my first new car and would recommend it to anyone. I am 6.6, 220 and it fits me in. I have two kids and they love it. I am a chevy man and finally went Japanese. It is great on gas, handles well, and looks great at 30k - you cannot beat it. Lets face it - every thing breaks but these subarus are great. Buy one, you will not regret it.
Published: January 12, 2015
mike of Patchogue, NY
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Power liftgate issues on my 2016 Forester and not sure who can assist.
Power liftgate issues on my 2016 Forester and not sure who can assist.
Published: February 22, 2016
Sandra of Littleton, CO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

I bought a brand new Subaru Forester XT in October 2008. It has less than 4
I bought a brand new Subaru Forester XT in October 2008. It has less than 40k miles and Friday, March 3, the car died and I narrowly avoided a collision with another car. Turns out the lower block of the engine needs to be replaced. I have read numerous reports online that Subaru issued a stop sale on my exact model of car in April 2008 for internal wear. I have been told my VIN does not reflect this issue, but I dont believe Subaru. I have read post from other owners with VINs almost exactly like mine that ran into the same issues. This is the second time my car has been back to Subaru because of engine issues.
Published: March 5, 2012
Sammy of Parkville, MD
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Subarus Mr. Shiro Ohta, Chairman, President and CEO of Subaru Canada, disap
Subarus Mr. Shiro Ohta, Chairman, President and CEO of Subaru Canada, disappoints and his public relations personnel fall short in customer relations. In October 2014, I purchased a 2015 Subaru Outback. If the automotive review reports are accurate, I should enjoy a few years of worry-free driving. Notwithstanding that possibility, I have already decided that I will never buy another Subaru product. My decision has nothing to do with the product but with the purchase experience and the failure of Subaru Canada to address what I believe is a legitimate concern.When I ordered the Subaru car I was informed to expect delivery by the end of December. At the time, I advised the sales person that I had a pre-planned trip in mid-January and that I required a vehicle for that date. I was assured that would not be a problem. Sometime during the latter part of November I contacted the dealership to inquire on the status of the vehicle and was informed that equipment supply issues could delay delivery, pushing the arrival of the car to mid-January. I proceeded to adjust travel plans by cancelling half the trip. By mid-January, I was now informed that a January delivery was unlikely with a new estimated date around the third week in Feb. Finding myself in the position of having to rent a car, I informed the dealership that I would be back home for the last week in February. On the third day away from home, I received an email indicating the vehicle had arrived.While the dealership did what they could and have no control over the timeline connected to vehicle production, Subaru Canada could offer nothing more than to say, after the fact, that it was normal to wait 4-5 months for a car, when the dealership indicated a 2-3 month time frame. Misinformation from my perspective. Subaru has been enjoying a tremendous growth in vehicle sales and perhaps their production capabilities cannot handle the demand. Thats understandable. What is not understandable, particularly in consideration of their increased profits, is how they could simply dismiss my concern regarding the extra costs I had to incur for the ongoing changes in delivery dates by offering a take it or leave it apology. When they could have offered to pay all or a portion of the car rental or maybe offer another year on the warranty or anything to retain customer satisfaction, they opted to offer nothing tangible. As an aside, I once saw a sign hanging from the ceiling in the garage area of a car dealership which referred to the golden rule. Rule #1. The customer is always right. Rule #2. If the customer is wrong, read rule #1.In spite of two letters, with one being a registered letter to Mr. Shiro Ohta, my communications have received only a dismissive response from someone referred to as a Specialist, Social Media Communications & Customer Experience. I have purchased many new vehicles over the years from several different manufacturers. The professional excellence associated with the purchase experience is no less important than the product itself. The Subaru brand has not lived up to my expectations in customer relations and for that reason I just purchased my first and last Subaru product.
Published: April 11, 2015
Dale of Ottawa, ON
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Head gaskets just went on a 2008 Impreza with only 74,000 miles. Our mechan
Head gaskets just went on a 2008 Impreza with only 74,000 miles. Our mechanic told us we didnt have much longer before something catastrophic happened. This should have been a manufacturers recall! Everyone is wooed by Subarus AWD, but not everyone knows about their dirty, little head gasket secret. Tried to get Subaru Canada to help pay for the cost, but since the car is 2 years outside of warranty, they basically told us to pound sand. This is the first and only Subaru in my driveway. Fixing the gaskets and selling.
Published: May 28, 2015
Kyle of Saint John, NB
Source: consumeraffairs.com

Subaru Outback 2011 Transmission Problems - ** My youtube video catches the
Subaru Outback 2011 Transmission Problems - ** My youtube video catches the problem, but the transmission doesnt always engage when Im on the interstate. This has happened to me several times when Im in the mountains. Subaru claims they have to replicate the problem for them to help me. Its very dangerous, sometimes it gets down to 45 mph while going downhill.
Published: January 24, 2015
Alyssa of Denver, CO
Source: consumeraffairs.com

In June of 2013 I picked up my brand new 2013 Pearl White top of the line S
In June of 2013 I picked up my brand new 2013 Pearl White top of the line Subaru Outback. 2.5 years later, I am sorry that I ever fell for their PR spin! Within the first 2 months I had returned to the Dealers Service Department with a complaint of the engine surging on acceleration, poor gas mileage, and the check oil warning light coming off and on. I was told by the Service Manager that Subarus dont do that and that they could find nothing wrong with the vehicle. The problem has been intermittent throughout the time that I have owned the vehicle. Within the last 2 months this issue has worsened to the point where the engine will suddenly surge forward and then suddenly decelerate, at one point almost causing a collision with another vehicle. I complained of this problem again while on a service appointment for another problem concerning the sudden and intermittent loss of power steering while the vehicle was operational. Again I was told that the vehicle was fine and that mechanics could find no problems. Recently (within the last 2 weeks and less than 1,300 miles into a new oil change and service) the check oil warning light has again started to come off and on. On checking the oil level this morning we found that the oil level was at the bare minimum and down over 1 qt. of oil. On doing some research we have come to find that all of these problems have been ongoing and legitimate complaints for this year and model of Subaru. There is in fact a current lawsuit in progress against Subaru of America for the oil consumption issues in the 2.5i L engine in the 2013 Subaru Outback. I am VERY disappointed in both the product and service offered by Subaru of America and I will never purchase another vehicle from this company. I also urge others to steer clear of the PR hype. In this instance it is definitely a case of buyer beware!
Published: September 27, 2015
Susan of Tippecanoe, OH
Source: consumeraffairs.com

TOP