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Subaru Automobile Model 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid
2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid
The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid is Subaru’s newly introduced hybrid version of the Forester, combining the brand’s staple full-time all-wheel drive and SUV practicality with an electrified powertrain for improved efficiency. It retains the open-feel, elevated ride height and usability of the Forester while offering better fuel economy and lower emissions.
Powertrain & Performance
The hybrid system pairs a 2.5-litre Boxer four-cylinder gasoline engine with one or more electric motors and a small lithium-ion battery pack (around 1.1 kWh in some specifications).
Combined output is around 194 horsepower in many markets.
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) remains the gearbox, and all-wheel drive comes standard, preserving the Forester’s heritage of traction and versatility.
Fuel economy is significantly improved compared to the non-hybrid Forester. Some Canadian dealer estimates suggest ~6.8 L/100 km in city or combined use.
Because the gasoline engine is supplemented by electric drive, the Hybrid version offers smoother transitions, quieter operation and improved efficiency particularly in city or stop-and-go driving.
Interior & Features
The cabin layout and seating capacity remain unchanged from the standard Forester: five seats and a practical cargo area.
Features such as large-format infotainment screens, wireless smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto), and modern driver-assistance systems are included or available.
Standard full-time all-wheel drive gives the hybrid the same versatility as its purely gasoline sibling in terms of light off-road capability, bad weather use and adventurous contexts.
The battery pack is mounted under the cargo floor (or under the vehicle floor) to minimise intrusion into cargo or passenger space.
Strengths
Improved fuel economy and lower emissions compared to the conventional Forester, making it more efficient for daily commuting and mixed driving.
Maintains Subaru’s hallmark all-wheel drive system and higher ground clearance, so you get versatility for weather/mixed-road conditions without losing the Hybrid benefit.
Good value in its class: for buyers seeking an AWD compact SUV with better economy and green credentials, the Hybrid variant offers a differentiated choice.
The electrified system adds refinement: quieter engine/brake transitions, smoother operation in city driving, and a more composed feel.
Trade-Offs / Things to Consider
Although the power output is acceptable, the 194 hp figure means the Hybrid Forester may feel less punchy or sporty than some rivals or non-hybrid trims with stronger engines.
The use of a CVT and a focus on economy rather than performance means driver engagement is moderate rather than high-sport.
While cargo and seating remain practical, the added complexity (hybrid system/battery) may affect long-term ownership, maintenance planning or residual value in ways that differ from simpler ICE variants.
The premium for the hybrid-version (higher purchase price) may take some time to recoup in fuel savings depending on driving patterns, so buyers should consider total cost of ownership.
As with all hybrids, real-world efficiency gains depend on driving habits: frequent highway driving at high speed with full loads may reduce the advantage.
Ideal Buyer Profile
The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid is best suited for someone who:
Drives regularly in varying road and weather conditions (snow, rain, light off-road) and values AWD capability and higher ground clearance.
Commutes daily and would benefit from improved fuel economy but still wants an SUV’s versatility rather than a compact hatch or sedan.
Prioritises practicality (five seats, cargo space) combined with better efficiency and lower emissions—not necessarily a performance-focused buyer.
Likes the idea of a more refined driving experience (smoother, quieter transitions) and is comfortable paying a bit more up front for the hybrid system.
Does not require extreme performance or towing capability; their use case is more about daily utility, family/car-pool driving, road trips and weather readiness.
Manufacturer: Subaru
MODEL: 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid
MSRP: $44715.00 USD
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Subaru Automobile Model 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid
Just wanted to give feedback on my new purchase: Gateway Subaru Delaware. Pros: overall satisfied with my purchase, this was our 3rd Outback (2008, 2011 now 2015). Changes promoted purchasing upgraded Outback. 2015 purchased with every option available. Eyesight option just great! Cons: GPS not as accurate as my Garmin portable. Had I known the lack of function & accuracy I would left it out from my purchase.
2 days later, the call taker from SOA did send me the language of the contract, so I am satisfied. I also received it from the dealership in NY, so I am pleased, but I dont care for having to dig to find the actual language/details of such an expensive item.
Love my 2012 Outback. So, I bought a 2013. Big mistake! Different engine, same number of cylinders. The salesperson was more than happy to boast the gas mileage and make sure I would follow the maintenance schedule. No mention that I would have to add up to 1 quart of expensive synthetic oil every 1200 miles! It IS in the owners manual. My oil lamp has come on every 1000 miles since purchase. I was accusing my lube shop of under-filling until I read the page in the manual. If I knew, I would not have purchased this one. Oil change interval is now 7500 miles. Engine holds 4.1 quarts. So, by the manual, I may need 4.88 quarts before the next change. They consider this normal? They started an oil consumption test. They overfilled the engine! That means extra pressure on the seals. Not to mention padding the test! I was to come back in 1200 miles for them to gauge the oil consumption. Consume oil?!? Burning oil is not good for the combustion chamber is it? They even know why and have published a fix. Need recall.
I was a long-time Toyota owner and after putting 210,000 miles on my 2000 Matrix without any issues I decided I wanted to replace it with something that got decent gas mileage and had all-wheel drive. Enter my 2013 Subaru Impreza Sport. Ive had what could be described as minor issues with this car since day one. First, the rear hatch (its the hatchback version) would never shut on the first try. Had that adjusted and fixed.Second was the issue with starting the car which started happening at about 5,000 miles. After googling my issue, I came to find out that this was a common issue that the owners were referring to as a Hard Start and that after denying it for a while, Subaru finally came up with a fix which is basically flashing the cars computer. Subaru sent out a service notification to their dealerships about this issue, but when I went in to 3 different dealerships they denied knowledge of the issue or the service notification until I gave them a copy that I found online (thank you **) and suddenly they remembered this common issue and the fix. I had the computer flashed and I would say the issue is improved, but not totally remedied.At about 30,000 miles I noticed that the oil light would come on after only about 2,500 miles after an oil change. Im concerned that this is going to get worse as the car ages. (Im at just over 50,000 miles now.) One thing I noticed is that a couple days before the light will come on I will smell oil burning, so Im not sure if thats damaging the engine. Ive got into the habit of carrying a couple extra quarts of 0-20 in the spare tire compartment so I can pull over and add oil immediately if the light should come on. A friend of mine had a Subaru WRX thats engine seized because of low oil and his oil light never even came on beforehand. Ive been so disappointed in the quality of this car. From people I know that are die-hard Subaru owners, it seems like they just cant maintain quality with the recent rise in popularity of their cars. Im hoping that the oil issue does not result in a bigger issue before I pay off this loan!
Have documentation of excellent maintenance on 2010 Subaru Forester. Subaru does not care that I have to replace engine. Completely out of oil 2651 miles after last oil change. Please post your similar problems with 2010 Subaru Forester. A class action suit might make Subaru tell the truth about their defective vehicles.
I heard a wind sound at speeds of 120 km/hr or more and fine dust between the doors and car body and I went to the service center. The service center told me it`s normal, that all Subaru XV model 2012 have the same issue after we tried another car.
After experiencing failed paint on my 2011 Outback due to tree sap I foolishly traded the car for a 2013 and purchased the Simonize Package. They told me this would guarantee the paint if anything like this happened again. Well after having the car detailed by Subaru again paint failure. This time they told me it was caused by rocks hitting the hood.
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.
The CVT shift simulator (Ascent) is constantly out of sync and shifting up and down. This is especially noticeable during initial start. This needs to either be disabled or at the very least a user selectable option.
I bought my third new Subaru last fall and noticed the drivers seat shifted forward and back about 1/4 in each direction. Every fast stop or start you notice the seat and your body shift slightly. I took it in the first time and the dealership said that it was within tolerances. On the second visit after contacting Subaru corporate they told me that I had the seat too high and that had I lowered it the movement would stop, but they were going to replace the entire seat anyway. I waited for 3 weeks until they finally told me to take the car home until the seats come off of national backorder. The third visit they replaced either the seat back or the entire seat depending on who you speak to, but the seat still moves even if it is lowered. More calls to Subaru corporate to finally be told that the movement is within their tolerances. I told them I would never buy another Subaru and they were okay with that. They dont seem to care about the quality of their cars any longer and dont seem to care if they lose customers forever.
I shopped for a year looking for the right SUV. My troubles with Subaru began with a Grand Junction Colorado dealer who would not deal with me unless I put down a $500.00 deposit. I moved on and bought a car through a local Chevy dealer who ordered from Heuberger in Colorado Springs. The Dealer put my husbands name on the paperwork when he never dealt with my husband but with me and when I called Subaru to change this, they said they could not so all my Subaru ID is under my husbands name (irritating). Next my under 1000 miles Forester lost the wheel well trim, the rest of the first year and three trips to various Subaru dealers the cruise control would not work because the check engine light was on. Finally the Salt Lake City Subaru informed me it was a computer program that only the regional representative has to reset this and maybe in the next 6 months he would get my way. Meanwhile the wheel well trim fell off again. Next thing, a rock flew up and hit the window which is not a new cars fault but it cracked all the way through and it was a $600.00 window! Finally a year and a half after owning the new car, I got the check engine fixed so I could use the cruise control. Very unhappy that the lights in the Forester do not turn off when you turn the car off. Many a night I would have to go out to the car to turn overhead lights off that someone had turned on in the back. I havent had to do that for 4 or 5 cars ago. The car is so noisy in the interior that the Bluetooth did not work. The phone sync is basically worthless since no one can hear you. The battery went out the second year I owned the car at basically 30,000.00 miles. I think the final thing that put me over the top was that the seats all started to crack on the sides where you sit and it folds a little. I dont know how to fix this except to stand while you are driving? I called Subaru one time because it was midnight and the vehicle steering wheel was locked. I remember my Ford once did that and there was a way to jerk the wheel, etc., etc. and it would unlock. I called for some directions and the Subaru roadside assistant had no information and the only thing she could do was call a tow truck from the closest Subaru dealer (200 miles away). By the way it was 20 below outside. I called the local Chevy dealer and he helped. From the time I first contacted Subaru to the time I got rid of this car, there is not a positive experience. Thus the name for Subaru is Super** or **rue and I will never waste my money again. It cost me to get rid of this piece of **. I am definitely not feeling the love!
I am now experiencing problems with my 2013 Subaru Outback I purchased new from a dealer. I see on this forum, other who have similar problems. The oil light has come on several times and the transmission is surging and bucking at low speeds and while lightly loaded. Ive had the car serviced for these problems twice. The transmission is especially troubling as my warranty expires in 5,000 miles and they cant find the problem. (Design flaw?) So far, I spent hundreds on a throttle plate cleaning and an oil change that I didnt need. Subaru claimed that the oil was over serviced by Jiffy Lube. Okay. So drain some out and dont charge me $77 for an oil change. Plus, nth is didnt fix the transmission. Its still surging and bucking. Anyone else? Should there be a recall? Subaru might have the nicest people working there and might make a very safe car, but if its always in the shop, how would I know?
Clutch failure on 2015 wrx with 120 miles less than 24 hrs after. Dealership states it was owner inflicted since they gave pictures of this happening and it was from rally and review. The car would go into reverse but no other gear had it towed and will meet with Subaru tomorrow though they have stated that they will not honor warranty and we must pay for a new clutch. Will find out more tomorrow.
Very expensive repairs, poor gas mileage, the battery was a major issue, left us stranded at least 10 times in 2 years! Finally replaced by Subaru, but frustrating. There is no vent in the back so the backseat is sweltering during the summer. The service department at the dealership is great, the best part of owning the car!!!
Hi, we have a relatively old Subaru, about 8 years but very low mileage and the a/c failed with a projected cost of $2,500. Seeing as the vehicle has been used very little, the repair amounts to $3 for every hour it has been driven. I asked if this was normal from Subaru and they simply explained that it was out of warranty. So if you want a reliable car that is going to last for years, and you have low mileage, maybe best to look elsewhere, as they appear unconcerned that there are failures despite low usage. Warranty should be time or mileage-based. My first and last Subaru, oh well.
At 87,000 miles, my 2011 Outbacks temperature light went on and I immediately pulled off the road into (fortunately close) service station. Ultimately got it to a Subaru dealership where it was determined that the head gasket and exhaust valve guides needed to be replaced. I now find out this is a common and long standing problem with Subaru cars. Is there a class action suit concerning this? Is there any resource available to disgruntled customers?
I have to carry oil with me at all times due to high oil usage. There is no oil light indicator to tell you your oil is low. After smelling a hot engine smell after driving home from work (14miles), I checked my oil and no oil appeared on the dip stick and there was less than 2000 miles since my last oil change. I took it to the dealer and they didnt even care and said, oh no damage was done. They didnt even take in the garage to look it over! I brought it to their attention again that I have to keep adding oil two and three times in between oil changes and I was told that was normal.
I have the Subaru Forester. I love that model because its an all terrain vehicle. I like to go camping a lot so its useful on those old dirt roads. Usually it is terrifying to drive on them because its so bumpy and you feel like the car could turn over any second but with my Subaru it is smooth and I feel safe! I really like my Subaru. It is dependable and safe. I have children so it makes me feel better driving with them in a car like that. I have actually gotten into an accident in it, just myself, but it wasnt that bad! I credit it to the safety precautions I got on it. Its also very pretty. I got it in blue which is my favorite color. Just seeing the car makes me really happy! The seats are a nice creamy white leather. And I got a flower scented air freshener!I would improve however, the battery life. The battery in my car has a very short life span and I constantly find myself having to fix it. Granted, my kids do tend to turn the light on the car and we leave it on overnight. So maybe a fix could be an auto turn off on the lights after a couple of hours? That would be really useful since my family always forgets to turn the lights off.
My first car was a 2005 Subaru STi. I drove it throughout college, about 100 miles a day, from work, school and back home again. It never let me down, and I drove the crap out of it. I sold it right before I got married and got a brand new 2013 Crosstrek for the wife (future) and a used 2010 Outback for myself. In just about one year I began noticing how low the oil level was when changing the oil on the Crosstrek. I change my oil every 3500 miles with full synthetic oil and a OEM filter. It was never low enough to set off the oil light, but I would have to add about 1.5 quarts between oil changes, which is not normal for any low performance naturally aspirated car. I brought it to the dealer and they said oil consumption at that level was normal. So I accepted the fact that I would just add 1.5 quarts between my 3500k mile oil change interval. At 30K miles on the Crosstrek, the blower motor started acting up, there was a hard start issue (probably crank sensor) and passenger rear wheel bearing was noisy. The dealer did not want to replace any of the parts under warranty. They did not even want to diagnose it. At that point I did not want this car anymore. Who knows what else might go wrong another 30k miles later. So I traded the Crosstrek in for a 2017 Forester Touring. Now the CVT on the Forester is acting up at highway speeds. I am waiting to see what the dealer has to say about this issue. Whether they are going to dismiss it and say its normal, or actually look into the service bulletins issued to see if something is applicable. This is quality and service I did not expect from what-used-to-be my favorite car manufacturer. So in short, the three (3) stars is for my old 2005 STi and my 2010 Outback. Everything Subaru produced after that is and was Junk. I will never purchase another Subaru again. Back to Honda/Toyota.
I currently own a 2015 Subaru WRX that I CANNOT DRIVE. I had an issue where the pitcher stopper mount. Literally tore itself off my firewall. I came to find out that is was a design error from manufacturing date. I called them to get this claim settled so I could go on about driving around and enjoying my vehicle. Well as of January 2020, they denied my claim stating the air struts installed on my vehicle were determined to be the problem. Well... thats weird; I put those on 5 days prior to even going into the dealership. Well I went on about seeking ways to get this repaired until around late August of 2020 I saw a TSB posted by Subaru in 2017 showing that this repair was to be fixed under warranty no matter what. Well, I was lied to by the first rep who was taking care of that back in January, let me call again with this new info and see what they would be able to do for me. And so I did. I was told by this new rep that this TSB expired in June of 2019 (which I was not even mentioned or told about) and basically said, Good luck, that isnt our problem to deal with. I cant drive my car without having any drivability issues and I am currently looking at my options because I cant afford a $2000-3000 bill for a problem I didnt do. Honestly, I am beyond upset with how Subaru handled this and wish they let their customers know when there is issues that have to be looked at before just kicking us to the curb. Ive been a loyal customer for 10 years but this will be my last Subaru I ever own.
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.
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.
I was coming to a stop at the end of a dead end street when my 2010 Subaru Outback shot off like a bullet from 10mph to about 30 mph in less than 2 seconds. I hit a tree and sustained severe rib injuries (3 broken ribs) and a lacerated finger and my passenger dislocated his hip and suffered a broken leg. We were lucky not to be killed.
I own a 2008 Subaru Legacy, best car Ive ever owned for this area of the country. Due to very cold and heavily snowed New York (Catskill Mtn region), you tend to notice your windows being frosted over for a while to defrost during winters. I never thought twice that build up on the inside of my windows was anything other than caused from the extreme cold temperatures here in NY, and as a new car you just sometimes dont take notice to those things.As the years pass, MOST cars get dings, and dents, and repairs... but recently because it’s not a place that you would just take notice to UNLESS you are someone who hand washes and waxes your car on a daily basis (in my opinion), I noticed severe (massive) paint bubbling across the whole top (metal paint area) above my windshield from one side to the other. Now, I would never had noticed this if it had not been from the obvious ROCK CHIPS which have hit the bubbling, and yes made this paint bubbling break open and look like it’s caused due to rock chips. The surface is not a layering rust to where it is corrosion rust that would break away if tapped on. It’s more like a start to corrosion rust that has not started the eat through process. Upon closer inspection it looks to me to be from POOR windshield seal and thus NOW knowing the reason for such poor build up during the winter on the inside of my windows. Well I guess the rock chips are completely different way up at the top of your roof than on like say your hood or around your grill area... HAHA, what a joke. I take very good care of my car. I’m asking for a proper inspection and a paint job after a corrosion protection - not like Subaru can’t afford it. This MAY just keep me from ever buying a Subaru again. The dealership had the audacity to tell me to trade it in and let it be someone else’s problem. NICE.
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!
Due to limit of words everything in detail cannot be told. Car has had issue upon issue since new. Subaru knew this car was a lemon offered warranty. Now it has an internal engine PROB CLAIM BEING DENIED.
My 2016 Subaru Foresters CVT transmission failed catastrophically at 42,000 miles with no prior warning. Vehicle would not move and made grinding sounds. Had it towed to the dealer and was told it is still under warranty. I asked about the failure and was told by the service techs that they had never heard or had a problem with the transmissions before. When I told them that Subaru has had numerous problems with the CVT over the years I was told that I did not know what I was talking about and that they never had a problem. I had researched the CVT problems quite a bit beforehand and was upset by the way I was treated. I now have a vehicle that I no longer trust and a dealer that will not ever get my business again.
I last had my oil changed on 23 August 2013 at #1 Cochran in Monroeville PA. Yesterday, my 2009 Subaru engine began knocking. No oil lights came on over the past months. Engine blew. Now a new engine or car. Subaru has faulty warning computer.
I bought a 2008 Subaru Legacy (with EJ25 engine), took great care of her, synthetic oil and all and she has a blown head gasket. Ya, a 4-year vehicle, a reliable and expensive vehicle that has been properly maintained has a blown head gasket. At first, I was completely blown off by the service manager, Ron **, then I talked to the GM of the store, Brian **. He admits to seeing these cars with blown heads all the time, and its a known problem. Then I talked to Subaru America. Nothing happened until they admit there is a recall on this engine, but my VIN does not match?! Who cares about the VIN? Theres a known problem with the engine that even the GM says once its fixed, theres never another problem. That means its a factory defect, i.e., you need to recall and fix the $2000 problem on all these engines, not say, too bad, so sad to a single mother still paying payment on her car.
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.
I bought a 2008 Subaru Outback for my 21-year-old son in May 2013 with 61,000 miles. Before my purchase, I had the car inspected and was told the head gasket was leaking. The dealer finally agreed to split the cost with me. My son travels 2,000 miles to school in Montana and has had two oil changes over the seven months that we have owned the vehicle. He had the local dealership inspect the vehicle before heading to Chicago for Winter break, and he had to have one of the front axle boots replaced for $400. On the way home with no warning in the middle of North Dakota, the oil light goes on and the engine dies. The local mechanic wanted nothing to do with Subarus, so my son took the Amtrak home at a cost of $270 and I shipped his car to Arlington Heights, IL at a cost of $775. I sent it to the dealer I purchased the car from and they said the issue was not the head gasket, but the oil pump, and I needed a new engine costing $4,200. Both the North Dakota mechanic and my local mechanic that I trust said the head gasket was leaking as well. The dealer did not agree and would not give me a new engine and Subaru USA declined any responsibility for this poor excuse for a vehicle. After reviewing several websites on Subaru customer complaints, there is a common theme of oil leaks and bad oil pumps. I have owned many vehicles in the 47 years that I have been driving, and have never had such major problems. There should be a huge class action settlement for Subaru owners. I will never buy another one and will voice my displeasure with anyone who will listen.
My 2013 Subaru Outback needs the transmission replace at Subarus expense. All Im getting is comments that because there are so many vehicles with this problem they do not have enough transmissions to fix the problem. At first we were told it would be 7-10 days for the necessary parts. Then we were told it would be 4-5 weeks. We have surpassed that time frame with no idea when my car will be fixed. I am not able to use it as I need. This is totally unacceptable. Pressure from various agencies needs to happen now.
One of my Outbacks tires were punctured. I had to go to a tire shop to fix it. They said I need tires from the same company and I have to change two at a time. I agreed and two tires were replaced. In a month the difference between front and back tires caused the power train to become damaged. The dealership said that whole transmission needs to be replaced, but because the manual says that no more than a 0.25 should difference is allowed between tire thickness, there was no manufacturer guarantee. They said that there is a light on the Subaru dashboard that signifies it: If the AWD is flashing, driving can damage the power train. As soon as you can, park in a safe place and check your tires to make sure theyre all properly inflated and the same size. It never went flashing.Subaru is the kind of car that is supposed to drive in rural areas, farms, forests. If there is a difference in tire diameter in such a small amount – it should not damage the car to a point of a price that is a third out of the cost of the car. If there is that possibility, a warning should be posted on the dashboard, because it is major a damage to car. In this field – Subaru failed completely.
I purchased a brand new 2006 Subaru Forester. I did 4-5 months of research and looked at the majority of small SUVs and finally decided on the Forester based on what I had read - reliability, utility, AWD technology, and the Subaru brand name. I have nothing but positive things to say about the Subaru dealership but I cant say that about Subaru Canada - they really dont care about their customers. They have your money. Why should they care?The Forester for the 1st six years of its life was a fairly reliable car. I took the car in for service religiously and performed all the required maintenance/service. The only main item that went which I thought was odd and a bit pricey was the Oxygen sensor which cost me $700 and then went again a year later but I was lucky as the sensor was still under warranty. At about its six year of life - just before Christmas - I was just getting on to the highway and the oil light went on; I immediately got on my phone to my mechanic and he said to bring the car in tomorrow. About 10 minutes later the oil light went on again and I was on the phone to my mechanic who said bring the car in right away, which I did. Turns out it was the head gasket so it cost $3000 to fix (they did the timing belt / water pump at the same time). I called Subaru Canada and they said because the car is out of warranty, there is nothing they could do. So, I got the head gasket fixed and should have dumped the car right then and there. About two years later, I was driving on the highway and stopped at my destination and noticed the temperature gauge going to the H position so I stopped the car, let it cool down and walked down the street to a local service station. They said, Bring the car in, and they were going to do a rad flush but when they started to do it they noticed coolant leaking so they just topped up the coolant. I got back on the highway and the car started to heat up again; the net of it was a leak around the water pump which my mechanic fixed. About 2 months later, the car started heating up again and back to the mechanic.So the probable cause...wait, wait...likely the head gasket; cheapest fix is the thermostat which they swapped out. But, my mechanic is saying the only thing that would fix it would be a rebuilt engine. Again, I contacted Subaru Canada and same story line - out of warranty - too bad, so sad. So I cut my losses and traded the car in on something more reliable - a Honda. I will never ever buy a Subaru again - what a waste of $36,000.
We bought our Subaru Outback brand new, with about 10 miles on it, we got it because we wanted a reliable car and we loved the fact that it was a dog car. Within a few months I started noticing a vibration when accelerating, I brought it to the dealership no less than 20 times and it could not be duplicated by the technicians. Finally around 38,000 miles we bought 4-new tires, YES, FOUR! This did not help. 40,000 they replaced a rear wheel bearing (felt like vibration was in the front?), I thought this might fix it, but it still shakes.NEXT issue, which is probably far worse! The battery. The first time we had a dead battery we had just shopped at Costco, the entire back of the car was filled with groceries, the car wouldnt start. We called the Subaru tow service, they started it but it promptly died. We had to have someone come and get our groceries, then have our car towed to the dealership. Yes, we got a loaner car for the weekend, but on Monday they said there was nothing wrong. Repeat this 2, 3, 4, 5 TIMES! I would be stuck in the garage, the car wouldnt start, my husband at work, wouldnt start. Would take off after a sluggish start, stop at a stop sign, then boom, it dies right there. Dealership response- Hummm, looks fine, must be because you are not driving it enough, or you are leaving the lights on, or the hatch open. We just had our 4th NEW battery put in, the last brand new battery was exactly 3-months ago. This car is a lemon. I started researching online, WOW, we are not the only ones out there with this problem, Subaru has a real problem, the battery has got to be an electrical issue. The vibration is a mystery. I used to love my Subaru, now I really dislike it.
Engine light on, brake light on and cruise light flashing - I took my 2012 Legacy in two times for the same problem. The second time I brought it in, I had to leave my car there and they gave me a rental. When the car was done, they told me I had to pay for the rental. I said the car only had 20,000 miles and not even a year old. He said I still have to pay for the car rental. I told him that I was not very happy that I had to pay for the rental. I will never do business with them ever! The Subaru dealer was in Merrillville, IN. Do not go there for any service.
300 thousand and most reliable car I have ever owned. 1997 Subaru still going with less in shop time of any car I ever drive/owned/seen before. Maintenance only including the big stuff. Love my Subaru.
I purchased my 2013 outback in June 2013. In June of 2014 with 18000 miles my check engine light came on. The dealership diagnosed two burned out catalytic converters. They fixed the issue under warranty but it took almost two weeks. A month later the check engine light came on again for the same issue. Again it was fixed under warranty but this time had the vehicle almost a month. In August 2014 the low engine light appeared and I found out about the engine consuming oil that seems to be a common issue with Subaru. Three months later the check engine light appeared again for the same issue as the two precious times. This time Subaru replaced the entire exhaust system and had the vehicle over a month. The low engine light seems to come on and go off whenever it feels like it. This vehicle definitely has an issue. So very frustrated and dont trust the reliability of the vehicle. I love the way the vehicle drives and handles but just dont trust that long term it wont have more of the same issues. This vehicle will be traded in for something other than a Subaru. :(
I have been a loyal customer of Saturn/Subaru of South Blvd. in Charlotte, NC. I drive a Saturn 2000 Wagon and had a problem with a weeping radiator. I took it to Subaru and told them to look for the car over to make sure there were no other problems looming so I dont put money into a car that isnt worth it. I assumed they looked it over and did the repair. I drove the car home and the next day, my husband noticed an oil leak on the garage floor. I thought it was an overflow issue since I had just gotten it out of the shop and if it was a problem, surely they would have noticed. So I just overlooked it. This continued for a couple of weeks and no lights came on, so I assumed it was no problem. It got to where there was a pool of oil left behind all the time. I took it back to Subaru and they looked at it again and determined that there was a seal leak that would cost $1800.00 to fix. It had a slow leak that turned into a gusher between Subaru and my home the day I picked it up. I was very upset that at their direction, I had just poured $1200.00 into a car that had an obvious leak that they did not even mention. Now, they tell me the car is not even worth the $1800.00 it would cost to fix. My question is: Why didnt they tell me that $1200.00 ago? I discussed it with the service manager David ** and they had no interest in doing anything to address the problem. It was my problem and their was nothing they would do. I walked in the door as a loyal customer and walked out as a very unhappy camper. I later phoned and asked to talk to the manager, who was in a meeting, so I told the man who took the message for the manager what had happened. He said he would relay the message and have him call me! It has been 2 weeks and I have not heard a word from anyone! I hope you can explain this because I am shocked that they would treat a customer like that! They turned a person, who was in the dealership in need of a new car, into a person who would never buy a car there and will be more than happy to tell all of my friends, who are lifelong animal rescuers, about my ordeal with a Subaru dealership! I even have a dear, personal friend who is a Pilots N Paws volunteer. He would be as shocked as I am if I told him this. I would like to know what you think of this. I am in the market for a new car! Your response will determine what course I could take from here! Ill await your reply! Thank you for your time! Kathy **
Before you decide to purchase a Subaru, be sure to check ALL areas of the car to make sure it has been COMPLETELY painted. YES I did say painted! Under the hood should NOT be just primer, it should be painted and have a clear coat on it. Look closely at ALL of the seams, inside the door jams, the bottoms of the doors, the hinges of the hatch or trunk, the gas tank lid. My Crosstrek only has an overspray or primer on these areas. For those who dont know, primer is grey and a clear coat is what makes your paint shiny.Subaru is NOT giving their cars away, youre paying FULL price so, you should be getting a FULLY painted car! Check out other car manufacture paint jobs before you enter a Subaru dealership. The affordable Kia has an excellent paint job as does my VW beetle and my VW Sportwagen, Chevy also does an amazing job. Look under the hoods of these other automakers cars and youll be rethinking about the so called quality that Subaru delivers.Youre paying a lot of money for top quality so, why settle for less than mediocre? You know its a bad paint job when you bring your car to have it detailed and the detailer recommends that you get rid of the car before it rusts! And I thought I was buying quality, boy was I wrong! Dont make the same mistake that I did. I am currently working with Subaru and it does not look favorable. If they do decide to help me out I will update this post.
Several years ago, I was looking at cars, and went to a Subaru dealer. The salesperson was so rude and condescending that we left. Just now, I was researching cars on **, and I sent in several requests for information from dealers. Several Ford dealers got back and were very professional. We had conversations, and they were understanding as I discussed my needs. Then, a moment ago, a Subaru dealer called back (Patriot Subaru in North Attleboro MA). The salesperson was rude and confrontational. She said my request was for a specific car, which Im sure it was. However, I had done more research and wanted to discuss a different Subaru model. Instead of offering advice and listening, she again reiterated, so you want information on a different car than your request? After talking with some good salespeople, it was quite jarring and unexpected for the Subaru person to be so rude, condescending, and overall unprofessional. But I guess I should have expected it, as Ive never had a good experience with Subaru sales.
I purchased my 2013 Subaru Outback February 2013. I have servicing done regularly. However, from the very start, my oil light comes on between 2500 to 3000 miles after an oil change. I was told by the dealership that this is normal for these cars because they do not have as much oil as other cars. Told me to bring it in when it happened, or let the car sit for five minutes, and check the oil levels. This is great - Im a woman in my 70s - and it is scary to try to get to an exit when you are on the expressway and your oil light is on.Now, just to feel more secure, I keep a quart of synthetic oil in my car to add when Im on a trip and my oil light comes on. Very distressing. I had a Toyota Highlander for ten years, 210,000 miles on it and never had any problem like this. Unfortunately, it was totaled by a falling tree, and everyone encouraged me to get a Subaru. Nice car, but not truly reliable. I would have to rate it a 2.5 star reliability rating (which is not a choice below).
I purchased a 2009 Forester XT in April of 2008. Three days after purchase, Subaru announced a stop sale order on turbo Foresters made after Jan 1, 2008 (mine was mfg Jan 26th 2008). They issued the stop sale order because of manufacturing defects in the engine that led to knocking and then catastrophic engine failure. My car had knocking at 1030 miles and now at 92K the engine has had the catastrophic engine failure. Subaru refuses to answer the question if my car was affected by the stop sell order and takes no responsibility for repairing my car.
Love the maneuverability of Impreza and how it grips the road! Great gas mileage! The price is great for what you get and I tell all my friends what a great car it is!
I bought STARLINK at a promotional price when I purchased my Outback. I received an email saying it would auto renew unless I called to cancel. I called to cancel because it was too much money for something that I had not used even once. I was told I would lose the last 45 days of service unless I called the day before it renewed. Really? This must be the only company that can’t figure out how to cancel auto renewal and fulfill the remainder of the paid contract. After having that conversation and canceling because I don’t want to deal with a company that can’t figure out how to fulfill a contract and cancel a renewal, the agent offered me the service for half off. Why not just offer this in the first place? If I hadn’t been so angry that I was losing the last 45 days of the contract I probably would have paid half price. Oh, he did give me a refund of the unused (forced out of) promotional price—$5.00. Really too little, too late.
It is 2014. I have a 2007 Subaru Legacy which has 79000 miles on it. I have taken impeccable care of this vehicle only to have it diagnosed this week with the need to replace the head gasket. Where is the recall on this? Why should the consumer be responsible for Subarus negligence of their poor quality? I firmly believe this should be fully paid for by the company, Subaru who boasts of their high quality product, etc. I think mine and any other person who has had to replace this part should be fully 100% reimbursed for the cost. I urge Consumer Affairs to reach out legally in this matter. Please include me in the claim.
Extremely disappointed. I purchased a 2010 Subaru Forester from Bloomington in October of 2020 for nearly $9,000. 9 months later it broke down on the road and requires an engine replacement. I spoke with the manager and was told Sometimes used cars break down. Theres nothing we can do. I emailed Subaru directly and received no reply. There are no laws to protect consumers from faulty used vehicles, but good customer service, I think, dictates a $9k vehicle should last more than 9 months. I will not be going back to Bloomington Subaru nor will I ever purchase a Subaru of any kind.
After only 7k miles and 6 months owning a new Subaru Crosstrek the Check Engine light came on. Turns out the car has a failed Oil Control Valve. Been in the shop for 3 days. The car feels like an oversized toy. This looks like a sign of many more problems to come.
Bought a 2012 Forester for my daughter. When we took it in at the scheduled oil change, it was a quart low on oil. When I question how such a new car that was brought in at scheduled maintenance time could be that low or low at all on oil, I was told that the flat line engine uses more oil than a normal car and needed to be checked more frequently...???? Less than a year later, the starter starts to drag after the car sits all night. Told that new software ($100) had to be installed at my cost to correct the issue. Apparently, according to Subaru it is not considered abnormal for a relatively new Forester to develop this issue; however they have software you can buy to correct it...even though it is not an issue...REALLY?? Subaru thinks its customers are stupid. They got me this time, but it will be the LAST Subaru I buy.
The horn on my 2009 Sabaru Impreza started to sound spontaneously while sitting in my driveway. My son finally removed the fuse (my 21 year old son drives the car most of the time). This was in April 2011. We took the car to the dealership and they determined that the horn was damaged due to excessive outside force and that my son must have hit the steering wheel repeatedly with his fists or a hammer. The price to fix the horn would be $966.80 plus tax. My son loves the car and takes very good care of it. He told Donna that he did not damage the steering wheel and she told him to just admit it. The same thing happened a couple of weeks ago and the young man finally admitted it, she said. Again, my son said that he did not hit the steering wheel. He saw a tiny dent in the emblem on the steering wheel about a week after we got the car. But he didnt say anything to me and said he didnt want to bother the Sabaru people about it. It didnt interfere with the car at all and it wasnt worth complaining about (he knows better now). Now the cars inspection is due and it cannot pass without a horn. I have talked to the service manager and customer service. I have had several phone calls (long ones, as it takes about 30 minutes to get through to anyone) and learned that the Sabaru company has an excellent system for keeping a customer from speaking to anyone. I think they invented the run around. The people working in customer service are nice at first. But as they keep putting you off and you keep calling, they get more and more rude and abrupt. I spoke to Jeff, Bill, and finally Shirley. Shirley offered me 50% off the warranty rate which she said was $800. When I asked what a warranty rate was, she said that if the warranty is in effect, there is a certain rate that the customer pays. No warranty means the non-warranty rate which in my case she said was $1400. She said, Thats our final offer; take it or leave it.” She said she thought it was a very generous offer considering I did the damage myself. I told her that was exactly the point: we did not do the damage. I was skeptical about her actually being a customer service rep. So, I asked what her job title was and she said she was the customer relations manager for the entire region, whatever that means. I have written a letter to the corporate headquarters in Cherry Hill, NJ and a letter directly to the president of Subaru of America. I went back to Mid-Hudson Sabaru to try and reason with them. They again said that I or my son caused the damage. When I said that was not true, the manager said, Well, thats our determination and what you say really doesnt matter.” Also, I asked Donna if the $966.80 was the warranty rate or the non-warranty rate and she said it was the non-warranty rate. Then, I told her about Shirleys conversation with me and suddenly the $966.80 became the warranty rate. Donna said she actually did not know where Shirley got the $1400.00 price from. I told her that Shirley said she got the figure from her. Donna said that was not true (and they say Im lying!). Manufactured figures, lies, back peddling, avoidance behavior, and general disrespect have been nonstop since this problem began 9 months ago. I told them I would not pay the $400 as I did not cause the problem and it should be covered under the factory warranty and that my integrity was not for sale. They said, Whatever. Sabaru couldnt care less about my problem. That’s a nice company policy. I told the service manager, Rob, that I might as well give them the car back as we cant drive it uninspected. I said, I bet youll fix the horn then. He said, Of course. Then it will be ours. Dont buy a Sabaru. I never will again.
Subaru Forester 2015 - I have tried many times to get SOA to fix my bumpy and nauseating CVT. The dealerships I have brought it to dont seem to do much to investigate. The mileage is exactly the same as when I drop it off and they cant find anything. SOA Corporate refuses to return my phone calls. I am left with a car that is pronounced and bumpy especially around 1500 rpms and deceleration. Im angry that theyve done nothing to correct the issues and I am left driving around a horribly functioning car, with the dealerships doing nothing but treating me badly.
We purchased a Subaru Outback new in 2013, after many oil changes our car started using a quart of oil in between every oil change. Subaru says, it is normalto use a quart of oil in between oil changes. As time goes on, we have had it in numerous times and they cannot figure out why its using oil. Subaru has known that there is a problem and they offered an extended warranty for this issue. Again, I️ keep working with the dealership and they now say, we need a short block. Interesting that now we am completely out of warranty. They are willing to give me 1,000 toward fixing the issue. The completed bill will come to $4,400. I will admit the car gets around beautiful in bad weather but that is the only happiness we have seen in this car so far. We were hoping to get 250,000 miles on this car but at this point we will have to get a new one soon. Just a fair warning, read all reports before you buy a Subaru!
Sabotage. That’s what Subaru and all the other auto makers have done to create the interference engine failure. And who pays? Mostly 2nd and 3rd owners. Poor people pay. It is pure SABOTAGE. We bought our first 2002 Subaru. A nightmare. Timing belt went out within a year at 140kmiles. Total cost.... $2900. Plus cv axels and clutch $600. Now the under carriage frame is rusted to the point of unsafe. Go to H all capitalist pig auto makers who purposed failure at our expense.
I own a Subaru Forester. Bought for a vacation to AZ. It handled great at top speed and was very good on gas. The auto is very comfortable on a long ride. It doesnt tire you.
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!
We have taken our 2017 Subaru in 5 times to fix this problem: while driving the check engine and other warning lights come on and safety features like lane change turn off. We are losing faith in Subaru. This didnt happen with the car right away. Weve been told it was related to fuel issues, computer issues, something different each time. I dont think they know what is causing the problem.
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.
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!
Im writing this review on behalf of my son who owns a 2014 WRX. On April 29, 2016, my son was returning to Plattsburgh, N.Y. from training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Tx. He was about 40 miles west of Nashville, Tn., when his WRX blew its motor with about 15,500 miles on it. Subaru had the car brought to Downtown Subaru in Nashville, where it took 40 DAYS to repair. During the time it was at the dealer, we were lied to about the progress of the repair! As of today, June 27, Subaru has not reimbursed my son or myself for retrieving the car and car payment and insurance. Its a shame that Subaru treats military personal in this manner. I cant imagine how they treat the general public!
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.
I will make every attempt to be fair and honest. I am honestly angry and feel cheated so please forgive any sarcasm or poorly chosen terms while explaining my situation. I bought a 2005 Subaru Legacy Outback for around $14,000.00 from a dealer that I had previously bought my truck from for about $15,000.00 a few years previously. The business had changed from a partnership to a single owned dealership. The day I picked my new to me car up - it acted odd. The Turbo had blown. The dealer took the vehicle and replaced the turbo. A few days later, I picked it up again and by the time I got it home trouble lights were blinking and it was acting like it had no power. Back to the garage and a few days later, back to me and all seemed fine except not get up and go. Poor performance.I told the dealer and he was tired of me by this time. Auto zone said the computer says it needs a cam sensor. Bought that and when I started it in driveway - smoke came rolling out (Turbo blew up again). Ughhh!!! Let it set for about 6 months paying full coverage insurance and a loan payment as no one could offer assistance to help me. Recently had it towed to my mechanic and he replaced the turbo with one I had bought from ebay for $1,000. and he charged me just under $400.00 to replace and inspect it. Tow cost $120.00 (working on AAA to cover). Didnt get a mile down the road and heard clunking and clanging - barely made it up the hill to home. Here it sets again. I am so upset with this whole transaction. I just want to know how to fix the vehicle. Im stuck with so that I can trade that damn thing in. Any advice?? Im all ears. Thanks.
I have had Subarus since in college, and find them the best option for tough terrain and reliability. But hearing about the design and promotion of larger and larger cars, I have to choose with my conscience. The planet I love to explore in my Subaru cannot sustain these giant cars. Get real and get a clue. Bring back the Justy...or the Baja. These were cars that got the job done. I would buy a Justy in a heartbeat...mine got 39 miles per gallon. What is the matter with the world? Dont we care?
We took it in because it was whining and had lost power. I had checked the engine oil the night before and it was at the right level. First off never buy anything from Lees Summit Subaru. They scratched up a fender detailing the Forester and it was a pathetic detail job. When they looked at the Forester they said it was a quart low on oil and the reason it was probably whining and the loss of power was a blown turbo. They said my extended Subaru warranty wouldnt cover the repair because it was a quart low on oil even though I said it was fine on oil the night before. I called around to a few Subaru dealerships service departments and was told even if it was a quart low on oil that wouldnt cause the turbo to fail. They said the reason for the turbo failure was probably a clogged banjo filter in the turbo line.Since Subaru wouldnt cover it even though there was no mention of a banjo filter in any of the manuals they gave me, it doesnt even show the banjo filter on any of the diagrams. So I learned 4 things: 1. Never buy a Subaru; 2. Never buy anything from Lees Summit Subaru. Every time I had to deal with them they didnt care and it was a nightmare. The only pretty much they managed to do right is take my money and screw us over; 3. Dont bother buying a Subaru extended warranty because it probably wont help as far as theyre concerned. 4. Dont trust the manuals, go to Subaru.org to see whats really going on. At least Ive talked people out of buying Subarus! I hate Subaru. I hope they go bankrupt!
Ive been into Subaru 5 times for the same problem. Finally they figured out it is a Software Update, but that wont be rolled out for 6-9 months, after the lease is up. I had planned on keeping the car, as I drive for a living, and this was the car I picked up that met my work needs. I am over the mileage by 3,000 and will be much more at end of lease. I want to keep the car but not if it isnt repaired. I have reached out to Subaru and they are researching my options and now wont return phone calls or emails regarding the issue. Our family of 3 each own a Subaru. We are loyal to this brand, but not after what has happened. I believe Ive reached the point now that I need a lawyer to get out of this lease.
On June 25, 2015 I called Subaru Roadside Assistance due to a flat tire. The representative spoke very poor English and understood even less. I all but begged to speak to another rep or her supervisor but she refused to transfer my call. I was on the phone with this woman for 32 minutes and she still did NOTHING to help. I finally hung up and called the dealer from which I purchased my 2014 Outback. The service manager there ** is super and did indeed contact RA and made them aware that I had three children in the car and needed help. In the meantime my daughter who was 100 miles away called AAA and purchased their roadside assistance coverage and they had a tow truck out within minutes. Bottom line, dont depend on Subaru Roadside Assistance!!! They are good for nothing but a hassle. Totally frustrating.
Have a 2015 Subaru Forester and cant stand driving it bc the Bluetooth rarely pairs and/or works. Once it does pair, it drops calls as soon as I start driving faster (like on the highway) and then pops back on once I slow down (exit the highway). Its the craziest thing! Ive brought it to the dealership and it seemed fixed when I left, but then the next day it started acting up again. Apparently, its a software issue. Apple says that Subaru software is outdated and need to be updated. Cmon, its 2017... update your software. I swear more accidents are going to be caused from jacking with this bluetooth! So frustrating and time-consuming.
The Subaru Impreza has been fairly reliable. I appreciate how great it handles in the snow and rain and other extreme weather conditions because it makes me feel safe. I chose this car because it was affordable in price and great qualities for its price. However, I wish it were easier and cheaper to maintain. The maintenance required to keep up the car has been very pricey and annoying. I also wish I had a higher more upgraded model that has nicer interior parts like leather seats.
I saw paint bubble up and peel on my 1 year old Subaru. I took to a body shop and they said it was defective paint. I took it to Subaru and they accused me over and over again of allowing bird droppings to sit on my car and eat away the paint! Kristen was so rude. Here I see a major problem with a new car and she is yelling at me. They refused to repair it of course. Then I read all the bad news on Subaru in general. If you get a good one, you are lucky. The paint sucks, it burns oil and you never get the mileage they advertise - it is false. Oh well. So much for service 25,000 later and they cant put decent paint on a car.
I was so excited to get a backup camera but the one on my 2015 Forester is worse than not having one. It makes everything look so much further away than it really is. And today I glanced into it before backing into my space and right into the side of my husbands car. I waited 15 years to get a new Forester and I am so disappointed in it. This would have never happened using the mirrors. You know, it warns you if youre too close to something in front of you, when what you really need is a warning if something is behind you. My daughter has a Kia and the backup camera is 100 times better than my Foresters. Please correct this before it is a little child someone doesnt see.
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.
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!!!
I purchased my new 2013 Subaru Forester in July of that year after having a 2003 Subaru forester for ten years hoping that l would get as good as run out of 2013 as l did out of the 2003. But in the three years that l have had this car (2013), l have a short motor put in at 100,000 kms which had to pull the motor apart twice as the dealership put the old shim valves back in it so they had to put it apart to put new shim valves back in. The front lower control arms bushes have been replaced twice both front CV Joints on both sides have been replace. Bluetooth unit has been replaced 3 times and still giving me problems. The HILLHOLD/ABS/ADC warning lights had been coming on repeatedly which l was told it was a faulty brake light switch. The sensor for the horn has also been replaced and all wheel nuts and hub bolts have all been replaced twice. So this experience has put a bitter in my mouth to back to buy another Subaru.
I need to give some history on my previous 97 Outback before getting to my current 09 Forester. The 97 Outback had no major problems till about 120k, head gasket blown. Problem fixed at $1800.00. Sold shortly after to buy a newly redesigned 09 Forester. Was told head gasket problems are thing of the past, so I purchased the 09 Subaru Forester with high expectations. Things Ive noticed since putting miles on my 09 Forester. During cold winter months the engine starts over very hard and until the engine is warm it sounds like a diesel. My guess poor lubrication. In cold weather the gas flap which is opened from a latch inside of my vehicle will freeze making it very difficult to gas up at the station. I live in a region that uses salt and the exhaust system is taking a beating. My radio when in use gets feedback from my engine at different revs. I stopped using my sun roof - the motor has been acting funny. At highway speeds above 70 mph the engine tends to use oil, have tried conventional and synthetic oils alike with similar results. The front doors have had rattles since day one, sounds like plastic on metal. Things which have been repaired and or replaced while under warranty: reprogrammed ac unit, engine was pulsating at stop lights at 12k miles, front wheel bearing high pitched whining sound at 35k miles. With that said the warranty is up. I have 76k on my 09 Forester, on my second set of brakes, second set of tires, second set of spark plugs, second battery. I went in for an oil change the other day at the dealer and on the multipoint inspection was noted oil bleed on head gasket. You can guess where this will be going. Quoted at over $2000.00 to replace the head gasket and at the 100k mile mark it is recommended that the timing belt be changed $950.00 and since I have a manual clutch transmission it will probably need replaced soon for $1300.00.On the positive side the symmetrical AWD system provides excellent handling in any road driving conditions, the engine provides ample power with great fuel economy and while under warranty there were no real issues. Now that the warranty has expired the wear issues are becoming apparent and Subaru knows it. Im sorry to say, this will be my last Subaru. Many fond memories of vacations in remote areas with my family camping and backpacking will no longer be made in my Subaru. I will probably give Toyota SUV or Trucks a try. My wife drives a 2003 Camry XLE and is still going strong!
We have a 2011 Subaru WRX STI, with roughly 67,000 miles. We experienced a timing belt failure on the freeway, in heavy traffic, and we were barely able to get the car off the road before it died. We had the car towed to a dealer, who wanted $9,000 to replace the engine. We decided to have the engine rebuilt by an independent Subaru shop for $4,900 instead. The recommended mileage for a timing belt change is 105,000. The dealer indicated that this is extremely rare and they recommended that we contact Subaru of America. I was on hold for almost 30 minutes before I gave up. Now I understand why Subaru has such crappy power train warranties...
Have had a 2010 Subaru outback for 3.5 years. Have done all required maintenance at subaru dealers. Had a gold plus” warranty for 1st 70k, sunroof stopped working at 71k, no love from Subaru. 1800 quoted for complete replacement of unit. 133k, took it to dealer for high pitch whine in front right. 2 hours later was informed that the cvt trans was failing and needed replacement, dealer quoted 7300 for a rebuilt from subaru or a used trans (salvage) for 3300. Warning: if you have a little old person driving a subaru with over 110k you might want to tell them that 7300 is not a good investment in a car with only 113k. These cars are supposedly supposed to last 250k or more (if you can afford these types of repairs) obviously I should have known that going in but I thought the new 2010-14 subies had all these great improvements. I have never towed anything and driven this outback anything other than gently, too bad loved the driving part, great on snow but can’t afford these types of repairs. Pleaded my case with North America Subaru, they would knock the 7300 down to 4200 at a subaru dealer. So that means the little old person would have been probably paid 7300 and I can see that happening. Short story is a tranny shop is going to put a used one in for 2500 parts and labor (friend of a friend). Maybe I just am not used to modern cars since my family has a camry with 198k and I had a tundra with 178k, 12 and 14 years old with no major mechanical repairs. Soon to be Subaru-free in the Midwest.
I have never owned a Subaru before. After this car I will never own a Subaru again. What a piece of crap this car is. The only good things about this car are the generous cargo space, the (so far) lack of repair bills and the resale value. That is it. Everything else BLOWS. The acceleration is abysmal. The braking is ridiculously soft and bad. The handling, well, there is no handling on this car and good luck taking it on road trips; you will spend 75% of the time fighting with the steering wheel to keep the car from wandering all over the road. Oh and dont even think about taking a corner fast with this car! The A/C is adequate, but god forbid you step on the gas, IT WILL STOP COOLING! The CVT transmission hesitates, is jerky and Subaru says thats perfectly normal! The sound system and entertainment screen is just an embarrassment. The backup camera of course is very LOW-RES. The MPG on the sticker is a BIG LIE; I have never gotten anything over 24 miles per gallon with this car. I wont even keep typing, as Subaru doesnt deserve for me to spend another second writing about this substandard vehicle. Make sure you test drive this vehicle many, many times before you buy it, and for the love of god do not even think about buying the 4 cylinder, unless you like to be blown off the interstate by trucks since your car will not be able to accelerate enough to merge. This car is for people who are not drivers. At this point I am just waiting for the car to start burning through oil, as 99.9% of the Outbacks are doing. The car is only good for hauling stuff in the snow. It gets two overall stars from me for that. Thats about it.
I went from a 2007 Jeep Compass. Not the best car - but what I found was that the Compass was miles ahead technology wise - from the 2012 Subaru Outback. Every time I get in the Outback, I curse that dashboard, air conditioning panel and radio. Why must lights and windshield washers be so complicated? Ive about wrecked trying to adjust the AC - because that panel requires your full attention to make a change. If I have a low tire - the Jeep told me the pressure of all tires and which tire was low - the Subaru - tells me, You have a low tire - go find it! Who puts the gas tank on the passenger side - Subaru. Next winter Ill be outside freezing while pumping gas. Plus - why do I have to unlock the cap inside the car before I can get gas. The locks are a major malfunction too... They dont lock automatically when the car is moving, if the car is locked - I manually lock them since it wont lock automatically - I cant just open the door. Nope its locked!The Jeep radio simple - I had 5 buttons for programming radio channels I could put 3 channels on each button - I just pressed the button again. I had Satellite on the Jeep too. With the Subaru - you have to take your eyes off the road again - press FM button till you get FM 1, 2 or 3 then you can select your button. I love the gas mileage, the low profile, the roominess of the Subaru Outback. I HATE the dashboard, lights, wipers, the AC and the radio. Why must everything be so complicated!!! My 2007 was far superior electronically to this!
Last week I took my 2012 Subaru Forester in to the local dealership repair shop for my 90,000 mile service, annual state inspection, and to find out what the noise was that I had started hearing from the engine compartment. I was told by my customer rep that there was a problem with the lower end of the engine so no point in doing the 90,000 mile maintenance since the small engine block would need to be replaced. He advised I could either spend about $5000 for the repair as the 60,000 mile warranty had expired, or trade my vehicle in towards the purchase of another. He did not mention that my vehicle actually had an extended warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles, but did tell me that 90,000 miles is pretty low for an engine to go bad and suggested I contact Subaru customer service to see if they could offer me any help. After following this suggestion, I went online to see if there were any other complaints about these Subaru engines and discovered a class action suit had recently been settled with Subaru about excessive oil consumption causing the engines to fail, resulting in replacement of the short block. Hey, sounds like my problem! Today Subaru of Americas customer service rep called me back to say that they would pay $3500 toward my expected $4800 cost to replace the engine block. I told them I wanted them to pay for the entire cost since it appeared my problem was caused by the excessive oil usage. They asked if I had the oil consumption test done. No, I had not - I did not know I needed to have one done because I didnt know I had an oil consumption problem. There is no indicator light in my vehicle that tells me the oil is low and we always took the car in to the dealers repair shop for scheduled maintenance and oil changes. So I asked if I could have one done now. Nope, cant do it - car is not safe to drive the 1200 miles needed to do the test because the engine is that bad already. So, catch 22 - cant do the test because the car is not safe to drive, and they wont approve full cost of repair unless an oil test is done! But, by the way, the repair shop at the dealer did pass my state inspection. So is it safe to drive or not? All I want is for Subaru to cover the full cost, not just partial. Its pretty obvious the early engine failure is a result of a problem with their engine since I the scheduled maintenance on the vehicle done. Theyre already willing to pay $3500 - whats another $1300 to make a customer happy? I will never buy another Subaru and recommend no one else do either if this is how they treat their customers.
I was disappointed to learn that Subaru would not cover the cost of replacing the engine in my car that is burning excessive oil. It currently has about 69,770 miles on it, but the oil burning started around 40,000 miles back in 2018. It was still under warranty when this problem started but it didn’t fail the oil consumption test, and we had a baby so my wife wasn’t driving it much. Then we had another, so the car was only driven some weekends, especially with the pandemic there weren’t many places to go. Fast forward to now, the past year and a half the problem is getting worse because I started driving it daily. I found out some engines have an extended warranty because this is a very common problem with Subarus, but since my car isn’t a manual it’s not covered. I called them a couple weeks ago, and after not calling me back when they said they would or emailing me I called again and and found out they agreed to pay $5,000.Who agrees to pay more than half unless they admit their engines don’t hold up? The customer advocacy manager who called me (she must be the CEO of Subaru because she doesn’t have a manager above her) just went around in circles with me while refusing to acknowledge that this was a problem in 2018. She didn’t say I was a liar but pretty much she said it didn’t fail the test then so just because the oil light came on and there was no oil doesn’t mean it was burning.. O.. Ok? Even though the problem started 20,000 miles before the warranty was up it doesn’t matter. Subaru did offer to pay more than half of the $8000 engine replacement, but even $3,000 is a struggle for us being on one income, with only this one car. Even 70,000 miles is way too low of mileage to have this kind of problem.It seems this problem is very common and this is all very disappointing. Even being on hold with them you hear recordings boasting about “the Subaru family” and how much they care. Well I must be the black sheep of the family. We loved our 2010 forester and traded it in in 2015 for This one. We still thought we would get a new one after this one but if we have to pay for a new engine 10,000 miles past the warranty because of a common problem like burning oil that started during the warranty period (there’s cars 20 years old that don’t have this problem) then no thanks.We will not buy another Subaru again, not so much because of the problems, because hey problems happen, but we will not buy one because they are not willing to stand 100% behind their products (only 62.5% apparently). The car was burning oil at 39,000 miles and they admit that but it wasn’t burning enough to fail the test. Now it’s burning 23oz every 1200 miles. For a 2015 with 70,000 miles. I know, ridiculous. So anyways it’s a little more sentimental for us since we loved the car, but if owning a Subaru means needing a new engine at 70,000 miles then we will buy a different brand, and I recommend you do the same.
We purchase a brand new Subaru Forester in 2009 and the transmission went at just above 60,000 miles and just over 5 years -- warranty expired barely. We took it to Maple Hill Auto Group in Kalamazoo where they replaced the transmission. All the maintenance records were submitted to the warranty group at Maple Hill. All the preventative maintenance was completed by a reputable company who does a thorough job. We received backlash that some of the work was not completed at a Subaru dealer. The bill for the transmission was greater than $5,000 dollars. Maple Hill did not provide a vehicle and took 3 weeks to replace the transmission. When it was finally replaced, I paid for the vehicle and drove off. After 1 mile the vehicle would go over 25 MPH. I returned and told that they must have received a defective transmission from Subaru. I waited another week and 1/2 to finally get a transmission that cost over 5K. No vehicle to get through the time period and no assistance from the Warranty Group. We will never purchase a Subaru again. We have receive feedback from consumers who own GM products. They provide 100K warranties and they help assist with issues that arise just after the warranty expires. Do not purchase a Subaru. They do back their vehicle the way they should and expect you to overpay for service on their vehicles. They do not value customer satisfaction. They view problems with the vehicle as an avenue to gain profitability.
My 2005 Outback was taken to the local Subaru dealer - St. J Subaru in St. Johnsbury, Vermont for the brake line recall inspection. We waited 1 week for the appointment and were told following their inspection of the brake lines that our car - of the 600 or so that they had inspected for this recall - was the first to fail. They then said that they had no part in stock to fix it with. There was only one part in the country but they would try to get it. 2 days later. I stopped in to check on progress and was told they did get the one part in the whole country, but they probably wouldnt be able to fix the car for up to 3 weeks because they were booked up. So the car sits in their lot while we wait for them to get around to fixing it. Is it usual and customary for Subaru dealers to treat recalls like this?
I love my Subaru Legacy. It handles like a much more expensive car. The color is awesome and the overall look sleek and modern. It gets compliments wherever I drive it. 3 y/o and 113000 miles and it doesnt feel broken in yet. Go Subaru!!
On a random check of Subaru recalls I discovered the Takata Airbag recall for my 2010 Forester. I was not notified by Subaru until much later. After hearing nothing further from Subaru I called both SOA and the local dealership. They were either clueless or not interested, but in any case they knew nothing and told me Id hear from them at the first of the month. Two firsts of the month have come and gone and no word. All I have is their advice is to not let anyone ride in the passenger seat... Today I see that another recall has been issued for the Forester for a Turbocharger problem, but that info was provided by NHSTA, not SOA. The Forester has been an OK vehicle, but not great as far as cost to own is concerned. This Forester is my sixth Subaru. It will be my last.
I called Subaru Care team last week after my Son who is in the military 2011 Subaru with 112,000 miles CVT Transmission failed. The car is in my name due to it being purchased when he was seventeen 2 years ago. Also because he has been gone the last year and not driving it due to training in California. The cost for a Transmission to be repaired is close to 8,000. dollars. The part itself costs 6,640 dollars. I called Subaru because my son is only home for 2 months for additional training close to home before he deploys, I asked Subaru being so close to the extended warranty could they assist me in any way with replacing the transmission. Outside of this issue the car is in excellent shape. Subaru America said they could not help me and could only offer me a $1,500 towards a brand new vehicle even though Subaru would not even take the Outback as a trade in and told me to take it to pick in pull. With my son deploying he wont be home for a few years so a brand new vehicle is not necessary which I told them. $1500 towards the repair and a Subaru staying on the road instead of being totaled due to Subarus known CVT issue I think would be more beneficial to me and their brand. Incredibly disappointed with Subaru America Care Team for One charging such an astronomical dollar amount to fix a Subaru transmission, Two not caring about rare circumstances like a military individual deploying in two months and not needing a new car but assistance with the repair of their current car so they can drive it until they leave! The Subaru America Care Team obviously follow the corporate log book and do not look at each induvial situation. Their Branding definitely needs to be updated. They obviously dont love to Care the Military!
I purchased a new 2013 Subaru Outback believing all the hype I read about and saw regarding this vehicle. At 83,000 miles my transmission failed due to contaminated transmission fluid (Subaru admitted the defect) and was told by the dealership they would repair it for $8500 since my 60,000 mile warranty (they must know something) on the powertrain was exceeded. Subaru of America (after a week waiting in limbo) said they would give $1,000 toward the repair as a good will gesture. Never mind all the ads and chest beating over how this vehicle surpasses most in quality and reliability. Now Im reduced to buying a used transmission online and having an independent contractor replace it. Needless to say Im not loving my Subaru and will tell the everyone in reach about their customer service.
There is nowhere to buy a tire for the 2014 Subaru Forester. I contacted dealer, NTB. They both told me it is on back order, at least 3 weeks. What am I going to do for 3 weeks?
I stupidly believed the marketing and didnt do my research. This is an unsafe vehicle. The head unit says 60 miles left. Drops to 40. Then runs out of gas. Never let this car get to a quarter tank. Ran out of gas at midnight coming home from work. I had to leave my car in the middle of road. And bonus! Had to deal with a creepy dude harassing me! Fun. Luckily a nice couple scared him off. Subaru finally recalled this car for this specific issue. They need to replace the head units but wont do that. We had this gas issue fixed before the recall. Be aware. It took two weeks and was messed up. Xmode stopped working which we didnt find out until we needed it on a gravel road in the mountains. Also the software didnt match the features of the car. It is a messed up situation and I feel like an idiot buying this expensive car. I will never buy another and never recommend this car to anyone. The marketing is great. The car is not.
When I bought my 2014 Subaru Crosstrek, I thought I bought a car that I would keep to over 200,000 miles. With a noise in the rear, my car went into the Subaru dealership in NH to be checked. Lo and behold the news received today was the transmission is gone and the rear wheel bearing needs to be replaced. While I am thankful I bought the extended warranty at the time of purchase, I cannot understand why a transmission would have to be replaced at 65,000 along with the rear wheel bearing. Needless to say, I will be trading in my 2014 Crosstrek before the 100,000 mile warranty expires.
I purchased a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle, 2014 Subaru Crosstrek XV hybrid, from Subaru of Orange Park 06/26/2016. The vehicle had less than 30k miles at purchase. Less than 4 months from purchase date, the hybrid system / engine went out on the vehicle. As I was driving on the highway, the system told me to “Pull Over to Safety and Turn Off Engine”. Subaru of Orange Park was unable to diagnose or service. Upon research I find that after two years of hybrid makes, Subaru no longer manufactures hybrid vehicles because of the KNOWN technical issues that deemed unprofitable to the manufacturer. I had to have the car transported to a further Subaru location that services hybrids because hybrid technicians are sparse; I can only imagine how sparse they will be 2 years from now. The servicing dealer had to fly in an expert to diagnose. My car was in shop for 7 days. The extended warranty that I PURCHASED covered the repair, outside of a deductible, towing, and car rental. Without the warranty, the cost is estimated at $1,556. Based on research, the system is anticipated to crash every 30-40k miles. Due to faulty manufacturing, the value and longevity of my vehicle has diminished. When I contacted the manufacturer, they asked me to deal directly with the dealership, so I did. I noticed the Certified Pre-Owned checklist has a ? in the hybrid section. The dealer was not authorized to sell me a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle with items on the checklist not accounted for, especially the engine. Post-repair, I discovered the hybrid system was not functioning at the time of purchase. Originally, the dealer told me theyd work out a satisfactory solution with me. However, I called today and was informed that they will not support an even trade. My option is to buy up to another vehicle, which I cannot afford, nor do I desire to lose $1823 in additional warranties that I purchased at the time of vehicle. This is not acceptable to me. The vehicle is not safe nor reliable, and the value is going to plummet as reliability becomes known and maintenance becomes extinct.
Our first experience at Subaru City was great, we loved the car and we decided to buy the new Forester Sport, the cars sale representative was amazing and helped us with everything we needed to feel comfortable, which unfortunately due to covid they didnt have stock, so they ordered the car for us with all the modifications we wanted (as per Subaru website), we signed some paperwork and waited.Everything Was okay until yesterday, the pick up day! The day you should expect will be a great experience picking up the new car. When we arrived the employees we dealt with to get to this day were amazing with us, great customer service! We then signed (SIGNED) all the paperwork to finalize everything, they get our car keys and went with us around our (new to be) car to show us all the specifications, functions, etc... Until one of the employees came to us and said we wouldnt be able to get the car! (When the keys and paperwork was already in our hands).Continue to explain due to a problem that our car was having (since day one we stepped on Subaru) they would need to review with the mechanics to know if the market price would have to change or how much would be to fix (which in the employees words could be up to 10k) - we were looking for cars for months, all the dealers first question was about this problem with the computer in the car which doesnt affect the car engine performance at all - and all of them also said, we cant give you a market price for the trade in until we know how much it is to fix this problem, and JUST THEN start a contract. However at Subaru was different, one of the staffs saw the problem, went to next door to ask what would be the market price, and came with 30k WHICH WE SIGNED IN THE CONTRACT. The employee said they would understand if we didnt want to follow with the contract after knowing how much the cost would be.This morning my partner received a call saying that the problem was going to be 3.1k to fix, and possibly more to pay for repairs if it wasnt the cause, my partner needed to pay it upfront as they couldnt put in the contract due to all the arrangements already done. My partner decided to walk away from the car deal as the employee explained to myself and my partner yesterday that its understandable, which my partner wanted to get his car back, to fix the issues (yesterday we didnt pick up the new car, we had to leave ours there, and get a loan car which they gave us a near empty tank car which my partner had to put fuel in), and this same employee then said that its a little bit more challenging than that to break the contract now after mentioning we can back out of the deal due to the inconvenience.So now, we are currently without our old car, without our new car and without knowing what is going to happen. I also remember really well, during our first paperwork signing that one of the employees said that the market price for our car would change ONLY if we had an accident during the period of waiting for the new car or something that WAS NOT reported at that day happened to the car. The experience my partner and I encountered with the experience customer manager was terrible, Unprofessional, disrespectful, careless, not trustworthy, non loyal to the contract we signed. We were in contact with SUBARU City for at least 2 and a half months, since day one they knew everything about our trade in car, and their employee wanted to do all this in the minute of the key handling. Congratulations, you ruined what should be an amazing experience for a couple.
I leased this Impreza 3 days after my wife got her Subaru Ascent. Ive been having issues since December with multiple warning lights showing up on my screen. Car was in the shop, they couldnt replicate issue so gave it back to me. Car went back again for same problem, even showed video of the warning lights, still couldnt figure it out and car was at the dealer for a week. Picked it up and next day lights came on again with all the warnings. Brought it back to the dealer again and it was there over a week. Just got it back on Saturday. I am requesting Subaru buy this lemon car back from me.
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!
I purchased a new 2016 Subaru Forester SUV. The electronic rear door (hatch) will not open at times. This has been a persistent intermittent since the first week I got the car. At first I was told that I was not doing it right. It should not be that hard to open the rear hatch on a car that a college educated intelligent person cant open it! After some time and the realization that it was nothing that I was doing wrong, I started bringing it in for repairs. After three repair trips to several dealers -still no fix. BEFORE you consider purchasing this car, I suggest that you google this problem. You will find that it is a persistent & common problem with Subaru Forester and that Subaru has not redesigned or fixed this problem. What a drag standing outside my new 30K SUV with hands full of groceries in the rain and being totally unable to open the hatch! (Disconnecting the 12V battery and resetting everything will make the electronic hatch mechanism finally reset itself.)
I 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.
I have own 25 cars in my life, I am 54 years old. Never had any engine failures. But my 2008 STI just blew up.
Purchased 2013 Subaru Outback at 3500 miles. Oil light came on, took to dealer where I purchased. Mechanic told me thats normal that Subaru uses a lot of oil. After owning three other older Subaru without such problems didnt seem right. They checked the oil and said it was 1 quart low but that wasnt really low, it just seemed that way. I added oil then. When it was time to change oil thought problem was gone. At or about 3500 miles oil light come on once again. 1 quart low. Called Subaru of America, they said to do oil consumption test. Test was done at 1200 miles of consumption test that said it was fine at the usually 3500 miles light came on. Did another consumption test said after 1200 miles on test it didnt not use any oil. I tried to tell them it seems to use the oil at or about 3000-4000 miles, they just didnt seem to get it. Called Subaru of America, tried to explain to them, they didnt seem to get it either. So now between every oil change I have to add 1 quart of oil, use only Subaru oil. Not happy with my Subaru. Will not buy another Subaru again and tell everyone I know about my experience. Very disappointed with Subaru.
My girlfriend bought a Certified Pre-Owned 2013 Subaru Outback from Kendall Subaru in Fairbanks in December of 2013. Within 1,000 miles of purchasing the vehicle the oil light came on. We brought the vehicle back to the dealer with the complaint of oil consumption. They told us that a quart of oil every 1,000 miles is Normal. But they would conduct an oil consumption test. Their test showed that the car was consuming a quart every 1,000 miles. Subsequently the oil light has come on 3 times. We called Kendall again and the service manager said this I did speak to one of the Subaru mechanics back there. And he said they are designed a bit differently from other vehicles. And he used the term the crankcase doesnt quite hold the same amount of oil as other vehicles. He compared it with the Toyota. So he said yes you would burn a little more oil faster because you just dont have the amount in the crankcase that other vehicles may have. When you come in I would ask the advisor to please let a mechanic explain it to you, because when he explained it to me it totally made sense. You have got to be kidding me? Do they think we are that stupid? I have the recording of the service representative on my phone. People need to hear this. We are talking a 2 year old car with 22,000 miles on it!
I 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.
Got this Legacy 2 years ago as a lease return. Had not experience any problems besides locking and unlocking it. I strongly recommend this car to people but before buying it go to Subaru dealer and check it up. Never buy any of a car without doing a full check up.
Dismayed, disappointed, disgruntled. These are the feelings engendered by coming home from a two-week trip only to find that the battery in our one-month-old Subaru Forester had died while we were away. Consumer Reports April automobile issue convinced us that all the new safety and navigation technology innovations in the 2015 models would make it worth our while to replace our 2007 Forester. But neither CR nor you mentioned that all those enhancements would drain the battery even when the car wasn’t driven. When we took the car back to Subaru, we were told it was our fault for leaving the car for two weeks, as if we were the only folks ever to have done such a thing. Subaru service also suggested we get a trickle charger and keep the car plugged in when we’re away for an extended period of time.We did a great deal of research before buying the car and found no mention of the problem. Having experienced it, I googled “Subaru battery drainage issue” and discovered that the problem was not unique to our vehicle, nor even only to Subaru. Apparently Hondas and Fords are similarly afflicted. These facts were further substantiated by the AAA technician who came to recharge our battery. She fields many calls similar to ours.It is clear why Subaru and the other manufacturers would not want potential buyers to know about this poor engineering. Accordingly, there’s nothing in the owner’s manual that says “do not leave car undriven for more than a week.” You have to look hard to find that after a battery “interruption” the power window needs to be reset, as do the date and time, and perhaps other things I never bothered to set up. A setting comparable to airplane mode on a phone that shuts down some of the background functions would be a wise and welcome fix. What is not clear why there’s so little written about this issue in the automotive press. My husband and I feel doubly burned: by Subaru for its inept engineering and by the consumer gurus who should know better.

